Benjamin Wheeler (1693 - 1759)

Born 29 Sep 1693 in Concord, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah (Unknown) Wheeler — married 1717 (to 14 May 1759) in Lancaster, Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Descendants

Died 14 May 1759 at age 65 in New Marlborough, Berkshire, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

This profile is part of the Wheeler Name Study.

Benjamin Wheeler was born on 29 September 1693 in Concord, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay, the son of Obadiah and Elizabeth (White) Wheeler. ^[1][2][3]

He married Hannah, whose maiden name and other details are unknown.^[3] The only record is of her death in New Marlborough on 08 July 1778.^[4]

Benjamin lived in Lancaster after his marriage, then removed to Bolton between 1725 and 1732. He was the first settler of New Marlborough arriving in the winter of 1739/40, being the only white inhabitant who remained there during an exceptionally hard winter. He continued to fell the forest, and made the first improvements there. When the first lots were drawn by the settlers, he drew #25, land which remained in the family until about 1872.^[5]

He executed his last deed of Bolton land on 20 November 1741, witnessed by Zenas Wheeler and Hannah Wheeler. In 1747 and 1759, he deeded land in New Marlborough, the later deed witnessed by his son Zenas and son-in-law Nehemiah Howe.^{[6] [7]}

Benjamin died on 14 May 1759 in his 66th year in New Marlborough, "son of Obidiah of Concord."^[8][9] He and Hannah left no probate records,^[3] but his land was divided among his heirs on 15 May 1760. Hannah Wheeler his widow, Zenas Wheeler, Joshua Fosket and wife Hannah, Nehemiah Howe and wife Beulah, David Smith and wife Consolation, all of New Marlborough were party to the division.^[10]

Children of Benjamin and Hannah Wheeler, first four born Lancaster, last at Bolton: ^[11][3]

1. Hannah, b. 22 Dec 1717
2. Jesse, (m.) b. 15 May 1720; d. 16 Dec 1744 in 23rd year in Bolton.^[12]
3. Beulah, b. 01 Mar 1724
4. Zenas, b. 29 Dec 1725
5. Consolation, b. 28 Apr 1732 Bolton^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Concord, Massachusetts births, marriages, and deaths, 1635-1850 (Boston: T.Todd, 1895), p. 38.

   "Benjamin Wheeler ye son of Obadiah Wheeler & Elzebeth his wife was Borne Septembr ye 29th day 1693."

2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Middlesex > Concord > Births 1640-1849 > image 107 of 119; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston. Concord VRs Vol. 1, p. 708 (Copy made in 1849).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3} Wakefield, Robert S. (editor). Sherman, Ruth Wilder and Sherman, Robert Moody (original compilers). Mayflower Families Through Five Generations. Volume Thirteen Family of William White. Third Edition. (Plymouth, Mass.: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 2006) pp. 13, 40-41.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Berkshire > New Marlborough > Births, marriages, deaths 1734-1858 vol 1 > image 250 of 287; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston. "1778, July 8, Wife of Benj. Wheeler."
5. ↑ Wheeler, Albert Gallatin, The genealogical and encyclopedic history of the Wheeler family in America, 2 vols., (Boston : American College of Genealogy, 1914) Vol. 1:355-6.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Worcester > Deeds 1745-1747 vol 21-22 > image 226 of 602; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Worcester County Deeds 21:393,] Worcester County Deeds Vol. 21:393, (Benj. Wheeler of Bolton to William Pollard, 1742); 24:259, (Benjamin Wheeler of the town of Number Two, Hampshire Co., to Joshua Wheeler of Bolton, 1747)
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Berkshire > Deeds 1764-1767 vol 3-4 > image 403 of 587; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Berkshire County Deeds Vol. 4:183 (Benj. Wheeler of No. 2 or New Marlborough to Joshua Fosket of New Marlborough, 1759)
8. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (20 May 2014), Berkshire > New Marlborough > Births, marriages, deaths 1734-1858 vol 1 > image 249 of 287; citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.
9. ↑ Wakefield, Mayflower Families - William White, p. 41, citing New Marlborough VRs, typescript at NEHGS, p. 33.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986," images, FamilySearch (22 May 2014), Hampden > Deeds 1761-1762 vol 4 > image 33 of 510; county courthouses and offices, Massachusetts. Hampden County Deeds Vol. 4:31 (Hannah Wheeler et al)
11. ↑ Nourse, Henry S., The birth, marriage, and death register, church records and epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1850, (Lancaster : Clinton, Printed by W. J. Coulter, 1890), pp. 57, 58.
12. ↑ Vital records of Bolton, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849, (Worcester, Mass. : F.P. Rice, 1910), p. 226
13. ↑ VRs of Bolton, p. 87

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