Moses Wheeler Sr. (1598 - 1698)

Born 5 Jan 1598 in Kent, England

Husband of Miriam (Hawley) Wheeler — married 1642 in New Haven, New Haven, Connecticut

Descendants

Died 15 Jan 1698 at age 100 in Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Puritan Great Migration Project WikiTree [send private message], Merilee Burton [send private message], and Jenn Howe [send private message]

Moses Wheeler Sr. migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 367) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

No reliable evidence has been found that supports the proposition found on some online family trees that Moses was the son of Dominicke Wheeler and Mercye (Jellye) Wheeler of Salisbury.

Many sources seem to agree little is known about Moses before he came to America. Sources refer to the early life of Moses in speculative terms alone, "it is said he came from Kent, England"^[1]"he was born in England, probably in County of Kent"^[2]"it is believed to have come from Kent County, England"^[3] or as will be seen below, "very likely in the county of Kent". The sources make clear much about the early life of Moses, including the names of the parents, is unknown. It appears only that he might have come from Kent County, England.

Most of what is known about Moses comes from the book Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut; A record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a nation^[4]. According to this source:

Moses Wheeler, was born in England, very likely in the county of Kent, in 1598. The Wheeler family had lived here for over four hundred years. He sailed from London in 1638, and settled in the New Haven colony. He was among the first to receive an allotment in that colony. Here he married Miriam Hawley, sister of Joseph Hawley, one of the first settlers in the colony, and a very prominent man. He was expelled from the colony in 1648 because of a slight infringement of one of the Blue Laws, for which the colony was noted. According to tradition he had been away for several months, and returned on a Sunday. Forgetting the "Blue Laws" in his joy at his return, he kissed his wife and children, and was expelled by the authorities when they learned of it.

He then joined the little settlement of Stratford, and purchased here a home from the Indians on the shore, near what is now known as Sandy Hollow. He afterwards bought a large piece of land in the upper part of the town, extending from the river to some distance above the site of the present New York, New Haven & Hartford railroad. He was a ship carpenter, and kept a farm for himself. He was given permission by the general court to keep a ferry at Stratford, which he already had established. Seventeen years after its establishment, the town leased the ferry to him with thirty or forty acres of upland adjoining it, for twenty-one years, without tax or rate except sixpence per annum. The inhabitants were "to be ferried over for one half penny per person and two pence for horse or beast." The town agreed to pay for any improvements he had made if he should leave it at the expiration of his lease.

His son's will, proved January 23, 1724-25, shows that he received the ferry from his father Moses, and left it to his own son Elnathan, so it remained in the family at least over one hundred years. He disposed of most of his land to his sons ten years before his death. He owned much land, and was one of the most prominent men of the town. He was a strong, powerful man, of whom the Indians are said to have stood in mortal terror. He returned to England in 1665, at the time of the "Great Plague," and so did not remain long, but returned again to Stratford. He died January 15, 1698, the first white man of one hundred years who had lived in New England. He is buried in the old Congregational church at Stratford. A rough stone, cut from the rocks at his homestead, marks his grave, with the inscription: "Moses Wheeler, Aged 100, Dyed Jan. 15th. 1698." His will was proved February 19, 1698, and after disposing of his real and personal property generally, he says: "I give to my daughter Miriam two pewter dishes, to my son Moses, his wife, ye pewter platter, and to my daughter Mary, a bras kitle houlding ten to twelve gallons, the Abridgement of the Marter Booke, and Mr. Brooks His Devices of Satan, and to Elizabeth ye wife of my son Samuel, ye great kitle, and to Mr. Israel Chauncey twenty shillings in silver."

Next the source discusses, Jane, who some sources wrongly claim is a sister of Moses. (see note on the profile of Jane Blakeman):

Jane, a sister of Moses Wheeler, also came over to America with him, and married Rev. Adam Blakeman, the first clergyman of the Church in England in Stratford. She was two years younger than her brother, having been born in 1600. She died in 1674. She married (second) Jacob Walker, son of Robert Walker, and brother of Rev. Zachariah Walker, pastor of the Congregational church in Stratford. The Rev. Adam Blakeman was rector of the church from 1639 to 1665. One of his sons married Elizabeth, daughter of Moses Wheeler. Children: 1. Elizabeth, married (first) Samuel Blakeman, and (second) Jacob Walker; she was grandmother of General David Wooster. 2. Miriam, married James Blakeman, and was the mother ancestor of all those named Blakeman or Blackman in the towns of Huntington, Monroe and Newtown. 3. Samuel, left no children. 4. Moses, ancestor of many people, mentioned below. 5. Mary, married (first) Samuel Fairchild, and (second) Benjamin Beach. 6. Joanna, died in 1694, unmarried.

Finally, the authors discuss the children of Moses.

(II) Moses (2), son of Moses (1) Wheeler, was born at Stratford, July 5, 1651. He inherited the ferry from his father, together with the homestead. He removed the stone house which his father built, and replaced it with a wooden house, which was standing until May 12, 1891, when it was burned down. He was a farmer, as well as ferryman. He died January 30, 1724, and is buried beside his father, with a similar headstone, evidently from the same place. The inscription says: "Here Lays The Body of Mr. Moses Wheeler Who Departed This Life Jan. The 30th. 1724, in The 74th. Year of His Age." He was one of the wealthy men of Stratford, as his estate is inventoried at one thousand four hundred and sixty-three pounds five shillings six pence. He bequeathed to his wife five pounds above their marriage agreement; to his son James forty pounds; also to his sons Nathan and Robert and his daughter, and to his grandchildren. His son Elnathan was made his executor, and he left to him all his lands, with the ferry, and all movable goods and personal estate. He married Sarah, daughter of Caleb Nicholls, October 20, 1674. Children: Moses, mentioned below; Caleb; Sarah; Nathan or Elnathan; Samuel; James; Robert; Elizabeth.

Sergeant Francis Nicholls, grandfather of Sarah (Nicholls) Wheeler, came from England in 1635, and was in Stratford in 1639 among the first settlers. He was closely related to Colonel Sir Richard Nichols, the first English governor of New York, who established the first Episcopal church in New York, and who, under the command of James, Duke of York, commanded the fleet that took New Netherlands from the Dutch in 1664 and named the place New York. Francis Nicholls was a military man in England, and was a member of the famous regiment of Horse Guards in London, but the title of sergeant was conferred on him at Stratford. He was a member and communicant of the Church of England, and the ancestor of a pious, wealthy, distinguished family of Stratford. His son, Caleb, married Anna, daughter of Andrew Ward, of Fairfield, and died in 1690. He was the father of Sarah, who married Moses Wheeler.

(III) Moses (3), son of Moses (2) Wheeler, was born July 8, 1675. He married (first) Ruth Bouton, in December, 1698. He married (second) Mercy Lattin, widow of Thomas Lattin and daughter of Henry Wakelyn. Children, by first wife: Elnathan, mentioned below; Nathaniel, drowned at the ferry.

(IV) Deacon Elnathan, son of Moses (3) Wheeler, was born January 31, 1703, died March 14, 1761. He married, December 8, 1726, Martha, daughter of David and Martha (Blagge) De Forest. His estate was inventoried at one thousand six hundred and nineteen pounds eleven shillings one pence, and included "one negro man, Will., 30 pounds, twelve Knee Buckles, a part of a set of china dishes, 4 Bibles and a number of books." The De Forest family first appears in Avesne, France, where from 1559 a Spanish garrison was kept for many years so that any one of Protestant faith was cruelly persecuted. Here the De Forest and other families embraced the foreign doctrine, and successive persecutions compelled the removal of their family to Le Couteau, to Ledau, and to Leyden. In 1606 in Leyden four brothers were living, Jean, Jesse, Michel, and Girard De Forest, and a sister Jeanne. Jesse, the ancestor of the Stratford Wheelers, married at Leyden, Marie du Cloux. Soon after the Plymouth Pilgrims removed from Leyden, he and others left Holland, and planned to settle in Virginia. This plan was not carried out, and in 1623 he joined an expedition for the conquest of Brazil, where he died in 1624, very likely at San Salvador. His son Isaac sailed with a brother for New Netherland, October 1, 1636, in the yacht "Rensselaerwick." He married at New Netherland, June 9, 1641, Sarah, daughter of Philip and Susanna (du Chiney) du Trieux, who were Walloons of the earliest migration. David, son of Isaac, married, 1696, Martha, daughter of Samuel Blagge, of New York, who was the son of Captain Benjamin Blagge. David came with his wife to Stratford, where they "covenanted with the Church," August 7, 1697. He was a glazier by trade, and died April 20, 1721. Martha, daughter of David and Martha (Blagge) De Forest, was born April 13, 1700, married Deacon Elnathan Wheeler, and their children were: Ruth, Martha, Sarah, Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Mary, Elnathan, mentioned below, Eunice.

(V) Elnathan (2), son of Deacon Elnathan (1) Wheeler, was born May 20, 1740. He married, January 26, 1765, Charity, daughter of Stephen Frost, son of Joseph Frost, of Charlestown, Massachusetts. She was born in 1740. Her sister Esther married Solomon Plant, father of David Plant, lieutenant-governor of the state of Connecticut from 1823 to 1827, and a member of congress from 1827 to 1829, one of the most influential men of his day in political circles. Elnathan Wheeler lived on the Wheeler homestead which he in-inherited from his father. He also was a farmer as his ancestors had been. The occupancy of the ferry had passed out of the family by this time, and in 1813, when the first bridge was built over the Housatonic river, between Stratford and Milford, the custom of a ferry was abolished. He was a firm, upright man, very much respected by his associates He owned much land, for he gave much to his sons. His eldest son Elnathan was given a large farm at Harvey's Farm, a short distance north of his own home. Elisha was given a farm adjoining his father's on the north. To Reuben he gave a farm in Putney, in the northern part of town. At his death, February 14, 1809, he left the Wheeler homestead to his youngest son Stephen. His wife survived him several years, and after his death lived at the homestead with her son Stephen. She died March 6, 1816. Children: Elnathan, born March 5, 1766, died November 1, 1805; Charity, July 8, 1769, died 1797, unmarried; Elisha, July 26, 1772, mentioned below; Reuben, July 1, 1775; Ruth, May 15, 1780; Stephen, March 1, 1782.

(VI) Elisha, son of Elnathan (2) Wheeler, was born July 26, 1772, died May 5, 1853. He married Dorothy, born in 1776, died January 12, 1847, daughter of Ezra Birdseye, of Oronoque, and granddaughter of Rev. Nathan Birdseye, who preached a sermon in the Congregational church in Stratford on his one hundredth birthday. His tombstone bears the inscription: "Sacred to the Memory of the Rev. Nathan Birdseye, A. M. He was Born August 19th. 1714. Graduated at Yale College in 1736, Ordained at West Haven, 1742. Dismissed and Recommended by the Consociation 1758 and Departed This Life January 28th. 1818. Aged 103 Years, 5 Months and 9 Days. The Memory of the Just is Blessed." Children: 1. George, born at Stratford in 1800, died July 16, 1835; married Betsey C. Booth, of Stratford, October 23, 1829; children: Lucy Birdseye, September 4, 1830, Mary Curtiss, December 26, 1831, died July 29, 1835, George Birdseye, June 6, 1835, married and removed to Kansas City. 2. Ralph, born 1807; married (first) Elizabeth Gall, of Hudson, New York; child, Elisha, deceased; married (second) Mary -, children: Phebe, married, and William, who went west and settled. 3. Ezra, mentioned below.

(VII) Ezra, son of Elisha Wheeler, was born in Stratford, November 9, 1809, died in New York City, December 18, 1885. When quite young he went to New York City, where he engaged in business in which he was very successful. He amassed a fortune and retired some years prior to his death. He married (first) Caroline Darrow, of New York City. He married (second) Celia Vischer, of Albany, New York. He married (third) Emily Curtiss. Children by first wife: 1. Sarah Ellen, married Dr. Walter de Forest Fay, of New York City, now deceased; she resides in Stratford. 2. Caroline, resides in New York City. Children of second wife; 3. John Vischer, deceased, was a resident of New York. 4. Celia Vischer, deceased. Children of third wife: 5. Emily Curtiss, born 1852, died August 28, 1872. 6. Arthur de Forest, mentioned below. 7. Laura, makes her home with Arthur de Forest Wheeler. 8. Walter, resides in Stratford. 9. Edward, died in infancy.

(VIII) Arthur de Forest, son of Ezra Wheeler, was born in New York City, January 3, 1855. He was educated there in the public schools, and was engaged in business with his father until his retirement, since which time he has made his home in Stratford, and is a well-known and highly esteemed citizen. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church, in which he has served as vestryman for a number of years. He married, September 17, 1884, Carrie May Dunbar, born at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1857, daughter of George Curtis and Jane (Shelton) Dunbar. Her father was born in Abington and died in Hartford. Children: Dorothy Birdseye, born July 6, 1885; Emily Dunbar, March 3, 1891.

Notes

10/01, email from Maxine Perry

Died aged 100, was buried in the churchyard of the Old Congregational Church at Stratford, Conn. It is said he came from Kent, England,his ancestors having originally lived in Hertfordshire,and that he came to New Haven from London in 1638,probably with the New Haven Company. He was among the first to receive an allotment of land at New Haven in 1643.

The date of his removal to Stratford is not known, but he was living there in 1648 when the privilege of the ferry across the Housatonic River was granted to him by the General Court. He was a ship carpenter by trade and in addition to building vessels he engaged in farming the lands of which he was an extensive owner, and he became one of the leading and influential men of Stratford. In 1670,the town leased to " Moses Wheeler, Ship carpenter, the ferry with thirty or forty acres of upland and six of meadow joining to the ferry, for 21 years.With out tax or rate, except sixpence per annum during said lease," and the inhabitants were to be ferried over for one half -penny per person,and two pence per horse or beast."

About ten years before his death he gave most of his property to his children; to Moses Jr. ,Samuel and Jacob Walker he gave the tract near Derby that he had bought from the Indians about forty years before,and by his will dated February. 19, 1689-90,his son Samuel received the homestead and all pertaining to it. This homestead, according to Samuel's will of Nov.30,1689,lay "at ye upper end of ye upper Island," probably in the Housatonic.

June 10, 1002, email from Bob Garrigus, https://web.archive.org/web/20061205063601/http://garrigus-family.com/ [replaced dead link]

1. Samuel Orcutt, Burying Places of Stratford, Connecticut, (CT: Under the auspices of the Fairfield County Historical Society, 1886), Page 236, This source contains a drawing of Mose Wheeler's tombstone. It is a hand-carved monument stating that Moses was 100 years old at the time of his death in 1698.

2. Headstone Inscription for Moses Wheeler, Sr., Congregational Burying Place, Stratford, Fairfield County, CT, Moses Wheeler's tombstone records his date of death as January 15, 1698. He was reportedly 100 years old at the time of his death which supports a date of birth sometime about the year 1598.

3. Samuel Orcutt, Burying Places of Stratford, Connecticut, (CT: Under the auspices of the Fairfield County Historical Society, 1886), Page 236.

4. Headstone Inscription for Moses Wheeler, Sr., Congregational Burying Place, Stratford, Fairfield County, CT, Moses Wheeler's tombstone records his date of death as January 15, 1698. He was reportedly 100 years old at the time of his death.

July, 2002, Bill Wheeler, email

• August 2002, email from Maxine Perry,

Descendants of Moses** Wheeler

Fairfield Probate Records, Volume 4, pp. 170-171, The following Will, Estate Inventory, and subsequent probate entries relative to the Estate of Moses Wheeler Sr. (1598-1698)was viewed and copied from LDS Microfilm 0004287 on June 30, 2001 by Robert C. Garrigus at the LDS Family History Center in Kensington, Montgomery County, MD. These same Fairfield Probate Records may also be viewed at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Hartford County, CT. I invite any additions or corrections to the following text but feel confident that the original message has survived my inevitably less-than-perfect transcription.

The Last Will & Testament of Moses Wheeler, Sen'r.

"I Moses Wheeler Sen'r. of Stratford in ye Collony of Ffairfield being aged and weake of body but in my right understanding do make this my last will and testament.

I comit my soule into the hands of my dear redeemer, my body I comit to the Earth to be decently intered at ye desires of my surviving friends: As to my wordly goods & things desposed them (words "as falls with" crossed out): I having desposed of all my children in marriage and given them such portions as I saw good: and leaving (leasing?) also my lands as in and (word) dated ye twentieth of Jan'y 1688 will more fully (appear?) and have nothing to despose of but my dwelling house and my homelot with my moveables without doors and within and within: I give grant & makeover to my beloved son Samuell Wheler the dwelling house barn and homelot with all ye moveables within doores after my desires not excepted in this my will, and all the livestocke in horses, swine, goat and small cattle to be his own and at his own dispose disposal to strengthen him to maintaine my wife and my selfe: only except ten sheep out of ye stock which I reserve into my own hands to despose of in life or deth.

And likewise my son Samuell is to pay therty pounds to my order either in life or at deth as I shall see cause to despose of it: To him I give all my lawful debts: It. out of my moveables I do accept from thie gifte to my son during my life and my wife's life my bed and all ye furniture thereunto belonging.

It. I give unto my daughter Merriam two pewter dishes: It. I give unto my son Moses his wife ye Great pewter platter: It. I give to my daughter Mary a bras kitle houlding ten or twelve gallons more or less: The abridgement of the (master or marter?) books and Mr. Brooks his devices of sathan: It. I give to Elizabeth ye wife of my son Samuell ye Great ketle: It. I give to (word "my" crossed out) Mr. Israel Chauncey twenty shillings in silver [I] desire Mr. Chauncey and Mr. Joseph Hawley to be overseers of this my last will: That this is my last will and testament I attest to by setting to my hand and seal nineteenth of Febry 89/90."

Signed Sealed and Delivered

in presence of us Moses Wheler [Seal]

James Clarke

Sarah Chauncey

"I Samuell Wheeler of Stratford, being present at my hon'd father's making his will and understanding what conditions he hath bound me to know all men by these presents that I Samuell Wheler do bind my life to my heirs and executors to fulfill all the aforementioned conditions as to the maintainainc of my father and mother during life paying all lawfull debts due from ye estate and such summe of mony as he hath excepted: and (word) he (word) that he hath hear bequeathed. In witness whereof I have set to my hand and seall ye day and year above (word "written" crossed out) mentioned."

Signed Sealled and Delivered Samuell Wheler [Seal]

in presents of us

James Clark

Sarah Chauncey

Stratford March ye 1st: 1697/8

An inventory of Moses Wheeler Sen'r. his Estate which he died posesed of as it was present to us Viz: Two parcels of land lying on the White Hills containing 128 acres more or less valued by us at 82#

& Ten sheep five pounds

Samuel Galpin } (word)

Ambros Tompson} men

Fairfield Probate Records, Vol. 4, p. 171:

The Will of Moses Wheeller Sen'r. deceased being exhibited to a speciall court held in Ffairfield Apprill ye 9: 1698 in order to a setlement this court do approve the said Will and do order it to be Recorded; and there being one Inventory of two parcels of land and ten sheep undisposed of which this court do dispose of as followeth Viz: the eldest son to half a double portion and ye Rest of the Children or ye heirs of them if are deceased to have equall and single portions & this court do Appoint and Impower Samuell and Moses Wheeler to Administer ye said Estate and distribute the Estate accortding to ye above order of ye courtFairfield Probate Records, Volume 4, pp. 170-171, The following Will, Estate Inventory, and subsequent probate entries relative to the Estate of Moses Wheeler Sr. (1598-1698) were viewed and copied from LDS Microfilm 0004287 on June 30, 2001 by Robert C. Garrigus at the LDS Family History Center in Kensington, Montgomery County, MD. These same Fairfield Probate Records may also be viewed at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Hartford County, CT. I invite any additions or corrections to the following text but feel confident that the original message has survived my inevitably less-than-perfect transcription.

• Fairfield Probate Records, Vol. 4, p. 171:

The Will of Moses Wheeller Sen'r. deceased being exhibited to a speciall court held in Ffairfield Apprill ye 9: 1698 in order to a setlement this court do approve the said Will and do order it to be Recorded; and there being one Inventory of two parcels of land and ten sheep undisposed of which this court do dispose of as followeth Viz: the eldest son to half a double portion and ye Rest of the Children or ye heirs of them if are deceased to have equall and single portions & this court do Appoint and Impower Samuell and Moses Wheeler to Administer ye said Estate and distribute the Estate according to ye above order of ye court

Land and ten sheep were distributed from his estate on 12 February 1722/23. It is recorded right before his son, Moses' will in the Fairfield Town Records.^[5]

Children recorded in Stratford.^[6]

1. Elizabeth Wheeler b. 5 Aug 1642
2. Mirian Wheeler b. 28 Mar 1647
3. Moses b. 28 April 1649
4. Moses Wheeler b. 4 July 1651
5. Mary Wheeeler born 13 Sept 1655

Research Notes

• No Featured Article in Anderson Great Migration
• Photo of gravestone Find a grave 11229578. Moses Wheler. Old Congregational Burying Ground, Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA
• Trumbull Conn Col Records Vol 1 p. 163
• Probate at Ancestry http://interactive.ancestry.com/9049/007628200_00202/263406
• No death records for Moses or Miriam in Barbour Collection.
• Stratford Church Record Index- does not exist at Ancestry. Conn Libr says they've been digitized. I have to assume Stratford has no index, maybe no records.
• McCormick-Hamilton: McCormick-Hamilton, Lord-Day Ancestral Lines: Compiled for Elizabeth Day McCormick and Robert Hall McCormick, III (n.p., 1957). borrow at Archive Has an article.

Sources

1. ↑ History of the Wheeler Family in America: Page 412 (#5700)
2. ↑ Commemorative Biographical Record: Page 688
3. ↑ A Family History: Page 43
4. ↑ "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation" by William Richard Cutter etal. New York, NY, USA: Lewis Publishing Company, 1911. p 636 https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalfami01cutt#page/636/mode/1up/search/wheeler
5. ↑ “Probate Records, v. 6-8, 1717-1750”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G92K-TKRV  : 17 April 2021), , FHL microfilm 007627301, image 132, Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut, Vol 6, 1721-1750, Page 158.
6. ↑ White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Stratford. @ p. 251 Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #11229578
• Wheeler, Albert Gallatin The Genealogical and Encyclopedic History of the Wheeler Family in America (American College of Genealogy, Boston, Massachusetts, 1914)available here
• J.H. Beers & Company, 'Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut', 1899. available here
• Hitchcock, Russell Snow, A Family History : Recording the Ancestors of Russell Snow Hitchcock. 1947. available here