Obadiah Wheeler, of Concord

Obadiah Wheeler arrived in Concord with wife Susanna and George Wheeler (1st Cousin). Freeman 1641, he had land by Meadow Brook and also in the center of Concord. He probably came from Odell, England, as he was one of the original proprietors of Concord, and was made freeman there in 1641. He owned considerable property in and around Concord, and lived for a time, at least in the East Quarter of the Town. The name of his second wife has not been determined.

Children of Obidiah Wheeler and Susanna Wheeler

• 1. Joshua Wheeler b. b 1641
• 2. John Wheeler b. 1641
• 3. Ruth Wheeler b. 1642
• 4. Son Wheeler b. 1643, d. 1643
• 5. Samuel Wheeler b. 1645
• 6. Susannah Wheeler b. 1649

Children of Obidiah Wheeler and second wife (no name)

• 8. Josiah Wheeler d. 21 Apr 1676
• 9. Obidiah Wheeler II b. 1650

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Added by Elwin Nickerson II about my Great Grandfather with noted Wills and citation of Family lineage from England.

notes from the Cranefield, Bedfordshire records

[Note to reader: see also the American Genealogist , Volume 12 pp 4-17 and after p 135 and Volume 14 for later analyses by Homer W. Brainard – JCW]

GEORGE WHEELER, son of John Wheeler, was baptized at Cranfield, Bedfordshire 18 March 1605/6. [Also reported to be 28 March, 1605 by Winifred Lovering Holman, genealogist of Lexington, in a letter of 21 June, 1945 to RRW. She also stated that George was the son of Thomas Wheeler.]

SUSANNA, daughter of John Wheeler, was baptized 16 February, 1609/10.

OBADIAH, son of John Wheeler of Doswell, was baptized at Cranfield 5 December 1609.

KATHERINE, daughter of the same John, was baptized 25 February 1610/11.

GEORGE WHEELER and KATHERINE WHEELER were married at Cranfield 9 December 1631.

OBADIAH and SUSANNA WHEELER were married at Cranfield 20 January 1633/4.

Apparently, then, George Wheeler married a sister of Obadiah and Obadiah Wheeler married a sister of George.

The relationship between the two Johns, fathers of these four can only be guessed. The name of Wheeler was at that time the name most frequently occurring on Cranfield Parish Registers, of all the names therein recorded, and beside these two above quoted instances of intermarriages among members of the same family name (Wheeler) there are several more there recorded which it is unnecessary to mention here.

The will of “John Wheeler of Cranfield the elder of that name” was dated 18 January 1642/3 and offered for probate 22 January 1644/5. In it he names “my oldest son John”, “son of Isaac”, “son Obadiah”, “daughter Mary Barrett”, daughter Katherine Wheeler”, “son William”, and several grandchildren. Wife Elizabeth to be Executrix.

The will of “John Wheeler of East Inn Cranfield, Yeoman, the eldest of that name” is dated 29 October 1632, and offered for probate 7 January 1632/3. He mentions no wife so we may infer that she was by then deceased: also he names “eldest son Ralph” as executor. Sons Thomas, John, Henry, George and William, “daughter Susanna Wheeler” and two other daughters.

It seems that George's father John was older than Obadiah's father John, but that there was still one, or perhaps more, Johns living after the decease of George's father.

There seems to be no room for doubt that the George and wife Katherine, and Obadiah and wife Susanna, who turned up in Concord in 1638 or thereabouts are the George, Katherine, Obadiah and Susanna of Cranefield, Bedfordshire, England. The coincidence of names alone ought to go far in evidence, but there are some circumstances in confirmation of the theory.

Cranefield or Cranfield, (for it is spelled both ways on their own records), is a village in Bedfordshire, eight miles from Woodell, or Odell, the parish from which came the Rev. Peter Bulkeley of Concord. Three miles distant therefrom is an old manor, then still known as “Virginia House”. Now in Concord we had from the very earliest times, the “Virginia Road”, (over which Mr. A. E. Wood thinks the first settlers came) leading up through the “Virginia Meadows”, to a section of country known on our earliest records as “Cranefield”; and Wheelers, it may be noted, owned land just there.

George Wheeler of Cranfield, Eng. Was son of John; George Wheeler of Concord named a son John.

In October 1616, certain minor children of one Richard Wheeler of Cranfield were placed under the guardianship of one William Odell. One William Odell turns up in Concord along with the Wheelers in 1638, and settles in the easterly part of the township, in the “Virginia” and “Cranefield” locality.

Neither George nor Obadiah appears in any way on the Parish Records of Cranefield, after the record of their marriages. They must have gone somewhere. It is a fair conjecture merely that she was Mary, wife of the first Humphrey Barret, who came to Concord about the same time as did the Wheelers.

A certain Isaac Wheeler, brother of Obadiah, was born on Cranfield in 1607, and the only mention of him thereafter to be found in England turns up in Charlestown, Mass., who is proved by record evidence to be related to the Concord Wheelers.

One Richard Wheeler died in Cranfield in 1616, leaving a son Richard a minor under 17 yrs. Of age, who never again appears on Cranfield registers. But just at the time the Concord Wheelers settled here, a certain Richard Wheeler, settled at Dedham, Mass., removing later to Lancaster where he was killed by the Indians in 1675, and his children fled to Concord (perhaps to be near their own kinfolk?) [returning later to Lancaster when that town was reestablished.]

One Thomas Wheeler was baptized 20 November 1603 and Joseph was baptized 28 February 1609/10 sons of Thomas of Cranfield. They do not again appear in any way on Cranefield registers, but “Capt. Thomas” the Quaboag Indian fighter, and “Lieut. Joseph” who were demonstrably brothers, were for may years licensed to trade with the Indians on Merrimack River, and as they grew old came to Concord to live, whither Capt. Timothy, who is shown by his will to have been their brother, had already preceded them.

These considerations, taken all together, seem to prove conclusively that the Concord Wheelers came from this Parish of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England.

Doubtless a thorough search of the registers of other parishes in the same immediate neighborhood would untangle the whole knot of relationships, but it would be very expensive and perhaps unsatisfactory in its results.

Concord, Jan. 18, 1908 George Tolman.

[RRW wrote in her copy at this point: 1683 Middlesex Deeds 13:75 Samuel Green of Charlestown, weaver, and Mary his wife, the only daughter of Thomas Wheeler of Charlestown sells to Isaac Wheeler of Maulden all of his rights in the whole estate in Charlestown by inheritance from her father Thomas.]

[The Tolman manuscript continues with the following listing of wills:]

John Wheeler of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, husbandman: will dated 9 Feb. 1566. Names “my sister Agnes”, “son Thomas”, “son John” both under 21 yrs of age. “Wife Alys”. Robert Tatham: Mathew Vaux: Robert Styrme: Test Wyllm Baker, Willy Wheeler, Richd Mowse. Prob 15 Apl 1567.

John Wheeler the elder, of same place, Will 18 Jan 1642: proved 22 Jan 1644. “My eldest son John to have my copyhold lands: son Isaac; son Obadiah; dau Mary Barrett; dau Isebel Wheeler; grandchild Sarah Nash; grandchild Obadiah Mowse (Morise?): wife Elizabeth Ex'x. Test. Thomas Baker, Robert Huckes

Henry Wheeler, of same place, Will dated 1536. Proved 14 May 1536? Wife Elizabeth: son Thomas: eldest dau Alise L. William Wheeler: John Wheeler. Seems to have had other children.

John Wheeler, Will dated 6 Nov 1500: Prob 12 Dec 1500. Body to be buried in the churchyard of Marston Mortayne, (which adjoins Cranfield) dau Ana: dau sysaell {query Isabel?): dau Jean: bro William Wheeler

Thomas Weler of Holcot, Bedfordshire, Will 17 Apl 1537, prob 15 May 1537, wife maria, son Richard. Holcot is very near Cranefield.

Henry Wheler of Cranefield: Will 9 May 1589, prob 11 July 1589: wife Jane; Son William under 21 yrs old: Sisters Margaret Wheeler & Isabel Wheeler: eldest son Richard: Test. Richard Andros, Wm Wheeler: Thos Baker Sr.: Thos Baker Jr.

Richard Wheeler of Cranfield: husbandman: will dated 4 July 1616, proved 8 Oct 1616. Wife Elizabeth: “3 rd son Lewis” sons Thomas, Henry, John & William, “eldest son Richard under 17 years of age: daus Elizabeth, Anna & Sarah, all minors. Wm Woodell of Odell is named guardian of son William.

Richard Wheeler of Kempston, Befordshire. Minister Will (nunc) admitted 6 Feb 1618. Wife Alice, son Edward. The wife had children of her own (perhaps his also, & perhaps by a previous marriage.)

John Fuller of Cranfield 2 Feb. 1620 leaves a small bequest to William Wheeler. John Wheeler Test.

William Baker (ibid) 25 Apl 1621 appoints “my cosen Thomas Wheeler of Borne and “ overseer of his last will: and some Thomas Wheeler is witness.

John Wheeler the elder, of East Inn Cranefield, Yeoman: Will 29 Oct 1632, prob 17 Jan 1632/3- names sons Thomas: John: Henry: William: George: Ralph: daus Alice Fur (?) Joan & Susan Wheeler. Ralph, ex'r. to have all the property excepting one shilling apiece to the others.

Susan Wheeler of Cranfield, will 25 July 1636: names my brothers George & Henry, the latter ex'r, and sister Joan.

William Wheeler of same place, Yeoman, will 15 mch 1636/7, prob 1 Apl 1637: son John, daus Elizabeth & Christian, sons William, Thomas, wife Christian, my uncle John Seabrook of No. Crawley & my bro Giles Jenkins of Billington.

The name of Wheeler has been found in Cranefield as far back as anno XIV Henry VIII, that is 1522 & 1523.

The Parish Register of Cranefield begins with 1601.

Baptisms

John son of John Wheeler 28 Dec 1601

William son of Richard Wheeler 27 June 1602

John son of John Wheeler, Doswell 29 Aug 1602

Thoas (sic) son of Thomas 20 Nov 1603

Lewis son of Richard Wheeler 8 Aug 1604

John son of John Wheeler 22 Jan 1603/4

Henry son of John Wheeler 6 Sept 1604

Sarah daughter of John Wheeler 16 June 1605

George son of John Wheeler 18 March 1605/6

Thomas son of Richard Wheeler 8 April 1606

Ruth daughter of John Wheeler 21 Oct 1606

William son of John Wheeler 20 April 1607

Susanna daughter of Thomas Wheeler 21 May 1607

Isaac son of John Wheeler 13 Sept 1607

Elizabeth daughter of Richard Wheeler 1 May 1608

John son of Thomas Wheeler 22 Oct 1608

Martha daughter of John Wheeler 25 Nov 1608

Anna daughter of Richard Wheeler 2 July 1609

Obadiah son of John Wheeler 5 Dec 1609

Susanna daughter of John Wheeler 16 Feb 1609/10

Joseph son of Thomas Wheeler 28 Feb 1609/10

Anna daughter of Richard Wheeler 29 April 1610

John son of John Wheeler of Doswell 24 Feb 1610/11

Katherine daughter of John Wheeler 25 Feb 1610/11

Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Wheeler 27 Feb 1610/11

Margaret daughter of Richard Wheeler 8 Sept 1611

Obadiah Morise son of Richard Morise 12 Nov 1638

Marriages

Richard Moris & Ruth Wheeler 25 June 1633

Obadiah Wheeler & Susan Wheeler 20 Jan 1633

George Wheeler & Katherine Wheeler 9 Dec 1631

Burials

John, son of John Wheeler of Doswell 9 Aug 1604

Katherine, daughter of John Wheeler of Doswell 26 Feb 1610/11

John, son of John Wheeler 3 March 1610/11

John, son of Thomas Wheeler 27 Dec 1611

In 1627 & 1628 there were taxes in Cranefield:

Thomas Wheeler, Sr. for lands XX sh for goods IIII

Thos Wheeler de Ansley for lands XX sh for goods IIII

Johannes Wheeler, Sr. for lands XL sh for goods VIII

Pichardus Wheeler, Sr. for lands XX sc for goods IIII

Pichardus Wheeler, Jr. for lands XX sc for goods IIII

The manuscript in an earlier edition was “typed by Mrs. Marian Kent at Antiquarian Society [now the Concord Museum] from blue booklet lent by Mrs. Leslie Anderson given her by her aunt Mrs. William Wheeler. Proof read by RRW [Ruth R. Wheeler] Oct.5, 1938.”

The manuscript for the 1970 edition was typed and mimeographed by Mrs. Elinor Bosworth for Joseph L. Wheeler of Bensen, Vermont, a descendant from Sergeant Thomas Wheeler. It was proof read by J.L.W. 2/17-22/70. Obadiah Wheeler was born before 5 December 1609 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. He was baptized on 5 December 1609 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England. Obadiah Wheeler lived in Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony, circa 1638. He became a freeman on 2 June 1641 in Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He left a will on 6 August 1671. He died on 27 October 1671 in Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

He was the son of John Wheeler and Elizabeth Bread.

Obadiah Wheeler married as his first wife Susannah Wheeler, daughter of Thomas Wheeler and Rebecca Sayre, on 20 January 1633 in Wharley, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England.

Obadiah Wheeler married as his second wife Unidentified Wife after 1649 in Concord, Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Children of Obadiah Wheeler and Susannah Wheeler

i. Joshua Wheeler b. b 15 Sep 1637, d. 4 Feb 1725

ii. John Wheeler b. 27 Nov 1640, d. date unknown

iii. Ruth Wheeler b. 23 Feb 1642, d. date unknown

iv. (?) Wheeler b. 25 Nov 1643, d. 29 Nov 1643

v. Samuel Wheeler b. 22 Feb 1644/45, d. a 1690

vi. Susannah Wheeler b. 17 Mar 1648/49, d. 27 Jul 1694

Children of Obadiah Wheeler and Unidentified Wife

vii. Obadiah Wheeler b. c 1651, d. date unknown

viii. John Wheeler b. c 1653, d. date unknown

ix. Josiah Wheeler b. c 1655, d. 21 Apr 1676

Webpages:

http://deckershawfamilies.com/decker/p76.htm#i3795

http://www.gulbangi.com/5families-o/p370.htm#i9231

Additions to and Corrections of "Some of the Descendants of Obadiah Wheeler of Concord": Recent examinations of some of the parish records of England have rendered necessary the following changes in the text of the work:

The name WHEELER is derived from the occupation of a wheewlright. To a person walking along the village or town street the shop or house of John, the wheeler, would be pointed out in reply to his inquery.

The prenomen Obadiah appears to have been rare in England. The antiquary, B. Beedham, who made the examinations stated that in all his extensive researches he could not recall a single instance in which he had met with the name. He said immediately that "If I find anywhere an Obadiah Wheeler then I shall know I have found the immigrant or his family."

Cranfield, the home of Obadiah, is a small village, situated in Bedfordshire, seven or eight miles southwest from Bedford. It is a rural community. It's people were and are farmers mostly. As far back as 1300 The Abbott of Ramsey held the Manor of Cranfield, and John De Wordeboys was the Abbot. It was considered a happy circumstance when a monor belonged to a great and wealthy house, for the monks were kind and considerate to their dependants.

Citations

1. Charles Henry Pope, Pioneers of Massachusetts.

2. Raymond David Wheeler, Wheeler Genealogy - England.

3. Early VR Middlesex Co. MA (published), Vital Records of Concord.

4. Rev. George M. Bodge, "Soldiers in King Philip's War."

5. David Pulsifer, "Early Records of Boston."

Many of the Wheelers of England were Quakers. England's Act of 1593 mandated that "all people above 16 years of age must attend divine services at an established church or be committed to prison." Many families bearing the name of Wheeler came to America following this Act in search of religious freedom. These Wheelers settled in MA, CT, PA MD and VA.

As early as 1635 many Wheelers from Odell, in Bedfordshire, England, settled in Concord, MA. Other Wheelers did not leave England until after 1650 as they had to dispose of English property.

The exact date of Obadiah's arrival in Concord is unknown,"he probably came over with other Concord settlers from Odell, England before 1640. After becoming a 'freeman' in 1641, he was made one of the original proprietors in Concord.

Everything indicates that the Wheelers who settled in Concord, MA were well-to-do when they left England, and at once assumed prominent positions within the community. Because of this prominence, the Wheeler families were granted special favors including special military ranks, distribution of favorable pieces of land, and special seating in the meeting house. The Wheelers of 17th century Concord were definitely considered to be among the wealthiest families of that time. By the year 1650, there were more families in Concord bearing the surname Wheeler than any other surname."

The name of Obadiah's second wife (from whom we are descended) is unknown. It is believed that Obadiah's son Obadiah (by this wife) was born in Concord although no record of his birth is found.

The year of his arrival in America is not known but it is probable that he came with the Concord settlers from Odell, Wiltshire, England, as he was one of the original proprietors of Concord. He was made a freeman there in 1641. He owned considerable property in and around Concord and lived for a time in the eastern quarter of the town (History of the Wheeler Family in America, FTM CD ROM : Family History : New England Families #1).

Excerpts from Obadiah's will (written on 8/6/1671) :

"...And where as the Lord of his goodness hath given mee six children, five Sonns, and one Daughter

(referring only to his six living children)...I give unto them to every one an equall portion...And unto my sonne Obadiah Wheeler, I give my homestall house barne with all the buildings, orrchards, pastures, and medow there about, with the feild and land adjoyning thereunto, one the side of the Brooke all from the feild one the north side of the house in medow, three Acres of the River medow at fairehaven, three Acres in the medow caled the World's end and one third part of the Remainder of the medow at Dung hoale...Unto my son Obadiah I give to his portion as an addition, one pair of yong oxen, two heckfers, one fouer the other three yeares old, and one paire of shood cart wheeles with cart and all the irons about it...two acres of land lying upon the hill, which I reserved in my will above written, unto myselfe, my son Obadiah shall enjoy it three yeares and then it is to bee retorned to my sonn Josiah, and Josiah shall bee helpfull to his brethren Obadiah and John, ten days, betwene them about fencing there feilds freely and for all workeing tooles herein not mentioned, swine and corne or whatsoever to bee equally devided among the 2 yongest brothers."

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jan 25 2018, 16:46:50 UTC