Benjamin Wheelock, who may have been the first Wheelock born in the American colonies, certainly has stayed out of view of family historians. We have bits and pieces, enough to have a vague outline, but we don't know nearly as much about him as he know about his father.
His parents were Rev. Ralph and Rebecca Clarke Wheelock. Rev. Wheelock was a graduate of Clare College at Cambridge University, and Rev. Ralph came to America as a Puritan pastor. He is also recognized as the first public school teacher in America. So, poor Benjamin! His father was both a pastor and a schoolteacher; what chance did the poor kid have?
Benjamin had four older siblings and one younger sibling. He was born January 8, 1639/40 in Dedham, Massachusetts, where his parents had gone soon after arriving in Massachusetts Bay Colony. The family stayed there until Benjamin was about 11 years old and then they moved to Medfield, Massachusetts. Typically boys were put into some kind of a trade or on the job training program by the time they were 14. We don't know if this happened to Benjamin, or whether his father's more professional occupations might have allowed Benjamin to stay at home longer. Perhaps he was needed for the chores around home, as his father was busy preparing sermons and lessons and may not have paid much attention to other things that needed to be done.
Benjamin married Elizabeth Bullen, daughter of Samuel and Mary Morse Bullen, on May 21, 1668 in Medfield. He was a little older than typical for his generation, about 28, but Elizabeth was about 21, about typical for young women. Benjamin and Elizabeth stayed in Medfield, where he had a house built the year of their marriage. He acquired other land and became known as a "proprietor", which gave him certain rights in land divisions that not every resident had.
Benjamin and Elizabeth had at least five children, and at least four were born in Medfield. Sometime in 1685 or 1686, the family moved to Mendon, where Benjamin is listed as a founder. Here he was a tything man, a constable, and a selectman, so he was well regarded there. He purchased land from Matthias Puffer and undoubtedly hoped to live out his days in Mendon, along with his wife Elizabeth.
However, Elizabeth died in 1689, Benjamin may have married Elizabeth French, widow of Jonathan Thayer and daughter of John French, in about 1692. It is possible that he fathered two more children with her, although some think this is not correct. I guess I hope it is true, that he had children when he was well into middle age, because they would have kept him young, or at least helped care for him as he aged.
Benjamin died September 13, 1716 at Mendon. I've not found a will or inventory, which is disappointing. That might give us more insight into what Benjamin did for a living, and how well he was doing, financially. It might also tell us what land he owned, and whether he had a library of more than a Bible and a couple of religious books.
From what little we know, we know that he was respected in his community, that he raised a good family, and that he was at least as "religious" as his neighbors. Being chosen as a selectman was an honor, and it's an privilege to be able to claim him as an ancestor.
The line of descent is
Benjamin Wheelock-Elizabeth Bullen
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Hobrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Showing posts with label Bullen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bullen. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Friday, September 14, 2018
Holbrook line: Samuel Morse 1576-1654 Immigrant
What would it take for a man of 50 to decide to take his family across the ocean to a land they had only heard of, with challenges both known and unknown? He was a "husbandman", meaning that he farmed either land owned by someone else, or a small farm. So he didn't have much money in England, and perhaps he thought life would be better here.
We do know a little more about Samuel than we do about some of our ancestors. His parents were Reverend Thomas and Margaret (probably King) Morse, and he was born on or shortly before June 12, 1576 in Boxted, Essex, England. Boxted is a small village on the northern border of Essex, not far from the North Sea. The current population is about 1350 people. Two groups of religious dissenters had gone from this area to New England in 1630, so in addition to economic reasons, perhaps the Morses were following family, or certainly, neighbors.
Samuel married Elizabeth Jasper, daughter of Lancelot and Rose Shephard Jasper, on June 29, 1602, at Redgrave, Suffolk, England. This was about 40 miles from Samuel's home at Boxted, but we don't know how they met. Perhaps Samuel's father had preached at Redgrave, or maybe Elizabeth visited someone in Boxted. At any rate, they met, married, and settled down in or near Redgrave, where several of their children were born. Their last three children were born at Burgate, Suffolk, England, which seems to be quite close to Redgrave.
Samuel, Elizabeth, their twenty year old son Joseph and a 2 year old granddaughter traveled together on the ship Increase in 1635. Samuel was listed as 50 and Elizabeth as 48. It is uncertain how the other children got to New England but there are only ship and other records for a small fraction of those who arrived in New England, so that is not a problem. Samuel and Elizabeth first went to Waterwon, and then to Dedham, which are both towns settled by those settlers who had come over from Boxted in 1630. The Morses were iamong the first settlers of Dedham in 1637, when Samuel was admitted to the church. He was made a freeman on October 8, 1640.
We don't know what education Samuel had but he must have had at least the basics because he served Dedham as a treasurer and a selectman, he was an assessor for the meetinghouse rate, and he was a fenceviewer and highway surveyor. One would think that the treasurer's position would require basic math skills, and the selectman's job may have required literacy.
In 1652, Samuel and Elizabeth moved on to Medfield, where they were early settlers. I find it hard to fathom moving across the ocean, living in one town, going to another, and then finally, at the age of 67, starting over in another village. Starting over may well have meant building one's own home, clearing one's own fields and helping with the common, and helping develop roads for the new village. It would have been a lot of work! Samuel still owned land in Dedham when he died in December of 1654, but it's unclear whether he also owned land at Medfield.
His estate was valued at 124 pounds, 7 shillings, of which 40 pounds was real estate. I don't know what his net worth would have been when he left England, but he seems to have improved his circumstances here.
He left descendants who would not only improve their circumstances, but improve the country. John Chapman, otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed, is a descendant, as are Wild Bill Hickock, Emily Dickinson, William Howard Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and the two Presidents Bush. There are also some famous entertainers in the list such as Raquel Welch and Elizabeth Shue. We are cousins, very distant, to all these people!
The line of descent is:
Samuel Morse-Elizabeth Jasper
Mary Morse-Samuel Bullen
Elizabeth Bullen-Benjamin Wheelock
Benjamin Wheelock-Hulda Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly oh where are you Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susannah Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
If I have this figured right, Hulda Thayer was Ebenezer Thayer's niece, so Abigail Thayer's grandmother Hulda was also her aunt. Can that be right?
We do know a little more about Samuel than we do about some of our ancestors. His parents were Reverend Thomas and Margaret (probably King) Morse, and he was born on or shortly before June 12, 1576 in Boxted, Essex, England. Boxted is a small village on the northern border of Essex, not far from the North Sea. The current population is about 1350 people. Two groups of religious dissenters had gone from this area to New England in 1630, so in addition to economic reasons, perhaps the Morses were following family, or certainly, neighbors.
Samuel married Elizabeth Jasper, daughter of Lancelot and Rose Shephard Jasper, on June 29, 1602, at Redgrave, Suffolk, England. This was about 40 miles from Samuel's home at Boxted, but we don't know how they met. Perhaps Samuel's father had preached at Redgrave, or maybe Elizabeth visited someone in Boxted. At any rate, they met, married, and settled down in or near Redgrave, where several of their children were born. Their last three children were born at Burgate, Suffolk, England, which seems to be quite close to Redgrave.
Samuel, Elizabeth, their twenty year old son Joseph and a 2 year old granddaughter traveled together on the ship Increase in 1635. Samuel was listed as 50 and Elizabeth as 48. It is uncertain how the other children got to New England but there are only ship and other records for a small fraction of those who arrived in New England, so that is not a problem. Samuel and Elizabeth first went to Waterwon, and then to Dedham, which are both towns settled by those settlers who had come over from Boxted in 1630. The Morses were iamong the first settlers of Dedham in 1637, when Samuel was admitted to the church. He was made a freeman on October 8, 1640.
We don't know what education Samuel had but he must have had at least the basics because he served Dedham as a treasurer and a selectman, he was an assessor for the meetinghouse rate, and he was a fenceviewer and highway surveyor. One would think that the treasurer's position would require basic math skills, and the selectman's job may have required literacy.
In 1652, Samuel and Elizabeth moved on to Medfield, where they were early settlers. I find it hard to fathom moving across the ocean, living in one town, going to another, and then finally, at the age of 67, starting over in another village. Starting over may well have meant building one's own home, clearing one's own fields and helping with the common, and helping develop roads for the new village. It would have been a lot of work! Samuel still owned land in Dedham when he died in December of 1654, but it's unclear whether he also owned land at Medfield.
His estate was valued at 124 pounds, 7 shillings, of which 40 pounds was real estate. I don't know what his net worth would have been when he left England, but he seems to have improved his circumstances here.
He left descendants who would not only improve their circumstances, but improve the country. John Chapman, otherwise known as Johnny Appleseed, is a descendant, as are Wild Bill Hickock, Emily Dickinson, William Howard Taft, Calvin Coolidge, and the two Presidents Bush. There are also some famous entertainers in the list such as Raquel Welch and Elizabeth Shue. We are cousins, very distant, to all these people!
The line of descent is:
Samuel Morse-Elizabeth Jasper
Mary Morse-Samuel Bullen
Elizabeth Bullen-Benjamin Wheelock
Benjamin Wheelock-Hulda Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly oh where are you Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susannah Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
If I have this figured right, Hulda Thayer was Ebenezer Thayer's niece, so Abigail Thayer's grandmother Hulda was also her aunt. Can that be right?
Friday, April 13, 2018
Holbrook line: Samuel Bullen, Immigrant
We know enough about Samuel Bullen to make us want to know more. Of course, some of the early information is conflicting, but once we can point to him in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, his information is a little more definitive. So, he was born in either 1617 or 1622, in Redgrave, Suffolk, England, or Botesdale, Suffolk, England. The two villages are only about two and a half miles apart, so at least we have are pinned down very closely. Living at either location, Samuel would have been very familiar with St Mary's Church, which was constructed sometime in the late 13th or early 14th century. There are pictures on Wikipedia of the interior of this building, and they are stunning. But I digress.
I tend to think Samuel was likely born in 1617 although possibly not christened until 1622, for whatever reason. He was married in 1641 and the 1622 date would make him a pretty young bridegroom for the time period. His father was likely (don't quote me on this!) John Bullen and his mother Agnes Wiffin. I'd feel better if I could find the documentation for this myself, but it's been reported early and often.
There is also a bit of confusion the date he came to America. He was in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1636. I have also seen him listed as arriving in 1640. If this is so, then he must have returned to England for reasons unknown, and arrived back that year. We know he was accepted as a freeman in Boston in 1641, the same year he married Mary Morse, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Jasper Morse, in Dedham, Massachusetts. Samuel's name is on the Dedham Compact, written in 1636, but it's not clear whether he signed it in 1636 or whether he signed it when he moved to the town.
Samuel and Mary had at least nine children, some born in Dedham and some after the family had moved (or possibly the town had divided) to Medfield. I am not sure I completely understand the following but I will give it to you, anyway, in quotes. It is from an article from Volume 65 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, page 270, from an article about "The Origin and Development of Conveyancing."
"Samuel Bullein of Dedham for & in consideration of two cowes sould him granted vnto Thomas Dudley Esq deput Governor his dwellinghouse in Dedham and foure Acres of land within the fence neere adjoyneing to the said house vppon condition that the sd Bullein shall pay unto the sd Thomas Dudley twelve pounds starling at the house of the sd Thomas Dudley in Roxbury in manner following to wit thirty shillings in good cleane dry wheate the 18 (1) the next comeing and 20s in good butter and 10s in good cheese the 8 (7) 1647. & so the like sume vppon every eighteenth of march and the like sume of butter & cheese vppon every eight day of 7ber for the three yeares next following provideing at his owne cost a Tubb for the butter and the wheate buttr & cheese to be valued by indifferent men; & if the Cows be not with Calfe then ten shillings to be abated in the first paymt. This was by mortgage dat7 (7) 1646. Acknowledged before John Winthrop Gov: the same day."
I've tried to copy this word for word and punctuation for punctuation. I think it means that our Samuel purchased a dwellinghouse in Dedham and two cows from Thomas Dudley, the deputy Governor, and in return was to pay him wheat, butter and cheese for a period of four years. Cash was scarce at the time.
There are suggestions that Samuel may have been a housewright (carpenter) but I've not found that supported, yet. We can assume that he raised wheat and dairy cows, from the above conveyance.
We don't know just when Samuel became a deacon in the church. Almost everyone in town belonged to the church when it was first formed in 1638, but it seems unlikely that he would have been chosen as deacon right away, merely because of his age.
Samuel and Mary were in Medfield by 1651, but circumstances forced them out during King Philip's War in 1675-76. At least half of the town was burned by the native Americans, and about 20 colonists were killed. It is possible that the Bullens had already left for safer ground before the attack. It's also possible that Samuel, who would have been nearly 60 years old, stayed to try to protect the town. I've not found his name listed in "Soldiers in King Philip's War" but that list may not include every one who defended his own home town. Apparently Samuel's children had a hard time of it, too, because Samuel later asked for a reduction in "rates" (taxes) because not only had he lost everything, but he had needed to help some of his adult children, also.
Samuel and Mary did return to Medfield and rebuilt their home.Samuel died January 16,1692/92 and Mary died February 14 of the same year. This may explain why his inventory wasn't filed until 1695. It included books, clothing, feather beds and furniture, 'irons" and a loom, and several pieces of land as well as his dwelling house, totaling 178-02-08. Two years later, when a division was finally made, the real estate was valued at 131-10-00.
As with many of our immigrants, we can be proud of him, and just as with many others, we can wish we knew more about him. Imagine coming across the ocean, hoping to find a better life, and later having your home and those of some of your children burned! There were remarkable people.
Our line of descent is:
Samuel Bullen-Mary Morse
Elizabeth Bullen-Benjamin Wheelock
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
I tend to think Samuel was likely born in 1617 although possibly not christened until 1622, for whatever reason. He was married in 1641 and the 1622 date would make him a pretty young bridegroom for the time period. His father was likely (don't quote me on this!) John Bullen and his mother Agnes Wiffin. I'd feel better if I could find the documentation for this myself, but it's been reported early and often.
There is also a bit of confusion the date he came to America. He was in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1636. I have also seen him listed as arriving in 1640. If this is so, then he must have returned to England for reasons unknown, and arrived back that year. We know he was accepted as a freeman in Boston in 1641, the same year he married Mary Morse, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Jasper Morse, in Dedham, Massachusetts. Samuel's name is on the Dedham Compact, written in 1636, but it's not clear whether he signed it in 1636 or whether he signed it when he moved to the town.
Samuel and Mary had at least nine children, some born in Dedham and some after the family had moved (or possibly the town had divided) to Medfield. I am not sure I completely understand the following but I will give it to you, anyway, in quotes. It is from an article from Volume 65 of the New England Historical and Genealogical Register, page 270, from an article about "The Origin and Development of Conveyancing."
"Samuel Bullein of Dedham for & in consideration of two cowes sould him granted vnto Thomas Dudley Esq deput Governor his dwellinghouse in Dedham and foure Acres of land within the fence neere adjoyneing to the said house vppon condition that the sd Bullein shall pay unto the sd Thomas Dudley twelve pounds starling at the house of the sd Thomas Dudley in Roxbury in manner following to wit thirty shillings in good cleane dry wheate the 18 (1) the next comeing and 20s in good butter and 10s in good cheese the 8 (7) 1647. & so the like sume vppon every eighteenth of march and the like sume of butter & cheese vppon every eight day of 7ber for the three yeares next following provideing at his owne cost a Tubb for the butter and the wheate buttr & cheese to be valued by indifferent men; & if the Cows be not with Calfe then ten shillings to be abated in the first paymt. This was by mortgage dat7 (7) 1646. Acknowledged before John Winthrop Gov: the same day."
I've tried to copy this word for word and punctuation for punctuation. I think it means that our Samuel purchased a dwellinghouse in Dedham and two cows from Thomas Dudley, the deputy Governor, and in return was to pay him wheat, butter and cheese for a period of four years. Cash was scarce at the time.
There are suggestions that Samuel may have been a housewright (carpenter) but I've not found that supported, yet. We can assume that he raised wheat and dairy cows, from the above conveyance.
We don't know just when Samuel became a deacon in the church. Almost everyone in town belonged to the church when it was first formed in 1638, but it seems unlikely that he would have been chosen as deacon right away, merely because of his age.
Samuel and Mary were in Medfield by 1651, but circumstances forced them out during King Philip's War in 1675-76. At least half of the town was burned by the native Americans, and about 20 colonists were killed. It is possible that the Bullens had already left for safer ground before the attack. It's also possible that Samuel, who would have been nearly 60 years old, stayed to try to protect the town. I've not found his name listed in "Soldiers in King Philip's War" but that list may not include every one who defended his own home town. Apparently Samuel's children had a hard time of it, too, because Samuel later asked for a reduction in "rates" (taxes) because not only had he lost everything, but he had needed to help some of his adult children, also.
Samuel and Mary did return to Medfield and rebuilt their home.Samuel died January 16,1692/92 and Mary died February 14 of the same year. This may explain why his inventory wasn't filed until 1695. It included books, clothing, feather beds and furniture, 'irons" and a loom, and several pieces of land as well as his dwelling house, totaling 178-02-08. Two years later, when a division was finally made, the real estate was valued at 131-10-00.
As with many of our immigrants, we can be proud of him, and just as with many others, we can wish we knew more about him. Imagine coming across the ocean, hoping to find a better life, and later having your home and those of some of your children burned! There were remarkable people.
Our line of descent is:
Samuel Bullen-Mary Morse
Elizabeth Bullen-Benjamin Wheelock
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendants
Friday, May 15, 2015
Holbrook line: Ralph Wheelock abt 1600-1683 Immigrant
There is so much written about Ralph Wheelock, including an easily accessible article on Wikipedia, that I am not sure why I am writing this post. However, because my family may not be aware of their connection to him, I will give just the bare outlines of his life. We need to know our past, so we can walk proudly into the future.
It seems most likely, although unproven, that Ralph Wheelock was born or christened on May 14, 1600 in Donington, Shropshire, England. He know that his parents must have had money, because he was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, with John Milton and John Elliot as classmates. He enrolled in 1623 and obtained a bachelor of arts degree in 1626 and a master of arts in 1630 or 1631. Cambridge was a center for Puritan thought and he participated in that movement while there.
Less than two weeks after obtaining his master of arts degree, and being ordained by Francis White, biship of Norfolk, he married Rebecca Clarke, daughter of Thomas Clarke and Mary Canne, in the church of Wramplingham St. Peter and Paul, Wramplingham, England. It appears that he served as local curate in Banham, Norfolk, and then in some capacity in Eccles. We don't know when or whether his beliefs as a Puritan brought him up against the requirements of the Church of England, but it is believed that he, along with his wife and three children Mary, Gershom and Rebecca, sailed to Boston in 1637. There may have been a daughter, Peregrina, born at sea, also.
They first settled in Watertown, but by 1638 Rev. Wheelock was one of the founding fathers and first settlers at Dedham, Massachusetts. Four children were born to the couple there, Benjamin, Samuel, Record, and Experience. In 1639, he was chosen to be one of eight town 'assayers', or selectmen, and was also made a freeman. In 1642 he was appointed the General Court Clerk of Writs, which was included legal duties and also the authority to dispense lands.
Rev. Wheelock's first love was teaching school, and he may have been the first teacher of a public school in America. The school was voted on February 1, 1644 and Wheelock was the first teacher, but it's not clear exactly when the school began.
In 1651, the family was preparing to move again, to a settlement they helped found that became the town of Medfield. The last son, Eleazur, was born there, and the Wheelocks had finally found their permanent home. Rev. Wheelock was the leader of the committee of seven that founded the town, and received the first house lot there. He served on the board of selectmen for several years, and was a representative to the General Court in Massachusetts five different times. He was also the first school teacher there.
Rebecca Clarke Wheeler died January 1, 1680 and Reverend Ralph died January 11,1683. His will gave several grants of land to his sons and sons in law, and added a comment that "Further my will is that my books not formerly disposed of shall after my decease shall be Devided amongst my children." I would love to find an inventory of his books, to see what was important in his life besides the Bible, and what he used to teach his family and his students.
We have had a lot of schoolteachers in our family, and it's fascinating to think that somehow some of this man's influence reached to his descendents, many generations later.
The line of descent is:
Ralph Wheelock-Rebecca Clarke
Benjamin Wheelock-Elizabeth Bullen
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
Since Molly Wright is mentioned in this descent, the update is that there is no update. I am supposed to hear something from NEHGS this week, but thus far, all is silent. Soon, very soon!
It seems most likely, although unproven, that Ralph Wheelock was born or christened on May 14, 1600 in Donington, Shropshire, England. He know that his parents must have had money, because he was educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, with John Milton and John Elliot as classmates. He enrolled in 1623 and obtained a bachelor of arts degree in 1626 and a master of arts in 1630 or 1631. Cambridge was a center for Puritan thought and he participated in that movement while there.
Less than two weeks after obtaining his master of arts degree, and being ordained by Francis White, biship of Norfolk, he married Rebecca Clarke, daughter of Thomas Clarke and Mary Canne, in the church of Wramplingham St. Peter and Paul, Wramplingham, England. It appears that he served as local curate in Banham, Norfolk, and then in some capacity in Eccles. We don't know when or whether his beliefs as a Puritan brought him up against the requirements of the Church of England, but it is believed that he, along with his wife and three children Mary, Gershom and Rebecca, sailed to Boston in 1637. There may have been a daughter, Peregrina, born at sea, also.
They first settled in Watertown, but by 1638 Rev. Wheelock was one of the founding fathers and first settlers at Dedham, Massachusetts. Four children were born to the couple there, Benjamin, Samuel, Record, and Experience. In 1639, he was chosen to be one of eight town 'assayers', or selectmen, and was also made a freeman. In 1642 he was appointed the General Court Clerk of Writs, which was included legal duties and also the authority to dispense lands.
Rev. Wheelock's first love was teaching school, and he may have been the first teacher of a public school in America. The school was voted on February 1, 1644 and Wheelock was the first teacher, but it's not clear exactly when the school began.
In 1651, the family was preparing to move again, to a settlement they helped found that became the town of Medfield. The last son, Eleazur, was born there, and the Wheelocks had finally found their permanent home. Rev. Wheelock was the leader of the committee of seven that founded the town, and received the first house lot there. He served on the board of selectmen for several years, and was a representative to the General Court in Massachusetts five different times. He was also the first school teacher there.
Rebecca Clarke Wheeler died January 1, 1680 and Reverend Ralph died January 11,1683. His will gave several grants of land to his sons and sons in law, and added a comment that "Further my will is that my books not formerly disposed of shall after my decease shall be Devided amongst my children." I would love to find an inventory of his books, to see what was important in his life besides the Bible, and what he used to teach his family and his students.
We have had a lot of schoolteachers in our family, and it's fascinating to think that somehow some of this man's influence reached to his descendents, many generations later.
The line of descent is:
Ralph Wheelock-Rebecca Clarke
Benjamin Wheelock-Elizabeth Bullen
Benjamin Wheelock-Huldah Thayer
Mary Wheelock-Ebenezer Thayer
Abigail Thayer-Jesse Holbrook
Amariah Holbrook-Molly Wright
Nahum Holbrook-Susanna Rockwood
Joseph Holbrook-Mary Elizabeth Whittemore
Fremont Holbrook-Phoebe Brown
Loren Holbrook-Etta Stanard
Gladys Holbrook-Richard Allen
Their descendents
Since Molly Wright is mentioned in this descent, the update is that there is no update. I am supposed to hear something from NEHGS this week, but thus far, all is silent. Soon, very soon!
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