WHEELER, Richard

1614 - 1676  (61 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	WHEELER, Richard
  Birth	13 Jun 1614	Canfield, Bedford, England
  Christening	13 Jun 1614	Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	10 Feb 1676	Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, United States
  Burial	Abt 10 Feb 1676	Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States
  WAC	15 May 1900	SGEOR
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I30905	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	WHEELER, Thomas Sr ,   b. 2 Mar 1563, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England Cranfield, Bedfordshire, Englandd. 9 Feb 1635, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England (Age 71 years)
  Mother	SAYER, Rebecca ,   b. 1565, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England Cranfield, Bedfordshire, Englandd. 3 May 1653, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	11 Feb 1601	Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England
  Notes	~SEALING_SPOUSE: Also shown as SealSp 23 Jun 1944, SLAKE.
  Family ID	F14890	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	TURNER, Elizabeth
  Marriage	4 Mar 1644
  Family ID	F17508	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

• Notes

  The early records of the town of Dedham can be found in a book entitled "The early records of the town .." and can be found online here: https://archive.org/details/earlyrecordsofto01dedh. Richard's first marriage can be found on page 126: the 4th of the 3rd month (in the old calendar this was May 3rd) 1644. Norfolk was not created until 1793; for all of its early history, Dedham was part of Suffolk County. RIchard and Elizabeth had six known children in Dedham: Sarah, 3 Febraury 1645 (see page 3) Mary, 5 October 1646 (see page 3) John, 18 Oct 1648 (see page 4 - it says son of Richard & Elizabeth Wheel[ock]) Samuel, 4 Jan 1650-1 (see page 5) Hannah, 30 Aug 30 1653 (see page 6) Joseph, 5 February 1655-6 (see page 6) Sadly it appears that Sarah, Samuel, and mom Elizabeth all died the same day - Christmas day 1656. Richard married again, this time Sarah Prescott, daughter of John and Mary Prescott, who had lived a significant portion of her life in Lancaster, Massachusetts. Information about Lancaster vital records can be found in the book, "The birth, marriage, and death register, church records and epitaphs of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1850" which can be found online here: https://archive.org/details/birthmarriagedea1905lanc. The marriage between Richard and Sarah can be found on page 11 recorded for 2 August 1658. This family went through some very tough times. Lancaster was razed and utterly destroyed by Indians. Much of the populace fled to Concord, returning later to rebuild. Richard was killed in the massacre of 10 February 1676. Two of Richard's children were killed by Indians: Joseph (son of Elizabeth Turner & Richard) and Abraham (son of Sarah Prescott & Richard) were among the dead. Abraham's wife Tabitha was kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Indians. All the info about who Richard's ancestors were is very iffy. Pretty much, they agree that his father was a Thomas Wheeler. However, there are three different women that are stated to be the wife of Thomas and mother of Richard: Dorothy Holloway, Rebecca Sayre, and Ann Halsey. Also different couples are shown as the parents of Thomas, so the whole line of ancestors before that is questionable. Ancestry of Simon Wheeler of Greene, Maine- by Fredrick R. Boyer 1. Richard Wheeler of Dedham and Lancaster Ma: married at Lancaster 2 June 1658 Sarah Prescott, daughter of John and Mary (Platts) Prescott; died in Indian massacre 9 Feb 1675-6 at Lancaster. His widow married second at Dedham 22 Dec 1677 Joseph Rice of Marlborough. 2. Abraham Wheeler, son of Richard and Sarah (Prescott) Wheeler (Richard’s second wife) born at Dedham 7 Dec 1659; married Tabitha__________before 3 Mar 1683; Killed by Indians at Lancaster, Oct 1695. 3. Jonathon Wheeler, son of Abraham and Tabitha Wheeler, was probably born at Lancaster, MA before 1695; no information on his wife has bee found; probably removed to Concord, or that section of Concord which became Acton, by 29 Sept 1718, acquiring land near Obadiah Wheeler, Sr. William Wheeler, and Thomas Wheeler; probably still alive in 1750 when he conveyed land to Sampson Wheeler of Acton, near Samuel and Oliver Wheeler (mid Deed 50:591). An earlier deed transferred additional land in Acton to Oliver Wheeler, another apparent son. 4. Simon Wheeler, of Acton Ma was an apparent brother of Samson (Sampson) Wheeler of Acton and son of Jonathon Wheeler. (the line of descent is based primarily on records published in The History of the Wheeler Family of America, pp. 498-501.) He married Sarah Temple, daughter of Joseph and Abigail (Stearns) Temple, at Westford, MA 13 July 1742. He, along with Sampson Wheeler, served in Capt. Daniel Hills’ Co. Mar- Dec 1748 at New Marblehead, ME as a corporal. He died in 1758 at Westford When his estate was administered by his widow, Sarah Wheeler, with Richard Temple one of the sureties. (Mid. Probabte # 24344). Simon and Sarah had a son Simon, according to the muster rolls of French and Indian War soldiers (# 153312, # 153313, MA State Archives.) The Temple line is Abraham, Richard, Richard, Joseph, Sarah. 5. Simon Wheeler, son of Simon and Sarah (Temple ) Wheeler, was born about 1743 probably at Westford or Acton, MA (Age 16, 11 Apr 1759 on muster roll # 153312) He served in Col Elisha Jones Regt. During the French and Indian War from Apr 1759 until his dismissal 8 Dec 1761. By 1758 Simon’s uncle, Richard Temple had removed from Acton to Falmouth, ME, where he married Elisabeth, daughter of Ebenezer Gustin. He was a cord wainer by trade (mid. Deed 69:215, Cum Deed 1:443). Richard Temple next moved at Bowdoinham, ME by the 1760’s where he became a town official. Richard Temple died at Bowdoinham before 24 Sept 1783 when his estate was administered by his widow, Elisabeth Temple (Lincoln Probate II:197). By 16 Jan 1764, Simon Wheeler was of Bowdoinham, ME, when he made an agreement with Abiel Lovejoy of Pownalborough. There was a judgement against Wheeler over this agreement in a suit brought by Lovejoy 2 July- 24 Oct 1766. (lin. Co. common Please Record I:136). Further common pleas records and Lincoln Co. deeds show Simon Wheeler, yeoman, in Bowdoinham, Swan’s Island (near Bowdoinham, in the Kennebec River and Fairfield, ME. Although there are no Temple-Wheeler deeds, both Simon and Ebenezer Temple, son of Richard, settled in Fairfield and later Bowdoin, ME, near one another (Lin. Co. Deed 20:163, 35:34). By 1789 Simon Wheeler was of Bowdoin when he and Ebenezer signed a petition. They later signed another petition to the General Court along with other Bowdoin settlers, 14 Feb 1790, explaining the dire situation facing families “in a newly settled land” and asked the legislature to set up a “free and general school” and to grant a “release from taxation,” (Documentary History of the State of Maine 22:324-427.) The first petition signed 21 Jan 1789 requested that the state of Mass. Grant the petitioners land on the “North East side of Andorscoggin River near lands granted to S. Livermore and other.” This was to compensate for the petitioners clearing of private land which they thought was state owned land. (Documentary History of the State of Maine,: 142-143). It is evident that Simon Wheeler was never able to establish a legitimate claim to land in the Bowdoin area, which can be attested by the paucity of land records for him and other signers of the above two petitions. Simon Wheeler’s name does not appear in the 1790 census. However, there is an enumeration for a Hannah Wheeler’s family that strongly suggests that she was Simon’s widow. There are also two Joseph Wheelers and a John Wheeler whose families are enumerated in Bowdoin in 1790. One Joseph is believed to be Simon’s son. The other Joseph and John Wheeler can be traced to Concord and Carlisle, MA, through marriage records. Both of the previously mentioned towns are in Middlesex County, near Acton, MA, where the Temples and Simon Wheeler lived. Children of Simon and Hannah ?? Wheeler 1. Joseph Wheeler whose marriage intention to Elizabeth Meloon is recorded at Topsham, 3 July 1789; lived in Bowdoin. 2. Nancy Wheeler (1768-1855) married Isaac Meloon, later of Greene and Leeds, ME, at Bowdoinham 27 Oct 1791. 3. Mary (Polly) Wheeler, married Benjamin Phinney, later of Weld, ME, at Brunswick 24 June 1793. (1773- 1856) 4. David Wheeler, whose name appears as head of household on a Bowdoin 1792 tax list, later of Greene and Leeds, ME, married at Brunswick 10 Mar 1796, Meribah Ireland, daughter of Abraham and Meribah Ireland. 5. Simon Wheeler (1781-1953) late of Greene, Lincoln, Moluncus, and Charleston ME married at Green 15 Mar 1804 Sarah Stevens, daughter of Jacob and Martha (Pettingill) Stevens. 6. Rebecca Wheeler (1786-1824) who married at Green Freeman Landers in Jan 1803. 7. (Possibly) Hannah Wheeler (1782-1863) who married c. 1800 Jonathon Grover of Bowdoin, ME. Connie's Family - I try to update weekly Entries: 32549 Updated: 2004-12-07 02:25:18 UTC (Tue) Contact: c trier ________________________________________ * indicates my direct line # indicates parallel line +indicates non-family ________________________________________ Index | Descendancy | Register | Pedigree | Ahnentafel | Download GEDCOM ________________________________________ • ID: I7883 • Name: Richard * Wheeler • Given Name: Richard * • Surname: Wheeler • Sex: M • _UID: CFB4E5FAF7B56248A391CF2B0CC85797A8F8 • Change Date: 16 Aug 2003 • Note: Note: Killed by Indians, Wheelers Garrison "He lived in that part of Dedham, Mass., that was set off to Medfield, removing later to Lancaster, Mass., where he built a ... house at which he was massacred by the Indians, Feb. 9 1657-6. He married at Lancaster, June 2, 1658, Sarah Prescott, the dau. of John Prescott and Mary (Platts) Prescott, of Medfield." ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ !BIR-MARR-DEA: "Wheeler Family of Rutland, Mass" by Daniel Wheeler "Richard Wheeler was killed by the Indians at Lancaster in King Phillip's war, Feb. 10, 1675-6." The children of Richard and Elizabeth all born at Dedham Mass. were: 1. Sarah born Feb 4 1644-5 Dedham Norfolk Co MA (Ref. Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 3). died Dec. 25 1656 Dedham Norfolk Co MA (Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 128) + 2. Mary born Oct 5 1646 Dedham Norfolk Co MA married Thomas Wilder (b 1680 Marlboro MA d1739) of Lancaster 3. John born Oct 18. 1648 Dedham Norfolk Co MA (Vital Records of Dedham pg 4) died at Dedham Feb. 17 1661-2. at Dedham Norfolk Co MA (Vital Records of Dedham pg 8) 4. Samuel born Jan 4 1650-1 at Dedham Norfolk Co MA (Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 5.) died at Dedham Dec 25 1656 (Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 128) 5. Hannah born Aug 30 1653 (Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 6) 6. Joseph born Feb 5 1655-6 at Dedham Norfolkd Co. MA (Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 6.) killed by Indians at Lancaster Aug 22 1675.(Vital Records of Dedham MA pg 16) Joseph married to Elizabeth (Mary) Turner Richard Wheeler married second at Lancaster Mass on Aug. 2 1658 Sarah Prescott (Vital Records of Lancaster MA pg 11.) daughter of John and Mary (Platts) Prescott. She was born in Halifax Parish England in 1637 and died 25-August-1714. Children of Richard and Sarah were: + 7. Abraham born a Dedham Dec 7 1659 married Tabitha (possibly Stone). Abraham was killed by Indians at Lancaster Nov 1695. + 8. Isaac born at Dedham or Lancaster in 1661 married in 1682 or 1683 to Experience Metcalf of Medfield. 9. Jacob born at Lancaster Nov 25 1663 died Feb 21 1663-4. + 10. Zebediah born at Lancaster Jan 2 1664-5 married Mary. Died at Stowe Mass. Dec. 16 1729. 11. Sarah born at Lancaster Mar 12 1666 married ---- Taylor. She was living in 1742. 12. Elizabeth born at Lancaster May 24 1669 married Feb 12 1691 to Jonathan Rice of Sudbury. 13. Samuel born at Lancaster April 29 1671 Soldier in Expedition to Canada died 7-Apr-1691. 14. Daniel (Probably) b 1672 The Wheeler Family of Rutland Mass by Daniel M. Wheeler 1924 History of the Wheeler Family in America Albert Gallatin Wheeler Jr 1914 p 498. Wheeler Genealogy; Raymond David Wheeler Vol. 3. pg 99-100. • Birth: 1611 in England • Death: 10 FEB 1675/76 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts • Christening: 13 JUN 1614 Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England 1 • Event: King Philips War - Wheeler's Garrison Death Facts 10 FEB 1675/76 Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Father: Thomas * Wheeler b: 1571 in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, England Mother: Dorothy * Holloway Marriage 1 Sarah * Prescott b: 1637 in Halifax Parish, England • Married: Children 1. Abraham # Wheeler b: 7 DEC 1659 in Dedham, Massachussetts 2. Isaac Dedham # Wheeler b: 4 MAY 1661 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts 3. Jacob # Wheeler b: 25 NOV 1663 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts 4. Zebediah * Wheeler b: 2 JAN 1664/65 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts 5. Sarah # Wheeler b: 1 FEB 1665/66 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts 6. Daniel # Wheeler b: ABT 1668 7. Elizabeth # Wheeler b: 24 MAY 1669 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts 8. Samuel # Wheeler b: 18 FEB 1670/71 in Lancaster, Middlesex, Massachusetts Marriage 2 Elizabeth # Turner b: BET 1611 AND 1615 • Married: Children 1. Sarah # Wheeler b: 4 FEB 1644 in Dedham, Massachussetts 2. Mary # Wheeler b: 5 OCT 1646 in Dedham, Massachussetts 3. John # Wheeler b: 18 OCT 1648 in Dedham, Massachussetts 4. Samuel # Wheeler b: 4 JAN 1649 in Dedham, Massachussetts 5. Hannah # Wheeler b: 30 AUG 1653 in Dedham, Massachussetts 6. Joseph # Wheeler b: 5 FEB 1654/55 in Dedham, Massachussetts Sources: 1. Abbrev: Bedfordshire Parish Register Title: Bedfordshire Parish Register Page: Bedfordshire Parish Registers Vol. 27 pg 2 The following is found among the research notes of Fredrick R. Boyer— The notation at the top of the page says “Wheeler Family of Rutland, MA. Daniel M. Wheeler, Pittsfield, MA, 1924.” The book entry is as follows: The Wheeler family is of ancient English origin having been numerous in and about London for several hundred years. It is evident that some members of the family were prominent citizens for it is recorded that during the reign of Charles II (1649-1685), Sir Charles Wheeler was appointed “Captain General of the Caribee Islands,” and in 1698 an English fleet under the command of Sir Francis Wheeler put into the port of Boston to recruit. Among the ????? several Wheelers who settled at Concord, Dedham, Boston, Charlestown, and Newbury, Mass, and Stonington and Stratford, Conn. And at others places according to Savage’s Genealogical Dictionary. No relation has ever been established between these families although it is probably that some of them, at least, were related. The spelling of the name has been recorded in different ways according to the caprice or ignorance of various town and church clerks, as for example, Wheelar, Wheler, Wheller, Wheyler. But whenever original signatures are obtainable the name is always found to be spelled Wheeler. This book is devoted to Richard Wheeler of Dedham and Lancaster and some of his descendents and allied families. Chapter 1- First Generation and Allied Families, 1611- 1676. Richard Wheeler, born in England perhaps in 1611, married fired at Dedham, Mass, May 4, 1644, Elizabeth Turner of Dedham, who died in Dedham, Dec. 25, 1656. He married second at Lancaster, Mass, Aug, 2, 1658, Sarah Prescott, daughter of John and Mary (Platts) Prescott. She was born in Halifax Parish, England in 1697. The children of Richard and Elizabeth, all born at Dedham, Mass were: 1. Sarah, born Feb 4, 1644-5 Died Dec 25, 1656. 2. Mary, born Oct 5, 1646- married Thomas Wilder of Lancaster. 3. John, born Oct 18, 1648 died at Dedham Feb. 17, 1661-2 4. Samuel, born Jan 4, 1650-51, died at Dedham Dec. 25, 1656 5. Hannah, born Aug 30, 1658 6. Joseph, born Feb 5, 1655-6 Killed by Indians at Lancaster, Aug 22, 1675 The children born to Richard and Sarah were: 7. Abraham, born at Dedham, Dec 7, 1659- married Tabitha- killed by Indians at Lancaster, Nov 1695. 8. Isaac, Born at Dedham or Lancaster in 1661, married in 1682 or 1683, Experience Metcalf of Medfield. 9. Jacob, born at Lancaster Nov 25, 1668, died Feb. 21, 1668-4. 10. Zebediah, born at Lancaster, Jan 2, 1664-5 Married Mary, died at Stowe Mass, Dec 16, 1729. 11. Sarah, born at Lancaster March 12, 1666, married ……. Taylor. She was living in 1742. 12. Elizabeth born at Lancaster May 24, 1669, married Feb 12, 1691 Jonathon rice of Sudbury. 13. Samuel born at Lancaster April 29, 1671- Soldier in expedition to Canada, died in 1691. Inventory dated April 8, 1691. 14. Daniel (probably) Richard Wheeler was killed by the Indians at Lancaster in King Phillip’s war, Feb 10, 1675-6. Richard Wheeler’s name first appears in this country upon the occasion of his marriage to Elizabeth Turner, May 4, 1644. From this time on his name appears frequently upon the Dedham records. While there seems to be no proof of the fact, it is probably that this Richard is the same who, at the age of 24, embarked for “Virginia” from the port of London in August 1635, on the ship “Thomas” Henry Tavener, Master and who with 57 others were examined by the minister at Gravesend “touching their conformity in our religion” before embarking. (see Hotten’s list of Emigrants in American {Plantations, page 126.) The term “Virginia” was an elastic one in those days and often included New England, at one of whose ports the “Thomas” may have entered, or if he first landed in Virginia, he may have come afterward to New England. At any rate there seems to be no record of Richard in Virginia. At a town meeting in Dedham, Jan.1, 1646-7 the following votes were passed: “Richard Wheeler and John Farrington are admitted Townsmen,” and “Granted unto Richard Wheeler and John Farrington, 2 acres of vpland to be laid out at the discretion of Peter Woodward, Rob’t Hinsdale, and Richard Euered beyond the house Lott of the Richard Euered and betixt the highway and ye swampe ther.” (Dedham Records) Richard Wheeler’s house was built soon after, as it appears upon the valuation list of 1648 and in that year he and John Farrington bought Will Barstow’s grant of 8 acres. On February 26, 1651-2 the town voted “Granted to Rich Wheeler one parcel of vpland being about 1 acre more or less as it lyeth upon the South and west sides of his house Lott a highway to the swamp reserved.” (Dedham Records) On March 1, 1652-3 a division of 500 acres of common land was made and Richard Wheeler drew lot No. 29 consisting of 8 acres and eleven rods. On Feb 20, 1656-7 a division of the “cow commons” was made and Richard’s share was eight “cow commons”. As will be seen later these eight “cow commons” descended to his son Isaac and afterward to his grandson, Isaac Wheeler. On July 5, 1660, he drew lot No. 48 containing eight acres as his share of another divisions of common lands and on the same day the town voted “Libertie is grant to Rich. Wheeler to have he pt of the 500 acre diuident layed out to him vpon the ragged playne neere the ponde and on the south side of that ponde of the eat side of the ridge, to be laid out by Lieut. Fisher and Peter Woodward.” (Dedham Records.) He also owned other land in Dedham as allusion is made to it in a deed from Ephraim May to John Draper dated Dec. 27, 1717, of land in the Great Cedar Swamp, “Abbuting upon the swampe of Richard Wheeler.” (Suffolk Registry of Deeds B. 32 P. 272). Richard Wheeler was one of the original proprietors of the town of Medfield which was set off from Dedham and organized in 1651. His name is among the first twelve signatures upon the original agreement of the proprietors, now preserved by the town of Medfield. While it is not probably that he ever lived in Medfield, it is evident that he owned land there from the fact that for 100 years thereafter reference, is made in deeds to “Wheeler’s Bottom Swamp” in that town. He also had land at Wollomonopoag, now Wrentham, which was then an outlying precinct of Dedham. In the Wrentham tow records in 1696, twenty years after his death, mention is made of the setting off to the right of Richard Wheeler, of three cow, and two sheep commons. On May 17, 1652, he was appointed one of three commissioners to lay out the road between Dedham and Braintree and on May 3, 1659, he was appointed upon a similar commission to lay out the road between Dedham and Dorchester. On Dec. 25, 165, his wife Elizabeth and two of their children, Samuel and Sarah, died, perhaps by fire or other accident, and on Aug. 2, 1658 he married at Lancaster, Sarah Prescott, daughter of John Prescott, the founder of Lancaster. In 1659, he was one of the fence viewers for “Purgatory playne.” At a town meeting on June 22, 1660, Richard Wheeler was appointed one of the committee “deputed to views the Lands both vpland & meadow near about the pondes by Georges Indians wigwam and make a report of what they find to the selectmen in the first opportunity that can take” – this being his last recorded service to the town of Dedham. Richard removed from Dedham to Lancaster sometime between 1660 and 1663, in which latter year his son Jacob was born in Lancaster. Joseph Willard in his historical address at Lancaster in 1826, says that at the time of his death (1676) “Wheeler had been in town about fifteen years” and it is probably that he came soon after the death of his son John which occurred at Dedham, Feb. 11, 1661-2. There is little doubt that he had moved prior to Nov. 21, 1662, as upon that date the town of Dedham paid to Richard Ellis upon an order a sum of money due to Richard Wheeler for three days service at “Woolomonpuck,” now Wrentham, thus indicating the latter’s absence from town. This is the last record of Richard at Dedham except in the matter of taxes which continued uptil 1669, his last assessment being for the purpose of raising the money for the payment of King Philip’s claim at “Wollomonupoage,” the day being Nov. 15, 1669. Richard ownder land in Lancaster previous to his settlement there, however, for in the records of Lancaster under date of Feb. 5, 1659-60 after voting to lay out a “Second Division” of meadow land and giving directions as to the part first to be laid out, the town voted “And then to begin at the _____end of Goodman Whellers meadow and lay out what is meadow fit to mow toward Master Josllins house”—In this second division Richard Wheeler drew lot No. 28. The “Book of Lands” of the proprietors of Lancaster has the following description of “The Lands of Richard Wheeler,” “house lott- first he hath his house Lott whereon he built near unto danes Brook bounded southerly by the Lott of John Houghton and partly by the Common and northardly by the stated common and easterly and westerly it buts upon the stated common lying for twenty acors be it more or less together with sum small additions one adjoyning to it and another lying near Johns Jump.” “Enteruail Lott. More he hath twenty acors of enteruail laid being his enteruail Lott in the first division lyaing on the east side of Nashaway Riuer lying in two pieces bounded weterly by the Riuer and eaterly by the upland and buts southerly upon sum enteruail of Thomas Sawyer and northardly upon the upland and Riuer meeting.” The Thomas Sawyer here referred to was Richard’s brother in law. In the record of Lancaster town meeting under date of Feb. 2, 1668-9 is the following vote: “Goodman Wheller desired the town to give him a little piece of land lying by the side of Nashaway Riuer a little above Johns Jump which was granted by the towne.” Richard Wheeler’s house lot was situated in what is now known as South Lancaster south east of Georges Hill extending probably to or beyond the B. & M. R.R. at and the south of Thayer Station, formerly South Lancaster. His intervale or meadow was upon the east side of the Nashua River between South Lancaster and Clinton and north east of the corner of High and Allen streets in the latter town. The north end of this intervale was probably opposite and easterly of the sewage pumping station of as his name appears upon the valuation list of Lancaster in 1653 as one of the six wealthiest residents, his father-in-law John Prescott, being also among the number. He was “admitted freeman,” May 19, 1669. (N.E.Hist. & Gen. Register, Vol3, page 240 He was chosen “Grand Juryman” from Lancaster Oct. 17, 1672, this being an elective office at that time. Richard Wheeler was also one the earliest proprietors of “Pocomtuck,” now Dearfield, Mass. Although he never lived there. His name appears with those of other property holders of Dedham in the list of proprietors of Pocomtuck in 1669 and 1673. (Sheldon’s History of Deerfield.) His son Joseph was killed by the Indians at Lancaster, Aug 22, 1675 in King Phillip’s war. Richard had built a “block house” or garrison house on his farm at South Lancaster, this being one of the five similar defences of Lancaster and it was here that he, his brother-in-law, Jonas Fairbanks, and his nephew Joshua Fairbanks, together with two other persons were killed by the Indians in King Phillip’s attack Feb. 10, 1675-76 Concerning these persons it is said, “The first three were shot by the Indians who climbed upon the barn and so shot down over the palisades. The other two were waylaid while outside upon some errand.” (Hurd’s History of Worcester County Vol. 1, pg 15.) Ephraim Sawyer, a nephew of Richard Wheeler, was killed at the same time at the block house built by John Prescott the father-in-law of Richard and the rest of Richard’s family together with the remaining inhabitants were taken to Concord by the soldiers sent to rescue them. Richard’s widow, Sarah, removed later to Dedham with her children. From 1675 to 1697, seventy-two persons were reported killed by the Indians at Lancaster. The list includes Richard Wheeler and fourteen of his relatives as follows: Joseph and Abraham, his sons; Jonas Fairbanks, brother-in-law; Hannah (Prescott) Rugg, sister-in-law; Joseph Rugg and wife, Jonathan Fairbanks and Ephraim Sawyer, nephews and niece; Grace and Jonas, children of Jonathan Fairbanks and three young children of Joseph Rugg. Thus out of seventy-two victims whose names have been preserved, at least fifteen, or more than one fifth were either members of Richard Wheeler’s family or related to him by blood or marriage. In addition to these fatalities, three of his relatives were taken prisoner by the Indians during this time. Viz. His daughter-in-law, Tabitha, wife of Abraham, his niece, the wife of Jonathan Fairbanks and a son of his nephew, Joseph Rugg- (see History of Lancaster and Nourse’s Military Annais of Lancaster.) Richard’s son Samuel was a soldier under Maj. Wade in Sir William Phils expedition to Canada in 1690 and died soon after his return in 1691. In 1738 his nephew Joseph Wilder, petitioned for and received the grant of land due “his uncle Samuel Wheeler his mother’s brother who served under Maj Wade in the Canada expedition.” (Marvin’s History of Lancaster, page 125.) On Sept. 1, 1742, Sarah Taylor gave a receipt to Joseph Wilder for “what I was to received from him on account of a lot granted to my brother Samuel Wheeler by ye court as a Canada soldier.” Inventories of the estates of Richard Wheeler and his two sons, Abraham and Samuel, are preserved in the Middlesex Probate records. From the Inventory of Richard’s estate dated Aug 6, 1676, it appears that he owned probably 450 (certainly 400) acres of land in Lancaster and some personal property at Dedham, among the latter being a sword and three muskets. His real estate in Dedham was not mentioned in this inventory which was attested by his widow, Sarah, who was administratrix. (Middlesex Probate Records B 5 page 94.) Samuel’s estate consisted of 108 acres of land in Lancaster. One charge to the estate was for “money expended to fit him for Canady.” This inventory was dated April 3, 1691. Reference is made to portions of Richard Wheeler’s real estate in the Middlesex Registry of Deeds at Cambridge as follows: On July 6, 1700, Zebediah Wheeler of Stowe deeded to Henry Willard 40 acres of land (2nd Division) near Great Pond Meadow and 6 acres of meadow (3rd Division) at Pine Hill meadows, Lancaster, both pieces formerly belonging to “my late deceased father, Richard Wheeler” (Middlesex Registry of Deeds B pg. 31) Abraham and Isaac Wheeler some time previous to the death of the former in 1695, deed to Josiah Whitcomb about 100 acres of their father Richard’s estate in Lancaster. This deed is not upon record, but allusion is made to it in the deed from Zebediah Wheeler of Stowe to David and Hezekiah Whitcomb (sons of Josiah Whitcomb) dated Feb. 5, 1721-22 which he conveys his interest in a tract of land lying “on the south end of Long Hill and belonging to my late honored father Richard Wheeler” being the same land deeded by “my brothers Abraham and Isaac to Josiah Whitcomb.” (Middlesex Registry of Deeds B 32, pg 84) Mention is also made of Zebediah’s selling some of his father Richard’s land “up North River” (North branch of Nashua River) to Daniel and Samuel Wheeler and his sister Sarah (Wheeler) Taylor. (Notes of Hon. H.S. Nourse, Historian of Lancaster.) On Sept 21, 1731, Zebediah Wheeler of Stowe, but later of Western (now Warren) son of Zebediah deeded 25 acres of land in Lancaster belonging to his grandfather, Richard Wheeler. Some at least of the real estate held by Richard in Dedham descended to his son Isaac and through him to his grandson Isaac. There are no deeds records that are signed by Richard Wheeler but his name appears as a witness to deeds in 1646. (Suffolk Co. Registry of Deeds B 1 pg 120-121) Nothing is known of the burial place of Richard Wheeler or any of his family. Sarah Prescott, wife of Richard Wheeler was the daughter of John Prescott the founder of Lancaster and was born in England in 1637. After the death of her husband, she joined in petition of the remaining inhabitants of Lancaster for an escort of soldiers, as the town was to be temporarily abandoned. When the soldiers arrived she with her children accompanied them to Concord. From Concord the family removed to Dedham where on Feb. 22, 1677-78 she married Joseph Rice of Marlboro, Mass. RICHARD WHEELER lived in that part of Dedham, Mass., that was set off to Medfield, removing later to Lancaster, Mass., where he built a garrison house at which he was massacred by the Indians, Feb. 9, 1675-6. He married at Lancaster, June 2, 1658, Sarah Prescott, the dau. of John Prescott and Mary (Platts) Prescott, of Medfield. Her father, John Prescott, was a blacksmith from Sowerby, in the parish of Halifax, west-riding, Yorkshire, England. After the death of Richard Wheeler, his widow Sarah (Prescott) married at Dedham, Dec. 22, 1677, Joseph Rice, of Marlborough, Mass. Children, 1st marriage: (born at Dedham, Mass.) 8201. SARAH WHELER. born Feb. 4, 1645; d. Oct. 26, 1656. 8202. MARY WHEELER, born Oct. 5, 1646. 8203. SAMUEL WHEELER, born Jan. 4, 1650-1; d. Oct. 25, 1656. 8204. HANNAH WHEELER, born Aug. 30, 1653. 8205. JOSEPH WHEELER, born Feb. 5, 1655-6. It is claimed that he was killed by the Indians Aug. 22, 1675. Children, 2d marriage: (first two born at Dedham, others at Lancaster.) 8206. ABRAHAM WHEELER, born Dec. 7, 1659. 8207. ISAAC WHEELER, born 1661. 8208. JACOB WHEELER, born Nov. 25, 1663; d. Dec. 21, 1663. 8209. ZEBEDIAH WHELER, born Jan. 2, 1664-5. 8210. SARAH WHEELER, born Feb. 1, 1666-7. 8211. ELIZABETH WHEELER, born May 24, 1669. 8212. SAMUEL WHEELER, born Feb. 29, 1671. He was one of the first four soldiers who went in the Canada expedition in 1690 from Lancaster. It is very probable that he was killed, or died, on that expedition, as the inventory of his estate at Lancaster is dated April 7, 1691. The genealogical and encyclopedic history of the Wheeler family in America, (Google eBook) By Albert Gallatin Wheeler, American College of Genealogy American College of Genealogy, 1914 - Reference - 1257 pages