Descendants of Robert WHEATON
Up dated 27th
October 2007
Generation No. 1
1.
Robert1 WHEATON1 was born Bet. 1605 - 1606
in England, and died Bet. 1695 - 1696 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA
Age 90 years or Providence, Rhode Island, USA1,2,3. He married Alice BOWEN4
Abt. 1640 in Possibly Salem, Essex, Massachesetts, USA5. She was born Abt. 1622 in Swansea,
Glamorganshire, and died Aft. 1696 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA6,7.
Notes
for Robert WHEATON:
PLEASE
SEE ALICE BOWEN NOTES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, no more room here!
The
following is information received from a variety of sources organised in some
sort of chronological order. Such an order has not always been possible, which
suggest more investigation is needed. [Sources in brackets]. Also endeavours to include information on
establishing of places, their naming, and the moving of the boundaries of
places connected to Robert and his family.
ENGLAND
TO SALEM
1605-1606 Robert was born in England, probably Devon
In a Nathaniel WHEATON
(Robert's great-grandson) genealogy registered in
vital records of
Providence, Rhode Island, on 31 August 1775 is written "A Genealogy
from Robert WHEATON the
first of the Name of the WHEATONs that came over from
England to Salem in New
England AD 1636 about 30 Years of Age and there married
Elce BOWEN Daughter of Richard BOWEN
from thence Removed to Rehoboth AD
1645 and there Lived and
Died AD 1696 about 90 years of Age. Their Offspring
Joseph WHEATON, Samuel
WHEATON & Jeremiah WHEATON Born at Salem,
Obadiah WHEATON, John
WHEATON, Bethia WHEATON, Hannah WHEATON, Mary
WHEATON, Ephraim WHEATON & Benjamin WHEATON Born
at Rehoboth..."
[David J WHEATON 19
September 2004]
1636 Sailed to Salem (Nathaniel's
Genealogy)
1637 "The 16th of the 11th month
1636 (i.e.16 January on modern calendar) Robt
WHEATO(N) refused to be
an Inhabitant of Salem (i.e. rejected as an inhabitant); but
he settled there anyway as the following
indicates"
[Documents held by
Stephan PYENTA, Michigan, USA June 2001;
Vicki
EBEISHEISER 30 September
2001; Richard THOMAS 10 August 2003; R A BONSALL
16 November 2003; David J
WHEATON 19 September 2004; Photo copy of a page
from William G HILL's
book "Family Records of Deacons James W CONVERSE and
Elisha S CONVERSE sent by
R A BONSALL from New England Historical Society
web site]
1638 "At a Town Meeting on the
26th of the 9th month the several proportions of Land laid
out at the Marblehead
this 14th of the 9th month 1638 (i.e. 14th November 1638 on
the modern calendar)
being formerly granted...to Robert WHEADEN granted 10 acres
of land"
[From Richard THOMAS 10
August 2003; David J WHEATON 19 September
2004; }
1640 "Married Alice (Alys, Elice
etc.) BOWEN Salem, Massachusetts daughter of Richard
BOWEN, who came to
America about 1639"
[Vicki EBELSHEISER 30
September 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net; "New England
Families Genealogical and
Memorial: Third Series" Author: CUTTER, William Richard
Publication: 1913.
Reprint Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1996]
1641
- 1644 Birth of Joseph, Samuel WHEATON
and Jeremiah WHEATON
Nathaniel WHEATON in his
Genealogy, states that Robert's first three sons, were
born in Salem,
Massachusetts before Robert arrived in Rehoboth in 1645. So, they
must have been born
between 1641 and 1644.
However, I have been sent
earlier and later dates.
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net;
pcgallah@bellsouth.net;
norsk@novell.com: Vicki EBELSHEISER 30 September 2001]
1644 On the 1st April 1644 (modern
Calendar) Robert WHEADEN "desirteth some ground
at ye great lotts"
and was granted 20 acres of land "neere to the marsh at Mr
BISHOPP's farme to be
layde out by the towne conditionallie that if hee depte (depart)
from the towne before he
improve it, it returne to the towne. (This suggests his
departure from Salem was
expected).
[Documents held by
Stephan PYENTA, Michigan, USA June 2001; David J WHEATON
19 September 2004]
WEYMOUTH,
thence to SECONNET or SEEKONK, which became REHOBOTH
Happenings
which have a bearing on what Robert did next.
Religious
Differences:
"Rev Samuel NEWMAN
came to Weymouth in 1639 and remained for four years but
apparently, because of
continuing religious difference he decided to emigrate"
Planning
by the Rehoboth settlers:
1643 "The first meeting of original
planters of Rehoboth to be found on record is dated at
'Weimoth the 24th of the
8th month [October] 1643"
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent be Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003; The 1918
History of Rehoboth by Rev.
George H TILTON sent by R A BONSALL 16 Nov 2003]
Record is as follows:
"At a general meeting of the planters of Seekonok:
It is ordered that the
planting lots not exceed the number sixty and five.
It is agreed that the
ground that is most fit to be planted and hopefull for corn for the
present to be
planted and fenced by those who possess the land
It is agreed that if the
lots are not fenced by the 20th day of April next then the land will
be foreited
"The next meeting of
the proprietors was held at Weymouth, 'the 10th day of the 10th
month (December), when
regulations were made as to the planting of corn.
The teacher to
have certain portion from each settler.
Servants after
four years to be inhabitants and entitled to their privileges"
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent by Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003; The 1918
History of Rehoboth by Rev.
George H TILTON sent by R A BONNSALL 16 Nov 2003]
1643 "During the year 1643 and
probably before any other division of land had been made
other than for house lots,
the proprietors were required to turn in the value of their
estates, in order that allotment
of land might be made accordingly."
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent be Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003]
Founding
of Rehoboth:
The first area which came to be known
as Rehoboth was not purchased of Massasiot until
1641. It consisted of a tract ten miles
square, comprising the present towns of Rehoboth,
Seekonk, Pawtucket and East Providence,
Rhode Island. The first settler in the original town
was William BACKSTONE, in what is now
Cumberland, Rhode Island. He was a non-conformist
minister from England who fled from his
native land and sought an asylum in the wilds of
America. The next white settler was the famous Robert
WILLIAMS. He had been ejected from
Salem and later, even Rehoboth by the
Massachusetts Bay Company, before establishing
First Baptist Church of Rhode
Island." and becoming founder of Rhode Island.
[Richard THOMAS from "History of
Rehoboth" by Bliss 5 August 2003]
Now
back to Robert:
The
dates for these events cause problems.
However, perhaps Robert knew that he was going to have to leave
Salem. He therefore made sure that in
1643 he was involved with the group of people planning to leave Weymouth for Seconnet
or Seekonk as Rehoboth was then known.
At the same time he was making sure, that if he did not have to leave
Salem, there would be land for him there.
This would explain why, in 1644 he was granted land in Salem on a
provisional basis, and why he went to Weymouth after leaving Salem. Nathaniel WHEATON, his great grandson, says
he arrived in Rehoboth in 1645 which could also suggest that Robert had been
considering the move for some time.
1643/44/45? Robert was a very strong Baptist, and it was
because he would not or did not agree
with the Puritan way
that he was considered a rebel. He had landed in Salem,
where "his
independence of thought and speech made him enemies who finally
drove him from the town as a "pestilential
fellow."
It is said that from
Salem Robert made his way to Weymouth
and from there
perhaps even to Boston
where once again he was turned out of the settlement.
However, it is agreed
that "Soon afterwards he came, with Elder Samuel NEWMAN,
and his people from
Weymouth, to Seconnet or Seekonk" an area which had been
granted to the people
of HIGHAM. Some believe that Robert also met up with
Odadiah HOLMES with whom
Robert was in active sympathy, as he was with Roger
WILLIAMS. The real
founder of the original town of Rehoboth was the Rev. Samuel
NEWMAN, who settled
there in 1644. He renamed it Rehoboth, because, he said,
"the Lord hath made
room for us". Thomas COOPER and
Robert WHEATON were
the two deacons of Elder
NEWMAN's church in Newman's Colony.
"Robert and his
sons helped build the
first Baptist Church in Massachusetts, USA"
{Documents held by
Stephan PYENTA, Michigan, USA June 2001]
"Mr WHEATON came to
Rehoboth among the founders of the town.
He drew land
in various divisions of
the town. (The first land was purchased of Massasoit in
1641, the second
purchase in was called Wannomoiset, and the third purchase
(about 1668) was known as the "North
Purchase". Through time the land was split
up into different areas,
some staying in Massachusetts and some going to Rhode
Island. Robert WHEATON
held a great deal of land in all three purchases. One of
the areas split off from
Rehoboth was Swansea.")
"31st (?) day of
April 1644 Lots were drawn for a division of the woodland
between the plain and the town. Shares were drawn to the number of
fifty-eight,
the same names as were
in the original proprietors list.
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent be Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003)
A list of the original 58
proprietors or early settlers of
Rehoboth in 1643 and
1644" included
Robert WHEATON. Ruth INGRAM headed the list, the Schoolmaster
was number 5, Mr Samuel
NEWMAN was no. 9, The Teacher No.21, at number 26
was Robert WHEATON, the pastor was no, 36, William
CARPENTER no. 47 and
Richard BOWEN no.
58.
[Quoted in the 1923
History of Weymouth by George Walter CHAMBERLAIN et al
citing BLISS 'History of
Rehoboth' sent by R A BONSALL 16 November 2003]
(Robert is also
mentioned in the division of the new meadow in 1646, and in the
Quit-Claim from King
Phillip (Indian Chief) in 1668, as are Robert's sons, Jeremiah
and Ephraim
WHEATON. On the 18th August 1683 Robert
WHEATON gave deed of
land in the North
Purchase now the town of Attleboro to his son Benjamin.
He was a quiet, useful
Citizen, apparently prospering as a planter. ")
[From "New England
Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series" Author:
CUTTER, William Richard
Publication: 1913. Reprint Baltimore Genealogical
publishing Co., Inc.,
1996; Richard THOMAS 1 August 2003; The 1918 History of
Rehoboth by Rev. George H TILTON sent by
R A BONSALL 16 November 2003;
1923 History of Weymouth
by George Walter CHAMBERLAIN et al sent by R A
BONSALL 16 November
2003; "History of Rehoboth" by Bliss from Richard
THOMAS 6 August 2003]
1645 "Thee 58 men considered
themselves independent of any jurisdiction but their own,
though they were
afterwards claimed by both Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay
Company. In 1645 these men submitted themselves to the
jurisdiction of the
Plymouth Court, or
rather were assigned to that by the Commissioners of the United
Colonies, and were
incorporated by the scripture name of Rehoboth.
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent be Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003]
1646 approximately - son Christopher
born Rehoboth, Massachusetts
[Various sources]
However, no Christopher
mentioned in Nathaniel's Genealogy, nor below:
"Children of
Robert WHEATON: Joseph, Samuel and Jeremiah born at Salem;
Odadiah, born at
Rehoboth, January 20 1647; John April 20 1650; Bethia May 20
1642; Hannah,
September 18 1654; Mary November 4 1656; Ephraim; Benjamin,
in the last of
February 1661"
["New England
Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series" Author: CUTTER,
William Richard
Publication: 1913. Reprint Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co.,
Inc., 1996]
"The Will of
Robert WHEATON, dated Oct 2 1687 …mentions his wife, Alice
[BOWEN], his sons
Joseph, Samuel, Obadiah, John and Jeremiah, and his three
daughters Bethia,
Hannah and Mary" (also Ephraim and Benjamin)
['The New England
Historic Genealogical Register' from R A BONSALL 16 November
2003]
Note from JKW -
Christopher he died 20 March 1683/84 before his father. However,
bequests were made to children of
Samuel who had died previously, but not
Christopher's son,
Christopher who was still living when his grandfather died)
1646 "10th day of December 1646
at a meeting of town it was agreed to draw lots for
new meadow, and to be
divided according to person and estate.
Robert WHEATON
drew #24 and William
CARPENTER drew #42"
["History of
Rehoboth" by BLISS sent be Richard THOMAS 5 June 2003, 1 Aug 2003]
1647/48 "20 January - son Obadiah WHEATON
born Rehoboth, Massachusetts"
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of Rehoboth, 1642-
1896 Jim McEWEN 14 December 2001; Documents held by
Stephan PYENTA,
Michigan, USA June 2001;
Jbbullock@earthlink.net; Nathaniel WHEATON's
Genealogy']
1650 "20 April 1650 - son John
born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts"
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of Rehoboth, 1642-
1896; Jim McEWEN 14 December 2001;
Jbbullock@earthlink.net; Nathaniel
WHEATON'S Genealogy]
1652 "20 May - daughter Bethia WHEATON
born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts"
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of Rehoboth 1642-
1896 Jim McEWEN 14
December 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net; Nathaniel
WHEATON's Genealogy]
1653 "Plymouth Colony deed show
that Robert WHEATON was one of the inhabitants of
Rehoboth who petitioned
Governor BRADFORD in 1653 for a settlement in a land
dispute with Captain Miles
STANDISH of Mayflower fame.
[David J WHEATON 20
September 2004)
1654 "18 September - daughter
Hannah/Ann WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol,
Massachusetts" [Judy
KNEE from Jarel WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of
Rehoboth, 1642-1896 from
Jim McEWEN 14 December 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net;
Nathaniel WHEATON's
Genealogy)
1656 "4 November - daughter Mary
WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts"
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of Rehoboth,
1642-1896 Jim McEWEN 14
December 2001; Nathaniel WHEATON's Genealogy]
1657 "Robert WHEATON took the
"oath of fidelity" Plymouth
Colony Records. This is the
oath he would not take in
Salem) [Richard THOMAS from
"History of Rehoboth" by
Bliss 5 August 2003;
David J WHEATON 19 September 2004)
1657 Robert WHEATON and two other men
were fined five shillings each for cutting three
loads of grass contrary
to an order of the town. [David J WHEATON from Richard
LeBaron BOWEN "Early
Rehoboth" 19 September 2004]
1658 "The second land purchase
was a tract called by the English, Wannomoiset, forming
a part of Swansea and
Barrington"
[Richard THOMAS from
"History of Rehoboth" by Bliss 5 August 2003]
1658 "Robert WHEATON admitted a
freeman."
[Richard THOMAS from
"History of Rehoboth" by BLISS 5 August 2003]
1658 Robert WHEATON served on a
coroner's jury that invegtigated the cause of death of
Nathaniel West of Rhode
Island who fell through the ice and drowned.
[David J WHEATON 19
September 2004 from Plymouth Records)
1659 "20 October - son Ephraim WHEATON
born Rehoboth, Bristol County,
Massachusetts" (Judy
KNEE from Jarel WHEATON 14/3/2001; Vital Record of
Rehoboth, 1642-1896 Jim
McEWEN 14 December 2001; Nathaniel WHEATON's
Genealogy]
1660 Robert's land is mentioned in a
1660 Deed between Walter PALMER, John ALLIN and
Jonah PALMER (David J WHEATON 19 September 2004]
1661/62 "28 February - son Benjamin
WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol,
Massachusetts" [Judy KNEE from
Jarel WHEATON 14 March 2001; Vital Record of
Rehoboth, 1642-1896 Jim
McEWEN 14 December 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net;
Nathaniel WHEATON's
Genealogy]
1662 Robert WHEATON served on a
coroner's jury that investing the cause of death of
Robert ALLIN, who was
found ded on his bed by his brother John ALLIN of Rehoboth.
The verdict: Hee came by
his death by laying violent hands upon himselfe.
(David J WHEATON 19
September 2004)
1663 Robert WHEATON was a member of the
grand jury, but he was listed as "absent"
(David J WHEATON
19September 2004)
BAPTIST
CHURCH IN MASSACHUSETTS
Details
are mainly from Richard THOMAS. He has
done much research concerning the Baptist Church in Massachusetts, visited
Rehoboth and has written to the pastor of Swansea Baptist Church, Dr HARTMAN
who sent much information. {Richard THOMAS May to August 2003]
"The Baptist church established
in Rehoboth was the church where Obadiah Holmes was the
pastor.
The WHEATONs were probably part of this congregation as they were fined
as part of
the congregation when Obadiah Holmes was
jailed and whipped for the practice of baptism
which the other churches were against.
Apparently the founding of the church
in Swansea came about because some of the folks in
Rehoboth were against the Baptist church
and their beliefs and members of the church were
fined and ordered to desist from holding their meetings which of course
they did not do. Later
on they were ordered to remove their
"meetings" to some other place where they might not
prejudice any other church. In 1667 the Plymouth court granted to these
people "a grant of a
town to be called Swansea, "That the
Baptist might have a resting place."
The name Swansea
was selected because that is where their
first Baptist minister John Myles migrated from,
Swansea, Wales in 1663" (For more
information see Ephraim)
1666 Robert WHEATON was a purchaser of
one share in the Rehoboth North Purchase (now
ATTLEBORO [David J WHEATON
19 September 2003]
1667 "The town of Rehoboth retained
its original area until 1667, when Swansea was
incorporated, including
besides Swansea, that of Somerset, Massachusetts,
Cumberland, Rhode Island,
and the greater part of Warren, Rhode Island.
In 1694
Rehoboth was decreased by
the incorporation of Attleborough and in 1812 Seekonok
was set off
[Richard THOMAS from
"History of Rehoboth" by BLISS 5 August 2003]
1668 "The third and last land
purchase was a tract embracing the present towns of
Attleborough,
Massachusetts and Cumberland, Rhode Island.
This was known as the
"North Purchase"
[Richard THOMAS from "History of
Rehoboth" by Bliss 5 August 2003]
1668 "A Quite-Claim Deed from King
Phillip (Indian Chief) on the 20th March 1668 King
Phillip, who had succeeded
his brother, Alexander as Sachem of the Wampanoages or
Pokanokets, as they are
sometimes called, confirmed to the town the purchase of the
"Ten Mile
Square" made of Massasoit or Ossamequin, his father in 1641, and
relinquished all claim
and title to the land by giving the town
Quit-Claim warrantee
deed. Among the names on the deed are Robert,
Jeremiah and Ephraim WHEATON"
(Richard THOMAS from
"History of Rehoboth" by Bliss)
1670/1 Robert appears on the Rehoboth Tax List
(David J WHEATON 19 September 2004]
1674 Robert appears on the Rehoboth Tax
List (David J WHEATON 19 September 2004]
1675 "King Phillip's War - the
first attack by the Indians was on Rehoboth. This attack was
on a Sunday. The Indians surrounded original 1667 Church
and six inside were
killed and church burned.
(Still feel I have the Rehoboth and Swansea churches
mixed up-JKW)
[ Massachesetts Archives,
N.Y, Public Library Vicki EBELSHEISER 1 October 2001)
"During King Philip's
war, he (Robert) and other settlers had to abandon their homes,
but he eventually
returned
["New England
Families Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series" Author: CUTTER,
William Richard
Publication: 1913. Reprint Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Co.,
Inc., 1996]
1676/7 Robert on list of Rehoboth men who
advanced money to the town to help defray the
cost of King Philip's
War. Robert advanced £2. 04s. 10d.
1679 The second Swansea church was
built near Tyler's Point. (The third church was built at
Tyler's Point and then
moved over the ice on the Palmer River to North Swansea in
1717 (the present site). This
building, the one Ephraim would have known, was torn
down in 1845 to build our
fourth 1848 building."
[Dr HARTMAN to Richard
THOMAS 15 April 2003]
1683 "18 August - Robert WHEATON
gave deed of land in North Purchase, now town
of Attleboro to his son
Benjamin" (Richard THOMAS from "History of Rehoboth" by Bliss)
1683 John Wheaton appointed
1687 2 Oct Robert made his Will - See
below
1688 After merger of Plymouth and
Massachusetts Bay colonies in 1688, the old
Plymouth Colony was
divided into three counties, with Rehoboth in new Bristol County
(David J WHEATON 19
September 2004]
1689 Appears on a list of land owners
1696 "Died Rehoboth, Bristol,
Massachusetts, age 90 or Providence, Rhode Island
[Judy KNEE from Jarel
WHEATON 14 March 2001; Jbbullock@earthlink.net;
pcgallah@bellsouth.net)
Buried "ancient
burying ground near homestead farm near grave of son Ephraim"
[Documents held by Stephan
PYENTA, Michigan, USA June 2001)
1695/6 Probate granted 24 February.
"The document was signed by a mark suggesting that
Robert was not an educated
man. The estate was inventoried at a
modest
£75.10s.08d and considered
mostly of his house and lands (£51), household items
of furtniture, and livestock. The inventory also included a gun and sword.
(David J WHEATON 19
September 2004]
Homestead
was in south part of town, lived in by consecutive generations of WHEATON until
date of Commemorative Biographical Record (c1900?).
Divided
property before making Will
Will
of Robert WHEATON
Be it
known unto all men by these presents, that I, Robert WHEATON of the Town of
Rehoboth in ye county of Bristol, in his Majesties Territory and Dominion of
New England, being weak & aged, yet through the goodness of god of a good
competent memory and understanding, do this second day of October 1687, make
this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disannulling and making
void all former wills and testaments made by me.
I
give and bequeath unto my eldest son Joseph and to the heirs of his body,
Twenty acres of land that was laid out on the East side of Palmers River and a
parcel of Salt Marsh at the hundred acres above the Dirth, and Ten pounds
Estate of Commons in Rehoboth. And if it
so happen that Joseph die without issuance then all the said lands given to my
said son Joseph at his decease (allowing the thirds to his wife her lifetime,)
shall descend to my son Samuel's children.
I
give and bequeath to my son Jeremiah my lot last laid out in Wachamoket Neck,
and my Meadow at Busliy Meadow , and Ten Pounds Estate of Commons in Rehoboth
to him & his heirs and assign forever.
I
give and bequeath unto my son John and his heirs & assign forever Ten
Pounds Estate of Commons in the Town of Rehoboth.
I
give and bequeath unto my son Obadiah & his heirs assign forever all the
rest of my lands in the North Purchase the lands which I have not given
"to my sons Ephraim & Benjamin by Deed under my hand & seal.
I
give unto my son Ephraim Twenty acres of land at Palmers River & a piece of
meadow at Palmers River, being the upper piece joining to Rivo Leonards and a
third part of the undivided land on the North side and Ten Pounds of Commons in
Rehoboth all which is lands and meadow I have given his as appears by Deed and
Gift.
I
give unto my son Benjamin over half of my fifty acre lot on the North side and
my share of Meadow on the North side and one third part of my Undivided land in
the North Purchase all which I have formerly given a Deed and Gift.
I
give to my son Samuel's children Ten Pounds Estate of Commons in Rehoboth to
them their heirs & assigns forever.
I
give and bequeath unto my three Daughters, Berthia, Hannah & Mary Twelve
Pounds apiece.
I
give and bequeath to my beloved wife Alice my House & lands & Meadows
Divided and Undivided and all my house-hold Goods & Stock of cut wood of
all sorts which I have not before disposed of for her comfortable lively hood. And that at her deceased she shall leave
Liberty & Authority to Dispose of it according to her disercression.
It is
my Will & I do hereby ordain & appoint my Beloved Wife Alice to be my
Sole Executor of this my last will.
It is
likewise my will that if it please god by his providence so to order that if my
beloved wife die before me that what housing lands or other Estate which I have
given my wife by this will or what remains of it at my death shall be equally
divided among my children both sons and daughters. And it is my will that my Son Joseph have my
house & home lot Upon and Indifferent appraisal made by indifferent men
paying the value so appraised to his brother & sisters. In witness hereof that this is my last Will
& Testament, I have hereunto sell my hand and seal the day & year first
written on this will.
Robert
Wheaton
Signed,
Sealed & Acknowledged in the presence of us.
John Peck
William Carpenter
John Butterworth
Proved, the 24th Feb. 1695(6)
Ent March 2, 1695(6)
John
Carey, Reg'.
(The
will is from "Robert Wheaton and some of his Descendants 1636-1888"
From: Genealogy of one line of the Converse, Wheaton, Edwards & Coolidge
Families Gc 929.2 C7696h 1887
Boston" sent by Judy KNEE.
Kneez@msn.com )
More
About Robert WHEATON:
Burial:
Unknown, "ancient burying ground near homestead farm near grave of son
Ephraim"8
Emigration:
Abt. 1636, To America9,10
Occupation:
Tanner11
Probate:
24 February 1695/9612
Residences:
See Notes
Will:
2 October 1687, Alice/Alace WHEATON executrix of Will13
Notes
for Alice BOWEN:
Information
from David J WHEATON 19 September 2004
Elce
and Alce were variations of Alice
"(Richard
BOWEN (father of Alice) was another of the founders of Rehoboth and he acquired
large tracts of real estate along the river, "running under the bridge
called "BOWEN's bridge afterwards!.
Richard BOWEN was admitted a freeman, June 5 1651; held various town
offices. He married (first) Ann (???)
who came from England with seven children; he married (second) in 1648,
Elizabeth MARSH, widow of George MARSH)"
From "New England Families
Genealogical and Memorial: Third Series" Author:
CUTTER, William Richard Publication:
1913. Reprint Baltimore Genealogical
Publishing Co., Inc., 1996
Information
from David WHEATON 25/11/2004
There
is evidence that Richard, Alice's father, was born in Glamorganshire, Wales in
about 1594. The name of Richard's first
wife, whom he probably marrid in Wales and is the mother of all of Richard's
children is unknown. She is frequently
identified as Ann without documentation.
Richard's second wife was Elizabeth, widow of George MARSH of Weymouth,
Massachusetts. Richard BOWEN is believed
to have emigrated to America in 1640 and probably lived in Salem for a short
time before moving to Weymouth and then to Rehoboth in 1643
NOTES
FOR ROBERT WHEATON, included here as no more space available in Robert's Notes
Information
from David J WHEATON 21/9/2005
In
his article, "The Ancestry, Wives, and Children of Richard BOWEN of
Weymouth and Rehoboth, Massachusetts", Richard LeBaron BOWEN Jr. points
out that the will of Richard BOWEN identifies Richard's daughter Alice as the
wife of Robert WHEATON. BOWEN also mentions that Robert WHEATON is often said
to be from Wales based on the false assumption that he was a follower of Rev. John
MYLES of Swansea, Wales. MYLES established a Baptist chapel at Rehoboth in 1666
as is believed to have brought over some of his following from his native
Swansea. However, BOWEN produced several contemporary documents to show that
Robert WHEATON came to Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636, thirty years prior to
Rev. MYLES' appearance in the New World. BOWEN also points to the 1775
declaration of Nathaniel WHEATON in Providence, Rhode Island, town records.
In a
Nathaniel WHEATON (Robert's great-grandson) genealogy registered in the vital
records of Providence, Rhode Island, on 31 August 1775 is written: "A
Genealogy from Robert WHEATON the first of the Name of the WHEATONs that came
over from England to Salem in New England AD 1636 about 30 Years of Age and there
married Elce BOWEN Daughter of Richard BOWEN from thence Removed to Rehoboth AD
1645 and there Lived and Died AD 1696 about 90 years of Age. Their Offspring
Joseph WHEATON, Samuel WHEATON & Jeremiah WHEATON Born at Salem, Obadiah
WHEATON, John WHEATON, Bethia WHEATON, Hannah WHEATON, Mary WHEATON, Ephraim
WHEATON & Benjamin WHEATON Born at Rehoboth..."
This
is obviously an important document for several reasons. Nathaniel WHEATON was
apparently quoting from a record of the family that existed in the year 1775,
139 years after the family arrived in New England. It proves that Robert
WHEATON was born about 1605/6 in England and not Wales, and that he was early
at Salem before settling in Rehoboth. It also confirms that he married
"Elce" BOWEN, daughter of Richard BOWEN. Elce and Alce were
variations of Alice.
Richard
LeBaron BOWEN states that Robert WHEATON first appears in Salem town records in
1636/7, which is consistent with Nathaniel WHEATON's account of his
great-grandfather. The marriage to Alice BOWEN appears to have occurred well
before their migration to Rehoboth. This suggests that Richard BOWEN, Alice's
father, may have lived in the Massachusetts Bay prior to his settlement in
Rehoboth. Three references to Robert WHEATON are found in the records of Salem.
The original records are in old English script and difficult to read for the
untrained eye (copies in both the original text and a nineteenth century
transcript have been copied)
Children
of Robert WHEATON and Alice BOWEN are:
i. Joseph2
WHEATON14, b. Abt. 1641, Salem, Essex, Massachussets, USA15;
d. 15 September 1692, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA16.
Notes
for Joseph WHEATON:
All
information from Judy KNEE sent via Jarel WHEATON 14/3/2001
Addresses
1669 Rehoboth, Massachusetts, USA