John Wheeler is my ninth great-grandfather.  He was born in England and came to the colony of Maryland in 1652. 

The first evidence we have of John Wheeler, later Major John Wheeler, was January 22, 1652, when ‘The deposition of John Wheeler, age 21 or thereabouts, sworn and examined in open court, sayeth that William Smith told this deponent aboard the ship at Debtford when they were coming for these parts of America that he, the said Smith, was servant of Captain  Mitchell for the term of four years.’  The two were aboard the ship called Thomas and John. I couldn’t find any information of Debtford in 1650, but in 1650 Deptford was a historic naval town in Kent, England, on the south bank of the River Thames.  There were many large ships constructed there – for long-distance trade.  It’s quite possible this is the town mentioned in the deposition.  This deposition is recorded in Maryland Archives, Land Record Book No. 1, Folio 397.

John Wheeler was also supposed to be a servant Captain Mitchell for four years.  Mitchell brought nine men total to Maryland and they were expected to serve an amount of time for their passage.  There is no record of any land warrant issued to Captain Mitchell for the passage of these men.  John Wheeler served no time for his transportation.  During a long legal case Captain Mitchell returned to England.  ‘June 20, 1654, John Wheeler demandeth 100 acres of land due him by the assignment of Mr. Walter Hall as above written.  Warrant to lay out for John Wheeler 100 acres in any part of this Province not formerly taken up.’

In May of 1658 John Wheeler and wife Marie (Mary) were summoned to testify about bushels of corn from the previous year.

The first notice of military service by John Wheeler was in February 1661 court – ‘Mr. James Lindsey doth confess a judgment unto John Wheeler for 440 pounds tobacco due John Wheeler of Capt. James Langworth’s company and Ensign to him.’

In July 1663, George Thompson assigned to John Wheeler a patent for Planters Delight, 600 acres.  So, in a short 11 years, John Wheeler went from someone brought to the New World as a servant to being a married man and purchasing property.  At the end of his life John Wheeler owned over 4,000 acres of land – pieces of property with names of Cole, Whittland, Wheelers Palm, Wheelers Choice, Wheelers Purchase, Wheelers Adventure, Wales, Wheelers Hope, Wheelers Addition, Exeter, Exeter Res., Majors Choice, Middletons Lot, Stoke Hill, Brothers Delight, etc.

John and Mary Wheeler had seven children:

1.  John Wheeler, born in 1654, died 1688.
2. James Wheeler, born December 16, 1656, died 1684.  Married Elizabeth Corker and second Catherine.
3. Mary Wheeler, born March 22, 1658, married about 1673 Robert Middleton.
4. Thomas Wheeler, born March 18, 1660, died 1735.
5. Winifred Wheeler, born March 1663, married John Speake.
6. Ignatius Wheeler, born May 1665, married Frances Slye.
7. Francis Wheeler, born about 1670, married Winifred Green.

The younger John Wheeler evidently left no children at his death in 1688 since he has no mention in his father’s will.  James, also deceased before 1693, left three children, John, James and Ann, who are listed in their grandfather’s will.  Three sons, Thomas, Ignatius and Francis are given bequests from their father. 

While no bequest was given to daughters Mary or Winifred in his will, John Wheeler gave land to Winifred Wheeler and her husband John Speake – in 1682, 350 acres called Plymouth; and in 1685, an additional 350 acres, as well as a quantity of tobacco.  Mary  and husband Robert Middleton were given 300 acres called Wheeler’s Hope in 1684, and 316 acres in 1688 called Exeter.

John Wheeler Will

Charles County, Maryland Wills – 1693, A2, Page 128-129

In the name of God, Amen.  I, John Wheeler of Charles County, being sick of body but in full and perfect memory, make and constitute this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as following.

Item.  I give and bequeath my soul to almighty God, the giver thereof, hoping to receive a free pardon for all my sins and my body to be decently buried at the direction of my Executrix after mentioned.  And my will is that all my debts justly due be paid to every person I am indebted to and as for the rest of my estate I leave it as followeth.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wheeler and his heirs forever, two hundred acre of land where he now liveth, together with one hundred and thirty acres thereunto adjoining called by the names of Wheeler’s Rest and Wheeler’s Adjoining.  Also I give one great copper kettle and one pair of hand irons to my aforesaid son Thomas Wheeler, with one gelding called by the name of Luckett after my death.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my son Ignatius Wheeler, to him and his heirs forever, all the parcel of land called Planter’s Delight, containing four hundred acres, at the end of one year after my death and the decease of my beloved wife Mary Wheeler, together with one feather bed and furniture, to be delivered after the decease of my beloved wife aforenamed, with one iron pot and pot hooks.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my son Francis Wheeler, to him and his heirs forever, all that parcel of land called Major’s Choice, being one hundred eighty-seven acres, together with Middleton’s Lot being ninety-six acres, thereunto adjoining also.  I give to my son Francis aforesaid three feather beds which I do lie upon with the furniture thereunto belonging after the decease of my beloved wife aforesaid.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Wheeler, the son of my son James Wheeler, deceased, to him and his heirs forever

200 acres of land, part of five hundred acres called Wheeler’s Purchase, beginning at the first bound tree of the tract for the beginning of his two hundred acres.  I also give him one feather bed and furniture and one iron pot to be delivered at the decease of my beloved wife.

Item.  I give unto my grandson James Wheeler, the son of my son James Wheeler, deceased, to him and his heirs forever, two hundred acres of land, it being another part of the five hundred acres aforesaid, beginning at the end of John Wheeler’s aforesaid.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Ann Wheeler, the daughter of my son James Wheeler, deceased, one hundred acres of land, it being the remainder part of the five hundred acres of land called Wheeler’s Purchase, the other 400 acres to be given to John Wheeler and James Wheeler, to her and her heirs forever.  Also I give to my granddaughter Ann Wheeler one hundred and sixty-five acres of land called Wheeler’s Delight and if the said Ann Wheeler should die without heirs of her body lawfully begotten, then to fall to Richard Wheeler, the son of my son Thomas Wheeler, and his heirs forever, together with one filly to be delivered at my death.

And I do hereby nullify and make void all other former wills by me made, making and constituting this my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 11^th day of November in the year of our Lord God 1693.

John Wheeler

Testes – John Sanders, William Montgomery, Anniah Montgomery

On the back of the foregoing will was endorsed the following probate, to wit –

January 8, 1694

The within written will was in common form proved at Port Tobacco in Charles County by the oaths of John Sanders, William Montgomery and Anniah Montgomery, that they did see the within named John Wheeler sign and seal the same and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament.

C. Lomax, Deputy County Clerk