M. (1) 30 Apr 1632 in Cranfield, England
Wife: Susanna Knight
M. (2) after 1637
Wife: Jane (last name unknown)
M. (3) about 1655 in Concord, Massachusetts
Wife: Mary Brooks
D. 30 Jul 1687 in Concord, Massachusetts
A century before Concord became famous as an early battle site in the American Revolution, Timothy Wheeler was heading its militia in another war. In fact, he took a leadership role in many aspects of Concord's early history.
Timothy was born in Cranfield, England in about 1604, with a baptism dated December 28th of that year. His parents were Thomas Wheeler and Rebecca Sayre and he was one of eight children. Timothy's father died in 1627, and as his oldest son, he inherited a good portion of the estate and was named sole executor. On April 30, 1632, Timothy married Susanna Knight in Cranfield. It is thought that they had a daughter together and Susanna died not long after.
In about 1639, Timothy and his brothers, Joseph, Ephraim and Thomas migrated to America, although it isn't known if they arrived together. The Wheeler brothers settled in Concord, one of the new communities in the colony. Before or after he migrated from England, Timothy married a woman named Jane, who had a baby girl born in Concord in 1640. Sadly, she passed away on February 12, 1643.
Early on, some Concord settlers were struggling to cultivate farms, and on September 7, 1643, Timothy joined his brothers and his neighbors to ask the General Court for better land. They wrote a petition which explained that “the lands about the town [are] very barren, and the meadows very wet.” The General Court then granted them other land under the condition that it be cleared and used within two years. It was said that the quality of Concord’s farmland continued to be an issue for years.
In about 1639, Timothy and his brothers, Joseph, Ephraim and Thomas migrated to America, although it isn't known if they arrived together. The Wheeler brothers settled in Concord, one of the new communities in the colony. Before or after he migrated from England, Timothy married a woman named Jane, who had a baby girl born in Concord in 1640. Sadly, she passed away on February 12, 1643.
Early on, some Concord settlers were struggling to cultivate farms, and on September 7, 1643, Timothy joined his brothers and his neighbors to ask the General Court for better land. They wrote a petition which explained that “the lands about the town [are] very barren, and the meadows very wet.” The General Court then granted them other land under the condition that it be cleared and used within two years. It was said that the quality of Concord’s farmland continued to be an issue for years.
One of several petitions in Concord signed by Timothy (third signature on left).
In about 1655, Timothy married a third wife, Mary Brooks. They had three daughters born between 1657 and about 1666. In 1640, Timothy and his father-in-law Thomas Brooks bought 400 acres at Medford including "a house and artifacts," property which would be passed down in the Brooks family for nearly 300 years. Timothy also bought a house and several lots from the estate of Dr. Richard Paulsgrave of Charlestown in 1657. It was said that during his life, Timothy owned land in Concord, Medford, Watertown, Mystic, Charlestown and Boston.
One property Timothy acquired was Concord’s mill, which fell into his possession in 1666. It had been owned by Reverend Peter Bulkeley, and when he died, his widow gave his land to Timothy and his cousin George Wheeler. Timothy bequeathed the land to his son-in-law, James Minot, who continued operating the mill “for many years.” It was still standing in 1904.
Timothy served many offices in Concord that give evidence of his civic leadership. In January 1654, he was appointed "overseer of the East Quarter" after Concord was divided into three districts. He was Concord’s representative to the General Court in various years from 1663 to 1672, and a selectman from 1671 to 1673. In May 1666, Timothy was on a committee to review preparations for the defense of Boston. He was also appointed to help resolve a boundary dispute between the towns of Billerica and Woburn, and in 1668, he was part of a three-man committee to build a meetinghouse.
Beside his civic duties, Timothy had a significant military career in Concord. Each town in New England formed their own militia, standing by to defend themselves when necessary, primarily from Indian raids and attacks. On May 6, 1646, Timothy became ensign in the Concord militia, and in 1662, he was named captain, putting him in charge of the ground force. Timothy was still serving as captain when King Philip’s War broke out in 1675; his brother Thomas was captain of the town’s cavalry.
While Concord wasn’t at the heart of the action, all towns in Massachusetts were on call to help defeat the Indian uprising. Timothy was about age 70 by this time, and was likely too old for actual fighting. Instead, his role was to supervise the requests from Boston to aid in the fight. One record survives that shows he wrote to the General Court with a list they requested of the men to be impressed into service, but he also added, “…several of them do want and desire to be supplied with some clothing (coats especially)….” Meanwhile, Timothy’s brother Thomas had a more active role in King Philip’s War, leading his mounted force from Concord into action, and getting caught in an ambush that left him severely wounded.
During the war’s aftermath in 1677, Timothy wrote again to the General Court about “four youths” who were promised to be replaced with real soldiers, but were seemingly stuck in service in Chelmsford. It was implied that the four young men were underage. “Our humble request to your honor,” he wrote, “is that you will please to consider how unfit these youths are for the country’s service…and be returned home with the first that do return….”
In one of the final civic actions of Timothy’s life, he headed a group of Concord’s leaders to formalize the deed for some of their land from the Indians. On the deed dated August 14, 1684, Timothy’s name is listed first as grantee; at an age of about 80, he was probably the oldest of the town leaders.
Timothy died at Concord on July 30, 1687. He left a will which along with bequests for his family, also gave three acres in Concord for use of the school, and 40 acres of woodland to help the ministry of the church. Mary, his wife, survived him, passing away in 1693; they were buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground in Concord.
Timothy's grave. (Source: Find-a-Grave.com)
Children by Jane:
1. Sarah Wheeler – B. 22 Jun 1640, Concord, Massachusetts; D. 23 May 1662, Concord, Massachusetts
Children by Mary Brooks:
1. Mary Wheeler – B. 3 Oct 1657, Concord, Massachusetts; D. 7 Oct 1660, Concord, Massachusetts
2. Elizabeth Wheeler – B. 6 Oct 1661, Concord, Massachusetts; D. 11 Oct 1683, Concord, Massachusetts; M. Ebenezer Prout, 28 May 1678
3. Rebecca Wheeler – B. about 1666; D. 23 Sep 1734, Concord, Massachusetts; M. James Minot (1653-1735), about 1684
Sources:
The genealogical and encyclopedic history of the Wheeler family in America, Albert Gallatin Wheeler, 1914
A History of the Town of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Lemuel Shattuck, 1835
The History of Concord, Massachusetts, Vol. 1, Alfred Sereno Hudson, 1904
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