John Wheeler

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: 1680; In 1680, he chose his step father as his guardian.
• Proprietor: 1682, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Occupation: say 1700; He was a carpenter or housewright.
• Offices Held: 1713, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was elected a Selectman.
• Moved To: 1714, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Moved to: Abt 1721, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
• Will: 1 Dec 1725, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He mentions his wife, Experience, and his children: Isaac, Experience, Mary, Richard, and Abraham.

Isaac married Experience Metcalfe in 1682/83. Experience (daughter of John Metcalfe and Mary Chickering) was born on 16 Oct 1661 in Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; died on 18 Feb 1730/31 in Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved To: 1714, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Moved to: Abt 1721, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Aug 1635; He arrived in New England on board the Thomas, Henry Tavener, Master, bound for "Virginia". He and 57 others were examined for matters touching their conformity in our religion by a minister at Gravesend before embankment.
• Proprietor: 1644, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
• Land/House: 1 Jan 1646/47, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He received land again on 26 February 1652.
• Proprietor: 1651, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; While one of the original proprietors, it is doubtful he ever lived there.
• Offices Held: 17 May 1652, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was appointed one of three Commissioners to lay out the road between Dedham and Braintree.
• Offices Held: 1659, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was a Fence Viewer.
• Offices Held: 22 Jun 1660, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was appointed a member of a committee to "to view the Lande both vpland & meadow near about the pondes by Georges Indians wigwam and make report of what they find to the selectman in the first opportunity they can take."
• Land/House: 2 Feb 1668/69, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Freeman: 19 May 1669, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• Inventory: 21 Aug 1676

Notes:

Name:


Died:
He was killed by Indians who had climbed on top of a barn and shot down over the palisades during the attack on Lancaster.

Richard married Sarah Prescott on 2 Aug 1658 in Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts. Sarah (daughter of John Prescott and Mary Platts) was christened on 16 Apr 1637 in Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England; died on 25 Aug 1714 in Stow, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Moved to: Mar 1676, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; After her husband's death, she and her surviving children were escorted by soldiers along with the other survivors of Lancaster to Concord. The family then removed to Dedham.

Notes:

Name:

Notes:

Married:
(2) Richard Wheeler
(1) Sarah Prescott

Their marriage date was recorded as 2 (6) 1658.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 1637; In 1637 he came to New England, age 15, on board the Rose with his parents.
• Religion: 1643, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; John was admitted to the Dedham Church in 1643.
• Freeman: 26 May 1647; On 26 May 1647 he was admitted as a freeman.
• Moved To: About 1652, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; John and Mary came to Medfield about 1652, with their three children.
• Land/House: 1658, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; John Metcalf received a grant of a piece of land in Medfield next to the burying-ground, he to make the division fence in 1658 "at the time the town fence in the burying-ground." Robert Mason had liberty given him to "take sedar to mak singell for his house."
• Other Will: 1664; In 1664 his father died and left him "One ffeather bed & Bolster, my second Book of Martyrs, Mr. Perkins second Book, Luther on the gala, one silver spoone, one pair of sheets, one long chest in the upper chamber, one Diaper Broadcloth."
• Offices Held: 1671, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; Starting in 1671 he served on the Medfield Board of Selectmen six years.
• Occupation: 1680, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; According to Wheeler (1924) "About 1680 the town of Medfield voted a bonus for the erection of a grist mill upon the Charles River and a dam and mill were built by several associates of whom John Metcalfe was the first. This mill was upon the Charles river at Rockville in the town of Millis and was the first mill upon that portion of the river. It was burned by an Indian prior to 1685, but rebuilt, and the Indian was prosecuted for his crime."
• Offices Held: 1682, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was a commissioner in 1682.
• Last Full Review: 7 Aug 2020

Notes:

Birth: The date could have been 15 September.

Death: Harris (1852), Goodwin (1856), and Metcalf (1898) give his death date as 27 November 1675.

Name:

John married Mary Chickering on 22 Mar 1647 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Mary was born in 1630; died on 15 Mar 1697/98 in Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; was buried in Vine Lake Cemetery, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Land/House: Nov 1646; She transferred all of her interest in a parcel of land in Suffolk, England to her cousin, John Chickering, the son of Henry Chickering in November 1646.
• Moved To: Abt 1652, Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; John and Mary came to Medfield, Massachusetts about 1652, with their three children.
• Last Full Review: 7 Aug 2020

Notes:

Parents: Many sources list her as the daughter of Francis and Anne (Fiske) Chickering. In this they take the lead of Savage (1860), but he was proved wrong by Clarence Almon Torrey in 1940.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: birth to 1629, Shevington, Standish Parish, Lancashire, England
• History: 1629 to Abt 1638, Sowerby, Halifax Parish, Yorkshire, England
• Immigration: Abt 1638, Barbadoes
• Immigration: 1640; They arrived in Boston fro the Barbadoes, and settled in Watertown.
• History: 1641 to 1643, Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• History: 1643 to 1676, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• History: 1676 to 1679, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
• History: 1679 to death, Lancaster, Worcester County, Massachusetts
• History: 1893; At the 250th anniversary of the founding of Lancaster, a memorial stone was erected at his grave site. It reads as follows: HERE WITH HIS CHILDREN ABOUT HIM LIES JOHN PRESCOTT FOUNDER OF LANCASTER AND FIRST SETTLER OF WORCESTER COUNTY BORN AT STANDISH LANCASHIRE ENGLAND DIED AT LANCASTER MASSACHUSETTS DEC 1681 INSPIRED BY THE LOVE OF LIBERTY AND THE FEAR OF GOD THIS STOUT HEARTED PIONEER FORSAKING THE PLEASANT VALES OF ENGLAND AND ENCOUNTERED WILD BEAST AND SAVAGE TO SECURE FREEDOM FOR HIMSELF AND HIS POSTERITY HIS FAITH AND VIRTUES HAVE BEEN INHERITED BY MANY DESCENDANTS WHO IN EVERY GENERATION HAVE WELL SERVED THE STATE IN WAR, IN LITERATURE, AT THE BAR, IN THE PULPIT, IN PUBLIC LIFE, AND IN CHRISTIAN HOMES

Notes:

Name:
   

History:
He was mentioned in his father's will of 7 November 1608.

History:
In 1629 he moved to Sowerby.

History:
He was probably a Cromwellian soldier and brought to the new world with him a helmet and coat of chain mail. Caleb Butler, in his History of Groton gives this story: "John was a sturdy, strong man of stern countenance, and whenever he had any difficulty with the Indians, he would clothe himself with his coat of mail, helmet, cuirass, and gorget, which gave him a fierce and frightful appearance. They having once stolen from him a horse, he put on his armour and pursued them; and in a short time overtook the party. They were surprised to see him alone, and a chief approached him with uplifted tomahawk. John told him to strike, which he did, and finding the blow made no impression on his cap, he was much astonished, and asked John to let him put it on, and then strike on his head, as he had done on John's. The helmet being too small for the chief's head, the stroke settled it down to his ears, scraping off the skin of both sides of his head. They gave him up his horse, thinking him to be a supernatural being."

History:
About 1643, he moved to Lancaster upon its founding.

In 1652, John took the Oath of Fidelity.

In 1657, he built a saw mill above his grist mill.

In 1667, he contracted with the town of Groton to build them a grist mill in exchange for 520 acres of land. He did so on a site, now in the bounds of Harvard. He placed his son, Jonas in charge, and later deeded the lands and mill to Jonas.

In 1667, he was elected a Selectman.

On 19 May 1669, he became a freeman.

In 1673, he made his will.

History:
He moved to Concord after Lancaster's destruction.

History:
In 1679, he returned to Lancaster.

On 4 April 1682, hi swill was probated.

Died:
Potter (1887) gives his death as 1683.

John married Mary Platts on 21 Jan 1628/29 in Wygan, Lancashire, England. Mary (daughter of Abraham Gawkroger Platts) was born in Wygan, Lancashire, England; died after 1678 in Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: Abt 1638, Barbadoes
• Immigration: 1640; They arrived in Boston fro the Barbadoes, and settled in Watertown.
• History: 1676 to 1679, Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Notes:

Birth: She may have been born in Sowerby, York, England.

Name:


History:
She moved to Concord after Lancaster's destruction.

In 1678, she deposed giving her age as 66 years.

Notes:

Weis (1682) says they were married at Sowerby Parish on 15 March 1607.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: Abt 1600; He was a Dornix weaver, that is the type of material used for curtains, carpets and hangings, so called from Doornich or Tournay, a city in Flanders where it was first made.
• Freeman: 21 Jun 1618, Norwich, Norfolk, England
• Religion: 1619 to 1634, Norwich, Norfolk, England; He was the warden of St. Benedict's Church, Norwich, England. He served until 1634.
• Living: 13 Jan 1636, Plymouth, Devonshire, England; Michael Metcalfe was in exile in Plymouth, Devonshire, England when he wrote a letter of support to the non conformists of his town.
• Immigration: 15 Apr 1637, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; Michael wrote of his emigration thus: "in the land of my father's sepulchres, for not bowing at the name of Jesus, and observing other ceremonies in religion, forced upon me, at the instance of Bishop Wren of Norwich and his chancellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in the Bishop's Court, and returned me into the High Commissioners' Court. Suffering many time for the cause of religion, I was forced, for the sake of the liberty of my conscience, to flee from my wife and children, to go into New-England; taking ship for the voyage at London the 17th of Sept 1636; being by tempests tossed up and down the seas till the Christmas following; then veering about to Plymouth in Old England; in which time I met with many sore afflictions. Leaving ship, I went down to Yarmouth, in Norfolk county, whence I shipped myself and family, to come to New England; sailed 15th April, 1637, and arrived three days before midsummer, with my wife, nine children, and a servant." This servant appears to have been Thomas Comberbach, aged 16 years. He also wrote, "my enemies conspired against me to take away my life, and, sometimes, to avoid their hands, my wife did hide me in the roof of the house, covering me over with straw."
• Residence: 14 Jul 1637, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
• Religion: 24 Aug 1639, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; Michael joined the Dedham Church.
• Offices Held: 1640 to 1641, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was a selectman.
• Freeman: 13 May 1640, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts
• Occupation: 1656 to 1661, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; He was a school teacher.
• Land/House: 1661, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; Michael Metcalfe deeded land in Dedham by exchange with Robert Ware.
• Will: 19 Nov 1664, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; In his will he mentions his wife, Mary, and his children: Mary, Sarah, John, Thomas, Elizabeth, Martha, Jane, and Rebeka.
• Probate/Proved: 1 Feb 1664/65, Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts; The inventory of his estate was valued at £364 18/ 5d.

Notes:

Name:


Residence:
Wheeler (1924) gives the date as the 18th of July.

Michael married Sara Elwyn on 13 Oct 1616 in Raynham, Norfolk, England. Sara (daughter of Thomas Elwyn and Elizabeth Bensley) was christened on 13 Jun 1593 in Hingham, Norfolk, England; died on 30 Nov 1644 in Dedham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigration: 15 Apr 1637, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England; Michael wrote of his emigration thus: "in the land of my father's sepulchres, for not bowing at the name of Jesus, and observing other ceremonies in religion, forced upon me, at the instance of Bishop Wren of Norwich and his chancellor Dr. Corbet, whose violent measures troubled me in the Bishop's Court, and returned me into the High Commissioners' Court. Suffering many time for the cause of religion, I was forced, for the sake of the liberty of my conscience, to flee from my wife and children, to go into New-England; taking ship for the voyage at London the 17th of Sept 1636; being by tempests tossed up and down the seas till the Christmas following; then veering about to Plymouth in Old England; in which time I met with many sore afflictions. Leaving ship, I went down to Yarmouth, in Norfolk county, whence I shipped myself and family, to come to New England; sailed 15th April, 1637, and arrived three days before midsummer, with my wife, nine children, and a servant." This servant appears to have been Thomas Comberbach, aged 16 years. He also wrote, "my enemies conspired against me to take away my life, and, sometimes, to avoid their hands, my wife did hide me in the roof of the house, covering me over with straw."

Notes:

Name: