ROBERT WHEATON

• Death Notes
  • Robert Wheaton
    Born:  1606
       Died: 1696 in Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA

• General Notes
  • "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  ... "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" 1640   "Married Alice (Alys, Elice etc.) BOWEN Salem, Massachusetts daughter of Richard              BOWEN, who came to America about 1639"  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,  returne to the towne. (This suggests his  departure from Salem was expected). 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"  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"s 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 assachusetts, USA" "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.  (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. ")                                                              ] "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., nc., 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) 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" 1647/48         "20 January - son Obadiah WHEATON born Rehoboth, Massachusetts"                                         1650              "20 April 1650 - son John born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts" 1652             - daughter Bethia WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts"
    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.   1654            September - daughter Hannah/Ann WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol,                          Massachusetts" 1656              "4 November - daughter Mary WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts"
                       1657              "Robert WHEATON took the "oath of fidelity"  Plymouth Colony Records. This is the                       oath he would not take in Salem) 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. 1658              "The second land purchase was a tract called by the English, Wannomoiset, forming                      a part of Swansea and Barrington"                     1658             "Robert WHEATON admitted a freeman."                    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.                   1659             "20 October - son Ephraim WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol County,   Massachusetts"1660             Robert's land is mentioned in a 1660 Deed between Walter PALMER, John ALLIN and  Jonah PALMER  1661/62        "28 February - son Benjamin WHEATON born Rehoboth, Bristol,    Massachusetts" 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.                     1663             Robert WHEATON was a member of the grand jury, but he was listed as "absent"                  
    1666             Robert WHEATON was a purchaser of one share in the Rehoboth North Purchase (now                    ATTLEBORO 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                     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" 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"                 1670/1          Robert appears on the Rehoboth Tax List 1674           Robert appears on the Rehoboth Tax List 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)                                         "During King Philip's war, he (Robert) and other settlers had to abandon their homes,   but he eventually returned 
    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."                 1683             "18 August - Robert WHEATON gave deed of land in North Purchase, now town   of Attleboro to his son Benjamin" 1683     John Wheaton appointed 1687             2 Oct Robert made his Will - See below1688      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  1689     Appears on a list of land owners 1696  "Died Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, age 90 or Providence, Rhode Island                    near homestead farm near grave of son Ephraim"                    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.                   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 WillWill 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 WheatonSigned, 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'.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: Tanner11Probate: 24 February 1695/9612Residences: See Notes Will: 2 October 1687, Alice/Alace WHEATON executrix of Will13