Benjamin Wheelock, third generation Wheelock in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, was born in Medfield, Massachusetts, 12 Dec 1678; the first male child of Benjamin Wheelock, Sr. and Elizabeth (Bullen) Wheelock. His grandparents, Rev. Ralph Wheelock, Rebecca (Clarke) Wheelock, Samuel Bullen, and Mary (Morse) Bullen were all early settlers of both Dedham and Medfield. [1]

Benjamin, Sr. was a proprieter of the town of Mendon, and moved there with his family circa 1685, thus becoming one of the founding settlers of the town. Benjamin, Jr. was but six or seven years old at the time. His father, a large landholder in Mendon, was the third owner of the Albee Cornmill. In 1713, when Benjamin, Jr. was 25 years of age, his father deeded mill priveledges to he and his brother, Obadiah. [2] Thus Benjamin became established as a miller and a farmer in Mendon, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Benjamin married twice; first to Hulda Thayer, whose grandfather, Ferdinando Thayer was the principle founder of Mendon [3], and second to Rebecca (Nurse) Kinney. [7] Having married Rebecca fairly late in life, all of Benjamin's children were born to his first wife, Hulda. [5]

In 1722/3, Benjamin acquired a parcell of land near Oxford, Mass, which he deeded to his sons Jonathan, David, and Paul between the years 1735 and 1740. This land was later annexed to Charlton (in 1757), where the three brothers played principle roles as early settlers and leaders of town affairs. [4]

Benjamin served as a selectman of Mendon in 1737. [6]

He died 13 Sep 1746 in Mendon, leaving his wife, Rebecca, and eight children. His will is on file with the Worcester Probate Office, case number 63618. In it, he leaves bequests to his wife Rebecca (to sustain her for the rest of her life, or until she remarries); land to his sons Benjamin, Daniel, Silas, and Peter; money to his sons Jonathan, David, and Paul; money and miscellaneous domestic items to his grandchildren Peter Thayer, Mary Thayer, and Abigail Thayer (the children of his deceased daughter Mary Wheelock); money to his daughter Hulda (Wheelock) (Sanford) Rice; money and other items to his grandchildren Seth and Mary Sanford (children of Hulda).

Written by Roderick B. Sullivan, May 1998, revised 2002 and Dec 2014.

Notes and Sources

1. "History of the Town of Medfield, Massachusetts, 1650 to 1886", William S. Tilden, published 1887 by George H. Ellis, Boston.
2. "The Wheelock Family in America, 1637-1969", Walter T. Wheelock, Uxbridge, MA, privately published in 1969.
3. A historical plaque in the center of Mendon lists the founders of Mendon. Ferdinando Thayer appears first on this list. Benjamin Wheelock, Sr. also appears, but much farther down.
4. March 1997 phone interview with William Hultgren, member of the Charlton Historical Society, specializing in the history of the Charlton Northside.  Also, Worcester County Deeds, Benjamin Wheelock to son Paul, book 16, pg 360, recorded 1742.
5. Though it has not been proven at the time of this writing (May 1998), Benjamin's first wife (Huldah) may have been his step sister. According to Marcus W. Waite, in his book "The Wheelock Family of Calais, Vt.", Huldah's mother was Elizabeth (French) Thayer. This may be the same Elizabeth French that married Benjamin, Sr. If this is the case, then Elizabeth French would have been the stepmother of Benjamin, Jr.; and Huldah Thayer would have been his stepsister. They would have lived together as children from the time she was seven (and he 12), marrying when she was 18 (and he 22). Walter T. Wheelock, in his book "The Wheelock Family in America, 1637-1969" draws a similar conclusion.
6. "Annals of the Town of Mendon, Mass", J. G. Metcalf, 1880
7. Rebecca (Nurse) Kinney was the granddaughter of Rebecca Towne Nurse who was executed in Salem during the witch trials.