John Wheeler-1; William -2; Richard-3; Susannah-4
DRUMMOND is a name frequently found in Ireland of Lowland Scots’ origins, but also found in England. Apparently the DRUMMONDS and WHEELERS were both of English origin. The WHEELERS adhered to the established church, so that is another indication of English origin. Generally, those of Lowland Scots origin were Presbyterian or other religions.
WILLIAM-2 and SUSANNAH DRUMMOND WHEELER lived in Anne Arundel, Maryland, in All Hallows Parish when they first married.
The children of William-2 & Susannah Drummond Wheeler-2
RICHARD WHEELER-3, born January 2, 1698.
Weaston Wheeler-3.
William Wheeler-3.
John Wheeler-3, was also one of WILLIAM’s sons, but we aren’t sure if he was also SUSANNAH’s child or if he was from the subsequent marriage.
SUSANNAH DRUMMOND WHEELER died about age 28 and was buried in All Hallows Parish on April 22, 1703, leaving WILLIAM with several children at home. WILLIAM then married Martha West on November 14, 1706, in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. They moved to Baltimore about 1718 and he died there before June 6, 1738, when his will was probated in Baltimore.
The children of William Wheeler-2 & Martha West Wheeler
5
&
6. Thomas-3 and Mary-3 Wheeler, twins born March 29,
1711,
in
Anne Arundel County. Mary married a man named Murry by 1732,
she
was mentioned in her father’s will.
7. Martha Wheeler-3, born February 28, 1718, in Baltimore, Maryland, was Probably married to James Boreing, December 25, 1736, in St. Paul’s Parish, Baltimore.
8. Moses Wheeler-3, born in St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish in Baltimore
9. Isaac Wheeler-3, born October 1, 1723 in St. Paul’s Parish, Baltimore
10 & 11. Solomon-3 and Samuel-3 Wheeler, twins, born March 10, 1724, in Baltimore.
WILLIAM WHEELER-2 had patented “Wheeler’s Well” in 1720, Baltimore County, Maryland, which was between the falls of Gunpowder River, a branch of North West Branch of Patapsico River. [Evans, The Gardner, Wheeler, Moran and Herndon Families.]
Will of William Wheeler-2
In the name of God Amen. I. William Wheeler of Baltimore County, Maryland plantor, being weak in body but of sound memory before ... God, do this day of April the 19th, in the year of one thousand seven hundred and thirty two make and publish this my last will and testament in mannor following [that is to say] Imprimis. I give to my son John Wheler or his heirs the sum of one shilling. Item I give to my son William Wheler my bridle and sadle. Item I give and bequeath to my son Richard one Bible Item I give to my son Thomas Wheler one dark brown col.d mare called pleasure. Item I give to my daughter Mary Murry one mare. Item I give to my son Samuel Wheler one mare. Item I give to my son Westone Wheler one heafer with her increase of cow calfes. Item I give to my son William Wheler Jr. One mare. Item I give to my son Moses Wheler one two year old heafer. Item I give to my dear wife Martha Wheler all that ... or tenement wherein I now live with all my lands to hold to her during her life and after her decease I give the same to my sons Sollomon and Isaac Wheler to be equally divided between them and their heirs lawfully begotten and for defalut of such issue to faull to my son Weston and his issue. Item. I give to my dear wife all the rest of my goods, chattles, or estates whatsoever whereof I shall die seized in possession. Rever-ion or remainder untill my sons Sollomon and Isaac and daughters martha and Ann Wheler came of age to then [sic] to equally divided between them and ... and ordain her my said wife solo executrix of this my will in trust for the infants and purposes in this my will contained in witness whereof the said William Wheler have to this my last will and testamet set my hand and seal the day and year above writte, signed sealed and delivered by the said William Wheler as and”
XXX William Wheler his mark
In June 6, 1738, “Then came Buckler Partridge one [of] the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and made oath on the holy evangalists of allmighty God that he saw the testator William Wheeler sign the foregoing will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament that at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of his recollection of sound and disposing mind and memory and that he subscribed his name as a witness to the said will in the presence of the said testator and at his request the said desponandt further declared that he saw Jane Partridge and Henry Williams two other of the subscribing witnesses to the said will sign the same as evidenced thereto in the presence of the said testator and also at his request sworn to before Humphry Wells Stokes deputy...
Baltimore County, June 7, 1738. Hereby certifie that Martha Wheler executor of the foregoing will appeared before me and declared she would not accept of the.. ... bequeathed her by the said testator in his said will but that she would insist on her right of the third part of the said decedants estate
Cert. J. Wells Stokes. Dep County Balt County October 1739 Then came Jane Partridge one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and made oath on the holy evangelists of almighty God that she saw the testator William Wheeler sign the foregoing will and heard him publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that at the time of his sodoing he was to the best of her approrehension of sound and ... mind and memory and that she subscribed her name as a witness to the said will in the presence of the said testator and at his request the ... for her says that she saw Henry Williams one other of the subscribing evidences to the said will sign his name as evidence to in the presence of the said testator and also at his request. Sworn to before Humphrey Wells Stokes deputy commissionary Baltimore County.” [Baltimore, Volume 21, page 894.]
WILLIAM WHEELER-2 died sometime after the will was written in April of 1732, and before 1738, when it was probated. Several of the children were still minors when the will was written. The twins, Samuel-3 and Solomon-3, were born in 1724, so were only about eight when the will was written. They were still minors in 1738 when it was probated.
For some reason, Martha decided she did not like the provisions made for her in the will and requested that the standard one-third part of the estate be given her as her dower, or separate property. Maryland was one of the colonies in which the “dower” was more liberal than in some of the other colonies. When a man died, his widow was entitled to a “dower” or portion of his estate. Each colony decided what constituted the widow’s dower. Generally, they followed English law of the same era, but not always. A testator could not usually cut his immediate family entirely out of the willed portion of his estate. Some colonies, including Maryland, also gave the widow a portion of his personal estate in fee simple. i.e. absolute right to this property. She could only collect the rents and profits of the real estate for her lifetime [usually even if she remarried, in which case her next husband would have a life estate in her former husband’s property.] In Maryland, the wife might be better off, especially if there were outstanding debts, if she would elect dower rather than the portion willed to her by her husband. If she took the items willed to her, she would only collect them after the debts were paid. If she took the dower, it was awarded before debts were paid.
Sometimes, when the widow was not given the right to live in the husband’s “mansion house” after his death, the heir might actually evict her from her own home, as soon as 40 days after the death of the husband. Supposedly, the dower should be set apart before the widow was evicted, but not always. [Salmon, Women and the Law of Property in Early America.]
Apparently, each of the children who lived until 1732 were mentioned in the will and given at least “one shilling.” The unequal distribution in the will probably indicated that the older children had previously received their portion when they left home or married.