Thomas Wheeler
Captain, King Phillip's War
Baptized: April 9, 1620 Cranford, England
Married: Concord, Massachusetts
Died: December 10, 1676 Concord, Massachusetts
Father: Thomas Wheeler b.c.1565
Mother: Rebecca
Wife: Ruth Wood
Children:
Ruth Wheeler b.c.1653
Notes:
- Thomas Wheeler was well remembered for his many acts as an officer in the King Phillip's War, and the narrative he left describing the experience. He had moved to Fairfield Colony, Connecticut as a founder of the town, and he is recorded on multipe treaties with the Native Americans. He was appointed Captain, and sent with twenty men to meet with the Sachems of the Nipmucks, who had promised to aid in negotiations. They arrived in Brookfield July 28, 1675. A few days later, they were a few miles from town on a narrow path when they were ambushed by 200 Indians with firearms. Eight off the twenty were killed, and five wounded. Thomas Wheeler's horse was shot and killed while he rode it. The survivors escaped back to Brookfield, but an attack on the town was imminent. About 80 of the townspeople of Brookfield barracaded themselves into a single building. Two hours later the attack came. The attackers spent five days burning and looting the town, parading the corpses of victims as they were caught. On day 5, the attackers were able to set fire to the barracaded house, but a lucky rain put out the fire. Major Willard from a nearby town had received word of the siege, and arrived with reinforcements and drove the attackers back into the woods. The town was completely destroyed, and Thomas Wheeler headed back to Concord, Massachusetts. Thomas Wheeler's injuries were such that he did not live for another year. His first hand account survives today.
Sources:
-Birth Source: Cranford Parish Registers. Will of father Thomas.
-Marriage Source: Vital Records of Concord death record
-Death Source: Vital Records of Concord "captain thomas wheeler husband to reuth his wife died 10 desemr 76"
-Wheeler Family of Cranford, England and Concord, Massachusetts by M. Wheeler Molyneaux
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wheeler
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheeler's_Surprise