Wheaton Wood

The gift that keeps on Giving

Posted on February 20, 2013     Leave a Comment

I was wrong! The new $39–12 marker DNA test from FTDNA is the new Regular price. This is a good way to test for cheap. Upgrades can always be ordered later.

Wettons

Posted on February 13, 2013     Leave a Comment

Jean…here you go

Surname Summary Data for WETTON

How many Wheatons are we talking about?

Posted on February 12, 2013     1 Comment

Jean and I have been working on data on the first 6 generations of Robert Wheaton descendants and all the 1790 Census data and that got me thinking (always dangerous). A very interesting book by Debbie Kennett published last year called “The Surnames Handbook” led me to a website for surname research thought you might like this. Similar searches can be done for all spelling variations and other names you are interested in so check it out. Unfortunately it doesn’t have Canadian data. So with Canada included we are likely over 10,000 strong!

http://www.americansurnames.us

http://britishsurnames.co.uk

Surname Summary Data for WHEATON

Group B How can they all be related?

Posted on February 7, 2013     Leave a Comment

We have 5 surnames in Group B that seem to be in some cases worlds apart. How can they be related? I am not saying how exactly but I hope this helps.  They are WHEATON, HOWELLS, MALLENBY, RAINES and HANCOCK. Working backwards from the non WHEATON lines with the most recent ancestry of each first.

HOWELLS

 John ³ HOWELLS (Benjamin ^2, John ¹⁾ ) b. 1858 Stockton upon Tees, Durham, England. Came to us. 1887 to USA

He is the son of

Benjamin ² HOWELLS who was born in b. 1835/8 Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales

1851 Census Bedwellty, Monmothshire, Wales (lived on School Row)

occ. Labourer & Iron Works

m. Elizabeth EVANS 1 Mar 1858 in Tredegar; she b. 1840 Monmouthshire, Wales she d. 13 Dec 1894 Stockon, Durham

1861 Census Middlesbrough, Durham (Goshford St.)

occ. Puddler

1871 Census Stockton, Durham age 33

He is the son of

John³ HOWELLS b. 1784-91 Neath, Glamorganshire, Wales

m 1st Margaret EDWARDS 3 Dec 1821 Mynyddislwyn St. Tudor, Glamorgan, she b. 1801

m 2nd Anne (DAVIES) 2nd Qtr 1850 at Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire she b. 1802 Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales

1841 Census Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorganshire (lived on Rai Harryr Blawd)

1851 Census Bedwellty, Monmothshire, Wales (lived on School Row)

occ. Iron Baller

MALLENBY

Thomas Todd³ MALLENBY, b. 23 December 1913, Lying in Hospital, Newcastle, Northumberland; d. 1974, Canada.

Son of

Thomas Todd² MALLENBY (James¹) was born Bet. January – March 1887 in Newcastle, Northumberland, and died 12 July 1917. He married Ann O’BRIEN formerly HUTCHINSONOctober 1913 in Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. She was born Abt. 1893, and died.

1891 21 Byron Terrace, Elswick Northumberland MELLABY

Living with father James, mother shown as Jno? and siblings James, John, Ann and Robert

1901 Not found

1911 Not found

Marriage: October 1913, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

1913 24 Carr Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumbland (birth of son)

Military service: WWI Northumberland Fusiliers Private No 28478

Occupation: 1913 General Labourer

James¹ MALLENBY was born Bet. January – March 1847 and died in Not found. He married Ann Elizabeth TODDBet. October – December 1868 in Newcastle Upon Tyne District, Northumberland. She was born Bet. October – December 1850 in Newcastle upon Tyne District, Northumberland (possible birth), and died Bet. April – June 1890 in Newcastle Upon Tyne District, Northumberland age 42 (possible death, age discrepancy)

To find birth “James MALLENBY born 1840/1850” entered with “variants” ticked for surname. Only one came up for a James MELLANBY born March quarter 1847 Stockton District, Durham

On 1891 census age suggests year of birth as 1845 and place is shown as Newcastle, Northumberland

On 1861 census age suggests year of birth as 1847 and place is shown as Sedgefield, Durham

On 1851 census age suggests year of birth as 1846 and place is shown as Sedgefield, Durham

1851 Farmhouse No.2, Garmondsway West, Stockton, Durham as MELLONBY

With parents James and Isabella and siblings George and William T

Visiting was Hannah CARR (18) Formerly Housemaid at an Inn born Bicker Hill,

Northumberland. Lodging with them was John RAINE (35) Ag Lab born Embleton Row,

Durham.

1861 5 Wm Street, Gateshead, Durham as MALLENBY

With parents James and Isabella and siblings George, William, Eliza, Hannah and Isabella

1871 20 Railway Street, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland as MELLONBY

born Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

With wife Ann E and children William T and James

1881 30 Railway Street, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland as MALLENBY

born Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

With wife Ann and children John, Thomas, Ann and Robert

1891 21 Byron Terrace, Elswick, Northumberland as MELLABY

born Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland

With wife Ann and children James, John, Ann, Robert and Thomas

1901 21 Byron Terrace, Elswick, Northumberland as a widower as MELLANBY

born Middleham, Yorkshire

Living with him was a servant

1911 Not found

Occupation: 1861 Blacksmith; 1871 Rivetter; 1881 Boiler Smith; 1891 Boiler work; 1901 Engineer, Boiler Maker

RAINES

John Wesley⁵ RAINES (Lawrence^4,3, Harry², John Henry¹) b 1812 Anderson Dist, SC.

gg-grandson of John Henry Raines b 1685 Westbury, Wiltshire (check location on map)

OR this

John RAINES (REINES) b. 1826 In Lambston, Pembrokeshire, Wales

1851 census Llangynwyd, Glamorgan occ. Iron Puddler

1861 census Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan occ Puddler

HANCOCKS and WHEATONS

Share locations in North DEVON from the 1300’s to present.

Hancocks, Wheatons, Raines, and Howells are all found in early 1600’s-1700’s Glamorgan and Monmouthshire, Wales (no Mallenbys). In the 1800’s Raines, Mallenby and Howells are found in Durham and Northumberland. So the hot spot is North Devon, north Wiltshire and Southern Wales in the 1600-1700s. In the 1800’s Durham/Northumberland, England. I believe this is the general outline for how all the Group B men descend from a common ancestor. Likely that common ancestor was from either from one or other side of the Bristol Channel that separates South Western England from South Western Wales. For hundreds if not thousands of years the people on either side of the channel actively traded and moved back and forth.  So what seemed quite impossible now can make some semblance of sense. Please check out the map here. I have added all the locations mentioned above.

Sometimes you just get lucky! (Heads up New Brunswick Wheatons)

Posted on February 3, 2013     Leave a Comment

As some of you know I have been trying to connect my husband to Robert Wheaton for FORTY years. Two years ago I connected them through DNA, but still the distance between Joseph Wheaton (his direct ancestor) ‘of N. Jersey’  who married in 1758 in Schnectady, NY to Margarita Mebie and Robert Wheaton the immigrant is less than 100 years. Robert’s sons were born between 1645-1661, assuming Joseph was born between 1730-1740.

So how hard can it be to close a 70-95 year gap? Well up until a few days ago 40 years hard! That brick wall is the reason for all the Wheaton material I have collected over the years and for the DNA project.

Then on a whim a few days ago I decided to do a search on the New England Genealogical site for a Joseph Wheaton 1730-1750. Well what happened next was sifting through some results only to discover some previously unknown information on Robert’s son Obadiah. Back to Joseph in a moment. Obadiah is one whose line for which I have been actively looking for descendants…..here’s what I wrote to Jean on Jan 25th 2013:

Here’s another question or conundrum. Obadiah 2 Robert 1 has:

• Obadiah 3  b. 1683 or 1691 He marries but we know nothing more
• Joseph 3   b. 1696 Nothing more
• Samuel 3  b. 1701 Nothing more

So what do you think is the likelihood that some of the unattached families connect to one or more of these? I have no clue as to where to look for descendants of Obadiah as they seem to have just vanished. Any ideas?”

So imagine my surprise that less than a week later Obadiah 2 would pop up on a search for Joseph!

So in some church records for Boston I find information on two of Obadiah’s sons: Obadiah 3 and Joseph 3. Joseph 3 records his adult baptism and his marriage to Elizabeth House  17 Aug 1726. Nothing more on this family (could they have had a son named Joseph? Perhaps?) But let’s look at Obadiah³:

Obadiah³ WHEATON Obadiah² Robert¹ b. 9 November 1685, or 19 November 1693 Milton, MA; d. Unknown; m. Jemima SNELLING, 6 June 1722, Boston, MA; she b. 22 March 1693/94, Boston, MA; d. Unknown.

Obadiah was admitted to the North Church, Boston, MA 10 Dec 1727. His wife was admitted 24 Jul 1726.

Children of Obadiah WHEATON and Jemima SNELLING all bpt at the North Church, Boston:

i.   Obediah⁴ bp May 12, 1723 North Church, Boston, MA
ii.  James⁴ bp Oct 4 , 1724 North Church, Boston, MA
iii. Jemima⁴ bp Oct 16, 1726 North Church, Boston, MA

iv.  Jerusha⁴ bp Nov 24, 1728 (looks like he died as later child named Jerusha) North Church, Boston, MA

v.  Benjamin⁴ bp May 3 1730 North Church, Boston, MA
vi. Jerusha⁴ bp. Jan 16 1731/2 North Church, Boston, MA
vii. Joseph⁴ bp June 8 1735 North Church, Boston, MA

Okay heads up!

WHEATON, Obadiah, of Boston.  Went to Halifax in 1776; in 1778 he was proscribed and banished.  A Loyalist of the name Obadiah WHEATON died in New Brunswick, where he had become a resident many years ago. Source: Biographical sketches of loyalists of the American Revolution….Volume 2 by Lorenzo SABINE pg 417

Now it is not clear whether the Obadiah who was a Loyalist was Obadiah³ or Obadiah⁴. What if James⁴ is the James of New Brunswick listed as bc 1738 and Joseph⁴ is my dear husband’s long lost Joseph? Since I have repeatedly scoured the records looking for a James or Joseph that would match and nothing appeard I believe this is a VERY REAL possibility to account for these two missing WHEATONS. Our previous thought was they may have been from Benjamin² Robert¹ who had sons Samuel, Benjamin, David and Daniel. However none had sons or grandsons named Joseph or James whereas these descendants of Obadiah ² Robert¹  did. So for now I am tentatively suggesting that the New Brunswick Wheatons and my husband’s Joseph may be descended from Obadiah ².  The other possibility for which we have no further information is Benjamin 3 of Benjamin² Robert¹ The other children of Benjamin are accounted for and do not have a James that fits bc 1738 or a Willam (WHETON) bc 1740.

I share this story because one never

knows when and where critical pieces to

the puzzle will be found!

The next day I was able to make some tentative connections between the MALLENBY, HOWELLS, HANCOCK and possibly WHEATON and RAINES. More on that in my next post.

Updates and Analysis: Statistics

Posted on January 31, 2013     Leave a Comment

First a thank you for Jerry’s contribution to our general fund which along with my own will make the sponsorship of a kit at the WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE convention in London Possible.  This kit is free to the test subject if there should be a Wheaton/Wheadon/Wetton willing to test on the spot and they are willing to fill out a family tree chart. I am always looking for extra funds to help extend markers or test new subjects who cannot afford it. You can contribute here via PAYPAL or credit card.

Here’s a video all about Statistics and why they are so important and fascinating. I know you are saying “Statistics are boring!” Not so! I think you’ll enjoy this and there’s even statistics on which counties in England have the highest illegitimacy rate.

http://www.gapminder.org/videos/the-joy-of-stats/

I didn’t always like Statistics but I did get an “A” in my college class so I guess that reflects my inner geekness 😉

So we have some interesting New results and I am going to try to pick them apart so that you understand what they say, what they don’t say and why all these numbers and stats matter.

First off is our latest results for Charles A Wheaton with a paper trail back to Exter, Devon in the 1500’s. He did a 12 marker test that we hoped would show his connection to one of our existing groups. Lets look at those 12 markers as compared to the others in Group D1 & D2. Those in red are where they differ.

13-24-14-10-11-15-12-12-14– 13-14-29

Now ordinarily a 9/12 match would not be considered a match at all. However the latest results for Paul Ritchie Wheaton are instructive. Paul is a descendant of Robert (group B) thorough Robert’s son Ephraim as is Bonnie’s son Ralph. However from there the diverge with Paul being descended from Ephraim’s son Caleb 3 and Ralph from Ephraim’s son James 3. Okay let’s compare their first 12 markers which are 10/12

Ralph’s markers are the modal (average) for Group B Paul Ritchie’s are the second set.

14-24-16-11-12-14-12-12-12-13-13-29

14-24-15-11-11-14-12-12-12-13-13-29

So here we have a proven relationship that holds at 67 markers and looks like a non-match at 12. So given that Charles A Wheaton’s common ancestor with others in Group C might be in the 1400-1500’s it is still possible this is a Match. The only way to know is to extend the markers. This is often necessary with 12 marker matches or even what looks like a non-match.

There’s more we can learn just looking at two markers in this case the 5th and 6th markers. Here are those with the Frequency percentages for each pair. (yeah stats!)

Charles  11-15   7%

Ralph    12-14   3.7%

Paul      11-14  29.24%

So even though Paul’s values are the most frequent overall they are off modal for Group B. What this suggests is hundred’s of years ago  Robert Wheaton’s predecessors had a mutation from 11-14 to 12-14. Paul’s line more recently had a reversion (back mutation) back to the original value.

The point is that stats are useful but not always conclusive. The more data the stronger can be our inferences. Have a look at our results page here which includes not only the FTDNA results but all others. You can see how patterns are emerging particularly in Group B in part because we now have 15 results for this group.

Let’s look at another set of off modal markers in Group B.

These are for Adam WHEATON, John HOWELL and Wesley RAINES. They all show the off modal value of 12 at the 4th marker rather than the modal 11. This “suggests” they may have a more recent common ancestor as this marker is not one that mutates frequently.

14-24-16-12-12-14-12-12-12-13-13-29

And so it goes. We have lots of data but need more. Always hoping for upgrades from 12 to 37 markers or more and more test subjects 😉

SPELLIN’ BE WARE! And a bit of News.

Posted on January 28, 2013     Leave a Comment

Wheaton, Wheeton, Whetene, Wheten, Wheaten, Weeton, Weaton, Wetton, Whetton, Wheadon, Whedon, Wheedon, Wheden, Wheaden, Weedon, Weadon…..

We all get hung up on spelling. I should have learned my lesson long ago…..forty years ago to be more precise, when I learned that a branch of the Thomas Wheadon family of Branford, CT changed the spelling of their name to Wheaton. So those of you in the US who see a Wheaton Van Lines Moving Truck, those are really Wheadons. Or the actor Will Wheaton he’s also a Wheadon. However Wheaton College of Norton, MA or the town of Wheaton, IL can be rightfully ascribed to the descendants of Robert.

But did you know one of the first references to Robert Wheaton of Rehoboth, MA was in the early records of Salem where his name was spelled Wheadon?

Or Jean’s 25 year search for her husband’s Wheaton line, DNA connected him to the Wettons of Staffordshire with many spelling variations along the way

Then there is Susan’s discovery of Upper and Lower Wheaton now known as Upper and Lower Whiddon in Devon.

The fact of the matter is that early spelling of surnames until perhaps the last 100 years was anything but consistent. Pronunciation, literacy, convention and the whim of the recorder all seem to enter into the equation. In the example of Upper and Lower Whiddon it’s likely this was changed to be more “consistent” with the “knighted” family of Whiddons from nearby Chagford. And for all we know the spelling may have switched back and forth several times.

As a reminder to myself and all of you: ignore alternate spellings at your own peril: a change in spelling does not, a change in family make. Or the corollary just because they have the same name it doesn’t mean they are related!

NEWS
Still waiting for the last two panels for Paul of Nova Scotia origins, but he is definitely of the Robert Wheaton group but her threw us a couple of new mutations just to spice things up! These mutations happen occasionally and randomly. They can help us to identify who is more closely related to whom. I’ll have more on his match when the remaining markers are back.

The latest test results for Charles Wheaton of Australia who tracks back to a very early 1500’s line in Exeter, Devon do not initially match any of the other Wheaton lines. So our hopes of tying more Wheaton lines in Devon are again confounded by yet another Wheaton Line! I have placed him in D2 for now just so you can see what a 9/12 marker match looks like. This may be one one of those cases where extending markers makes a match or that it falls apart completely. 12 markers is sometimes enough to prove a match and other times it just tantalizes us with possibilities. One of his marker values is quite rare at 2% of R1bs so he has only two matches and they are of other surnames. This would be a nice signature for his line. two of the other markers that don’t match any of our existing groups are on faster mutating markers so I can not rule out that they are indeed related.

In other exciting news I have heard from a descendant of Robert’s son Samuel!!!! And I have made contact with a descendant of Christopher, alleged son of Robert. So I remain hopeful that two of my wishes for this year may come true! This leaves Robert’s son Obadiah whose son Obadiah had 3 sons who seem to have vanished into thin air. We have nothing more on them or possible descendants. So they could have moved to Canada like many of the Wheaton/Wheadon families did or like one Jean and I were looking at recently they may have succumbed to a tragedy. In one Wheaton family the father and all 5 children died the same year. It is important to remember all the odds our forbearers had to overcome for us to be here today…..

Robert Wheaton’s Rehoboth

Posted on January 24, 2013     2 Comments

I have been thinking of this for quite some time and have just roughed out a Google Map of important locations in and around Rehoboth. Here is a screen shot of the map.

This map is interactive and each dot represents a place of interest. I will add them as I can. Here is the link to the map. Clicking on the icons will bring up more information and is scalable. The green dot to the far right is the Wheaton Cemetery. Photos of the Cemetery and a plot map courtesy of Joe Lavigne are available on my website under Wheaton Specific Resources. The blue dot to the far left is the original location of the town of Rehoboth and the far left green dot is the location of Robert Wheaton’s Home Lot.

A special thank you to Joe who found my photos of the Wheaton Cemetery and sent me a copy of the plot map he had prepared for his cousin many years ago!

Connection between Robert Wheaton of Rehoboth and Laban Wheaton of Norton Ma?

Posted on January 23, 2013     Leave a Comment

Is there a connection between Robert and Laban?

Laban is founder of Wheaton College, Norton MA.

INDEED!

Here’s the lineage

Laban⁵ WHEATON (George⁴, Ephraim³, Ephraim², Robert¹) was born 13 March 1754 in Norton, Massachusetts, USA¹⁹⁵⁸, and died 23 March 1846 in Norton, Massachusetts, USA.  He married Fanny MOREY 1 June 1794 in Norton, Massachusetts, USA.

And I recently was given a historical plate of the college. I will take a photo and post here shortly. One of our members has a wonderful story I hope he will share about Wheaton College and its Library.

Also many years ago I corresponded with a student from Wheaton college who put together a booklet called “Wheaton: A Visual History” which has photos of the following paintings: Judge Laban Wheaton, Fanny Morey Wheaton, Eliza F. Wheaton Strong (their daughter) and Laban’s brother Samuel Wheaton.

Robert Wheaton Part three

Posted on January 23, 2013     1 Comment

In my continuing quest to construct a real identity for Robert I went looking for the reference to his occupation and I thought I would post here. It comes from a genealogy full of inaccuracies: “Lincoln, Pearce, Porter & Related Families”  by William Ensign Lincoln 1930 Pittsburg, PA.

He was a tanner and appearances of the tannery were still visible (date?) by Clayey Brook, so-called not far from Mr. Watson’s house.”

The Watson property was indeed adjacent the Wheaton Farm and ‘Clayey Brook’ is a ‘bound’ mentioned in early property transactions later referred to as ‘Cleary Brook.’

This would account for the farm being a distance from the main Rehoboth Village and other more intensive developments as tanning is a particular smelly occupation. It also was dependent on sources of wood or bark and water to properly tan the hides. The description of 17th century tanning here may be of interest.