Ever wondered how a name becomes woven into the very fabric of American history? How generations carve out their existence, leaving an indelible mark on the land and their descendants? For me, unlocking The Origin and Lore of the Wheelers began as a deeply personal quest, a journey into my paternal lineage that ultimately illuminated not just my family’s past, but a broader narrative of resilience, migration, and the unyielding spirit of pioneers.
This isn't just a dry genealogical account; it's a story of discovery, an exploration of how roots run deep, shaping personalities and destinies across centuries. Join me as we peel back the layers of time, tracing the Wheelers from their earliest known beginnings to the indelible legacy they forged across the American landscape.
At a Glance: Tracing the Wheeler Legacy
- A Personal Odyssey: Genealogical research initiated by personal family dynamics, leading to a deeper understanding of paternal ancestors, including the author's father, Charles Lovelace Wheeler.
- Puritan Beginnings: The Wheelers first emerged in New Haven, Connecticut, in the mid-17th century, influenced by the strict Puritanical ideals of the "Bible Commonwealth."
- Long Island Generations: Five generations of Wheelers called Long Island, New York, home from the 1640s to 1819, establishing prominence and community ties.
- The Kentucky Migration (1819): Driven by limited land, Samuel Wheeler and his family embarked on a flatboat journey down the Ohio River, settling along Kentucky's Nolin River and establishing Wheeler's Mill.
- Two Centuries in Hart County: The Wheeler name has been a continuous presence in rural Hart County, Kentucky, for over 200 years, with roads still bearing their name.
- A "Witch" in the Family Tree: Discover the story of Grace Sherwood, the author's eight-times great-grandmother and the last person convicted of witchcraft in Virginia, adding a fascinating, challenging dimension to the family lore.
- Beyond the Stereotype: Insights into the author's father, Charles Lovelace Wheeler, revealing a complex man whose choices, though sometimes misunderstood, reflected a deep commitment to family and community, and a quiet courage to live life on his own terms.
The Echoes of a Name: Unpacking "The Origin and Lore of the Wheelers"
Family history often begins with a question, a missing piece in our personal puzzle. For me, that catalyst arrived with my parents' divorce in my early teens, followed by a later estrangement from my mother. It spurred a dive into genealogy, a pursuit that felt initially disloyal but ultimately proved profoundly healing. My father, Charles Lovelace Wheeler, who passed away in 2006, had been an "antihero" in my early life. I sought to understand him, not just as a parent, but as a man shaped by his own lineage. This quest led me to uncover not just his story, but the rich, winding tapestry of The Origin and Lore of the Wheelers.
What I found was a family deeply rooted in the American narrative, from its earliest colonial stirrings to the rugged individualism of the frontier, always adapting, always moving forward. Their story is one of enduring presence, marked by a quiet determination that echoes through generations.
Charles Lovelace Wheeler: More Than Just "Dad"
Born in 1925 in rural Hart County, Kentucky, Charles Lovelace Wheeler (pronounced "Loveless," a name that sometimes felt ironically weighty) was the eldest of eight children. His childhood, spent on Talley’s farm in Hammonville, was defined by the Great Depression. His parents were farming people; his father supplemented their income by running a small corner shop. Though not among the poorest – they owned land and even had domestic help – the lean years instilled in Charles a profound resourcefulness and pragmatism.
He excelled academically at Western Kentucky University, earning a GI Bill scholarship to Yale. Yet, in a decision his own mother perceived as a lack of ambition, he declined Yale to stay closer to home and help on the family farm. It's a choice that, with the wisdom of hindsight, I now see as characteristic of his deep family loyalty and a quiet strength.
During World War II, Charles served in the Army Air Corps, stationed stateside guarding German prisoners of war in the southern US. It was here he demonstrated a remarkable ability to bridge divides, developing such positive rapport with the prisoners that he learned German from them. This wasn't just about duty; it was about genuine human connection.
Post-war, Charles transitioned into state government administration, working in Kentucky, Ohio, and North Carolina. He was a lifelong Democrat, genuinely committed to civil rights, actively working to secure funding for minority ethnic students and institutions. His values were clearly reflected at his 2006 funeral, where a pastor from a traditionally Black institution in Raleigh, North Carolina, officiated. He was also a national marksmanship champion, a skill honed by necessity in his youth, hunting squirrels to put food on the table.
My father was a complex man, often seen through the lens of my own youthful misunderstandings. But his pride in entertaining Lady Bird Johnson as an officer in a gardening organization, his active involvement in community associations, and his quiet determination to make a difference paint a picture of a man who, like his ancestors, sought out places and roles that suited him, living life on his own terms. He was, in his own way, a pioneer in bridging social divides, much as his forebears pioneered new lands.
From Puritan Roots to Pioneer Spirit: The Early American Wheelers
The Wheelers’ journey across the American continent, culminating in Kentucky, began much further east, in the crucible of early colonial America. Their story is intertwined with the very earliest settlements, suggesting a lineage deeply connected to the nation’s founding principles.
Connecticut's "Bible Commonwealth": Where It All Began
Our earliest known Wheelers, Thomas Wheeler (a tailor, who died in 1656) and his father, also named Thomas Wheeler (who died in 1672), first appear in New Haven, Connecticut, by 1644, taking an oath of fidelity. New Haven, founded in 1638 by Puritan leaders John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, was envisioned as a "Bible Commonwealth"—an explicitly theocratic settlement during the "Great Migration" (1630-1640). This suggests the Wheelers were part of a wave of English settlers seeking religious freedom and a society built on strict Puritanical principles.
While their precise English origins remain elusive, many early Wheelers in the colonies came from Cranfield, Bedfordshire, and had strong separatist traditions. The very presence of our Wheelers in early New Haven life indicates a certain acceptance, or perhaps even a preference, for its rigid structure before later generations sought out more tolerant communities. This early immersion in a deeply religious, communal society would undoubtedly have shaped their worldview, instilling values of self-reliance, hard work, and community that would define them for centuries.
Long Island Generations: Setting Down Roots (and Needing More)
After the tailor Thomas Wheeler died in New Haven in 1656, his widow, Alice, and their children, including their son John, moved to Southampton, Long Island. This marked a significant shift, taking them from the strictures of New Haven to a slightly different colonial landscape.
Their son, John Wheeler (1638-1718), became a prominent figure in East Hampton, Long Island. He wasn't just a settler; he was a leader, serving as a militia captain, justice of the peace, and town supervisor. This speaks to a family that quickly integrated and contributed to its community, establishing a reputation for civic engagement and leadership. This commitment to community and self-governance would resurface in later generations.
John's son, Thomas Wheeler (1668-1728), moved further west on Long Island to Smithtown in 1725. This geographical progression reflects the pressures of a growing population and the constant search for new lands and opportunities. His son, yet another Thomas Wheeler (1710-1783), was an early settler of Hauppauge, building a house there around 1740. This Thomas married Phoebe Saxton and together they had nine children.
It was one of their sons, Samuel Wheeler (1762-1845), who would make the pivotal decision to leave Long Island. By 1819, after five generations of Wheelers had called Long Island home, the availability of land for so many sons had dwindled. The allure of the frontier, with its promise of ample land and new beginnings, beckoned.
The Journey West: Kentuckian Frontiersmen
The decision of Samuel Wheeler and his family to move west in 1819 was not an isolated event; it was part of a larger American narrative of westward expansion, driven by economic opportunity and the spirit of adventure. For the Wheelers, it marked a definitive break from their established East Coast roots and the beginning of a new chapter in Kentucky.
The Ohio River Passage (1819): A New Frontier Beckons
In 1819, Samuel Wheeler (1762-1845), his wife Elizabeth Rowley (1772-1856), and their son Thomas J. Wheeler (c 1804-1860) embarked on a journey that would redefine their family's destiny. They left the familiar shores of Long Island, traveled west, and then down the mighty Ohio River by flatboat—a testament to their pioneering spirit and the arduous nature of their migration. Imagine the courage it took to pack up a life and venture into the unknown, reliant on natural waterways and their own ingenuity.
Their destination was Kentucky, a young state brimming with potential, still largely frontier territory. They settled along the Nolin River, establishing what would become known as Wheeler's Mill. This act wasn't merely finding a place to live; it was about building community and laying foundations. They weren't just moving; they were planting roots.
Wheeler's Mill and Hart County: A Two-Century Legacy
Thomas J. Wheeler, who made the journey as a young man, continued the family's westward expansion within Kentucky, acquiring land in Hart County. Around 1825, he married Jane “Jincy” Gaddie (1797-1852), and later Nancy C. Ellis (1855). He died in 1860 at the age of 56, having firmly established the family in this new territory.
The Hart County Wheelers quickly became integral to the local landscape. His son, Samuel Gaddie Wheeler (1826-1867), continued the tradition, living and dying in Hart County at the age of 40. He married Susan Ann Hodges (1847). Their son, Lovelace Henry Rousseau Wheeler (1861-1933), affectionately known as “Taud,” lived his entire life in Hart County, marrying Eliza Harriet “Hattie” Puckett (1884).
“Taud” and Hattie's son, Joseph W. “Big Joe” Wheeler (1899-1967)—my paternal grandfather—married Ruby Talley and continued the family's farming legacy in Hart County until his death. To this day, the Wheeler and Talley names are deeply entrenched in the region, with local roads still named after them, a tangible reminder of their enduring presence. For over two centuries, the Wheelers have maintained a continuous presence in Hart County, a remarkable testament to their resilience and commitment to their land. This deep connection to place and community is a powerful thread running through The Origin and Lore of the Wheelers. If you're fascinated by enduring family connections to specific locales, you might want to Discover Return to Oz for another compelling story of belonging.
Beyond the Wheeler Name: A Tapestry of American Ancestry
While the Wheeler patrilineal line forms the core of this narrative, my broader paternal ancestry reveals a rich tapestry of early American life. Many of these ancestors were in the New World by 1750, and often much earlier, with some arriving as far back as Jamestown.
They were overwhelmingly of English descent, with some Scots blood woven in (such as the McDonalds of Keppoch). Their religious affiliations were largely Puritan, Separatist, or Presbyterian, reinforcing the early colonial themes of religious seeking and community building. Primarily farmers, they were the backbone of the nascent nation. Many also played a direct role in the fight for independence, with several ancestors, including Captain John Hawkins of the Maryland Militia, fighting on the rebel side in the American War of Independence. This collective history underscores a deep and diverse connection to the shaping of American identity and its foundational struggles.
Grace Sherwood: The "Witch of Pungo" and a Family Secret
Perhaps one of the most compelling and certainly most unusual figures in my family tree is Grace Sherwood (c. 1660-1740), my eight-times great-grandmother. Her story is not just a family anecdote; it’s a chilling chapter in American legal history, for she was the last person convicted of witchcraft in Virginia.
Born near what is now Virginia Beach, Grace was a subsistence farmer, midwife, and healer—a woman of the earth who often bucked convention by wearing men’s clothing. In a time of superstition and fear, her independence and perhaps her healing practices made her a target. She was accused of various acts of witchcraft: ruining crops, killing livestock, conjuring storms, and even turning into a black cat.
The legal process was grim. In 1706, she was subjected to a public body check for "witches' marks" and a "trial by water." Bound hand and foot, she was thrown into a creek. When she floated, it was deemed proof of her guilt—for a witch, it was believed, would be rejected by the pure element. She was sentenced to 14 years in prison, serving about ten, rather than facing execution. Upon her release, she lived out her remaining years quietly, her unmarked grave a silent testament to her ordeal in Virginia Beach.
Centuries later, Grace Sherwood's story saw a remarkable turn. In 2006, she received an informal pardon from the Virginia governor. A year later, a statue was erected in her honor, and today, a street and local places ("Witchduck") bear her name. Grace’s story is a stark reminder of the prejudices and fears of the past, but also of the slow, redemptive arc of history. It highlights a resilient spirit, a woman who, despite immense pressure, survived a system designed to condemn her. Her legacy, far from being a shameful secret, is a powerful testament to the strength and unconventional nature that occasionally surfaces in the Wheeler lineage.
A Legacy of Self-Reliance and Purpose
The story of the Wheelers is, at its heart, a narrative of self-reliance, adaptation, and an enduring purpose. From the early Puritan settlers seeking a new way of life in Connecticut, to the Long Island generations who built communities, and finally to the pioneers who pushed westward into Kentucky, each generation faced unique challenges and responded with a quiet determination. They were farmers, millers, community leaders, and soldiers, consistently seeking out places that suited them, where they could live life on their own terms.
My father, Charles Lovelace Wheeler, stands as a modern embodiment of this ancestral spirit. His decision to forgo Yale for the farm, his ability to connect with "enemies" in wartime, and his steadfast commitment to civil rights in his career were not signs of a lack of ambition, but rather expressions of a deep-seated desire to build, to connect, and to contribute in ways that resonated with his own values. He broke down barriers, both personal and societal, with a quiet grace that reflected the resourcefulness and resilience of his forebears.
The lore of the Wheelers, therefore, is more than a collection of names and dates. It's an affirmation of the enduring American spirit—a spirit of seeking, settling, and shaping one's destiny, always with an eye toward family and community. It's a reminder that the seemingly small choices of individuals ripple through generations, influencing who we become and the stories we carry within us.
Your Ancestral Journey: Uncovering Your Own Story
If the compelling journey of The Origin and Lore of the Wheelers has sparked a curiosity within you, consider this an invitation. Understanding our roots, whether through genealogical research, oral histories, or old family photographs, can be a profoundly transformative experience. It connects us to a larger narrative, offering context for our present and inspiration for our future.
Like my own healing journey, delving into your family's history can provide new perspectives on personal dynamics, revealing the motivations and challenges that shaped your ancestors. It can uncover hidden strengths, explain long-held traditions, or simply paint a richer, more vibrant picture of where you come from. There are countless resources available, from online databases to local historical societies, waiting to help you unlock the stories that make you, you. What will your family's saga reveal about the American experience? The journey of discovery is waiting.