Thomas Wheeler
Encyclopedia
Thomas Wheeler was a colonial soldier of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
and writer. He emigrated from England to the North American colonies in 1642. In 1644 he was living in Fairfield, Connecticut
. In 1675 he took part in King Philip's War
against the Wampanoag and Nipmuck
tribes.
In the 1650s Wheeler was a trader; in 1657 he purchased the right to trade with the Native American tribes for twenty five pounds. Around 1661 he was one of the first people to purchase land in the Ockocangansett plantation, which later became the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts
. He was made a Lieutenant
on October 12, 1669 and a Captain in 1671.
At the beginning of the hostilities he was assigned as military escort to Cpt. Edward Hutchinson
and together with him, led his men into an ambush, carried out by the Nipmucks under Muttawmp
and Matoonas
, at Brookfield that has become known as Wheeler's Surprise
. His horse was shot out from under him and he was seriously wounded, but eventually survived the battle. His son, also named Thomas Wheeler was also wounded, in the loins and arm, but also managed to survive. Thomas Wheeler (senior) eventually wrote an account of the engagement which was first published in 1676 by Samuel Green
, under the title "A Thankfulle Remembrence of Gods Mercy. To several Persons at Quabaug or BROOKFIELD". Wheeler's work exemplifies the Puritan
conception of heroism, in which a person's piety is their virtue while the credit for the victory in battle is ascribed to God.
He died in 1686 due to complications from the wounds received at the battle of Brookfield.
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
and writer. He emigrated from England to the North American colonies in 1642. In 1644 he was living in Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
. In 1675 he took part in King Philip's War
King Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
against the Wampanoag and Nipmuck
Nipmuck
The Nipmuc are a group of Algonquian Indians native to Worcester County, Massachusetts, some parts of Northeastern CT, and NW RI, and the Northwestern and Western parts of Middlesex County, Massachusetts.-Name:...
tribes.
In the 1650s Wheeler was a trader; in 1657 he purchased the right to trade with the Native American tribes for twenty five pounds. Around 1661 he was one of the first people to purchase land in the Ockocangansett plantation, which later became the town of Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough, Massachusetts
Middleborough is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,117 as of 2008.For geographic and demographic information on the village of Middleborough Center, please see the article Middleborough Center, Massachusetts....
. He was made a Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
on October 12, 1669 and a Captain in 1671.
At the beginning of the hostilities he was assigned as military escort to Cpt. Edward Hutchinson
Edward Hutchinson (captain)
Edward Hutchinson was the oldest son of the founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony William Hutchinson and the dissident minister Anne Hutchinson...
and together with him, led his men into an ambush, carried out by the Nipmucks under Muttawmp
Muttawmp
Muttawmp was a sachem of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century, originally based in Quaboag. He participated in King Philip's War...
and Matoonas
Matoonas
Matoonas was a sachem of the Nipmuc Indians in the middle of 17th century. He played a significant role in the Native American uprising known as King Philip's War....
, at Brookfield that has become known as Wheeler's Surprise
Wheeler's Surprise
Wheeler's Surprise, and the ensuing Siege of Brookfield, was a battle between Nipmuc Indians under Muttawmp, and the English of the Massachusetts Bay Colony under the command of Thomas Wheeler and Cpt. Edward Hutchinson, in August of 1675 during King Phillip's War...
. His horse was shot out from under him and he was seriously wounded, but eventually survived the battle. His son, also named Thomas Wheeler was also wounded, in the loins and arm, but also managed to survive. Thomas Wheeler (senior) eventually wrote an account of the engagement which was first published in 1676 by Samuel Green
Samuel Green (printer)
Samuel Green was an American printer and progenitor of the Green family of printers, which included Bartholomew Green, Bartholomew Green, Jr. and Joseph Dennie. Born in England, he came to Cambridge, Massachusetts with John Winthrop in 1630...
, under the title "A Thankfulle Remembrence of Gods Mercy. To several Persons at Quabaug or BROOKFIELD". Wheeler's work exemplifies the Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
conception of heroism, in which a person's piety is their virtue while the credit for the victory in battle is ascribed to God.
He died in 1686 due to complications from the wounds received at the battle of Brookfield.
Works cited
- Leo Bonfanti, "Biographies and Legends of the New England Indians, Volume III", New England Historical Series, Pride Publications, 1981.
- William Peterfield Trent, "Colonial prose and poetry, Volume 1", T. Y. Crowell & co., 1903, http://books.google.com/books?id=MTH_udTDkcAC&pg=PA99&dq=thomas+wheeler+king+philip&cd=1#v=onepage&q=thomas%20wheeler%20king%20philip&f=false.
- Richard Slotkin, James K. Folsom, "So dreadfull a judgment: Puritan responses to King Philip's War, 1676-1677", Wesleyan University Press, 1978, http://books.google.com/books?id=sdgUshyCIYMC&pg=PA234&dq=Thomas+Wheeler+King+Philip&cd=2#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Wheeler%20King%20Philip&f=false.
- New England Historic Genealogical Society, The New England historical and genealogical register, Volume 38, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1884, http://books.google.com/books?id=y8QMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA34&dq=Thomas+Wheeler+King+Philip&cd=3#v=onepage&q=&f=false.
- Albert Gallatin Wheeler, American College of Genealogy, "The genealogical and encyclopedic history of the Wheeler family in America", American College of Genealogy, 1914, http://books.google.com/books?id=hY5bAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=Thomas+Wheeler+Massachusetts&cd=10#v=onepage&q=Thomas%20Wheeler%20Massachusetts&f=false.