Advertisement

Advertisement

Rev Ralph Wheelock

Birth
England
Death
11 Jan 1684 (aged 83–84)
Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA
Burial
Medfield, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
His origins may be in Co.Shropshire, England.

He was educated at Clare Hall in Cambridge. He became a preacher, but was a dissenter. When the persecutions became highest, he left England and came to New England. He often preached in Massachusetts, but never became a minister. He first settled in watertown, but went to Dedham at the time of its settlement. He was active in the church there and was freeman in 1639. In 1642 he was appointed as a local magistrate and clerk of writs. In 1645 he was authorized to perform marriages in Dedham.

He came to Medfield at its settlement and his house lot was the first granted, on the corner of Main and North Streets. He built a house there by 1652. He was selectman from 1651 to 1654. In 1655, the first school was established, and Ralph was the headmaster. He was a representative to the General Court for several years and held almost every important office in the town. He died on January 11, 1684 in Medfield, his wife Rebecca died there in 1680. At this time, it is not known where Ralph was buried, but it is quite likely that he is buried in Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield, since his wife was buried there only four years previous to his death.

He married, in Wramplingham, Co.Norfolk, England on May 17,1630, Rebecca Clarke.

He may have married a second time very late in life to a woman named Hannah who died in 1682. But this is very doubtful.

Children: Mary Wheelock Miles, Gershom Wheelock, Rebecca Wheelock Crafts, Peregrina Wheelock Warfield, Benjamin Wheelock, Samuel Wheelock, Record Wheelock Ward(wife of Increase Ward), Experience Wheelock Warren, and Eleazer Wheelock.

His origins may be in Co.Shropshire, England.

He was educated at Clare Hall in Cambridge. He became a preacher, but was a dissenter. When the persecutions became highest, he left England and came to New England. He often preached in Massachusetts, but never became a minister. He first settled in watertown, but went to Dedham at the time of its settlement. He was active in the church there and was freeman in 1639. In 1642 he was appointed as a local magistrate and clerk of writs. In 1645 he was authorized to perform marriages in Dedham.

He came to Medfield at its settlement and his house lot was the first granted, on the corner of Main and North Streets. He built a house there by 1652. He was selectman from 1651 to 1654. In 1655, the first school was established, and Ralph was the headmaster. He was a representative to the General Court for several years and held almost every important office in the town. He died on January 11, 1684 in Medfield, his wife Rebecca died there in 1680. At this time, it is not known where Ralph was buried, but it is quite likely that he is buried in Vine Lake Cemetery in Medfield, since his wife was buried there only four years previous to his death.

He married, in Wramplingham, Co.Norfolk, England on May 17,1630, Rebecca Clarke.

He may have married a second time very late in life to a woman named Hannah who died in 1682. But this is very doubtful.

Children: Mary Wheelock Miles, Gershom Wheelock, Rebecca Wheelock Crafts, Peregrina Wheelock Warfield, Benjamin Wheelock, Samuel Wheelock, Record Wheelock Ward(wife of Increase Ward), Experience Wheelock Warren, and Eleazer Wheelock.

Gravesite Details

He is likely buried in Vine Lake Cemetery, though there is no stone or record stating as such.



Advertisement