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From: "Pamela J. Sears" <>
Subject: [MABARNST] Whelden or Wheldon
Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 12:54:16 -0400

grazyhill wrote:
Trying to find my past. Grandmother states I go Back to
Peter and Jabez Whelden of Martha's Vindyard. Any help or
guidence would be great. thanks

Dear grazyhill,

It would help to have dates for your Peter and Jabez Whelden of Martha's
Vineyard, and other details that you may know.

However, the Wheldon/Whelden family did originate on Cape Cod, and are
descended from Gabriel Wheldon (origins unknown).

>From Cape Cod Library of Local History & Genealogy
A Facsimile Edition of 108 Pamphlets Published in the Early 20th
Century. Volumes I & II, edited by Leonard H. Smith, Genealogical
Publishing, Baltimore, MD
Early Wheldens of Yarmouth, by James W. Hawes
Pamphlet #43, p 732

> "Gabriel Whelden, b. in Eng, was in the Plymouth Colony in 1638. The date of his arrival in America and the place of his landing are not known. He probably came from Nottinghamshire. His children were no doubt born in England and were probably by a first wife. When he died in 1654 his wife was Margaret, who it seems clear, was his second wife and not the mother of his children. He apparently came to Yarmouth about 1639 with a family of grown children. He left Yarmouth about 1648."

There is an article that appeared in The American Genealogist by Maclean
W. McLean, F.A.S.G. in 1972 on the family of John and Mary (Folland)
Whelden, which provides a good genealogy of the early generations of the
Whelden family in Yarmouth and/or Harwich, but sadly McLean does not
follow the family to Martha's Vineyard.

There is one possible Whelden/Wheldon, according to McLean, that removed
to Martha's Vineyard, and that is Thomas Wheldon, b 15 Dec 1702 (> [MD
3:245] Thomas whilden the son of the abve sd Thomas & Elesebeth whilden
was born the 15 day of december 1702:). He was the son of Thomas3
(John2, Gabriel1) Wheldon, and his wife Elizabeth Marchant (the daughter
of Abishai Marchant & Mary Taylor.

Elizabeth Marchant4 (Mary Taylor3, Ruth Wheldon2, Gabriel1) had a
brother named Jabez. It's quite possible that a Jabez Wheldon was named
after this Jabez Marchant.

I suggest that you reference "The History of Martha's Vineyard, Dukes
County, Mass" Vol III, by Charles Edward Banks (1925) for further
information on the Wheldens who removed to Martha's Vineyard, and/or the
vital records of Dukes County, MA.

I hope this helps, and good luck with your search.

Best regards,
Pam Sears

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