Person Page - 321

     LT John West III was born c 1680. He was the son of MAJ John West II (the elder of Stafford Co) and Susannah (Sarah) Pearson. LT John West III married Mary Ann Harris a 1704. LT John West III died in 1712.

     Mary Ann Harris was born a 1680. She married Unknown Owsley a 1700. Mary Ann Harris married LT John West III, son of MAJ John West II (the elder of Stafford Co) and Susannah (Sarah) Pearson, a 1704. Mary Ann Harris married John Wheeler in 1712.

     Hugh West (Burgess) was born in 1705. He was the son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris. Hugh West (Burgess) married Sybil Harrison a 1730. Hugh West (Burgess) died in 1754.

      Hugh West was a founder of Alexandria, VA and a member of the Virginia House of Burgess from 1752 - 1754. In the mid 1730s Hugh acquired 100 acres on the Potomac River in Virginia that was previously patented by his grandfather Maj John West, willed to John and Benjamin Blake, sold to Hugh's cousin -- our ancestor Capt Simon Pearson, and then likely sold as part of Simon's estate. Hugh moved to the land where he developed the commercial business activities including tobacco warehouses, a river ferry and eventually an ordinary. The site known as West's Point later became the nucleus of the city of Alexandria, VA.

     Thomas West I was born in 1708. He was the son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris. Thomas West I married Sarah (Unknown) a 1733. Thomas West I died in 1773.

     Sybil Harrison was born a 1710. She married Hugh West (Burgess), son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris, a 1730.

     Sarah (Unknown) was born a 1713. She married Thomas West I, son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris, a 1733.

     Pearson West was born c 1680. He was the son of MAJ John West II (the elder of Stafford Co) and Susannah (Sarah) Pearson. Pearson West died c 1705.

     John West IV was born c 1706. He was the son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris. John West IV died c 1720.

     William West was born c 1707. He was the son of LT John West III and Mary Ann Harris. William West died c 1769.

      William West was the owner of the West Ordinary and co-founder of Leesburg, VA. Willam married first Elizabeth Gardner and second Mary Elzey.

     Unknown Pearson was born a 1632.

     John Wheeler was born a 1687. He married Mary Ann Harris in 1712.

     Joseph Wheeless II was born on 14 Aug 1733 at Surry Co, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Wheeless I and Mary (Unknown). Joseph Wheeless II married Mary "Molley" (Unknown) a 1749. Joseph Wheeless II died c Jan 1787 at Halifax Co, North Carolina. His estate was probated in Feb 1787 at Halifax Co, North Carolina.

      Joseph Wheeless II reportedly came from Virginia, as did his father of the same name. Joseph II's son Abner was reportedly from Fairfax Co, VA, so his father may have been from the same area in Virginia. However, a Joseph Wheless was reportedly on the 1800 King William Co, VA tax list, so there were other men with the same name in the area.

In 1773 (no day or month) George Williamson and wife Mary of Halifax sold to Joseph Wheelis of the same county for £46, 400 acres ajoining the land of Britches Sw[amp?], Francis Drake, Joseph Whealess, John Burns. Witnesses John Daniel, Thomas Wright. Wife relinquished her dower in examination by R. Cotten Esq. Recorded Feb 1773.

In 1774 (no day or month) John (x) Daniel of Edgecombe Co, NC to Joseph Whealis of Halifax for £40, 150 acres adjoining Breeches Sw[amp?], John Marshall. Elizabeth (x) Daniel also signed. Witnesses: Wind. Wright, Moses Butt, Thos Wright. Recorded Nov 1774.

On 18 Feb 1775 Joseph Daniel of Halifax sold Peter Daniel of the same county for £20, 70 acres joining Rockey Sw[amp], Elex Branch. Signed Peter (x) Daniel (sic). Witnesses Jno Spell, Joseph Wheelis, Starling Daniel. Recorded Feb 1776. The same date on 18 Feb 1775 Joseph Daniel of Halifax sold to Peter Daniel of the same county for £20, 114 acres on the north side of Beaver Dam Branch, joining Thomas Wright, Joseph Wheelus, and Henry Read. Signed Peter (x) Daniel (sic). Witnesses Jno Spell, Joseph Wheelus, Starling Daniel. Recorded Feb 1776.

On 6 Sep 1777 Joseph Whealis Halifax Co sold to Jos Daniel of (the same county?) for £8, 30 acres on the east side of Rockey Sw[amp], joining the land of Thomas Wright. The witnesses were Isham Rosser, Nathan (x) Council and it was recorded in Nov 1778. The same date Joseph Whealis of Halifax Co sold to Nathan Council of the same county for £12.10, 150 acres on the east side of Rockey Sw[amp], joining the land of Jesse Bull (Butts?), Thomas Wright, and Beaverdam Branch. The witnesses were Isham Rosser, Joseph (x) Daniel and it was recorded in Nov 1788.

On 28 Apr 1779 James Carlisle/Chanhell/Churchill?, 100 acres bordering Edmond Daniel, Joseph Daniell, Nathan Council, Joseph Wheeles, paid £3.6.

Some of Joseph's children stayed in the area because the 1784-85 Halifax Co, NC tax list includes Hardy, James, James junior, Joseph and Sion.

Joseph II was enumerated on the District 10, North Carolina census taken between 1784 and 1787 as Joseph Whelass with 2 males age 21-60, 4 males under age 21 or over 60, 4 females, and 1 black age 12 - 50. On the same census was Joseph Whelas, likely his father, with 1 males age 21-60, 1 male under age 21 or over 60, and 1 female; James Whelas, likely his son, with 1 male age 21-60, 1 male under age 21 or over 60, and 7 females; and his son Hardy Wheless with 1 male age 21-60, 2 males under age 21 or over 60, and 3 females.

Joseph's 14 Nov 1786 will, probated in Feb 1787 bequeathed to "... daughter Christian Bruce and sons Hardy Wheeless and Sion Wheeless 1 pound each. Lend wife Molley Wheeless all the rest of my estate and at her death it to be equally divided among my children begotten by Molley (childrens' names not given). Witnesses: John Jones (X his mark); Rhoda Harthorn (or Rhodam Harlow fr different transcription ; Thomas Lunt Hill. Executors: Joseph Wheeless and Thomas Lunt Hill." Probate indicates Molley Wheeless qualified as executor. Because Joseph's will referred to "... my children begotten by Molley...." he may have had an earlier marriage or have had step-children.

By 1790 Joseph had apparently died. In the 1790 federal census a Joseph Whealles was living with four total at home close to Nordy (thought to be Hardy) Wheales in Edgecombe, Halifax Co, NC.


Other sources:

--"The Pieced Together Early Wheelus Family of VA, NC and GA," by Gerry Hill, Albany, GA; http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/wheelus/26/, 1 Apr 2005 with 9 detailed responses (Joseph Wheless & his descendants)
--North Carolina, State Census, 1784-1787; Original data: Register, Alvaretta K. State Census of North Carolina, 1784-1787. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co, 2001. (Joseph Whelass)
--1790 Census, Edgecombe, Halifax, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 457; Image: 267; Family History Library Film: 0568147 (Joseph Whealles)
--Halifax Co, NC Deed Book 12, ~Jan or Feb, 1773 p 348 (Williamson-Wheelis deed)
--Halifax Co, NC Deed Book, 1774 (Daniel -Whealis deed)
--Halifax Co, NC Deed Book 13, 1775, p. 393-394 (Wheelis witness to two Daniel deeds)
--Halifax Co, NC Deed Book 14, 6 Sep 1777, p. 100 (Daniel - Whealis and Whealis - Council deeds)
--Halifax Co, NC Deed Book Entry 867 (222), 1779 (Wheeles witness)
--Margaret Hoffman, General Abstracts of Wills 1758-1824, Halifax Co, NC, pg 73; original #361, pg. 119. (Will of Joseph Wheelas)
--Susie Brickell Anderson, Abstract of Wills Halifax Co, NC, Will Bk. 1-40, p. 79 (will of Joseph Wheelas Sr)
--Jeannette Holland Austin, The Austin Collection vol 2, copyright 1990; Halifax Co, NC Will Book 361, p 119, Feb 1787 (will of Joseph Wheeless)
--James Maloney; Maloney, Hendrick and Many Others, http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jhmjr&id=I57701, maloney@maloneylaw.com, accessed in 2016.

     Mary "Molley" (Unknown) was born a 1729. She married Joseph Wheeless II, son of Joseph Wheeless I and Mary (Unknown), a 1749.

     Sion Wheeless was born c 1755 at Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Wheeless II. Sion Wheeless married Lavinia Cox c 1782 at Halifax Co, North Carolina. Sion Wheeless died in 1797 at Wilkes Co, Georgia.