Abigail Allen

Abigail Allen (4 January 1640–18 June 1696) was Barbara’s 10th great-grandmother. By 1679 she was living in Salisbury as the wife of Henry Wheeler, a mariner. That year, her father, William Allin, conveyed approximately four acres of planting land in Salisbury to the couple as a gift motivated by “natural love and affection.”

Abigail Allen was born on 4 January 1640. She was the daughter of William Allin of Salisbury, described in a 1679 deed as a house carpenter.

By 1679, Abigail was the wife of Henry Wheeler of Salisbury, who was described as a mariner. In that year, William Allin conveyed land to “my beloved daughter, Abigail Wheeler, wife of Henry Wheeler,” citing his “natural love and affection.” The conveyance consisted of about four acres of planting land in Salisbury.

One acre was part of William Allin’s father Richard Goodale’s planting lot, lying between land of Robert Fitts and a planting lot of William Allin, and bordering a highway leading to the mill and Goodale’s lot. The remaining three acres were part of William Allin’s own planting lot, between the lands of John Clough and Richard Goodale and bordering the highway and Ferry Swamp.

Abigail Allen Wheeler died on 18 June 1696. She is Barbara’s 10th great-grandmother through the line of James Wheeler, Jeremiah Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler, Nancy Wheeler Arnold, Daniel Braley Tuthill, Phebe Celeste Tuthill, Nora Leslie Fox, Floyd Nelson Sherrell, and Doris Helen Sherrell.

Historical context

The 1679 land conveyance records a father’s transfer of planting land to his married daughter and her husband in Salisbury. Its boundary descriptions identify neighboring landholders, a highway leading to a mill, and Ferry Swamp, preserving a detailed picture of how the property was situated.

Sources & research

Geni.com, “Henry Wheeler,” http://www.geni.com/people/Henry-Wheeler/6000000003077526856. The supplied Family Tree Maker notes state that the 1679 land record was found online through this page.