Margaret Wheldon (Diguina) - contradictory DNA evidence.

I'll tell you how I'm leaning.

I believe Oguina (and her sister), niece of Massasoit, existed and married Europeans and probably had surviving children.

I'm not seeing her husband as Gabriel Whelden of Yarmouth & Malden though. He is decently documented, and seems to have been entirely in England until 1638. His children were born & baptized in Basford, Nottinghamshire, between 1612-1630 (records on all of them). He did it seem have a last daughter Sarah born 1650 in Massachusetts.

His wife was Jane in 1637, and she signed property deeds with him. There is no record of her in America or any note in contemporary records that Gabriel had a wife in America until he married Margaret, his surviving widow, and definitely a step mother. Apparently Gabriel left his (substantial) property to her, the kids protested, she was summoned to court, and then no further record of her in MA.

Margaret, wife of Gabriel Whelden, signed a letter protesting the ejection of Mr. Marmaduke Matthews as "elder" of the Yarmouth Church, providing literacy. Manasseh Matthews, probably Marmaduke's son, was a witness to Gabriel's will. The Matthews family all left MA & returned to Wales in 1655; presumably his sister Margaret & her daughter Sarah Whelden with them.

So the time line for Oguina to be the mother of Gabriel's children if:

- she was born much earlier than 1608, more like 1595, as the children were born starting 1612

- she somehow got to a blacksmith's shop in land locked Nottinghamshire before 1612

- she died before 1637, when Gabriel is documented with a wife Jane

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Based on the timeline & baptismal records, I have moved the children over to Jane (unknown).

Please register any objections, with citations, in this discussion.

I've come across a person whom I've emailed who is suppose to have information about Oquina and her children.I have emailed him and hope to get a reply,the last reply I saw was 2013,so I hope he's still out there!As soon as I hear or don't hear I'll let everyone know.

Thanks Suzanne!

Well basically he has pretty much the same information we've all collected or seen,there are to "Taylor's" who married the two sisters,Ruth and Mary,but that there may be two Gabriel Wheldon's,which may be the cause of confusion about the wives? I started looking for ancestors of Quadequina to connect his grandchildren (if true) to Gabriel and Oquina,but nothing yet.I found his other brother's name "Akkopoin" I found a "John Wheldon" in some writing of Indian Wars,but have not found a Gabriel Wheldon,I am still searching.Taking a break for a day.

Good work Suzanne!

Akkopoin we do have as a brother of Massassoit i think.

"John Wheldon" -- would that be Gabriel's son? I think he served in King Philip's War.

https://archive.org/.../cu3192402867133

What I posted is Not a link,you will have to type it in.It is under the heading Full text of king Philip's war based on the archives and records of...

Google it!

Also I only saw the name "John Wheldon" In the list of hundreds of names,but I may have overlooked some names..Very long Document /Manuscript.

Here's my question about this controversy. I'm sorry I can't find anything new on it, so just going with what you folks have found. Do we know that Catorne Hopkins who married Giles Hopkins was American Indian or is this strictly based on the (what appears to be) misinformation that her mother was American Indian? Thanks for enlightening me if you can.

We have an interesting record from her in fact:

According to Pope's Pioneers, Katherine Whelden, eldest daughter of Gabriel, wrote to a John Shanvat of Nottingham in a letter dated 29 June 1639 concerning the drowning death of Martha Weelden in Dedham, Mass, some 12 days earlier, probably her sister Martha.  The full content of that letter is unknown, as is the identity of Shanvat, although he might have been related to Gabriel's aunt by marriage, Christobel, whose will mentions her sister Morris Chamlet.

This is the first mention of the Whelden family in America.

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Her baptism was at St Leodegarius Church, Basford, Nottinghamshire, England, 6 Mar 1616/7. Only fathers were recorded in these baptisms & hers was given as Gabriel Whelden.

In other words, we do not know who her mother was. There is a marriage of a Mary Davis in 1607 to Gabriel Whelden some researchers dismiss. Gabriel Whelden's wife in a 1637 property transaction was Jane. No wife is listed in his property disposal of 1638. There is no record of a wife in America until, I believe, Margaret, wife of Gabriel Whelden, signs a letter of protest against the dismissal of Rev Marmaduke Matthews as elder of the church at Yarmouth. This Margaret was the surviving widow of Gabriel in 1655, and certainly was not the mother of his children, as he left his property to her & they contested.

Concerning Giles Hopkins,researchers had concern of the absence of his name as son in law of Gabriel Wheldon in the lawsuit against his widow from his sons and sons in law concerning Gabriel's will.They don't dispute he was married to Catherine,but can't explain the absence in the lawsuit.Apparently the FE.Bearse claims were disproved by Donald Lines Jacobus in 1939.I have yet to read the said document.The lawsuit in an earlier discussion was mentioned in Records of the Colony New Plymouth in New England.June 17th 1641,He was awarded 15 shillings for a damaged boat.

Wiki tree Gabriel Wheldon published by Jan Porter and Dan Stramara say he was not married to Oquina.I have not found a Dna for Quadequina?Looking for names connected to his DNA? Or a roll number?

He and his youngest son John W. sold to William Crofts of Lynn, 21 Oct 1653, lands in Arnold and elsewhere in Nottinghamshire, England.In his will, Gabriel gave the money still owed from this sale to his wife Margaret.This caused his sons Henry and John to file suit in court for their portions in 1655.According to "The American Genealogist" vol 48: 1972 page 5"The fact that the will does not mention, either directly or by implication, any children, is unusual, and the most likely explanation is that Gabriel gave them their portions of his estate either at marriage or by gifts of money or deeds to Barnstable County land.If Margaret was a second wife, there may have been a pre-nuptial agreement setting forth the reasons why she was to have the entire estate at Gabriel's death."According to Reid in "Dennis, Cape Cod" page 52,the custom was for one third of the estate to go to the widow as long as she was unmarried.Single daughters were allowed to live at home as long as they were single and frequently small legacies were given to married and unmarried daughters such as bedsteads and bedding, silver spoons or other valuable household articles.The real estate was divided up amongst the sons.

Abstract of Will from New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1862 vol 16 page 75 The spellings are as transcribed.

Written Maulden 1653, 11, 12. (this can be read as 12th day of the 11th month.Since 1 March was considered the New Year, the date would be 12 Jan 1653)In the name of God and in obedience to his comand (according to my boudend duty), I, Gabriell Whelding, of the Towne and Church of Maulden, being weake and sicke in body, do make my last will.My body to be layd asleepe in the bed of the grave, in the Comon buriing place for the Inhabitants of this Towne.I give 10s as a Small testimony of my true Love to the Church of Maulden, to be payd into the hands of the Deacons within a mo after my decease.I give all my estate in Maulden,consisting of house, Frame [farm?] Lands, cattle, and corne, (together [with] what money is due vnto me from Wiliam Croffts, of Linne) to Margaret Whedling, my wife, whom I appoynt my sole executrix.signed Gabriell Whedlon
In the presence of Nathaniell Vphame, james larnard, michaiah mathews, with others.

4 (2) 1654Jn Vphame and Nathaniell Vpaheme deposed. Invetroy of the goodes, Chattels and Chattell of Gabriell Wheldon lately of the Towne of maulden, prized by Edward Carrington & John Vphame.Amt. L40.11.08.Mentions William Crofts.

http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/wheldon/51/

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So if i follow correctly, in fact Gabriel had distributed (gifted over) his children's portions of his property prior to the will, and the lawsuit was not contesting it, but going after the widow for withholding the monies from sale of the English property. Gabriel's son John was the co party to that transaction if I have it right; therefore, he & perhaps others of the children had their piece at that time?

Sorry - re reading. Henry & John were still owed from the 1653 sale, and the sale money was left to Margaret instead. So why didn't Catherine & Giles Hopkins join the lawsuit? Interesting question, but not sure it bears on the genealogy.

This is all interesting, but perhaps the Catherine that married Giles Hopkins wasn't a Wheldon at all but might still be fully or partly American Indian. I'm wondering about the unexplained issue that Meg Jimenez brings up that she has Indian DNA but no other ancestor she can find but Catherine who is a probable suspect. I for one only care about Catherine. The Weldons are not in my tree unless Margaret is the mother of Catherine.

What evidence is there that Giles Hopkins married someone other than the Catherine Whelden baptized 1617 in Nottinghamshire, daughter of Gabriel Whelden, blacksmith of Basford?

http://mayflowerhistory.com/hopkins-giles/

MARRIAGE: Catherine Whelden on 9 October 1639 at Plymouth

See also:

http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/pdf/Giles_Hopkins_17th_Century_Rec...

http://home.pilgrimhopkins.com/images/PHHSFiles/AC_Jun10.pdf

Werelate.org wiki(not a link), Records of the colony new Plymouth in new England states Gabriel Wheldon (spelled Gabreill Wheildon) sentenced to dwell in Mattachees,no mention of any brothers or as punishment,date given September 3rd 1638 Lycensed to dwell at Mattachees..

Massasoit's name was Ousa Mequin,different variations of spelling.The Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony:1620. Duan A Cline.

The Pilgrim Republic by John Abbot Goodwin 1879.Google books talks about Skiff Part owned by Gabriel,for fishing and collecting corn.I think it shows shows some kind of Catherine's lineage? Phone battery about to die.But you can "Google" it!

Hoping we'll find a lead or end to all of this in some documents somewhere.The man I emailed believes there are two Gabriel Wheldon's.So,if true hopefully we are getting closer to an answer to these questions?

Suzanne - two "Gabriel Wheldon's" would make sense to me.

1. Had a brother, was a fisherman, arrived Plymouth colony 1629 with a group of 10 fishermen (unnamed). The ship embarked from Bristol, suggesting West counties of England origins. No further record.

2. Immigrated in 1638, origination Nottinghamshire (land locked), was a blacksmith & landowner in England, children baptized in England, will probated in Yarmouth in the Plymouth colony, 1655.

Sentenced to Dwell in Mattachee-along with others like the Stewards! Now your on to something that I have in my documents/records.

Wow. You two have been busy!

As for Massasoit, Erica and I have been trying to get that family line sorted out. You can find it through here:

mother of Massasoit’s children

I've been working on the Ousamequin line (it's spelled via enunciation differently by each document author), because he's my granddad's direct grandfather 5* removed. He used to talk about him when making his canoes. I just wish my mother could remember who the people were between him and Massasoit Sachem Ousamequin.

Oral history sucks...

Thank you, Susanne, for finding something about the exile. I was beginning to wonder if I was imagining things....

Which town was it that they helped set up? It was just up the river from Plymouth.

Oh, by the way...

Hey, Elwin C. Nickerson! Glad to see you stop by this discussion! You have some better resources than I do. Have you found anything in the tribal records? I don't have access and thought you said something about maybe being able to see into that area.

Just wondering. I may be asking the wrong person..

I'll have to look over it again Wendy Sue,And the tribe may have been split up.According to "Native American Nation,Massasoit of the Wampanoags,By Alivin G Weeks." There was a tribe called Mohandsick located on Long Island who had a Sachem named Aspinet..So if the Wampanoags were divided then the names of the prior Sachems may be attached to one of those other Algonquin tribes connected to the Totem Wolf.