
Wheelock’s in Western Australia
We arrive at the 6th of Blog and a change of pace from Latin America and United Kingdom, my research has also to taken me to Western Australia where most Australian Wheelock’s originate.
I will return to the Origins of Wheelock in the next blog but it has taken me longer to write up. This an extract of the research which I am just starting to build a picture but it will take me sometime.
We do know the two migrants came from Ireland and settled in the Colony of Western Australia, previously known as the Swan River Colony in 1839.
Extract taken from “The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians Pre 1829-1888”
WHEELOCK, John, b. County Wexford, Ireland c.1822, d 4.12.1888 (Chapman Bay district), arr 20.4.1839 per Hindoo with brother (George or James), m 3.6.1840 (Perth) Elizabeth Matilda BARRON, dtr of Edward & Jane, d 21.1.1866 (Ellen). Chd Isaac b August1842, Edward b July 1844 (d May 1846), John Boxwell b April 1845 & bp 1845, John b July 1847, Jane Pearson b June 1848 d 1934, Samuel b August1850 (Toodyay), James b 1852, Elizabeth Matilda b 1853 d 1938. Farmer & grazier, tenant at Toodyay 1840’s & 1850’s at “Roesland”. Greenough, Champion Bay 1860’s.
WHEELOCK, Charles Thomas, B 6th of January 1858 Toodyay, d 15.5.1916, m 16.6.1885 (Carnarvon) Jessie Nevin McJANNET. Chd Elizabeth b 1886 d 1964 ((carnarvon owned drapery store), Darcy, Gerald d 1964 Shepherd at Irwin, drover of flocks into Gascoyne district. In patnership with C J Gooch, established “Wandagee Station” 1880. Was at meeting there when 1st Gascoyne Rd. Bd. was formed 1882. To Carnarvon, built “Red House” 1883. Town council employee as well at station manager, town butcher, Presbyt.
WHEELCOK, Edmond, son of John & Elizabeth (nee BARRON), m 1st 23.5.1883 (RC Geraldton) Margaret HENNESSY b 1864, dtr of Loughlan, m. 2nd 26.1.1888 Rosanna Agnes Mcdonnell B 2.6.1864 d. 22.1.1906, dtr of John & Ellen (nee McCABE). Droverr & labourer Mt Magnet.
WHEELOCK, Edward, b 1854 m Mary Ann b 1854. Chd Veronica Maud b 1891 d 1891 (Champion Bay district). Mounted Police Constable Albany 1879-1884. Transferred to Bunbury 10.9.1884, resigned 1.2.1885 having been appointed to “Mt Wittenoom”.
WHEELOCK, Elizabeth Matilda, b 1853, dtr of John, m 1873 Thomas BROAD
WHEELOCK, George (=?James), arr 20.4.1839 per HINDOO with brother John. Employed as a caretaker Middle Swan district.
WHEELOCK, Isaac, b 8.1842, son of John & Elizabeth Matilda (nee BARRON), of Greenough, employed a s T/L labourer 1868.
WHEELOCK, James. Witness at marriage of John Wheelock 3.6.1840 (Perth).
WHEELOCK, James Lowe White, Bp 29.3.1852, son of John & Elizabeth Matilda (nee BARRON). m 6.4.1893 (Dongara) Florence Josephine FOGARTY, b 1868, dtr of Joseph & Harriet. Farmer, Greenough (1884-6 Alm).
WHEELOCK, Jane Pearson, b 1848 dtr of John, m Thomas CRAINE
WHEELOCK, John b 7.1847, son of John & Elizabeth Matilda (Nee BARRON), m ?Maria HOGAN, chd. Edward.
WHEELOCK, Margaret, d .19.6.1883 (Geraldton).
In a different edition of this book it states:
WHEELOCK G. “ ……..Was employed as a Caretaker in the Middle Swan district”
WHEELOCK John “………In November 1840 signed a petition with his wife for a Methodist minister’s stipend at Perth. Was mentioned in the 1849 Toodyay census as a farmer. In 1850 signed a petition for a publican’s licence at Toodyay.
Obituary Charles Thomas Wheelock
The late Charles Thomas Wheelock was born at Newcastle, now called Toodyay, in the Northam district, on January 6, 1858. As a young man he worked on the station of the late Mr. C. D. V.
Foss, who was later Resident Magistrate of Gascoyne Police District. At nineteen years of age, with the late Charlie Brockman, he journeyed to Boolathana from the Upper Irwin (now Mingenew). In
1879 he brought sheep to Doorawarrah, for Messrs. Gale and McNeil, and in 1880 he entered into partnership with the late Mr. G. J. Gooch, at Wandagee station.
It was on July 30, 1880, that the two partners discovered Wandagee. Up to that time no white man had ever trod on this part of the State. On the station they placed 2,000 sheep in November, 1860. About five years later
Mr.Wheelock sold out his interest in Wandagee and settled in Carnarvon, where he established a butchering business. It is now being conducted by the Carnarvon Traders, after passing through many hands.
While settled in Carnarvon he married Miss Jessie Nevin, daughter of the late
Williiam Hogan McJannett, and two sons and five daughters comprised his family,
most of them living today in Carnarvon district.
The late Mr. Wheelock was a grandson of Major Barron, a pioneer of this State whose wife is said to be the first white woman to arrive in Western Australia.
Although a resident of Carnarvon for many years, Mr. Wheelock took no active part in public affairs of the town and district. He was a keen lover of the bush, where he spent the major part of his life engaged in pastoral pursuits. He was a man of happy disposition. No matter what the hardship and difficulties he would always face them with a joke and a good hearty laugh. In that spirit he lived and helped very largely in the settlement of the Gascoyne.
Close relations of mine through my father Charles Henry Brown ( Jnr ) – wife Olive ( née Kennedy )
James Wheelock, born in county Wexford in 1825 was the brother that went to Australia with John. James later went to the USA. He was my 2x great grandfather.
I would definitely be interested in having a chat. get more information on the Irish side. trying to build a tree and put context to the family in Wexfor.d
OK, I have a tree on ancestry.com. But I can send you what I have if you would like. BIll.
Letter from John Wheelock to his family back in Ireland..
SWAN RIVER
The following letter to the parents of two young men, brothers, who lately emigrated
from the neighbourhood of Wexford to this Colony, will be found interesting:
Oak River Middle, Swan River,
May 5th, 1839.
Dear Parents,
Having taken ourselves from under your protection, in the hope of being better able by
our own exertions to advance our temporal interests in a distant land, we have thought it
our duty to let you know how we are getting on; and also a few particulars of our
passage from England to Swan River.
Our vessel accompanied by the Trafalgar sailed on the 20th November, from the
Prince’s Dock, Liverpool, with a favourable wind. In the course of that night, the breeze
encreased considerably, and at length it blew so hard that the Gib-boom was carried
away and we could not replace it for a considerable time. When we were off the Bay of
Biscay, a storm arose right ahead of us that carried us far into the Bay. The sea rolled
tremendously. We continued for ten days in this state, sometimes at the rate of ten knots
an hour, during which time not one on board had a dry stitch. So great was the rolling of
the vessel that we were frequently heaved with our beds to the distance of four feet,
dreading every moment of being crushed by the chests and other lumber that was
continually falling about in the ship. At lenght we succeeded in weathering the storm and
clearing out of the Bay; and on the 10th of December a fair wind blew that carried us
right on our course by Maderia, the Canaries, Cape Verde Islands, towards the Cape of
Good Hope. Before we reached the Cape, another storm arose, which wrecked the
Trafalgar and tore all our canvases to pieces but did us no other injury. All the
passenger aboard the Trafalgar were saved except one woman who was acidentally
killed when firing the signal of distress. We stopped at the Cape from the 20th Feburary
to the 7th of March. Mutton was 4d per pound at the Cape, beef 5d, a horse worth £15
at home would bring £40 at the Cape. We arrived at Swan River on the 20th of April
exactly five months from the day we sailed from Liverpool. We got work on the second
day after landing, with Mr. S. More, Mr. McNeile’s brother-in-law, I for £100 a year and
James for £74 a year; yet we have to pay one guinea a week for diet and lodging. We
have found a kind friend in Mr. Singleton who often invited us to his house, and has
done everything in his power to advance our interests.
We often think of our absent friends and although we have no reason to regret the
change of clime, in a worldly point of view, still we cannot divest our hearts or minds of
the love of home and the land of our nativity. This will of course wear away by degrees
and we shall soon I trust, get more reconciled to the place. There is no doubt but money
can be made here, but it is by hard industry, like as in all other places. We were perhaps
too sanguine in our expectations when leaving home, our hopes of success were too
high, like all young persons when they set out in quest of fortune; had our expectations
been more moderate, we should now be much more contented and happy.
Remember us in love to all our dear friends and do not delay in writing to us, we are
very anxious to know how you have been since we left home.
We remain, dear parents,
YOUR DUTIFUL AND AFFECTIONATE CHILDREN.
JOHN & J. WHEELOC
John’s Letter:
The following appeared in the Wexford Conservative 23 October 1839. The paper was
owned and published by Samuel Wheelock, John and James’ uncle.
Many thanks for that, very interesting reading.
Hi Admin
I am a Wheelock from Wexford I may be able to assist you