By 1746, he was living in the area that was Edgecombe Co., N.C. when he signed a petition to the governor to create a new county. That new county was called Granville. He was on the list of taxables taken by Edward Jones in 1750. The list did not give the name of the district so it is still not known exactly where William Wheeler was living at this time.
The 1763 tax list of Granville County, taken by for Len Henley Bullock's area, shows William "Whealer" listed with Reuben Moss [meaning he was mostly likely living on Reuben moss' land.] This would place him near the present Bullock's Crossroads.
In the early 1760's Granville Co. was beginning to experience what was later known as the Regulator movement. The Attorney General of North Carolina was accused of charging outrageous fees and preventing the appointment of Justices of the Peace. It was also charged that the people were being made to suffer by having to pay excessive taxes, high quit rents and extortionate fees. There was fraudulent accounting of public monies as a result of the malpractices of the County court. This was the beginning of the unrest that led to the Battle of Alamance in May of 1771.
The Revolutionary War came about shortly after that. North Carolina furnished her share of troops, one of them being William's son, Benjamin.
The land record offices had been closed for a number of years and no deeds had been recorded. When the land office reopened, in 1778, before a person could register a deed, he had to swear to an Oath of Allegiance to the State of North Carolina. William Wheeler was among those who signed the Oath of Allegiance to the State of North Carolina 30 May 1778, in the "Dutch District" of Granville County. On 7 November 1778, he entered a land grant for 250 acres of land on the west side of Little Ledge of Rock Creek. It is conceivable he could have been living on this property for up to 15 years. He paid taxes [poll taxes, not a property tax] in 1780 and was listed as living adjacent to Charles Turner. This was the last official record of him. He must have died in 1780 or 1781. In 1782, Benjamin Wheeler paid the taxes. Ann Wheeler, who must have been William Wheeler's wife, paid the taxes in 1784 and was listed adjacent to Charles Turner.
There were probably other children who are as yet unidentified.
William married [Mary Ann?] Wheeler 1 about 1753 in North Carolina.
It is likely she was the Mary Wheeler who was mentioned in a deed of Martin Wheeler (#2). Ann Wheeler paid taxes in 1781. She was listed as head of a household [next to Benjamin Wheeler] in the 1786 State census with one male and 2 females besides herself in the household.
They had the following children:
+ 31 M i Benjamin Wheeler Sr. + 32 F ii Silvia Wheeler + 33 M iii Wheeler + 34 M iv John Wheeler + 35 F v Winifred Wheeler + 36 M vi Martin Wheeler + 37 F vii Levina 'Viney' Wheeler
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