John Wheelwright - Early Life

Early Life

John Wheelwright, born about 1592, was the son of Robert Wheelwright of Cumberworth and Saleby in Lincolnshire, England. When his father died in 1612, Wheelwright administered the estate, and was also the heir to some property in Lincolnshire. His grandfather was also named John Wheelwright, and died at Mumby in 1611. Young Wheelwright was educated at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, receiving his B.A. in 1614/5 and his M.A. in 1618. When in college, Wheelwright had noteworthy athletic abilities, and Cotton Mather, the celebrated American Puritan, wrote, "when Wheelwright was a young spark at the University he was noted for more than an ordinary stroke at wrestling." A friend and college mate of Wheelwright was Oliver Cromwell, who later gained prominence as the Lord Protector of England.

After college, Wheelwright was ordained a deacon on 19 December 1619, and the following day was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church. On 8 November 1621 he married Mary Storre, the daughter of Thomas Storre, who was the vicar of Bilsby. In 1623, upon the death of his father-in-law, Wheelwright became the Bilsby vicar and held this position for ten years. His first wife died in 1629, and was buried in Bilsby on 18 May of that year. He soon thereafter married Mary Hutchinson, a daughter of Edward Hutchinson of Alford, and a sister of William Hutchinson, whose wife was Anne Hutchinson.

After ten years as the vicar, Wheelwright was suspended in 1633 following his attempt to sell his Bilsby ministry back to its patron to get funds to travel to New England. Instead of procuring the necessary funds, he was convicted of simony (selling church offices), and completely removed from his office. After his removal from Bilsby he was likely in Laceby in June 1633 where his daughter Elizabeth was baptized. He then preached for a short while at Belleau, Lincolnshire, but was soon silenced by the Anglican authorities for his Puritan opinions, and began making plans for his emigration from England. Wheelwright left England in 1636 with his second wife, her mother Susanna Hutchinson, and his five living children.