I'd thought Elizabeth was born in Westbury, as she says on her marriage, until finding the 1841 census, which not only gives her dwelling as Short Street, but also numerous other Wheelers as well. Some are definitely related, there's a very good chance they all were. Short Street is a tiny hamlet dating back to Romano-British times, a mile to the south-west of the village of Dilton Marsh. It is some two miles south of Westbury, and about the same distance from Berkley to the west, and Corsley to the south-west.
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Joseph Wheeler was a yeoman - or fairly prosperous landowner, and owned three lots of land in Dilton Marsh and four properties in Short Street. This is adjacent to Chalcot Park, the only manor house in the parish of Westbury. I believe the following to be Joseph's story from having pieced together a lot of loose ends! He and his first wife Ann (Withy) had two sons; William and James. I have not been able to find a death so far for Ann, but Joseph later married Ruth Aisher? (difficult to read in PR). I believe it likely this was Ruth Aisher, daughter of Thomas and Mary (nee Holt) of Market Lavington, baptised 23 May 1762 - but that's not proven.

A *little* more investigation is required before I put (hopefully!) all the birth, marriage and death dates and potentially other family members on here for these two generations, but I'll put what I have for now. All is confirmed unless otherwise noted.

The 'other' William and Hester had children John born 24 June 1793, baptised 14 July 1793, William as above 1795 or 96, Betty born 26 May 1798, baptised 26 August 1798 - all in Dilton. Hester Trimby was baptised Corsley 4 July 1775, daughter of Edward and Betty (nee Sainsbury) who married 7 May 1772 in Corsley and also had a son named John baptised Corsley 1 January 1776.

Yet ANOTHER William and Hester Wheeler were having children nearby at the same time as those above... They were William and Hester of Rode, married 20 September 1784, witnesses James Wheeler and Jerimah Cruse, clerk. Their children born in Rode were Ann 1786, Thomas 1787, Samuel 1794, Daniel 1795, Anna 1799, Fanny 1801, James 1803. They have intriguing 'gaps' in children at the same time as John, William and Betty above were baptised and made me wonder for a while, but I don't *think* they are connected. Of course, all three William Senior's could be cousins!

I had thought the following newspaper article explained William's death, but I  don't think so now... it says William had recently lost his wife, and Hester was still alive. The article is possibly about one of the 'other' William's.... or a different one again! There are still MORE William Wheelers scattered throughout the area that didn't marry women named Hester :-) Note below that there is an 80 year old William Wheeler, born in Berkley, in the 1871 census living in Short Street... and he's not one of mine.

FATAL BOXING.- On Thursday last, at Dilton Marsh Fair, in the parish of Westbury, a quarrel took place between Edward Norris and William Wheeler, which unfortunately proceeded to blows, and in the course of the battle Wheeler received a blow to the neck, fell, and immediately expired.- An inquest was on Saturday taken before Mr. Clare, one of the Coroners for this county, and a verdict of Manslaughter was given against Norris, on which he was committed for trial, and lodged in Fisherton Gaol on Sunday.- The deceased and survivor were both labourers of good character. Wheeler lately lost his wife, and has left eleven children, unprovided for, to lament his unfortunate fate.

I have a copy of Joseph's will, dated 9th June 1817. I'm very happy to send copies of this to any family members! His bequests were as follows:

Properties in Dilton Marsh - Adlams Paddock, Hollybrook, and 5 acres of Common went to James and his sons, William and John. Both are there in the 1841 census.

Properties in Short St went to William's sons and daughters as follows: 

House in Short Street - Occupied by Hester Wheeler, to William's son James. Hester to live rent-free in the property until her death.
House in Short Street - Occupied by Joseph Miller, to Ann Haynes (nee Wheeler). Also an amount of sixty pounds each to Ann's sisters, Mary and Sarah, upon Sarah reaching the age of 21.
House in Short Street - Occupied by James Scammels, to William's son Joseph.
House in Short Street - Occupied by Joseph and his wife Ruth - to William's son William, with the proviso that Ruth be allowed to live there until her death, either living with William, or being paid two shillings a week by him. 

Ruth didn't wait to live out her years in Short Street. She remarried to widower Jeremiah SINGER, yeoman from Rodden, Somerset on  January 14 1819. She was listed as a widow, residing at Short Street Dilton. The bondsman was Henry Alworth, a farmer from Westbury. Henry had also been a signatory to Joseph's will. She was listed in the 1841 census at Rodden, age 70, living with her son-in-law William. The only Ruth Singer death in the area between 1841 and 1861 was in the March Quarter of 1848, Frome District. 

~ Joseph Wheeler married Letitia Wilkins 31 January 1813, witnesses Samuel(?) Haines, Elizabeth Richison. 

~ Ann Wheller married Alexander Haines 14 June 1813, witnesses Mary Purchill(?), John Currier.

There was a newspaper notice a few years after Joseph's death as follows: 

I'm not totally convinced that Martha was also a Wheeler, although there are certainly quite a lot of people in the Dilton PR's that married and had the same surname! (The less said about that the better ;-) I've not been able to find a birth or baptism for a Martha Wheeler as yet. Unfortunately the Dilton PR's microfiche doesn't include the Banns, so I can't double check this.

William and Martha had four children, Benjamin, Sarah, Elizabeth and Ruth. Benjamin was baptised on November 28 1819, and the three girls (along with what I presume to be their cousins, daughters of John and Rebecca Wheeler) were all baptised on May 15 1842. At the time the girls would have been approximately 16, 10 and 6, respectively. Elizabeth was entered as 'Eliza' on the register, the only known use of this name. She was later known to all as "Bessie".

Two years later both Elizabeth and Sarah had married, and moved to Australia. Elizabeth's story may be found elsewhere on the Burge pages of this site. Sarah married James Webb in Westbury on 12 July 1853 , and emigrated to Tasmania. I have no record of her family, other than that they came to visit Elizabeth in Victoria many years later. I'd love to get in touch with her descendants if you're out there! 

Benjamin has disappeared... he wasn't in the Westbury area by 1851. It's possible he emigrated, and I'm attempting to follow this up.

There was a Ruth Wheeler in the 1871 census in the house of Thomas THRING, attorney, in Kingsbury Square, Wilton. She is listed as unmarried, aged 34, occupation Cook Domestic Servant. There are also records for Thomas Thring dying in 1872, and earlier, his wife Hester dying in 1867. This may explain the Ruth Wheeler age 43, who appeared later in the 1881 census living in Stormore, Dilton Marsh, an 'unmarried annuitant', but I'm not sure if it is her. I've not found any evidence of her having married. There were two Ruth Wheeler's died in the Westbury area, one aged 45 in 1881, and one aged 47 in 1884. Either of these may be my Ruth, but one of them was the wife of an Isaac Wheeler.
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Census Figures - 1841, 1851, 1871.
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Other Wheelers in the 1841 census, Westbury District
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I also have a copy of the Probate of the will of George Wheeler, weaver, from Dilton Marsh, who died on 30 June 1832, but he appears not to have had children - or to have outlived or disinherited them. All of his property is left to his wife Susannah and his nephews, John and James Toop, sons of his late sister Sarah, and niece Maria Hill, daughter of his late sister - also named Susannah. These may or may not connect to mine, but I put them on here in case they connect to yours! Please email me if you'd like more details, or a copy of the will.

William from the 1841 census age 70 is a mystery man to me so far, but likely fits somewhere. William from the 1871 census age 80 is highly likely the son of James and Sarah Wheeler, first cousin to my great great great grandfather William. He was born in 1792, so is just the right age. He'd been away a long time though... Berkely in Somerset is just the other side of Dead Maids Wood from Short Street, so it's not unlikely he was born there. 

I've found quite a few other records in the parish register so far, more to come in the next few weeks... I'll point out some of the possible relationships, but with others you'll have to make your own conclusions... for now!

From Dilton PR's

~ Mary Wheel married George Keevil 7 November 1731 

~ Mary Wheller married John Collier 15 September 1747

~ Simon Wheeler maried Sarah Whithy 17 May 1751 

~ Mary Wheller married William Brunker 9 September 1754

~ Mary Wheller married John Moudy of Corsley 25 September 1754 

~ Paul Eyres alias Wheller married Elizabeth Savage 15 May 1758

~ Anthony Wheeler married Mary Langley 15 February 1759 

~ Gideon Wheler married Elizabeth Holloway 4 Jube 1759

~ William Wheeler married Ann Porch 28 June 1762, witnesses Andrew Hill, John Burgis

~ Benjamin Wheeler married Sarah Adams 12 July 1762, witnesses John Burgis, Benjamin Roberts

~ Margaret Wheeler married John Brewer 30 September 1762, witnesses John Burgis, Andrew Hill 

~ John Wheeler married Grace Withy 1 November 1762, witnesses John Turner, Petrie(?) Doweren(?) 

~ James Wheeler married Catherine Harrington, widow, 11 July 1763, witnesses William Turner, John Burgis

~ Henry Wheeler married Esther Ferris 30 August 1763, witnesses Elizabeth Tucker, William Jarvis

~ Sarah Wheeler widow, married Robert Eyres widower, 15 November 1763, witnesses Andrew Hill, John Burgis

~ John Wheeler, minor, married Jane Withy 4 August 1766 with permission of his mother, witnesses William Benger, William Eyres

~ Martha Wheeler married James Eyrs 16 April 1770, witnesses James Cook, Jeremiah Ingram

~ Cornelius Wheeler 23yrs married Sarah Morgan 23yrs of Berkely, by licence, witnesses John Bails, James Gunston, John Currier

~ Mary Wheeler married James Eyr 18 April 1778, witnesses Thomas Wheeler, Thomas Eyer

~ Mary Wheeler married Benjamin Hill 27 March 1780, witnesses Thomas hill, Isaac Wheeler

~ Gideon Wheeler widower married Sarah Lansdown widow 18 November 1782, witnesses Thomas Glover, William Smith

~ Sarah Wheeler married William Green 28 November 1782, witnesses Isaac Wheeler, James Wheeler

~ Isaac Wheeler married Betty Cousiner 4 October 1784, witnesses Roger Smith, James Smith

~ Betty Wheeler married George Withy 12 March 1785, witnesses James Eyres, Anthony Withy

~ George Wheeler married Hannah Bendall 26 February 1787, witnesses John Stoffard, Isaac Wheeler

~ Richard Wheeler married Betty Withy 27 March 1787, witnesses John Currier, William Wheller 

From Bishops Transcripts

~ Jane Wheeler of Westbury married George Lyne of St John Devises 1 July 1789

~ John Wheeler married Mary Wilkins 27 September 1790

~ Betty Wheeler married John Adlam 6 August 1792

~ James Wheeler married Hannah Smith 26 October 1802

~ Hannah Wheller married Robert George 27 December 1802

~ Sarah Wheeler married John Toop 2 September 1805 

~ Susannah Wheeler married Thomas Hill 28 December 1811 (Susannah is the sister of George, mentioned above, her daughter Maria was a benficiary of George's will).

~ Rachel  Wheeler married Thomas Millard 23rd Dec. 1812 witnesses, John Currier, Mary Bull 
 

From Dilton PR's

~ William Wheeler married Ann Bailey 21 February 1814, witnesses Samuel Grist, John Eyres. (Living in Dilton Marsh 1841 census) 

~  Robert Wheeler married Ruth Moody 29 December 1817. (Living in Stormore 1841 census).

~ Stephen Trolip married Mary Wheeler* 11 November 1817, witnesses ? (illegible), John Currier. *Along with Mary married 1819, potentially the sister of my great great grandfather William.

~  George Wheller (sic) married Susanna Marshman 5 November 1818, witnesses John Price, John Currier (as in the will mentioned above.) 

~  John Nicholas married Mary Wheeler* 15 January 1819.
*Along with Mary married 1817, potentially the sister of my great great grandfather William.

~  James Wheeler married Sarah Peddle Hacker 7 September 1819, witnesses George Hacker, Benjamin Peddle. (Likely James born 1792, son of William Wheeler - he was left a house by his grandfather, but was not in the area in 1841. His mother was still living in the house in Short Street.) 

- John Wheeler married Rebecca Davis 9 April 1822, witnesses George Bailey, John Currier. (This is highly likely the John and Rebecca living in Short Street in the 1841 census - and is also highly likely the brother of my great great grandfather William. William and John had their children baptised on the same day.

~ George Bailey married Mary Wheeler 8 February 1823, witnesses John Currier, John Rice.

~  James Toop (nephew of George Wheeler above, son of Sarah Toop nee Wheeler) married Mary Hill 24 December 1828, witnesses Jane Bingly (?), John Currier.

~ John Wheeler, widower, married Mary Hillman 22 January 1829, witnesses James Fran (?), John Currier.

~  William Wheeler married Mary Tomkins 12 June 1830, witnesses James Scamels, John Currier.

~  Nicholas Wheeler, widower, married Ann Barret 6 April 1836, witnesses Joseph Gunstone, John Prin (?) 

**With grateful thanks to Lyn for transcribing many of these!

Some Wheeler Baptisms:

~ Stephen so James and Catherine Jul 8 1764 

~ Ann, baseborn do Edith Wheeler, no father, Jan 20 1765

~ Margaret do Benjamin and Sarah Jan 20 1765

~ Sarah do Benjamin and Sarah July 4 1773

~ Mary do Benjamin and Sarah Apr 20 1777 

~ Ann do Cornelius and Sarah Sept 7 1777

~ Francis so Cornelius and Sarah Dec 27 1778

~ Paul so Paul and Betty, 15 1/2 yo, bapt Oct 6, 1793

~ Betsy, daughter of Nicholas (weaver) and Ann, November 11 1821

~ Elizabeth, daughter of John (labourer) and Rebecca, May 15 1842. 

~ Maria, daughter of John (labourer) and Rebecca, May 15 1842. 
(Note: Both girls baptised the same day as the daughters of William Wheeler - Sarah, Eliza and Ruth.) 

Some Wheeler Burials: 

~ Job so William and Ann, Dec 28 1766

~ Sarah do Gideon and Betty, Mar 14 1767 smallpox

~ John so Gideon and Betty, Mar 19 1767 smallpox

~ Jane wife of John Wheeler, May 1 1767 smallpox

~ William so Anthony and Mary, May 21 1767

~ A child of Anthony Wheelers in a fever unbaptised Sept 28 1767

** There was a note at the end of 1767 as follows: 
"It was vast trouble and hard duty for me to ride to Dilton to bury 110 persons and no curate. Thos Hewitt, Vicar". Most of these deaths were due to smallpox, I sat in the LDS Family Centre and cried reading the register! The Wheeler's were among the lucky to lose so few. 

~ Daniel so William and Ann, April 26 1768

~ William Wheeler called Soldier William, Sept 16 1769

~ Mary Wheeler widow of Soldier William, Dec 12 1769 

~ John so William and Mary, Dec 16 1769

~ Lucy do William and Ann, Jan 30 1770

~ Susannah wife of George Wheeler, Jan 28 1772 

~ Mary wife of John Wheeler of Marsh, Dec 23 1773

~ Susannah do George Wheeler widower, May 30 1775

~ Edith Wheeler, November 11 1814 age 82 

~ James Wheeler, December 9 1831 age 65 (He's the wrong age to be any of the James Wheeler's directly related to my family - likely another cousin)

~ William Wheeler, November 15 1867 age 76. (Son of James and Sarah Wheeler, born 1791)

** I'll add to this as I come to them, you'll note there are large gaps in the years for baptisms and deaths... I don't currently have access to the Parish Registers, but will add more when I do so, so come back soon if there's someone you're looking for!

If you want to know about Elizabeth Wheeler in Australia - read on!