Individual Details

Marriage

MarriagesTheory: Jane ____ as mother of all his childrenThe only named wife of Gabriel documented in England is "Jane" on a deed of land sale 5 Aug 1637-- seven years after the youngest baptised child. Due to the absence of any burial records for a woman who could have been an earlier wife of Gabriel, she has been suggested as mother of all his British-born children.Theory: Four Wives of Gabriel WheldenThe five-year gap between Gabriel Whelden's first child Thomas in 1612 (who did die young in 1614) and the second child Katherine in March 1616/7 suggests the possibility of a first wife about 1611 who died shortly after 1612, and then a second wife (the supposed Mary Davis?) as mother of the children baptized between March 1616/7 and at least 1623 if not 1630. (Additional 4-year gaps exist between 1622 and 1626 baptisms and again between 1626 and 1630.) The birth of Sarah Whelden in 1650 in Massachusetts implies an even later mother, likely the Margaret who returns to England after Gabriel's death.A four-wife theory, then, might look like this:Gabriel Whelden m1 abt 1611 Female Unknown, who died abt 1613, by whom he had:1. Thomas Whelden b. 1612; d 1614Gabriel m2 abt 1616 possibly Mary Davis, who died by 1637, by whom he had:2. Katherine, b 16173. Henry, b 16194. Mary, b 16215. Martha (twin?), b 16216. John, b. 1623; d. bef 16307. Ruth, b 16268. John, b.1630Gabriel m3 btw 1630-1636 Jane _____, who died by 1650.Gabriel m4 about 1650 Margaret (possibly Matthews), by whom he had:9. Sarah, b 1650 Citation needed

Will

[11 Feb 1654]. In the name of God, and in obedience to his comand (according to my bounden 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 William Croffts of Linne [Lynn]) to Margaret Whelding, my wife, whom I appoynt my sole executrix.In the pr'sence of Nathaniell Vphame, James Larnard, Michaiah Mathews, with others.Source:Probate records 1648--1924 (Middlesex County, Massachusetts), 1649-1660, p. 146, file 24387 [lawsuit against widow and sole legatee Margaret]: 28th of the 5th mo. 55 [28 Jul 1655]: attach the body or goods of Margrett Weilden, late widdow of Gabriel Weilden ... answer ye complaynt of Henry Weilden John Weilden Rich: Taylor [i.e. Richard Taylor, occupation tailor] and Rich: Taylor husbandman for withholding their parts or portions of an estate which their late father Gabriell Weilden was possessor or owner...Was married to a Margaret at the time of his death, I do not know if this is Katherine's mother or step-mother.

Death

Gabriel and Margaret established their home in Barnstable where the Hinckleys came in late 1630's and here Gabriel and Margaret raised a large family of girls. One of these was Catherine "Catone" Wheldon who married Stephen Hopkins' oldest son Giles on October 9, 1639. Giles had been given the home his father had build in Yarmouth and the couple established their home and raised four children there. When Giles' father Stephen passed away about July 1644, his father left an estate....