Jacob Francis Wheaton

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• Name	Jacob Francis Wheaton  [1, 2]
  Born	14 Feb 1833 Maryland, USA [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Race	Black [2]
  Underground Railroad	​ Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA [3]
  Name	Jacob Weadon [4]
  Residence	​ Los Angeles, California, USA [1]
  Residence	1850 Middletown, Frederick, Maryland, USA [5]
  Residence	1860 Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA [4]
  Residence	1870 Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA [2]  –  35 Age: 35; MaleCitizenOverTwentyone: Yes; Laborer Occupation: Laborer
  Died	8 Nov 1924 Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA [1, 3]
  Buried	​ Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA [6, 7]
  Notes	Conductor on the Road to Freedom: Born free in Maryland in 1835, Jacob Francis Wheaton dedicated much of his life to the fight for African American rights and freedom. At great personal risk, he made his home in Hagerstown, Maryland a stop on the Underground Railroad, sheltering freedom seekers as the last stop before crossing into Pennsylvania and liberty. Wheaton came from a prominent family of activists. His parents, Francis Wheaton and Mary Buckingham Wheaton, were free African Americans known for working as coopers, sextons, and nurses across multiple states. After moving to Hagerstown in the 1850s, Wheaton initially worked as a sexton before serving as a nurse during the Civil War, helping combat a smallpox outbreak in 1863. According to family history, he also fought with the 54th Massachusetts Regiment alongside the legendary Sergeant William Carney. Once the war ended, Wheaton became the first African American in his county to vote in 1868 and continued to exercise that right in every election thereafter. Though accused of assaulting a white woman in 1885, he miraculously avoided punishment. Just three years later, Wheaton helped establish one of the first schools for African American students in Hagerstown. Beyond his work with the Underground Railroad, Wheaton left a legacy as a pioneer juror, civil servant, and family man. His son J. Frank Wheaton became a distinguished orator, attorney, and legislator. In 1924, Wheaton was laid to rest with military honors. Over a century later, Hagerstown still proudly claims his legacy. More than an icon, Wheaton represents the tireless pursuit of justice and freedom in American history.
  Person ID	I18647 SOALsearch
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024

  
  
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  Father	Francis Wheaton (Age 78 years) b. Abt 1788, Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland, USA d. 25 Sep 1866, Middletown, Frederick, Maryland, USA (Age 78 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Mary Margaret Buckingham (Age 89 years) b. Abt 1791, Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, USA d. 23 Dec 1880, Middletown, Frederick County, Maryland, USA (Age 89 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F6265 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Emma Wheaton b. Abt 1836, Maryland, USA
  Children	1. Robert Weadon b. Abt 1859, Maryland, USA  [natural]   2. William Wheaton b. 1861, Maryland, USA  [natural]   3. Frank Wheaton b. 1866, Maryland, USA  [natural]
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F6267 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 2	Harriett M. Wheaton (Age 78 years) b. 8 Dec 1844 d. 4 Oct 1923 (Age 78 years)
  Children	1. Cordelia Wheaton (Age 75 years) b. 24 Jan 1864 d. 28 Mar 1939 (Age 75 years)  [natural]
  Last Modified	1 Nov 2024
  Family ID	F6268 Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

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• Sources

  [S74] U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2019;), California Eagle; Publication Date: 14 Nov 1924; Publication Place: Los Angeles, California, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/692881409/?article=229bc61b-1400-4c8f-86f1-96e86fd7ad3a&focus=0.31255573,0.67471236,0.44435018,0.8311023&xid=3355. [S69] 1870 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), Year: 1870; Census Place: Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland; Roll: M593_596; Page: 99A. Record for Jacob Wheaton https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=7163&h=23686178&indiv=try [S4568] Newspapers.com - California Eagle - 14 Nov 1924 - Page 1, (Name: California Eagle; Location: Los Angeles, California; Date: 14 Nov 1924;), Obituary for JACOB F. WHEATON 14 Nov 1924. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/128431894/obituary-for-jacob-f-wheaton/?xid=637 [S66] 1860 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Hagerstown, Washington, Maryland; Roll: M653_483; Page: 576; Family History Libra. [S8] 1850 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2009;), The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Middletown, Frederick, Maryland; Roll: 293; Page: 317a. [S4203] U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Lehi, UT, USA; Date: 2012;). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34084711/jacob-f.-wheaton [S4] Findagrave, (Location: Penbrook, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA; Date: 1885;), Jacob F. Wheaton 8 Nov 1924. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34084711/jacob-f-wheaton