Jerry Wheelock
Encyclopedia
Jerry Wheelock was an early industrial pioneer in the Blackstone Valley of Massachusetts, a region that incubated the early American industrial revolution.
and Deborah Thayer Wheelock of Uxbridge, MA. He was born September 19, 1784 at Uxbridge. He was a sixth generation descendent of the first Wheelock settler, Rev. Ralph Wheelock. The Rev. Ralph Wheelock of Dedham, MA who had been a contemporary of John Milton
at Oxford University and who was a Puritan
minister in the 1630s, had been the first to establish public education in America. Jerry was the youngest of eight in the Wheelock family at Uxbridge and was born just after the end of the Revolutionary War. His father had been a blacksmith
, the town clerk, and a Lieutenant at Lexington and Concord in the Massachusetts Militia
which preceded the more organized Continental Army
. At an early age he was “put out to learn a trade” as a maker of tubs, and pails.
for metal working and a working triphammer established by Caleb Handy at Ironstone, Massachusetts
. In 1810/1811 Daniel Day
completed the first woolen mill at Uxbridge, a town that one day would be headquarters to America’s largest woolen company. Jerry married Sukey Day, the daughter of Daniel and Sylvia (Wheelock) Day in January 1811. Jerry soon became a full partner with Daniel Day &vCo. in the carding machine company first established near the junction of the West and Blackstone River
s. After a few years, Jerry worked for Artemus Dryden of Holden, MA, which manufactured carding machines near Worcester, MA the county seat
. Carding machine manufacture in Worcester County
began with Pliny Earle I at Leicester, MA, (near Holden), as early as the 1780's.
Jerry then was employed with the newly formed Rivulet Manufacturing company in North Uxbridge in 1814, and worked his way up to Superintendent.
He later struck out on his own and manufactured his own machinery at Uxbridge until 1833 (age 49).
He and his son Charles A. Wheelock then entered into a manufacturing business known as Jerry Wheelock and Son. His grandson Silas Wheelock joined the business in the 1840s.
would later be known as a historic corridor of national significance to America’s earliest industrialization. The woolen mill started by Daniel Day and Jerry Wheelock continues today, two centuries later, under the name of Berrocco Inc. a yarn
distribution company, with headquarters in the Elmdale section of Uxbridge, where Daniel and Jerry started the first woolen mill.
Family
He was the son of SimeonSimeon Wheelock
Simeon Wheelock was a blacksmith from Uxbridge, Massachusetts, who served as a minuteman in the Massachusetts militia during the battles of Lexington and Concord in the American Revolutionary War...
and Deborah Thayer Wheelock of Uxbridge, MA. He was born September 19, 1784 at Uxbridge. He was a sixth generation descendent of the first Wheelock settler, Rev. Ralph Wheelock. The Rev. Ralph Wheelock of Dedham, MA who had been a contemporary of John Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
at Oxford University and who was a Puritan
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
minister in the 1630s, had been the first to establish public education in America. Jerry was the youngest of eight in the Wheelock family at Uxbridge and was born just after the end of the Revolutionary War. His father had been a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
, the town clerk, and a Lieutenant at Lexington and Concord in the Massachusetts Militia
Massachusetts militia
Militia of the Colony and later Commonwealth of Massachusetts.-List of Massachusetts militia units of the American Revolution:*Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts *Cogswell's Regiment of Militia...
which preceded the more organized Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. At an early age he was “put out to learn a trade” as a maker of tubs, and pails.
An industrial incuabator and early work experiences
There was plentiful “bog” iron ore in Uxbridge, and at least three local forgesForges
-In France:*Forges, Charente-Maritime, in the Charente-Maritime department*Forges, Maine-et-Loire, in the Maine-et-Loire department*Forges, Orne, in the Orne department*Forges, Seine-et-Marne, in the Seine-et-Marne department*Forgès, in the Corrèze department...
for metal working and a working triphammer established by Caleb Handy at Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone, Massachusetts
Ironstone is an historic village in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, United States. It derived its name from plentiful bog iron found here which helped Uxbridge to become a center for three iron forges in the town's earliest settlement. Ironstone today is known as South Uxbridge...
. In 1810/1811 Daniel Day
Daniel Day
Daniel Day was an American pioneer in woolen manufacturing.-Family:Daniel Day was born in Mendon, MA and was the son of Joseph Day and Deborah Taft...
completed the first woolen mill at Uxbridge, a town that one day would be headquarters to America’s largest woolen company. Jerry married Sukey Day, the daughter of Daniel and Sylvia (Wheelock) Day in January 1811. Jerry soon became a full partner with Daniel Day &vCo. in the carding machine company first established near the junction of the West and Blackstone River
Blackstone River
The Blackstone River is a river in the U.S. states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It flows approximately 48 mi and drains a watershed of approximately 540 sq. mi...
s. After a few years, Jerry worked for Artemus Dryden of Holden, MA, which manufactured carding machines near Worcester, MA the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. Carding machine manufacture in Worcester County
Worcester County, Massachusetts
-Demographics:In 1990 Worcester County had a population of 709,705.As of the census of 2000, there were 750,963 people, 283,927 households, and 192,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 496 people per square mile . There were 298,159 housing units at an average density...
began with Pliny Earle I at Leicester, MA, (near Holden), as early as the 1780's.
Jerry then was employed with the newly formed Rivulet Manufacturing company in North Uxbridge in 1814, and worked his way up to Superintendent.
He later struck out on his own and manufactured his own machinery at Uxbridge until 1833 (age 49).
He and his son Charles A. Wheelock then entered into a manufacturing business known as Jerry Wheelock and Son. His grandson Silas Wheelock joined the business in the 1840s.
Historic Significance
The Blackstone ValleyBlackstone Valley
The Blackstone Valley or Blackstone River Valley is a region of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a major contributor to the American Industrial Revolution...
would later be known as a historic corridor of national significance to America’s earliest industrialization. The woolen mill started by Daniel Day and Jerry Wheelock continues today, two centuries later, under the name of Berrocco Inc. a yarn
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
distribution company, with headquarters in the Elmdale section of Uxbridge, where Daniel and Jerry started the first woolen mill.