Comfort Wheeler and son William Constant Story

As mentioned in other Wheeler pages, they were very involved in the military from the moment John Wheeler first came to America with his wife and children in 1634. One book I read mentioned that “The Wheeler family and their in-laws were very active in the military in the 18th century and had a knack for acquiring military titles.”

But of the MANY Wheelers that fought in The Revolutionary War, there is one story that is particularly interesting. That’s the story of Comfort Wheeler and his son William Constant Wheeler, usually referred to as ‘Constant.’

Comfort Wheeler was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts Colony, on March 13, 1766, the son of Captain Valentine Ephriam and Sarah Wheeler (GOFF). Valentine would later spend almost 5 years fighting the British, first as a Minuteman in Massachusetts and later as a Lieutenant and then Captain in the Continental Army. In April of 1780, after just turning 14, Comfort lied about his age, saying he was 16, in order to enlist. It was said that he was very big for his age and that “young Comfort Wheeler stood on the stump of a tree while enlisting so that he might appear taller than he was.“

Below is an excerpt from an interview with Comfort’s son, William Constant Wheeler, on Oct. 19, 1934, in the Burlington, Vermont newspaper. The article was covering Constant’s 86th birthday. But more on why later.

“As a little boy, Comfort sensed unrest in the air of the colonies, says his son. The unrest increased to patriotism — to flaming rebellion — to tragedy. Muskets barked. Wooden plates took the place of pewter as the latter were melted into bullets. Fathers of friends, neighbors, relatives, marched away. With round eyes he watched an invalid woman fasten the sword to her husband’s belt and smile the last brave smile her dear one would ever see. Shivers of pride courted through Comfort’s small body at the tales of heroism on every side. He almost trotted his legs off running errands, and his arms and back ached with the man’s work he was forced, but proud, to do.”

Comfort’s great-great grandson, Benjamin Dudley Wheeler, submitted an application to the Sons of the American Revolution on January 1, 1898, which contained the following detail:

“He first enlisted under Captain Samuel Duel, who commanded a company of New York troops, and marched from Shawangunk, (pronounced Shongum, and of ten times so spelled in authentic records) where he had enlisted to Fishkill, New York. arrival at Fishkill, he was assigned to duty in the Continental barn, and assisted in taking care of the horses. General Benedict Arnold was then in command and leading West Point and his horse was frequently brought to the Continental barn by his servant. Upon one occasion while watering Arnold’s horse, young Wheeler was thrown from its back and slightly injured.

He was discharged from this term of service in December 1780. At Killington, Connecticut, in May 1781 he re-enlisted and served three months as a substitute for esquire Miller in a company, commanded by Captain Keith, Colonel Howe’s Regiment. On September 10, 1781, he reenlisted again as private for one year in Captain Corbin’s Company, Colonel Howe’s Regiment, but was soon after detached and served out his term of enlistment as waiter to General Nathanael Greene of Rhode Island, who was first in command under General Washington.”

Comfort often spoke of having met George Washington when Washington was meeting with Benedict Arnold and “of the hardship, dreary days and cold nights.“

Comfort later served in the War of 1812. He participated in the Battle of Plattsburgh, also called the Battle of Lake Champlain (6–11 September 1814), during the War of 1812 that resulted in an important American victory on Lake Champlain that saved New York from possible British invasion via the Hudson River valley.

page 53 of Comfort’s war file. Mentions his serving in the War of 1812.

Comfort Wheeler Tombstone

Comfort married two or three times. His first wife was Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ Wilber, with whom he had four sons. His second wife, maybe, was Esther Ainsworth, who had been married before or still was; it’s unclear. Some records show Comfort and Esther having had a daughter named Mary. Other records show that Mary’s mother was Comfort’s third wife and Esther’s sister, Permelia ‘Amelia’ ‘Milly’ Ainsworth. Part of Comfort’s war pension application has an affidavit from his last daughter stating that there was an illegitimate daughter of Comfort’s who was not entitled to any pension money. It’s possible that this Mary is that child. The bad blood between sisters, maybe. In any case, Comfort and Ameilia did have two children. One of those children was William Constant Wheeler, sometimes referred to as Constance Stores Wheeler.

When Comfort married Amelia Ainsworth on 4 July 1840, in Woodbury, Vermont, he was 74, and she was 34, only 40 years younger. Seven years later, Constant was born on December 4, 1847, and Comfort would have been 81 years old. Though Comfort lived until he was 89, he would die before Constant turned 8.

From a later news article on his death about Constant’s Civil War record.

“William Constant Wheeler, age 18, credited to Morristown, enlisted 27 May 1863, and mustered in as a private in Co. L., 11th Vermont Infantry on 10 June 1863. He transferred to Co. I of the 112 Pennsylvania, on 13 July 1863 and was discharged for disability on 13 April 1864. William Constant Wheeler held five distinct honors at his death: (1) Only real son of an American revolutionary war soldier, Comfort Wheeler, born March 13, 1766; (2) last of 206 members of Company I, 11th Vermont regiment of civil war fame; (3) last of returning civil war soldiers sent to St. Albans to quell the fenian raid; (4) last of 144 civil war veterans enlisted from the town of Woodbury; (5) last of 86 members of Stowe Post, No. 29, G. A. R., of North Calais.”

During one of the many interviews that Constant gave as he was gaining notoriety, he talked about his Civil War experiences.

William Constant Wheeler The Burlington Free Press, 19 Oct 1934

“He told stories of capturing a spy at Silver Springs wile tried to take his gun away under pretense of showing him “different army tactics”. Of being sniped at near Silver Springs and the scar he carries on an eyebrow as a result. Of being on guard duty many, many nights. Of going to sleep in the rain and waking up under a blanket of snow. Of catching pneumonia and the long convalescent weeks in the Woman’s Dispensary Hospital in Washington, followed by his final discharge.”

A letter written by William Constant Wheeler about his Civil War experience and his father, Comfort.

These articles continued for many years as the rest of the ‘Real Sons’ of the American Revolution died off. These included Time Magazine, The NY Times and many state and local papers around the country.

Though a resident of Vermont, he became a member of the California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1937, SR Member #1959, through the efforts of his close friend, Benjamin Franklin Bledsoe, former State Society President and General President of the Sons of the Revolution.

Constant, a Real Son of an American Revolutionary War soldier, died on February 1, 1941, a full 17 months after the start of WWII. He was 93 years old.

William Constant Wheeler Grave.