I will try here to summarize all the information I have been able to gather on the WHEELERs of Washington County, VA, in the period of 1770 to about 1820.  There seems to me to be a gap of one or two generations in this line that have held us all up for quite some time.  I hope to start a thread which will lead to a resolution of the questions which remain unanswered about these WHEELERs.  I have reviewed posts from various internet sites and recognize many names of those with whom Ive corresponded concerning this line, and I still hope that through our combined efforts these WHEELERs will yet be sorted out.  I have attempted to use your information accurately and any errors are mine.  I welcome any additions or corrections.

I have not personally seen any of the census records mentioned here.  If anyone can doublecheck or expand on the census information here Id be deeply grateful

My belief is that all WHEELERs in Washington County, VA, in 1770 - 1820 were related to and likely descended from James WHEELER

"My" John WHEELER, b. 1793/4 in Washington County VA, may have seen service in the War of 1812.  By about 1820 he had made the short move from Washington County VA to Buncombe (became Yancey in 1833) County NC.  Here he married Rhoda RAY, only daughter of Thomas RAY, Jr. and Ivey HENSLEY.  Rhoda had eight brothers.  The RAYS were at one time the largest landholders in Yancey County.  John WHEELER was a "Baptist Clergyman" and was affiliated with the Pensacola Baptist Church.

John and Rhoda RAY WHEELER had:

1. Lucinda, b. 11 Aug 1823, m. Nathan(iel) O. ALLEN
2. Thomas Ray (W.?) WHEELER, b. 1825-7, m1. Clarinda; m2. Louise BANKS
3. Elizabeth Elvira, b. ca 1829, m. Nathan DUNCAN
4. Joyce Caroline, b. 1830-31,  m1. William Burton CREASMAN, m2 Albert G. ANDERSON
5. Minerva Jane (possibly married Marion MASS or MOSS, Mecklinburg County, NC, 25 Jan 1860)
6. Susannah, b. ca. 1832-3, m. John C. MELTON (20 May 1851 by John WHEELER)
7. Clarissa, b. ca. 1834, m. John HENSLEY
8. John Henry WHEELER, b. 1836-7, m1. Axey Mariah HONEYCUTT (18 April 1853), m2. Matilda Duncan GUTHRIE (1 November 1890)
9. Sarah Pauline, b. ca. 1839, m. Albert ELKINS
10. David C., b. ca. 1844
11. Hiram N., b. 30 Nov 1847, m. Cleressa RAY

It may be that David C. and Minerva Jane WHEELER both died young, without children.  When Thomas Ray, Jr. died he left a life estate in several thousand acres to his only daughter, Rhoda Ray WHEELER, with the land to go after her death to the "heirs of her body".  This seems to have been done in 1/9 shares, indicating that only nine of the eleven children survived their mother, and that the two who predeceased her left no issue.

Below is a summary of what I can find on the Washington County, Virginia WHEELER family group.  Id love to hear from anyone who can add to or correct any of this information.

There was a James WHEELER who lived in Washington County VA (today's Smyth County, VA) when he served in Governor Dunmore's War in 1774.  This James WHEELER may have been from MASS or CT, and may have married Abigail BROWN of NY.  Their son Stephen WHEELER was born before 1770 in Orange County, NY; they also had  sons Jesse and Oliver WHEELER, and possibly John WHEELER.

Stephen WHEELER married Milley CROSTHWAIT/CROSSWHITE, daughter of Abraham CROSTHWAIT/CROSSWHITE, who was a neighbor of James and Stephen WHEELER on Hunger's Mother, a branch of the middle fork of the Holstein River.  Stephen and Milley WHEELER lived for a while in Carter County TN before moving to Russell County VA by about 1820.

Survey records of Washington County Virginia show that James WHEELER made actual settlement in 1774 on 400 acres on the south fork of the Holstein and that he entered a survey for that tract on 30 August 1781.  James WHEELER entered on 6 June 1782 a survey for 290 on the south fork of the Holstein, under a Commissioner's Certificate, adjoining Henry BOWENS, Moses ASHBROOKS, Joseph COLES, and John PATTERSON.  Survey records of Washington County, Virginia show that James WHEELER entered 187 acres under a Treasury Warrant 15 February 1784 "on a branch of Spruce Creek...waters of the middle fork of the Holstein...beginning by John HAYS road...with Walker's Mountain".