Dear HFagley, and Cousins, I think Otho Othoson may have come from either the Otters, or the Garrettsons. His father was Garret Othoson. I believe he likely was connected to many of the families you mention. Trying to figure them out is difficult even with an excellent interpreter like Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig. But here is what we know, applying the theory of relativity (!) John Wheeler was English but married to a Swedish woman. She divorced him in 1674, as indicated in an indenture recorded among the Cecil county Land records, which I extracted Lo! these many years ago: 1674 CECIL WHEELER Land Record Book 1 Folio 72 MARY WHEELER lately counted wife unto JOHN WHEELER, planter, of Cecil Ccounty due disowne him as my husband in all respects till Death Departs and that I [and] my heirs have nothing to demand upon any account or interest whatever from the said JOHN WHEELER SENIOR or his heirs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seall this 23 Oct 1674. SSDip JOHN GILBERT and SAMUEL (h.m.) WHEELER. s/MARY (h.m.) WHEELER. Examined by SWITHIME WELLES, Clk. 1674 CECIL John WHEELER Land Record Book 1: Folio 72 JOHN WHEELER, SENIOR, Cecil County, planter to dear and well beloved son JOHN WHEELER, JUNIOR for divers good causes and reasonable consideration, all of Wheelers Point, my now dwelling plantation on E. Side of Chesapeake Bay on N. side of Sasfras River on Wheelers Creeke, 250 A. SSDip EDWARD JONES; GEORGE HORBOY. Exam. by Swithime Welles, Clk. 1676 CEC IL JOHN WHEELER; Land Record Book 1: Fol. 82 JOHN WHEELER of Sasafrax, planter to Nicholas Allome, planter for cons. 10,000 lbs. tobacco all that land called Wheelers Point on E. side of Chesipeck Bay on N. side of Sasafrax River on Wheelers Creek. 250 A. SSDip Eli William; _____ Eldersley. x/John Wheeler (his mark, a circle with spokes) Pres. Augustin Harman; Joseph Hopkins. Rec. 20 Mar 1676 Swithime Welles, Clk. and then, 1704 25 Dec OTTORSON, Otho and MATTHIASON, Mary, widow were married by license by Mr. Richard SEWELL, St. Stevens Into the Cecil County Garrettson, Wheeler, Othoson stew are thrown Hendrick Mattison / Matson, who anglicized himself as Freeman. the Seversons/Seffersons, Clawsons, Hanson, Williams, Johnson, Evert Evertson, and on and on. The association between Abraham Pennington and John Hance Steelman (and variants), who were both Indian Traders, is established by several Abraham deeds that John Hance Steelman witnessed both in Cecil County and Frederick County, MD. Israel Friend, another Indian Trader, was also from this same Swede/Finn origin. Additionally, there is an unidentified John Pennington listed among the Swede/Finns in another Delaware River list in 1693. This 1693 Tax record and another one for 1697, are among archived records at the New Castle County website on the USGenweb. This John is in the right place and the right time to be the father of Abraham and his brother John of Northeast, in Cecil County. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/de/newcastl.htm The general belief among Pennington researchers has been that Abraham (and therefore, his brother John) was born about 1690. I have felt he was older than that, because his brother John's will was probated in Cecil County in the 1730's. I recently found Abraham's Cecil County patent of his plantation seat of Greenbury in 1695, which renders a whole new approach to his identity, which I feel has been intermeshed with his son Abraham. I believe that the patents in Frederick County Virginia reflect his son Abraham. This Swede/Finn aspect of the backcountry people is vital to the identity of the many descendants who ended up in the south, midwest and west in the 1800's. I really appreciate your comments and interest, and hope that we can begin untangling the early mysteries of these wonderfully intriguing and interesting families. Love, Your Cousin, Carolyn Carolyn McDaniel cmacdee@centurytel.net ========================================= --- Visit American Crossroads --- http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~amxroads --- Visit Backcountry Crossroads --- http://www.backcountrycrossroads.com