Wheeler, son of Capt Asa Douglas Sr and Rebecca Wheeler, was born April 10, 1750 in Canaan, CT. Several sources state that he was born in Stephentown, NY, but this is incorrect. See page 24 of the Canaan volume of "Connecticut Vital Records to 1870" (The Barbour Collection).

In 1771, he married Martha Rathbone, daughter of Reverend John Rathbone/Rathbun and Content Brown, and settled in Stephentown, NY. In 1780 he removed to Albany, where, in company with a cousin named Wheeler, a nephew of his mother's, he opened a store, and for several years continued in business, the firm name being Douglas & Wheeler.

About 1798 his property in Albany was destroyed by fire, and he made a journey to Brantford, Canada where he remained about a year with Captain Joseph Brant, the famous chief of the Six Nations of Indians. In 1799, he removed with his family to Canada, and settled on the Grand River, in the midst of the Indians, where the city of Brantford now stands.

After a few years he removed about eight miles to the west, where he took up a tract of about 500 acres, receiving his lease from Captain Brant. There he carved out a home in the wilderness, and was able to spend his later years in comparative comfort, leaving the homestead to his son Stephen Van Rensselaer Douglas.

Wheeler and his wife were staunch Methodists, and their house was the home of the early intinerant preachers. His son Stephen, at the age of 19, brought into this home in 1809, the daughter of an old and prominent intinerent minister, who was only 16 years old, and for sixty years they dispensed the same generous hospitality that had been found when the older ones had control of the family mansion. For many years preaching was held in their house, and several of their children were named after the preachers and their wives. Wheeler Douglas died at the home of his daughter Harriet in Smithville, in January 1829; and his wife Martha at the same place on November 28, 1837 at the age of 84.

Children of Wheeler Douglas and Martha Rathbone:

1) Content b. on September 4, 1772 in Stephentown, NY; m. General Samuel Stewart
2) Martha b. Septmember 26, 1774 in Stephentown; m. Jesse Tracy
3) Dr. John Hancock b. April 26, 1776 in Stephentown; m. Elizabeth Williams, a physician in New York City; John died about 1865
4) Alanson b. February 11, 1779, in Stephentown; m. Ann Sutherland
5) Mary b. in Albany, NY; m. Roger Selden
6) George b. in Albany
7) Charlotte b. July 15, 1785, in Albany; Joseph Smith
8) Minerva b. October 17, 1787 in Albany; m. Abner Matthews
9) Stephen Van Rensselaer b. March 24, 1790, in Albany; m. Caroline H. Whitehead
10) Harriet b. June 15, 1793 in Albany; m. Smith Griffin