Edward WHALEY

  General Notes:

Follower of Oliver Cromwell. Oliver's father Henry Cromwell's sister Frances married Richard Whaley, father of Edward.

So far as is known, Oliver Cromwell was an only child.

Military leader during the Civil War beginning in 1642.

Was one of three judges who signed the death warrant for Charles I. Other judges were named Maj. Gen Goffe (Whaley's son in law) and Col. Dixwell.

When Charles II took the throne, he fled for his life to the colonies. He spent one winter hiding in a hollow rock now called "Judge's Cave" in New Haven CT. The Cave bears the plaque with his phrase, "Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God," (the statement was made in 1645 after the Battle of Naseby on behalf of Cromwell).

Arrived in CT and lived in concealment, with a reward being offered by the Crown. Fled to Virginia in 1657, using the name Middleton. He was joined by his family (names unknown) who also fled England. He lived for a time in Maryland, buying 2,200 acres near Ocean City. When the Revolutionary War ended he changed his name back to Whaley and had his deeds adjusted.

In 1665 he led a defense of a Maryland settlement against Pakanoket Indian attack.

He was 103 years old and blind when he died in 1718 at his home "South Point" near Ocean City Maryland. All traces of the home are gone. The site of his home was found in 1929, and his grave was found in the 1980s. The sealed lead coffin was opened under careful scientific scrutiny with curiosity about the "time capsule" air sample that it offered.

Whaley is a very common colonial name in many states.

AB Chitty Jr. has a microfilm of the complete Whaley geneology going back to 1066. It is 57 pages long.

His link to this line of Whaley is dubious, but he is placed here "just in case." In fact, the link to his "son" James is questionable but was represented here to make a place on the chart.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Judge And Major General.

Edward married Elizabeth MIDDLETON.

Edward next married Judith DUFFLE.