PARENTS: William Phelps and Thankful Edwards
Eliakim Phelps history has been somewhat confusing and misinterpreted over the years so I am using this as an attempt to straighten it out and lay it out as simply as possible.
1st WIFE: LYDIA (LIDIA) RUST was the daughter of Israel Rust and Sarah North. She was born 24 Feb 1709 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts (Vital Records of Northhampton). They married on January 11, 1730 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. (Vital Records of Northhampton). She died in 1752 (Historical Sketches of the Congregational Church of Belchertown: Note the writer lists her as Elizabeth Rust).
Children with Lydia Rust:
Elaikim(1731-1731)
Eliakim(1732-1735)
Lydia ( 1736-??)
Simeon(1739-1776)
Naomi (1741-??)
Thankful (1747-1823)
Israel (1751-1825)
2nd WIFE: Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis and Eleanor Quimby of Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts. They their marriage location is unknown to me, but it appears to be 1752/1753 based on the birth of their first child. Elizabeth died 19 Oct 1770 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Children with Elizabeth Davis:
Noah (1753-1773)
William (1754-1812)
Eliakim(1755-1824)
Phebe (1757-1833)
Sarah (1760-1830)
Lucy (1763-1849)
Elizabeth (1766-1831)
John (1769-1806)
3rd WIFE: Elizabeth Chapin (possibly the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Rust. They married August 28, 1771 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (They hand no children together and she died in 1778).
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Transcribed will of Eliakim Phelps signed January 20, 1777.
In the Name of God Amen. I, Eliakim Phelps of Belchertown of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being advanced in years, but thro the goodness of God in a competent State of Health & of perfect sound disposing Mind & Memory have thought it my Duty to set my House in order (calling to mind that I must surely die) & in order to set my House in Order have seen fit to make & hereby make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner following. Viz
First of all I give myself wholly to God my Creator to be unified & saved by his only Son Jesus Christ in the way & manner which he has presented in the Gospels giving my Soul to him & relying on his mercy for eternal life through Jesus Christ. My body I order at my decease to be buried in a decent Christian manner by the care of Christian friends and particularly by the care of the person whom I shall appoint to be the executor of this my Last will and Testament – hoping through the power of goodness of God to receive the same again at the resurrection of the just gloriously defined and filled for celestial mansions.
And as touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pledged God to bestow on me, I give bequeath & dispose of the same in the in the following manner. Viz
My just debts, sick-bed Expenses & funeral charges being first paid – I give & bequeath unto Elizabeth, my true and loving wife the Silver and Gold she wears to her own absolute disposal, & also the use of one third part of my estate real and personal during her natural life & in particular by order that the bedding & other things which she brough be included in a thirds Parts shall be under her care in her life. & she shall not be stripped of them – so long as she remains my widow.
Nextly, to my Daughter Naomi fourteen pounds to be paid in Silver, or such other money as paper equal to & as good as silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my Decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Thankful Ten pounds in like manner as good as Silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my son Israel one Dollar to be to be paid in the months after my decease.
Nextly, to my son William Thirty pounds in Silver at six Shillings & eight good pence an ounce in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Phebe fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Sarah fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Lucy fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Elizabeth fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my son John forty pounds in Silver, or other money as good as silver at six shillings of eight pence an ounce to be paid when he arrive at the age of 21 years.
And the remainder of my estate value & personals I give bequeath unto my Son Eliakim, he paying what debts I may owe at my decease & the before mentioned legacies…
It is however my will that if my daughter Naomi should die before she receive her portion it shall be paid to my daughter Thankful. Or if my daughter Thankful should die before she receive her portion, it shall be paid to my daughter Naomi – unless the deceased leave a child or children
Also, it is my will that if either of my daughters Phebe, Lucy or Elizabeth should die before she receives her portion, it shall be paid to & divided among the rest of my daughters in equal shares unless the deceased should leave a child or children.
It is also my Will that if my son Eliakim or John should die without any child, his portion should be divided in equal shares between his brothers William, Eliakim or John.
It is also my will that if in my life time I should pay to either of my children before named his or her portion & take a receipt. Such receipts shall be good to prevent his or hers for the whole or for so much as such receipts specified.
And it is to be observed that I gave my son Simeon his portion of my estate in his lifetime and took an acceptance from him.
Moreover as my brother William Phelps of Pittsfield deceased, left some estate to me a part of which is in the improvement of his widow Abigail by Name – My will is that if such Abigail survives me, what may come that way after my decease from her thirds of my such brother Williams estate be such divided among all my children in equal shares.
It is also to be understood that my son Eliakim to be executor of this my last will & testament – in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.
Eliakim Phelps
Signed Sealed, declared & pronounced in presence of us
Justice Forward
Martha Forward
Violet Forward Jun
To all people to whom these presents, shall come Samuel Mather, Esq Judge of the probate of wills & in the County of Hampton within the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England sendeth greetings.
Known ye that one the first day of April A.D. 1777, the informentioned unto annexed (supporting the last will & Testament of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown, deceased) was presented for probate by Eliakim Phelps the executor herein named; then presents Justice forward, & Martha Forward, witnesses thereto will subscribed, who made oath that they saw the such Testament signed sealed and heard him declare the such informentioned to be his last will & testament that they together with Violet Forward, Jun subscribed their names together as witnesses to the execution thereof in the testators presence; & what was then (to the best of their judgement) of sound & disposing mind when he did the same – Wherefore I do prove, approve & allow of V P instruments as the last will and testament of the before named deceased & commits the Administration whereof in all matters concerning & of his estate whereof he died resided & prophets in such county unto Eliakim Phelps the before named executor of wills & faithfully do execute the such Will and to administrate the estate of the deceased, according whereto accepts as his ____, & gave bonds for his faithful performance & that he shall render an account (upon oath) of his proceedings when these unto lawfully organized.
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office in the day & year above written
Samuel Mathers Judge Probate
Eliakim Phelps hasbeen nominated authorized and appointed Guardian to John Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps, children and heirs of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown in the County of Hampton deceased; & bond is taken for his faithful performance of probate trusts. April 1, 1777
ELIAKIM PHELPS, SR.
"Eliakim Phelps was born in Northampton in 1709 and was a descendent of Nathaniel Phelps, one of the first settlers of that place, and of Willliam Phelps, who was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., in 1640. He was the sixth settler in Belchertown, in 1731 or 1732. He lived an honorable and useful life, and died leaving descendants, in the year 1777, at the age of sixty-nine. For his wife he married Lydia Rust of Northampton, who bore him six children, and died in 1752; and for his second wife, Elizabeth Davis of (says Springfield, MA, but actually was Elizabeth Davis of Brookfield. She died in 1770; and he remarried to Elizabeth Chapin of Springfield in 1771.
__________________________________________________________
PROBATE
Hampshire County, Registry of Probate, Northampton Probate Box 113-117. Notes from Eliakim Phelps, Sr. He did leave a wife, Elizabeth Chapin(parents uncertain), of Springfield, married 28 Aug 1771 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Children listed - Lydia, Naomi, Thankful, William, Pheobe, Sarah, Lucy, Elizabeth, John, Eliakim, Jr. [sons Simeon and Noah preceded him in death. However, on John's baptism, Jan 25, 1769 the Rev. Forward states in the record that was his 18th and her 8th child. The Phelps Family in America states there were several children with his first wife Lydia Rust. They wereunnamed and probably born premature.
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Eliakim and Lydia were early settlers in Belchertown, then called Cold Spring. They probably came there as early as 1731/2 and oocupied part of a grant made to Eliakim?s grandfather in 1822. The Diary of Reverend Billing of cold Spring and Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1743-56 contains references to Eliakim Phelps as early as 1745. Most references are about work Eliakim did for the reverend or the church and the only vital record in it is for the baptism of his daughter Thankful in 1747.
By the time Eliakim's estate was settled in 1771 only John and Elizabeth were under 14 and required court appointed guardians. Eliakim, Jr. was appointed their Guardian. The fact that the courts appointed him as legal guardian of these seven children but not the children of his first wife implied that Elizabeth or his heirs through her had some property or money which did not belong to Eliakim.
*************************************
NOTES ON ELIZABETH CHAPIN:
This Elizabeth Chapin (born 13 Jul 1714) is the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt. IIf this daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt is the wife of Eliakim I find no marriages for her before Eliakim. Perhaps she never married previously. The only Burt I could find was her mother. I have no notes with regard to how they came up with this scenario and am hoping to clarify it at a later date.
I did find the following in the probate records immediately following Eliakims Administration:
Was she the wife of Luke Chapin?????
Power of Administration on all and singular the goods & chattles rights & credits of the Estate of Luke Chapin late of Hampton, in the County of Hampshire deceased is granted unto Elizabeth Chapin; & bond in her pen for her faithful performance of Probate Trust April 1, 1777.
this was in someone elses notes:
Eliakim married (3) Elizabeth Chapin, possibly the widow of Burt. They married 28 August 1771 at Belchertown. She was born 13 July 1714 and survived his death and cared for Eliakim?s small children after his death. She died at Belchertown on 6 December 1778.
Eliakim Phelps history has been somewhat confusing and misinterpreted over the years so I am using this as an attempt to straighten it out and lay it out as simply as possible.
1st WIFE: LYDIA (LIDIA) RUST was the daughter of Israel Rust and Sarah North. She was born 24 Feb 1709 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts (Vital Records of Northhampton). They married on January 11, 1730 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. (Vital Records of Northhampton). She died in 1752 (Historical Sketches of the Congregational Church of Belchertown: Note the writer lists her as Elizabeth Rust).
Children with Lydia Rust:
Elaikim(1731-1731)
Eliakim(1732-1735)
Lydia ( 1736-??)
Simeon(1739-1776)
Naomi (1741-??)
Thankful (1747-1823)
Israel (1751-1825)
2nd WIFE: Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis and Eleanor Quimby of Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts. They their marriage location is unknown to me, but it appears to be 1752/1753 based on the birth of their first child. Elizabeth died 19 Oct 1770 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Children with Elizabeth Davis:
Noah (1753-1773)
William (1754-1812)
Eliakim(1755-1824)
Phebe (1757-1833)
Sarah (1760-1830)
Lucy (1763-1849)
Elizabeth (1766-1831)
John (1769-1806)
3rd WIFE: Elizabeth Chapin (possibly the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Rust. They married August 28, 1771 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (They hand no children together and she died in 1778).
******************
Transcribed will of Eliakim Phelps signed January 20, 1777.
In the Name of God Amen. I, Eliakim Phelps of Belchertown of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being advanced in years, but thro the goodness of God in a competent State of Health & of perfect sound disposing Mind & Memory have thought it my Duty to set my House in order (calling to mind that I must surely die) & in order to set my House in Order have seen fit to make & hereby make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner following. Viz
First of all I give myself wholly to God my Creator to be unified & saved by his only Son Jesus Christ in the way & manner which he has presented in the Gospels giving my Soul to him & relying on his mercy for eternal life through Jesus Christ. My body I order at my decease to be buried in a decent Christian manner by the care of Christian friends and particularly by the care of the person whom I shall appoint to be the executor of this my Last will and Testament – hoping through the power of goodness of God to receive the same again at the resurrection of the just gloriously defined and filled for celestial mansions.
And as touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pledged God to bestow on me, I give bequeath & dispose of the same in the in the following manner. Viz
My just debts, sick-bed Expenses & funeral charges being first paid – I give & bequeath unto Elizabeth, my true and loving wife the Silver and Gold she wears to her own absolute disposal, & also the use of one third part of my estate real and personal during her natural life & in particular by order that the bedding & other things which she brough be included in a thirds Parts shall be under her care in her life. & she shall not be stripped of them – so long as she remains my widow.
Nextly, to my Daughter Naomi fourteen pounds to be paid in Silver, or such other money as paper equal to & as good as silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my Decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Thankful Ten pounds in like manner as good as Silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my son Israel one Dollar to be to be paid in the months after my decease.
Nextly, to my son William Thirty pounds in Silver at six Shillings & eight good pence an ounce in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Phebe fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Sarah fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Lucy fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Elizabeth fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my son John forty pounds in Silver, or other money as good as silver at six shillings of eight pence an ounce to be paid when he arrive at the age of 21 years.
And the remainder of my estate value & personals I give bequeath unto my Son Eliakim, he paying what debts I may owe at my decease & the before mentioned legacies…
It is however my will that if my daughter Naomi should die before she receive her portion it shall be paid to my daughter Thankful. Or if my daughter Thankful should die before she receive her portion, it shall be paid to my daughter Naomi – unless the deceased leave a child or children
Also, it is my will that if either of my daughters Phebe, Lucy or Elizabeth should die before she receives her portion, it shall be paid to & divided among the rest of my daughters in equal shares unless the deceased should leave a child or children.
It is also my Will that if my son Eliakim or John should die without any child, his portion should be divided in equal shares between his brothers William, Eliakim or John.
It is also my will that if in my life time I should pay to either of my children before named his or her portion & take a receipt. Such receipts shall be good to prevent his or hers for the whole or for so much as such receipts specified.
And it is to be observed that I gave my son Simeon his portion of my estate in his lifetime and took an acceptance from him.
Moreover as my brother William Phelps of Pittsfield deceased, left some estate to me a part of which is in the improvement of his widow Abigail by Name – My will is that if such Abigail survives me, what may come that way after my decease from her thirds of my such brother Williams estate be such divided among all my children in equal shares.
It is also to be understood that my son Eliakim to be executor of this my last will & testament – in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.
Eliakim Phelps
Signed Sealed, declared & pronounced in presence of us
Justice Forward
Martha Forward
Violet Forward Jun
To all people to whom these presents, shall come Samuel Mather, Esq Judge of the probate of wills & in the County of Hampton within the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England sendeth greetings.
Known ye that one the first day of April A.D. 1777, the informentioned unto annexed (supporting the last will & Testament of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown, deceased) was presented for probate by Eliakim Phelps the executor herein named; then presents Justice forward, & Martha Forward, witnesses thereto will subscribed, who made oath that they saw the such Testament signed sealed and heard him declare the such informentioned to be his last will & testament that they together with Violet Forward, Jun subscribed their names together as witnesses to the execution thereof in the testators presence; & what was then (to the best of their judgement) of sound & disposing mind when he did the same – Wherefore I do prove, approve & allow of V P instruments as the last will and testament of the before named deceased & commits the Administration whereof in all matters concerning & of his estate whereof he died resided & prophets in such county unto Eliakim Phelps the before named executor of wills & faithfully do execute the such Will and to administrate the estate of the deceased, according whereto accepts as his ____, & gave bonds for his faithful performance & that he shall render an account (upon oath) of his proceedings when these unto lawfully organized.
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office in the day & year above written
Samuel Mathers Judge Probate
Eliakim Phelps hasbeen nominated authorized and appointed Guardian to John Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps, children and heirs of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown in the County of Hampton deceased; & bond is taken for his faithful performance of probate trusts. April 1, 1777
ELIAKIM PHELPS, SR.
"Eliakim Phelps was born in Northampton in 1709 and was a descendent of Nathaniel Phelps, one of the first settlers of that place, and of Willliam Phelps, who was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., in 1640. He was the sixth settler in Belchertown, in 1731 or 1732. He lived an honorable and useful life, and died leaving descendants, in the year 1777, at the age of sixty-nine. For his wife he married Lydia Rust of Northampton, who bore him six children, and died in 1752; and for his second wife, Elizabeth Davis of (says Springfield, MA, but actually was Elizabeth Davis of Brookfield. She died in 1770; and he remarried to Elizabeth Chapin of Springfield in 1771.
__________________________________________________________
PROBATE
Hampshire County, Registry of Probate, Northampton Probate Box 113-117. Notes from Eliakim Phelps, Sr. He did leave a wife, Elizabeth Chapin(parents uncertain), of Springfield, married 28 Aug 1771 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Children listed - Lydia, Naomi, Thankful, William, Pheobe, Sarah, Lucy, Elizabeth, John, Eliakim, Jr. [sons Simeon and Noah preceded him in death. However, on John's baptism, Jan 25, 1769 the Rev. Forward states in the record that was his 18th and her 8th child. The Phelps Family in America states there were several children with his first wife Lydia Rust. They wereunnamed and probably born premature.
****************************
Eliakim and Lydia were early settlers in Belchertown, then called Cold Spring. They probably came there as early as 1731/2 and oocupied part of a grant made to Eliakim?s grandfather in 1822. The Diary of Reverend Billing of cold Spring and Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1743-56 contains references to Eliakim Phelps as early as 1745. Most references are about work Eliakim did for the reverend or the church and the only vital record in it is for the baptism of his daughter Thankful in 1747.
By the time Eliakim's estate was settled in 1771 only John and Elizabeth were under 14 and required court appointed guardians. Eliakim, Jr. was appointed their Guardian. The fact that the courts appointed him as legal guardian of these seven children but not the children of his first wife implied that Elizabeth or his heirs through her had some property or money which did not belong to Eliakim.
*************************************
NOTES ON ELIZABETH CHAPIN:
This Elizabeth Chapin (born 13 Jul 1714) is the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt. IIf this daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt is the wife of Eliakim I find no marriages for her before Eliakim. Perhaps she never married previously. The only Burt I could find was her mother. I have no notes with regard to how they came up with this scenario and am hoping to clarify it at a later date.
I did find the following in the probate records immediately following Eliakims Administration:
Was she the wife of Luke Chapin?????
Power of Administration on all and singular the goods & chattles rights & credits of the Estate of Luke Chapin late of Hampton, in the County of Hampshire deceased is granted unto Elizabeth Chapin; & bond in her pen for her faithful performance of Probate Trust April 1, 1777.
this was in someone elses notes:
Eliakim married (3) Elizabeth Chapin, possibly the widow of Burt. They married 28 August 1771 at Belchertown. She was born 13 July 1714 and survived his death and cared for Eliakim?s small children after his death. She died at Belchertown on 6 December 1778.
PARENTS: William Phelps and Thankful Edwards
Eliakim Phelps history has been somewhat confusing and misinterpreted over the years so I am using this as an attempt to straighten it out and lay it out as simply as possible.
1st WIFE: LYDIA (LIDIA) RUST was the daughter of Israel Rust and Sarah North. She was born 24 Feb 1709 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts (Vital Records of Northhampton). They married on January 11, 1730 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. (Vital Records of Northhampton). She died in 1752 (Historical Sketches of the Congregational Church of Belchertown: Note the writer lists her as Elizabeth Rust).
Children with Lydia Rust:
Elaikim(1731-1731)
Eliakim(1732-1735)
Lydia ( 1736-??)
Simeon(1739-1776)
Naomi (1741-??)
Thankful (1747-1823)
Israel (1751-1825)
2nd WIFE: Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis and Eleanor Quimby of Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts. They their marriage location is unknown to me, but it appears to be 1752/1753 based on the birth of their first child. Elizabeth died 19 Oct 1770 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Children with Elizabeth Davis:
Noah (1753-1773)
William (1754-1812)
Eliakim(1755-1824)
Phebe (1757-1833)
Sarah (1760-1830)
Lucy (1763-1849)
Elizabeth (1766-1831)
John (1769-1806)
3rd WIFE: Elizabeth Chapin (possibly the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Rust. They married August 28, 1771 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (They hand no children together and she died in 1778).
******************
Transcribed will of Eliakim Phelps signed January 20, 1777.
In the Name of God Amen. I, Eliakim Phelps of Belchertown of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being advanced in years, but thro the goodness of God in a competent State of Health & of perfect sound disposing Mind & Memory have thought it my Duty to set my House in order (calling to mind that I must surely die) & in order to set my House in Order have seen fit to make & hereby make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner following. Viz
First of all I give myself wholly to God my Creator to be unified & saved by his only Son Jesus Christ in the way & manner which he has presented in the Gospels giving my Soul to him & relying on his mercy for eternal life through Jesus Christ. My body I order at my decease to be buried in a decent Christian manner by the care of Christian friends and particularly by the care of the person whom I shall appoint to be the executor of this my Last will and Testament – hoping through the power of goodness of God to receive the same again at the resurrection of the just gloriously defined and filled for celestial mansions.
And as touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pledged God to bestow on me, I give bequeath & dispose of the same in the in the following manner. Viz
My just debts, sick-bed Expenses & funeral charges being first paid – I give & bequeath unto Elizabeth, my true and loving wife the Silver and Gold she wears to her own absolute disposal, & also the use of one third part of my estate real and personal during her natural life & in particular by order that the bedding & other things which she brough be included in a thirds Parts shall be under her care in her life. & she shall not be stripped of them – so long as she remains my widow.
Nextly, to my Daughter Naomi fourteen pounds to be paid in Silver, or such other money as paper equal to & as good as silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my Decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Thankful Ten pounds in like manner as good as Silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my son Israel one Dollar to be to be paid in the months after my decease.
Nextly, to my son William Thirty pounds in Silver at six Shillings & eight good pence an ounce in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Phebe fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Sarah fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Lucy fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Elizabeth fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my son John forty pounds in Silver, or other money as good as silver at six shillings of eight pence an ounce to be paid when he arrive at the age of 21 years.
And the remainder of my estate value & personals I give bequeath unto my Son Eliakim, he paying what debts I may owe at my decease & the before mentioned legacies…
It is however my will that if my daughter Naomi should die before she receive her portion it shall be paid to my daughter Thankful. Or if my daughter Thankful should die before she receive her portion, it shall be paid to my daughter Naomi – unless the deceased leave a child or children
Also, it is my will that if either of my daughters Phebe, Lucy or Elizabeth should die before she receives her portion, it shall be paid to & divided among the rest of my daughters in equal shares unless the deceased should leave a child or children.
It is also my Will that if my son Eliakim or John should die without any child, his portion should be divided in equal shares between his brothers William, Eliakim or John.
It is also my will that if in my life time I should pay to either of my children before named his or her portion & take a receipt. Such receipts shall be good to prevent his or hers for the whole or for so much as such receipts specified.
And it is to be observed that I gave my son Simeon his portion of my estate in his lifetime and took an acceptance from him.
Moreover as my brother William Phelps of Pittsfield deceased, left some estate to me a part of which is in the improvement of his widow Abigail by Name – My will is that if such Abigail survives me, what may come that way after my decease from her thirds of my such brother Williams estate be such divided among all my children in equal shares.
It is also to be understood that my son Eliakim to be executor of this my last will & testament – in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.
Eliakim Phelps
Signed Sealed, declared & pronounced in presence of us
Justice Forward
Martha Forward
Violet Forward Jun
To all people to whom these presents, shall come Samuel Mather, Esq Judge of the probate of wills & in the County of Hampton within the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England sendeth greetings.
Known ye that one the first day of April A.D. 1777, the informentioned unto annexed (supporting the last will & Testament of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown, deceased) was presented for probate by Eliakim Phelps the executor herein named; then presents Justice forward, & Martha Forward, witnesses thereto will subscribed, who made oath that they saw the such Testament signed sealed and heard him declare the such informentioned to be his last will & testament that they together with Violet Forward, Jun subscribed their names together as witnesses to the execution thereof in the testators presence; & what was then (to the best of their judgement) of sound & disposing mind when he did the same – Wherefore I do prove, approve & allow of V P instruments as the last will and testament of the before named deceased & commits the Administration whereof in all matters concerning & of his estate whereof he died resided & prophets in such county unto Eliakim Phelps the before named executor of wills & faithfully do execute the such Will and to administrate the estate of the deceased, according whereto accepts as his ____, & gave bonds for his faithful performance & that he shall render an account (upon oath) of his proceedings when these unto lawfully organized.
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office in the day & year above written
Samuel Mathers Judge Probate
Eliakim Phelps hasbeen nominated authorized and appointed Guardian to John Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps, children and heirs of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown in the County of Hampton deceased; & bond is taken for his faithful performance of probate trusts. April 1, 1777
ELIAKIM PHELPS, SR.
"Eliakim Phelps was born in Northampton in 1709 and was a descendent of Nathaniel Phelps, one of the first settlers of that place, and of Willliam Phelps, who was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., in 1640. He was the sixth settler in Belchertown, in 1731 or 1732. He lived an honorable and useful life, and died leaving descendants, in the year 1777, at the age of sixty-nine. For his wife he married Lydia Rust of Northampton, who bore him six children, and died in 1752; and for his second wife, Elizabeth Davis of (says Springfield, MA, but actually was Elizabeth Davis of Brookfield. She died in 1770; and he remarried to Elizabeth Chapin of Springfield in 1771.
__________________________________________________________
PROBATE
Hampshire County, Registry of Probate, Northampton Probate Box 113-117. Notes from Eliakim Phelps, Sr. He did leave a wife, Elizabeth Chapin(parents uncertain), of Springfield, married 28 Aug 1771 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Children listed - Lydia, Naomi, Thankful, William, Pheobe, Sarah, Lucy, Elizabeth, John, Eliakim, Jr. [sons Simeon and Noah preceded him in death. However, on John's baptism, Jan 25, 1769 the Rev. Forward states in the record that was his 18th and her 8th child. The Phelps Family in America states there were several children with his first wife Lydia Rust. They wereunnamed and probably born premature.
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Eliakim and Lydia were early settlers in Belchertown, then called Cold Spring. They probably came there as early as 1731/2 and oocupied part of a grant made to Eliakim?s grandfather in 1822. The Diary of Reverend Billing of cold Spring and Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1743-56 contains references to Eliakim Phelps as early as 1745. Most references are about work Eliakim did for the reverend or the church and the only vital record in it is for the baptism of his daughter Thankful in 1747.
By the time Eliakim's estate was settled in 1771 only John and Elizabeth were under 14 and required court appointed guardians. Eliakim, Jr. was appointed their Guardian. The fact that the courts appointed him as legal guardian of these seven children but not the children of his first wife implied that Elizabeth or his heirs through her had some property or money which did not belong to Eliakim.
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NOTES ON ELIZABETH CHAPIN:
This Elizabeth Chapin (born 13 Jul 1714) is the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt. IIf this daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt is the wife of Eliakim I find no marriages for her before Eliakim. Perhaps she never married previously. The only Burt I could find was her mother. I have no notes with regard to how they came up with this scenario and am hoping to clarify it at a later date.
I did find the following in the probate records immediately following Eliakims Administration:
Was she the wife of Luke Chapin?????
Power of Administration on all and singular the goods & chattles rights & credits of the Estate of Luke Chapin late of Hampton, in the County of Hampshire deceased is granted unto Elizabeth Chapin; & bond in her pen for her faithful performance of Probate Trust April 1, 1777.
this was in someone elses notes:
Eliakim married (3) Elizabeth Chapin, possibly the widow of Burt. They married 28 August 1771 at Belchertown. She was born 13 July 1714 and survived his death and cared for Eliakim?s small children after his death. She died at Belchertown on 6 December 1778.
Eliakim Phelps history has been somewhat confusing and misinterpreted over the years so I am using this as an attempt to straighten it out and lay it out as simply as possible.
1st WIFE: LYDIA (LIDIA) RUST was the daughter of Israel Rust and Sarah North. She was born 24 Feb 1709 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts (Vital Records of Northhampton). They married on January 11, 1730 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. (Vital Records of Northhampton). She died in 1752 (Historical Sketches of the Congregational Church of Belchertown: Note the writer lists her as Elizabeth Rust).
Children with Lydia Rust:
Elaikim(1731-1731)
Eliakim(1732-1735)
Lydia ( 1736-??)
Simeon(1739-1776)
Naomi (1741-??)
Thankful (1747-1823)
Israel (1751-1825)
2nd WIFE: Elizabeth Davis, daughter of John Davis and Eleanor Quimby of Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts. They their marriage location is unknown to me, but it appears to be 1752/1753 based on the birth of their first child. Elizabeth died 19 Oct 1770 in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts.
Children with Elizabeth Davis:
Noah (1753-1773)
William (1754-1812)
Eliakim(1755-1824)
Phebe (1757-1833)
Sarah (1760-1830)
Lucy (1763-1849)
Elizabeth (1766-1831)
John (1769-1806)
3rd WIFE: Elizabeth Chapin (possibly the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Rust. They married August 28, 1771 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts (They hand no children together and she died in 1778).
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Transcribed will of Eliakim Phelps signed January 20, 1777.
In the Name of God Amen. I, Eliakim Phelps of Belchertown of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, being advanced in years, but thro the goodness of God in a competent State of Health & of perfect sound disposing Mind & Memory have thought it my Duty to set my House in order (calling to mind that I must surely die) & in order to set my House in Order have seen fit to make & hereby make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner following. Viz
First of all I give myself wholly to God my Creator to be unified & saved by his only Son Jesus Christ in the way & manner which he has presented in the Gospels giving my Soul to him & relying on his mercy for eternal life through Jesus Christ. My body I order at my decease to be buried in a decent Christian manner by the care of Christian friends and particularly by the care of the person whom I shall appoint to be the executor of this my Last will and Testament – hoping through the power of goodness of God to receive the same again at the resurrection of the just gloriously defined and filled for celestial mansions.
And as touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pledged God to bestow on me, I give bequeath & dispose of the same in the in the following manner. Viz
My just debts, sick-bed Expenses & funeral charges being first paid – I give & bequeath unto Elizabeth, my true and loving wife the Silver and Gold she wears to her own absolute disposal, & also the use of one third part of my estate real and personal during her natural life & in particular by order that the bedding & other things which she brough be included in a thirds Parts shall be under her care in her life. & she shall not be stripped of them – so long as she remains my widow.
Nextly, to my Daughter Naomi fourteen pounds to be paid in Silver, or such other money as paper equal to & as good as silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my Decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Thankful Ten pounds in like manner as good as Silver at six Shillings & eight pence an ounce to be paid in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my son Israel one Dollar to be to be paid in the months after my decease.
Nextly, to my son William Thirty pounds in Silver at six Shillings & eight good pence an ounce in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Phebe fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly, to my daughter Sarah fourteen pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Lucy fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my daughter Elizabeth fourteen Pounds in like money & manner in one year after my decease.
Nextly to my son John forty pounds in Silver, or other money as good as silver at six shillings of eight pence an ounce to be paid when he arrive at the age of 21 years.
And the remainder of my estate value & personals I give bequeath unto my Son Eliakim, he paying what debts I may owe at my decease & the before mentioned legacies…
It is however my will that if my daughter Naomi should die before she receive her portion it shall be paid to my daughter Thankful. Or if my daughter Thankful should die before she receive her portion, it shall be paid to my daughter Naomi – unless the deceased leave a child or children
Also, it is my will that if either of my daughters Phebe, Lucy or Elizabeth should die before she receives her portion, it shall be paid to & divided among the rest of my daughters in equal shares unless the deceased should leave a child or children.
It is also my Will that if my son Eliakim or John should die without any child, his portion should be divided in equal shares between his brothers William, Eliakim or John.
It is also my will that if in my life time I should pay to either of my children before named his or her portion & take a receipt. Such receipts shall be good to prevent his or hers for the whole or for so much as such receipts specified.
And it is to be observed that I gave my son Simeon his portion of my estate in his lifetime and took an acceptance from him.
Moreover as my brother William Phelps of Pittsfield deceased, left some estate to me a part of which is in the improvement of his widow Abigail by Name – My will is that if such Abigail survives me, what may come that way after my decease from her thirds of my such brother Williams estate be such divided among all my children in equal shares.
It is also to be understood that my son Eliakim to be executor of this my last will & testament – in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand and Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.
Eliakim Phelps
Signed Sealed, declared & pronounced in presence of us
Justice Forward
Martha Forward
Violet Forward Jun
To all people to whom these presents, shall come Samuel Mather, Esq Judge of the probate of wills & in the County of Hampton within the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England sendeth greetings.
Known ye that one the first day of April A.D. 1777, the informentioned unto annexed (supporting the last will & Testament of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown, deceased) was presented for probate by Eliakim Phelps the executor herein named; then presents Justice forward, & Martha Forward, witnesses thereto will subscribed, who made oath that they saw the such Testament signed sealed and heard him declare the such informentioned to be his last will & testament that they together with Violet Forward, Jun subscribed their names together as witnesses to the execution thereof in the testators presence; & what was then (to the best of their judgement) of sound & disposing mind when he did the same – Wherefore I do prove, approve & allow of V P instruments as the last will and testament of the before named deceased & commits the Administration whereof in all matters concerning & of his estate whereof he died resided & prophets in such county unto Eliakim Phelps the before named executor of wills & faithfully do execute the such Will and to administrate the estate of the deceased, according whereto accepts as his ____, & gave bonds for his faithful performance & that he shall render an account (upon oath) of his proceedings when these unto lawfully organized.
In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office in the day & year above written
Samuel Mathers Judge Probate
Eliakim Phelps hasbeen nominated authorized and appointed Guardian to John Phelps and Elizabeth Phelps, children and heirs of Eliakim Phelps, late of Belchertown in the County of Hampton deceased; & bond is taken for his faithful performance of probate trusts. April 1, 1777
ELIAKIM PHELPS, SR.
"Eliakim Phelps was born in Northampton in 1709 and was a descendent of Nathaniel Phelps, one of the first settlers of that place, and of Willliam Phelps, who was one of the first settlers of Windsor, Conn., in 1640. He was the sixth settler in Belchertown, in 1731 or 1732. He lived an honorable and useful life, and died leaving descendants, in the year 1777, at the age of sixty-nine. For his wife he married Lydia Rust of Northampton, who bore him six children, and died in 1752; and for his second wife, Elizabeth Davis of (says Springfield, MA, but actually was Elizabeth Davis of Brookfield. She died in 1770; and he remarried to Elizabeth Chapin of Springfield in 1771.
__________________________________________________________
PROBATE
Hampshire County, Registry of Probate, Northampton Probate Box 113-117. Notes from Eliakim Phelps, Sr. He did leave a wife, Elizabeth Chapin(parents uncertain), of Springfield, married 28 Aug 1771 in Northhampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Children listed - Lydia, Naomi, Thankful, William, Pheobe, Sarah, Lucy, Elizabeth, John, Eliakim, Jr. [sons Simeon and Noah preceded him in death. However, on John's baptism, Jan 25, 1769 the Rev. Forward states in the record that was his 18th and her 8th child. The Phelps Family in America states there were several children with his first wife Lydia Rust. They wereunnamed and probably born premature.
****************************
Eliakim and Lydia were early settlers in Belchertown, then called Cold Spring. They probably came there as early as 1731/2 and oocupied part of a grant made to Eliakim?s grandfather in 1822. The Diary of Reverend Billing of cold Spring and Greenfield, Massachusetts, 1743-56 contains references to Eliakim Phelps as early as 1745. Most references are about work Eliakim did for the reverend or the church and the only vital record in it is for the baptism of his daughter Thankful in 1747.
By the time Eliakim's estate was settled in 1771 only John and Elizabeth were under 14 and required court appointed guardians. Eliakim, Jr. was appointed their Guardian. The fact that the courts appointed him as legal guardian of these seven children but not the children of his first wife implied that Elizabeth or his heirs through her had some property or money which did not belong to Eliakim.
*************************************
NOTES ON ELIZABETH CHAPIN:
This Elizabeth Chapin (born 13 Jul 1714) is the daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt. IIf this daughter of Jonathan Chapin and Elizabeth Burt is the wife of Eliakim I find no marriages for her before Eliakim. Perhaps she never married previously. The only Burt I could find was her mother. I have no notes with regard to how they came up with this scenario and am hoping to clarify it at a later date.
I did find the following in the probate records immediately following Eliakims Administration:
Was she the wife of Luke Chapin?????
Power of Administration on all and singular the goods & chattles rights & credits of the Estate of Luke Chapin late of Hampton, in the County of Hampshire deceased is granted unto Elizabeth Chapin; & bond in her pen for her faithful performance of Probate Trust April 1, 1777.
this was in someone elses notes:
Eliakim married (3) Elizabeth Chapin, possibly the widow of Burt. They married 28 August 1771 at Belchertown. She was born 13 July 1714 and survived his death and cared for Eliakim?s small children after his death. She died at Belchertown on 6 December 1778.
Family Members
Siblings
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