Born by about 1593 based on estimated date of marriage. Came from Crewkerne, Somersetshire to Massachusetts Bay in 1630 on the "Mary & John." First settled in Dorchester; moved to Windsor in 1635. Died in Windsor 14 July 1672 ("Old Mr. William Phelps died."
Married: (1) By 1618 Mary _____, who was buried at Crewkerne 13 August 1626.
(2) Crewkerne 14 November 1626 Anne Dover. "Mistress Phelps" was the first on the list of women members of the church at Dorchester who came with Mr. Warham to Windsor. She died Windsor 30 August 1689 ("Mrs. An Phelps died.
William Phelps' burial is lost and his tombstone destroyed, but the Founders Monument in Pailsado cemetery remains as his cenotaph.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project
∼
Mr. William PHELPS [W14 in P&S] and several of his family members were buried on the land behind his house on in the area that is now Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His land extended all the way to Farmington River, formerly called "The Rivulet". His house stood on this land (on East Street), until the village took over the land, including his house. His son William Phelps's house is still standing nearby today. The village razed William's house in 1960s and leveled the land and the ancient cemetery, pushing all the stones to the back toward the river and burying them. All the headstones are missing. William Phelps and his family were certainly not buried at Palisado Cemetery nor at the Palisado Green where the Founders of Windsor is situated.
William Phelps "of Crewkerne, Somerset Co., England" was born in about 1592-1593; the approximate year was based on their oldest child's baptized year. The birthplace of William Phelps is UNKNOWN, but he was probably born in the Yeovil area, in Dorset or Somerset County, England.
His parents are UNKNOWN. He was "of Crewkerne" when he immigrated with his family to the New World.
[NOTE: This William Phelps of Crewkerne is NOT to be conflated with William Phelps who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1599. Phelps & Servin was incorrect in assuming that William of Tewkesbury was the one. In fact, William Phelps of Tewkesbury was still in England and was present at his relative's estate in 1637. He never went to America.]
William married twice.
1) He first married MARY (surname UNKNOWN) by 1618, location unknown. The estimated marriage year was based on their first child's baptism date on 9 Sept 1618 in Crewkerne. She was buried at Crewkerne, County Somerset, England on 14 Aug 1626. Her record was written as "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii day of August". Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 1/wf Mary ___; m 13 Aug 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset/Windsor[TAG 65:163]".
Sources: Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1445, Torrey Supplement, pg 50.
William and Mary had 4 children, all baptized in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England:
1) WILLIAM PHELPS Jr [W19]
bapt. 9 Sep 1618, Old Style (O.S.), Crewkerne. The September 1618 vital record says: "William the son of William Phelps was baptized the ix th day of September [1618]";
m. 1) Isabel WILSON on 4 Jun 1645 Windsor, no issue;
m. 2) Sarah PINNEY on 20 Dec 1676 Windsor, no issue;
died 10 Feb 1681,
2) SAMUEL PHELPS [W21]
bapt. 5 Aug 1621 O.S., Crewkerne. The Auguste 1621 vital record says "Samuell the son of William Phelps was baptized the v th day of Auguste";
m. Sarah GRISWOLD 10 Nov 1650 Windsor;
died in 1669, Windsor.
3) INFANT PHELPS
bur. Crewkerne, 8 Jan 1623 O.S. (1623/4), The January 1623 record says "An infant of William Phelps was buried the viii th day of January". [(1624 is the modern date].
4) Deac. NATHANIEL PHELPS [W22]
bapt. 6 Mar 1624 O.S. (1624/25), Crewkerne; the Marche 1624 record says "Nathaniell the son of William Phelps was baptized the vi th day of Marche"[1625 is the modern date];
m. Elizabeth (__) Copley 17 Sep 1650 Windsor;
died 27 May 1702 Windsor, aged 75 yrs.
Wife MARY was buried on 13 Aug 1626 O.S., Crewkerne. The August 1626 record says "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii th day of August".
2. William PHELPS married 2nd wife Anne DOVER on 14 Nov 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Per Crewkerne record, the November 1626 record says: "William Phelps and Anne Dover were married the xiv the day of November 1626". In addition, Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 2/wf Anne DOVER (-1675); m 14 Nov 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset [TAG 65:163]".
They had 7 children from this marriage:
(The first 4 were born in Crewkerne, the next 3 were born in America)
Sources: Crewkerne Parish records, GMB Vol. 3:1446, Windsor town records. Note that there were no Dorchester vital records on any of the Phelps members before they left for Windsor, CT.
1) CORNELIUS PHELPS,
Bapt. 13 Oct 1627 O.S. at Crewkerne. The October 1627 record says "Cornelius son of William Phelps was bapt. the xiii th day of October".
No further record, presumed to have died young. FOUND the burial record in Oct 2017.
Buried on 9 Jan 1627/28 at Crewkerne: The January 1727 record states "Cornelius son of William Phelps was buried on ix th day of January 1627". (Because it occurred in Jan. it's necessary to write the double date 1627/28, not 1627.)
2) JOSEPH (twin) PHELPS [W23]
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
m. 1) Hannah NEWTON on 20 Sep 1660 Windsor,
m. 2) Mrs. Mary (unk maiden surname) Salmon on 9 Jan 1676; died in 1684 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
3) MARY (twin) PHELPS I, died in infancy.
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
Mary died soon afterwards, about 16 days later.
Buried on 29 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne: The November 1628 record shows "...the xxix th day of November 1826. Marie, daughter of William Phelps was buried the same date." (the entry for the person listed above her name says xxix).
4) MARY PHELPS II,
bapt. 6 Dec 1629 at Crewkerne. The December 1929 record says "Maria Da: [daughter] of William Phelps bapt vi th day of December." No further record, presumed to have died young. It is possible she may have died anywhere between Crewkerne and the time her family sailed away in March 1630. Or she may have died in Dorchester, MA, but no vital records in Dorchester exist on any Phelps members. (No lives have been lost on this ship). Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1446
5) SARAH PHELPS [W20] Wade
b. c1632 (probably born in Dorchester, MA);
m. William WADE on 9 Jun 1658 Windsor;
died 1659, Windsor. No issue.
(There were no Dorcester vital records on any of the Phelps family before they moved to Windsor, CT).
6) Lt TIMOTHY PHELPS [W24]
b. Sep 1, 1639 Windsor;
m. Mary GRISWOLD 19 May 1661 Windsor;
died bef 28 Dec 1719 Windsor.
7) MARY PHELPS III [W25] Barber,
b. 6 Mar 1644 Windsor; m. to Thomas BARBER on 17 Dec 1663 Windsor;
d. 13 Feb 1724 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
It should be noted that the Dorchester vital records do not include those families who left for Windsor before 1643. There are no vital records on any Phelps in Dorchester.
Mr. William Phelps died in Windsor, Hartford Co., CT. "Old Mr. William Phelps died" [CTVR27]
Sources for William PHELPS and his family:
1) The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. III, P-W, p. 1444-6 [GMB: 3, 1444-6]. Other sources were also mentioned here.
2) Vital records at Crewkerne Parish, Crewkerne, Somerset County, England. They were written in "Secretary's Hand",
3) Phelps & Servin, Vol. 1. pg 85--86. Note: The 2-volume book contains numerous errors and/or omissions. They must be verified with primary records.
4) Dates were from various sources such as vital records, wills, probate, grants, etc. (see GMB to see other sources)
NOTE: Brackets [W_] indicate this person is a descendant of William and is numbered according to the Phelps & Servin's 2 volumes.
5) Numerous articles in genealogy magazines have been written about William's origins and his family, including TAG, NEHGS, and others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Journey to America - Life in Dorchester, MA and Windsor, CT:
William Phelps and his second wife Anne and four children William, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph boarded the ship Mary and John, owned by Roger Ludlow who was one of the assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company, on March 20, 1630. They and other families, about 140 emigrants in all, were all recruited by the Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorset Co., England. They were from the "West Country" of England consisting of three counties Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Many came from the towns of Dorchester, and Bridport, Dorset, Crewkerene and Taunton, Somerset or Exeter, Devon. They were all part of the church led by the Rev. John Warham. Under the command of Capt. Squeb (or Squibb), they sailed from Plymouth, Devon Co., England. It arrived at Nantasket, near present-day Hull, Massachusetts on May 30, 1630 without casualty. Soon, other ships arrived. This was a part of the Great Migration. They settled at Columbia Point, which the native Americans called "Mattaponnock". They renamed it Dorchester in 1630 in honor of Rev. White who organized the Dorchester Company. Today, Dorchester later became part of South Boston. It was annexed by the city of Boston in 1970.(From the Mary and John Clearing House, other historical accounts.)
[NOTE: Mary and John in 1630 was not part of the Winthrop Fleet that came two weeks later after it arrived at the American shores. Mary and John brought emigrants from England to Massachusetts two more times, in 1633 and again in 1634.
In 1635 William moved his family to what is now Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. It was formerly named Dorchester, but they renamed it to Windsor in 1637 under court order presided by William. He and many other men who founded Dorchester were also founders and first settlers of Windsor. In other words, Mr. Warham's church moved to Windsor. They played various important roles in the community. These founding fathers' names are engraved on the Founder's Monument on the Palisado Green, near Strong's House (formerly known as Flier's House), where Windsor Historical Society is situated today.
Mr. William Phelps was regarded as an important figure in both Dorchester and Windsor. According to a noted historian Henry Reed Stiles, he "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony." (Note that William Phelps was given the title "Mr". This title was given only to men with distinction, while the military titles were always used.)
Mr. William Phelps devoted most of his life serving. He served in varying governing capacities including judicial matters and held offices in early colonial government.
* On 19 Oct 1630, William Phelps applied to be made freeman. He was admitted on 18 May 1631. This allowed him to purchase land and to participate in juries. GMB 3:1444
* On 9 Nov 1630, he was one of twelve jurors and he was selected as a foreman for the first grand jury trial in the New England Colony, on the death of Austin Bratcher.
* On 27 Sep 1631, he was chosen Constable of Dorchester, MA, assigned to serve on committees given authority to settle land and boundary disputes, and given other key responsibilities in administering the affairs of the new town, including serving on the General Court.
* He also was a Lot layer, Fence Viewer, and a Land Surveyor. He was twice a Deputy for Dorchester to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632 and in 1635.
* Between 1633 and 1635, William and a few others were appointed as members of several committees by the General Court. They helped lay out boundaries between Boston and Roxbury, Wessaguscus and Barecove, and Hingham and Weymouth. He also surveyed Mount Wollaston in 1634.
* In 1634, William Phelps became one of three delegates from Dorchester to the first General Court in the colony.
* 5 May 1635, William Phelps was a member of the colony's General Court held in Newtown, now Charlestown, MA.
* On 3 Mar 1635/6, appointed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William was one of the 7 commissioners to govern the new towns on the "The Great River" before emigrating to Windsor. He governed the new colony in Connecticut in its first year.
* On 3 Mar 1636, the first legal committee was formed, consisting of William Phelps and 6 other men were authorized and given power to hear cases using witnesses, to evaluate, and to make impartial judicial decisions in Windsor.
*On 21 Feb 1637, William presided over the colony's General Court and ordered the town name change: "It is ordered y the plantacon called Dorchester shall bee called Windsor."
*On 1 May 1637, Mr. William Phelps, presiding over the committee, authorized them to start an offensive war against the Pequots. He helped organize the expedition to go after them. This conflict lasted two years.
Mr. William Phelps was a Magistrate , i.e., an old a term used for governor to govern a colony. By 1638, Massachusetts Colony admitted that the Connecticut Colony was out of its jurisdiction and it was practicing self-rule. The people of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford met in Hartford on 2 Jan 1639 and adopted the constitution for the Connecticut Colony. This document made it clear that it does not recognize authority superior to that delegated by the people other than God. Mr. Roger Ludlow drew up the constitution, along with the assistance of Mr. William Phelps and other magistrates.
* The first government consisted of five magistrates (officers) of a legislative, judicial and executive character, chosen by the freemen of the colony, and the house of assistants chosen by the towns. This continued until 1665.
*Mr. William Phelps held of the Office of Magistrate from 1639 to 1645, making him the first Governor of Connecticut Colony. He again held the office from 1645 to 1649, and again from 1656 to 1662. He also served as an assistant, equivalent to Lieutenant Governor.
* He was made a Deputy for Windsor to Connecticut General several times from 1645 to 1657.
Sources: P&S, Vol 1, pg. 72-80, GMB 3:1444-6, Dorchester, MA records, Massachusetts Colonial records, Connecticut State Library, Windsor records, etc.
[Note regarding the terms Magistrate, assistant: A Magistrate was what they were called back then to govern the Colonies. William Phelps and the others all took turns governing the Colony. John Winthrop was the head Governor in Boston and they were still under the Kings watch.]
In 1635 William first lived in Windsor, in the lowland of "the Rivulet" [Farmington River] that flows into "the Great River" [Connecticut River]. He was granted a lot that was 100 feet wide, next to Bray Rossiter, west of the Rivulet. This land was flooded in 1638-9. Due to its tendency to flood, he moved to higher ground above the First Meadows further north in 1639. This was known as Phelps Meadows. It is situated on the most northerly lot on the west side of the rivulet, on the east side of what is now East St leading north to Poquonock Road and north of west-east road Pleasant St.
Phelps purchased land from the Indians on more than one occasion. In a deed dated March 31, 1665, Phelps recorded that he had purchased a parcel of land about 30 years previously from Sehat, a Paquanick sachem. He was unable to provide title and prove his previous payment, forcing him to buy the land again. He paid to Sehat's descendant "Nassahegan, an Indian sachem" and his kinsmen "four trucking coats" and wampum. He had previously paid "two coats and 40 shillings in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn, and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny." Many records of purchase and sale of land by Mr. William Phelps are recorded in the Windsor land records.
Last Will and Testament of Mr. William Phelps,
or properly speaking, his Settlement Deed
These presents testify, that I, William Phelps of Windsor, on Connecticut, in consideration of a marriage concluded between my son Timothy, on the one part, and Mary, the daughter of Edward Griswold, on the other part; have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto my son, that he, the said Timothy, shall jointly enjoin and possess, together with me, all my housing, lands and accommodations, as also all my estate, both real and personal, both within door and without, with all the property emoluments, products, and income of the same, during my material life: And my said son in to inhabit and dwell in my house, with me and my wife, in joint way; and that it shall continue during my material life; and if my wife shall survive me, she have and enjoy in a joint way with my son the estate for her maintainence as before expressed. But if my wife chooses to settle in any place and to leave the house, then my son Timothy shall pay yearly to my wife, the sum of ten pounds during her material life, and in case I myself in my lifetime, or my wife after my decease, in her lifetime while she abides, to inhabit with my said son Timothy, she see cause or desire it, I do reserve power for both myself and for her, after my decease to dispose a barrel or two of cider and some apples yearly without any harm to the premises, and likewise I do reserve like liberty for myself and my wife, to dispose of my wearing apparel, and whom we shall meet to enjoy them after our decease. Also I do give full power of bequeathing the great brass pan at her decease; and my son Timothy is to carry the improvements of the whole Estate, and to order and dispose of the stock, so far as the necessity of our subsistance shall require, and after my decease and the decease of my wife, my said son Timothy shall have and enjoy all my whole Estate fore mentioned to him and his heirs forever; always provided that in case my said son Timothy shall die and leave no natural heirs begotten by him, that shall either not attain the age of twenty one years or marry, then the one-half of my lands excepting the orchard and pasture down to the bridge, that goeth into the meadow; also the upper pasture by the house that shall belong to the house, shall return to William, the son of my son Samuel. Also my son Timothy is to pay out of the Estate: Imprimis to discharge my daughter Mary, with that which is paid, the sum of thirty-four pounds, which is the full portion I allow her. To my son William twenty shillings, to Samuel ten pounds, to Nathaniel fifteen pounds, to Joseph five pounds – these legacies to my sons to be discharged within two years of my decease.
In consideration of the premises we both have herunto set our hands this 22nd day of April Anno Dom, 1660.
Witnesses to the signatures:
Daniel Clark, William Phelps
James Alford, Timothy Phelps
Entered on the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672.
SOURCE: Last Will and Testament of Mr. Phelps, from Windsor, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, The Phelps family of America and their English Ancestors, Phelps & Servin, Vol. I, p. 84-85/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Phelps' Origins:
Several assumptions and myths about Mr. William Phelps' birth ca.1593, origins and parentage are still being perpetuated today, in spite of discoveries since about 1982.
The reasons for these errors is from information in the The Phelps Family in America and their English Ancestors, compiled by Phelps & Servin, a two-volume genealogy, was published in 1899 and considered 100% factual information. Since 1987, discoveries including careful research by Robin Bush, Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Burton W. Spears and the Mary and John Clearing House , The Great Migration project by Robert Charles Anderson, the discovery of Crewkerne parish records and yDNA testing, have changed all that.
The major errors regarding William Phelps of Dorchester/Hull Massachusetts are as follows:
1. William Phelps born ca 1593 was from Tewkesbury.
*A William Phelps existed in Tewkesbury but is not genetically linked to the aforementioned William Phelps. More likely, William Phelps was baptized in Crewkerne or environs, including Yeovil and Dorset.
*William of Crewkerne was most likely born earlier than 1599, based on his eldest son.
*William Phelps of Tewkesbury, baptized Aug 1599, had a son named Richard christened in Tewkesbury 26 Dec 1619. William of Crewkerne did not have a known son named Richard.
2. George Phelps is William Phelps' brother.
DNA testing has proven that George Phelps is not a genetic match to William Phelps born 1593 with the result that William and George can not be brothers.
Other facts: William and George did not live near each other in Windsor, name their children the same, did not have the same education level, nor have the same occupation. All of these known facts added up to them NOT being brothers. George adopted the surname Phelps though he was NOT born a Phelps from Crewkerne, England. Around 1990, this fact was published in the New England Gen. Society journal.
3. William and George sailed together on Mary and John at the same time.
William sailed on Mary and John with his wife and 4 children, George sailed on Recovery. George Phelps is mentioned in Great Migration series Vol 5, M-P, pg. 445-450.
4. William's parents are William and Dorothy Phelps.
William's parents are still UNKNOWN. No evidence has yet been uncovered.
*Widowed Dorothy Phelps, the mother of the William Phelps of Tewkesbury, named her brother-in-law Edward Phelps in her will. He in turn, in his 1636 will (when he was of Tewkesbury), "appointed as an overseer, William Phelps, almost undoubtedly his nephew, and certainly not the William living in far away New England.'
5. William's wife's was Mary Ann Dover.
There is no evidence of this. The two wives' names were conflated into Mary Ann Dover.
William Phelps had two wives named
**1) Mary unknown
**2) Anne Dover
6. William Phelps of Crewkerne had a brother named Richard Phelps.
There is no evidence that supports this conclusion.
The naming patterns used by Mr. William Phelps and his children did not include George and Richard.
Note that William's children named their children with names like William, Samuel, Nathaniel, Cornelius, Joseph, Timothy, Mary, and Sarah, but none of them were named George or Richard. Other names were introduced by the spouse's side
Also note that middle names were not used until around 1800 or later.
The Phelps & Servin Phelps' two volumes The Phelps family in America and their English ancestors unfortunately cannot be considered as a primary source. While it is a valuable resource, it contains numerous errors and omissions. They are considered secondary source, meaning that other records must be used to verify the information recorded in these two volumes. These two volumes were compiled by people who were NOT trained researchers and they were not professional genealogists. It was compiled primarily based on correspondence and belief.
Several other genealogy books including Families of Ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut, Consisting of Volume II of the History of Ancient Wethersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to its Incorporation in 1693, From Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, With Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families also contain numerous errors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: Additional information on William's origins was written to her niece (me) in Sept. 2013 in a series of emails. And with her permission, this info can be found in Phelps Family History and William Phelps (colonist).
NOTE: This information must be fully acknowledged, not copied and pasted without reference. This credit goes to Margaret Phelps Swanson, certified genealogist and co-founder of "Phelps Connections."
sources for birth & death
Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
Name: William Phelps
Birth Year: Aug 1599
Death Year: 1672
Source: Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Six volumes. Edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888- 1889. (ApCAB)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name
William Phelps
Gender Male
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
First Marriage Date 1638
First Marriage Place Windsor, Conn
Father William Phelps
Spouse Mary Ann Dover; Mrs William Phelps
Child
Caleb Phelps; William Phelps; Timothy Phelps; William Phelps; George Phelps; James Lodovick Phelps; William Phelps; John Phelps; Mary Phelps; William Phelps; Sarah Phelps; Samuel Phelps; Nathaniel Phelps; Joseph Phelps
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name
William Phelps
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
Birth Place Tewkesbury, England
Married: (1) By 1618 Mary _____, who was buried at Crewkerne 13 August 1626.
(2) Crewkerne 14 November 1626 Anne Dover. "Mistress Phelps" was the first on the list of women members of the church at Dorchester who came with Mr. Warham to Windsor. She died Windsor 30 August 1689 ("Mrs. An Phelps died.
William Phelps' burial is lost and his tombstone destroyed, but the Founders Monument in Pailsado cemetery remains as his cenotaph.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project
∼
Mr. William PHELPS [W14 in P&S] and several of his family members were buried on the land behind his house on in the area that is now Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His land extended all the way to Farmington River, formerly called "The Rivulet". His house stood on this land (on East Street), until the village took over the land, including his house. His son William Phelps's house is still standing nearby today. The village razed William's house in 1960s and leveled the land and the ancient cemetery, pushing all the stones to the back toward the river and burying them. All the headstones are missing. William Phelps and his family were certainly not buried at Palisado Cemetery nor at the Palisado Green where the Founders of Windsor is situated.
William Phelps "of Crewkerne, Somerset Co., England" was born in about 1592-1593; the approximate year was based on their oldest child's baptized year. The birthplace of William Phelps is UNKNOWN, but he was probably born in the Yeovil area, in Dorset or Somerset County, England.
His parents are UNKNOWN. He was "of Crewkerne" when he immigrated with his family to the New World.
[NOTE: This William Phelps of Crewkerne is NOT to be conflated with William Phelps who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1599. Phelps & Servin was incorrect in assuming that William of Tewkesbury was the one. In fact, William Phelps of Tewkesbury was still in England and was present at his relative's estate in 1637. He never went to America.]
William married twice.
1) He first married MARY (surname UNKNOWN) by 1618, location unknown. The estimated marriage year was based on their first child's baptism date on 9 Sept 1618 in Crewkerne. She was buried at Crewkerne, County Somerset, England on 14 Aug 1626. Her record was written as "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii day of August". Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 1/wf Mary ___; m 13 Aug 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset/Windsor[TAG 65:163]".
Sources: Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1445, Torrey Supplement, pg 50.
William and Mary had 4 children, all baptized in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England:
1) WILLIAM PHELPS Jr [W19]
bapt. 9 Sep 1618, Old Style (O.S.), Crewkerne. The September 1618 vital record says: "William the son of William Phelps was baptized the ix th day of September [1618]";
m. 1) Isabel WILSON on 4 Jun 1645 Windsor, no issue;
m. 2) Sarah PINNEY on 20 Dec 1676 Windsor, no issue;
died 10 Feb 1681,
2) SAMUEL PHELPS [W21]
bapt. 5 Aug 1621 O.S., Crewkerne. The Auguste 1621 vital record says "Samuell the son of William Phelps was baptized the v th day of Auguste";
m. Sarah GRISWOLD 10 Nov 1650 Windsor;
died in 1669, Windsor.
3) INFANT PHELPS
bur. Crewkerne, 8 Jan 1623 O.S. (1623/4), The January 1623 record says "An infant of William Phelps was buried the viii th day of January". [(1624 is the modern date].
4) Deac. NATHANIEL PHELPS [W22]
bapt. 6 Mar 1624 O.S. (1624/25), Crewkerne; the Marche 1624 record says "Nathaniell the son of William Phelps was baptized the vi th day of Marche"[1625 is the modern date];
m. Elizabeth (__) Copley 17 Sep 1650 Windsor;
died 27 May 1702 Windsor, aged 75 yrs.
Wife MARY was buried on 13 Aug 1626 O.S., Crewkerne. The August 1626 record says "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii th day of August".
2. William PHELPS married 2nd wife Anne DOVER on 14 Nov 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Per Crewkerne record, the November 1626 record says: "William Phelps and Anne Dover were married the xiv the day of November 1626". In addition, Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 2/wf Anne DOVER (-1675); m 14 Nov 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset [TAG 65:163]".
They had 7 children from this marriage:
(The first 4 were born in Crewkerne, the next 3 were born in America)
Sources: Crewkerne Parish records, GMB Vol. 3:1446, Windsor town records. Note that there were no Dorchester vital records on any of the Phelps members before they left for Windsor, CT.
1) CORNELIUS PHELPS,
Bapt. 13 Oct 1627 O.S. at Crewkerne. The October 1627 record says "Cornelius son of William Phelps was bapt. the xiii th day of October".
No further record, presumed to have died young. FOUND the burial record in Oct 2017.
Buried on 9 Jan 1627/28 at Crewkerne: The January 1727 record states "Cornelius son of William Phelps was buried on ix th day of January 1627". (Because it occurred in Jan. it's necessary to write the double date 1627/28, not 1627.)
2) JOSEPH (twin) PHELPS [W23]
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
m. 1) Hannah NEWTON on 20 Sep 1660 Windsor,
m. 2) Mrs. Mary (unk maiden surname) Salmon on 9 Jan 1676; died in 1684 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
3) MARY (twin) PHELPS I, died in infancy.
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
Mary died soon afterwards, about 16 days later.
Buried on 29 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne: The November 1628 record shows "...the xxix th day of November 1826. Marie, daughter of William Phelps was buried the same date." (the entry for the person listed above her name says xxix).
4) MARY PHELPS II,
bapt. 6 Dec 1629 at Crewkerne. The December 1929 record says "Maria Da: [daughter] of William Phelps bapt vi th day of December." No further record, presumed to have died young. It is possible she may have died anywhere between Crewkerne and the time her family sailed away in March 1630. Or she may have died in Dorchester, MA, but no vital records in Dorchester exist on any Phelps members. (No lives have been lost on this ship). Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1446
5) SARAH PHELPS [W20] Wade
b. c1632 (probably born in Dorchester, MA);
m. William WADE on 9 Jun 1658 Windsor;
died 1659, Windsor. No issue.
(There were no Dorcester vital records on any of the Phelps family before they moved to Windsor, CT).
6) Lt TIMOTHY PHELPS [W24]
b. Sep 1, 1639 Windsor;
m. Mary GRISWOLD 19 May 1661 Windsor;
died bef 28 Dec 1719 Windsor.
7) MARY PHELPS III [W25] Barber,
b. 6 Mar 1644 Windsor; m. to Thomas BARBER on 17 Dec 1663 Windsor;
d. 13 Feb 1724 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
It should be noted that the Dorchester vital records do not include those families who left for Windsor before 1643. There are no vital records on any Phelps in Dorchester.
Mr. William Phelps died in Windsor, Hartford Co., CT. "Old Mr. William Phelps died" [CTVR27]
Sources for William PHELPS and his family:
1) The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. III, P-W, p. 1444-6 [GMB: 3, 1444-6]. Other sources were also mentioned here.
2) Vital records at Crewkerne Parish, Crewkerne, Somerset County, England. They were written in "Secretary's Hand",
3) Phelps & Servin, Vol. 1. pg 85--86. Note: The 2-volume book contains numerous errors and/or omissions. They must be verified with primary records.
4) Dates were from various sources such as vital records, wills, probate, grants, etc. (see GMB to see other sources)
NOTE: Brackets [W_] indicate this person is a descendant of William and is numbered according to the Phelps & Servin's 2 volumes.
5) Numerous articles in genealogy magazines have been written about William's origins and his family, including TAG, NEHGS, and others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Journey to America - Life in Dorchester, MA and Windsor, CT:
William Phelps and his second wife Anne and four children William, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph boarded the ship Mary and John, owned by Roger Ludlow who was one of the assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company, on March 20, 1630. They and other families, about 140 emigrants in all, were all recruited by the Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorset Co., England. They were from the "West Country" of England consisting of three counties Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Many came from the towns of Dorchester, and Bridport, Dorset, Crewkerene and Taunton, Somerset or Exeter, Devon. They were all part of the church led by the Rev. John Warham. Under the command of Capt. Squeb (or Squibb), they sailed from Plymouth, Devon Co., England. It arrived at Nantasket, near present-day Hull, Massachusetts on May 30, 1630 without casualty. Soon, other ships arrived. This was a part of the Great Migration. They settled at Columbia Point, which the native Americans called "Mattaponnock". They renamed it Dorchester in 1630 in honor of Rev. White who organized the Dorchester Company. Today, Dorchester later became part of South Boston. It was annexed by the city of Boston in 1970.(From the Mary and John Clearing House, other historical accounts.)
[NOTE: Mary and John in 1630 was not part of the Winthrop Fleet that came two weeks later after it arrived at the American shores. Mary and John brought emigrants from England to Massachusetts two more times, in 1633 and again in 1634.
In 1635 William moved his family to what is now Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. It was formerly named Dorchester, but they renamed it to Windsor in 1637 under court order presided by William. He and many other men who founded Dorchester were also founders and first settlers of Windsor. In other words, Mr. Warham's church moved to Windsor. They played various important roles in the community. These founding fathers' names are engraved on the Founder's Monument on the Palisado Green, near Strong's House (formerly known as Flier's House), where Windsor Historical Society is situated today.
Mr. William Phelps was regarded as an important figure in both Dorchester and Windsor. According to a noted historian Henry Reed Stiles, he "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony." (Note that William Phelps was given the title "Mr". This title was given only to men with distinction, while the military titles were always used.)
Mr. William Phelps devoted most of his life serving. He served in varying governing capacities including judicial matters and held offices in early colonial government.
* On 19 Oct 1630, William Phelps applied to be made freeman. He was admitted on 18 May 1631. This allowed him to purchase land and to participate in juries. GMB 3:1444
* On 9 Nov 1630, he was one of twelve jurors and he was selected as a foreman for the first grand jury trial in the New England Colony, on the death of Austin Bratcher.
* On 27 Sep 1631, he was chosen Constable of Dorchester, MA, assigned to serve on committees given authority to settle land and boundary disputes, and given other key responsibilities in administering the affairs of the new town, including serving on the General Court.
* He also was a Lot layer, Fence Viewer, and a Land Surveyor. He was twice a Deputy for Dorchester to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632 and in 1635.
* Between 1633 and 1635, William and a few others were appointed as members of several committees by the General Court. They helped lay out boundaries between Boston and Roxbury, Wessaguscus and Barecove, and Hingham and Weymouth. He also surveyed Mount Wollaston in 1634.
* In 1634, William Phelps became one of three delegates from Dorchester to the first General Court in the colony.
* 5 May 1635, William Phelps was a member of the colony's General Court held in Newtown, now Charlestown, MA.
* On 3 Mar 1635/6, appointed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William was one of the 7 commissioners to govern the new towns on the "The Great River" before emigrating to Windsor. He governed the new colony in Connecticut in its first year.
* On 3 Mar 1636, the first legal committee was formed, consisting of William Phelps and 6 other men were authorized and given power to hear cases using witnesses, to evaluate, and to make impartial judicial decisions in Windsor.
*On 21 Feb 1637, William presided over the colony's General Court and ordered the town name change: "It is ordered y the plantacon called Dorchester shall bee called Windsor."
*On 1 May 1637, Mr. William Phelps, presiding over the committee, authorized them to start an offensive war against the Pequots. He helped organize the expedition to go after them. This conflict lasted two years.
Mr. William Phelps was a Magistrate , i.e., an old a term used for governor to govern a colony. By 1638, Massachusetts Colony admitted that the Connecticut Colony was out of its jurisdiction and it was practicing self-rule. The people of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford met in Hartford on 2 Jan 1639 and adopted the constitution for the Connecticut Colony. This document made it clear that it does not recognize authority superior to that delegated by the people other than God. Mr. Roger Ludlow drew up the constitution, along with the assistance of Mr. William Phelps and other magistrates.
* The first government consisted of five magistrates (officers) of a legislative, judicial and executive character, chosen by the freemen of the colony, and the house of assistants chosen by the towns. This continued until 1665.
*Mr. William Phelps held of the Office of Magistrate from 1639 to 1645, making him the first Governor of Connecticut Colony. He again held the office from 1645 to 1649, and again from 1656 to 1662. He also served as an assistant, equivalent to Lieutenant Governor.
* He was made a Deputy for Windsor to Connecticut General several times from 1645 to 1657.
Sources: P&S, Vol 1, pg. 72-80, GMB 3:1444-6, Dorchester, MA records, Massachusetts Colonial records, Connecticut State Library, Windsor records, etc.
[Note regarding the terms Magistrate, assistant: A Magistrate was what they were called back then to govern the Colonies. William Phelps and the others all took turns governing the Colony. John Winthrop was the head Governor in Boston and they were still under the Kings watch.]
In 1635 William first lived in Windsor, in the lowland of "the Rivulet" [Farmington River] that flows into "the Great River" [Connecticut River]. He was granted a lot that was 100 feet wide, next to Bray Rossiter, west of the Rivulet. This land was flooded in 1638-9. Due to its tendency to flood, he moved to higher ground above the First Meadows further north in 1639. This was known as Phelps Meadows. It is situated on the most northerly lot on the west side of the rivulet, on the east side of what is now East St leading north to Poquonock Road and north of west-east road Pleasant St.
Phelps purchased land from the Indians on more than one occasion. In a deed dated March 31, 1665, Phelps recorded that he had purchased a parcel of land about 30 years previously from Sehat, a Paquanick sachem. He was unable to provide title and prove his previous payment, forcing him to buy the land again. He paid to Sehat's descendant "Nassahegan, an Indian sachem" and his kinsmen "four trucking coats" and wampum. He had previously paid "two coats and 40 shillings in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn, and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny." Many records of purchase and sale of land by Mr. William Phelps are recorded in the Windsor land records.
Last Will and Testament of Mr. William Phelps,
or properly speaking, his Settlement Deed
These presents testify, that I, William Phelps of Windsor, on Connecticut, in consideration of a marriage concluded between my son Timothy, on the one part, and Mary, the daughter of Edward Griswold, on the other part; have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto my son, that he, the said Timothy, shall jointly enjoin and possess, together with me, all my housing, lands and accommodations, as also all my estate, both real and personal, both within door and without, with all the property emoluments, products, and income of the same, during my material life: And my said son in to inhabit and dwell in my house, with me and my wife, in joint way; and that it shall continue during my material life; and if my wife shall survive me, she have and enjoy in a joint way with my son the estate for her maintainence as before expressed. But if my wife chooses to settle in any place and to leave the house, then my son Timothy shall pay yearly to my wife, the sum of ten pounds during her material life, and in case I myself in my lifetime, or my wife after my decease, in her lifetime while she abides, to inhabit with my said son Timothy, she see cause or desire it, I do reserve power for both myself and for her, after my decease to dispose a barrel or two of cider and some apples yearly without any harm to the premises, and likewise I do reserve like liberty for myself and my wife, to dispose of my wearing apparel, and whom we shall meet to enjoy them after our decease. Also I do give full power of bequeathing the great brass pan at her decease; and my son Timothy is to carry the improvements of the whole Estate, and to order and dispose of the stock, so far as the necessity of our subsistance shall require, and after my decease and the decease of my wife, my said son Timothy shall have and enjoy all my whole Estate fore mentioned to him and his heirs forever; always provided that in case my said son Timothy shall die and leave no natural heirs begotten by him, that shall either not attain the age of twenty one years or marry, then the one-half of my lands excepting the orchard and pasture down to the bridge, that goeth into the meadow; also the upper pasture by the house that shall belong to the house, shall return to William, the son of my son Samuel. Also my son Timothy is to pay out of the Estate: Imprimis to discharge my daughter Mary, with that which is paid, the sum of thirty-four pounds, which is the full portion I allow her. To my son William twenty shillings, to Samuel ten pounds, to Nathaniel fifteen pounds, to Joseph five pounds – these legacies to my sons to be discharged within two years of my decease.
In consideration of the premises we both have herunto set our hands this 22nd day of April Anno Dom, 1660.
Witnesses to the signatures:
Daniel Clark, William Phelps
James Alford, Timothy Phelps
Entered on the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672.
SOURCE: Last Will and Testament of Mr. Phelps, from Windsor, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, The Phelps family of America and their English Ancestors, Phelps & Servin, Vol. I, p. 84-85/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Phelps' Origins:
Several assumptions and myths about Mr. William Phelps' birth ca.1593, origins and parentage are still being perpetuated today, in spite of discoveries since about 1982.
The reasons for these errors is from information in the The Phelps Family in America and their English Ancestors, compiled by Phelps & Servin, a two-volume genealogy, was published in 1899 and considered 100% factual information. Since 1987, discoveries including careful research by Robin Bush, Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Burton W. Spears and the Mary and John Clearing House , The Great Migration project by Robert Charles Anderson, the discovery of Crewkerne parish records and yDNA testing, have changed all that.
The major errors regarding William Phelps of Dorchester/Hull Massachusetts are as follows:
1. William Phelps born ca 1593 was from Tewkesbury.
*A William Phelps existed in Tewkesbury but is not genetically linked to the aforementioned William Phelps. More likely, William Phelps was baptized in Crewkerne or environs, including Yeovil and Dorset.
*William of Crewkerne was most likely born earlier than 1599, based on his eldest son.
*William Phelps of Tewkesbury, baptized Aug 1599, had a son named Richard christened in Tewkesbury 26 Dec 1619. William of Crewkerne did not have a known son named Richard.
2. George Phelps is William Phelps' brother.
DNA testing has proven that George Phelps is not a genetic match to William Phelps born 1593 with the result that William and George can not be brothers.
Other facts: William and George did not live near each other in Windsor, name their children the same, did not have the same education level, nor have the same occupation. All of these known facts added up to them NOT being brothers. George adopted the surname Phelps though he was NOT born a Phelps from Crewkerne, England. Around 1990, this fact was published in the New England Gen. Society journal.
3. William and George sailed together on Mary and John at the same time.
William sailed on Mary and John with his wife and 4 children, George sailed on Recovery. George Phelps is mentioned in Great Migration series Vol 5, M-P, pg. 445-450.
4. William's parents are William and Dorothy Phelps.
William's parents are still UNKNOWN. No evidence has yet been uncovered.
*Widowed Dorothy Phelps, the mother of the William Phelps of Tewkesbury, named her brother-in-law Edward Phelps in her will. He in turn, in his 1636 will (when he was of Tewkesbury), "appointed as an overseer, William Phelps, almost undoubtedly his nephew, and certainly not the William living in far away New England.'
5. William's wife's was Mary Ann Dover.
There is no evidence of this. The two wives' names were conflated into Mary Ann Dover.
William Phelps had two wives named
**1) Mary unknown
**2) Anne Dover
6. William Phelps of Crewkerne had a brother named Richard Phelps.
There is no evidence that supports this conclusion.
The naming patterns used by Mr. William Phelps and his children did not include George and Richard.
Note that William's children named their children with names like William, Samuel, Nathaniel, Cornelius, Joseph, Timothy, Mary, and Sarah, but none of them were named George or Richard. Other names were introduced by the spouse's side
Also note that middle names were not used until around 1800 or later.
The Phelps & Servin Phelps' two volumes The Phelps family in America and their English ancestors unfortunately cannot be considered as a primary source. While it is a valuable resource, it contains numerous errors and omissions. They are considered secondary source, meaning that other records must be used to verify the information recorded in these two volumes. These two volumes were compiled by people who were NOT trained researchers and they were not professional genealogists. It was compiled primarily based on correspondence and belief.
Several other genealogy books including Families of Ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut, Consisting of Volume II of the History of Ancient Wethersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to its Incorporation in 1693, From Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, With Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families also contain numerous errors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: Additional information on William's origins was written to her niece (me) in Sept. 2013 in a series of emails. And with her permission, this info can be found in Phelps Family History and William Phelps (colonist).
NOTE: This information must be fully acknowledged, not copied and pasted without reference. This credit goes to Margaret Phelps Swanson, certified genealogist and co-founder of "Phelps Connections."
sources for birth & death
Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
Name: William Phelps
Birth Year: Aug 1599
Death Year: 1672
Source: Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Six volumes. Edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888- 1889. (ApCAB)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name
William Phelps
Gender Male
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
First Marriage Date 1638
First Marriage Place Windsor, Conn
Father William Phelps
Spouse Mary Ann Dover; Mrs William Phelps
Child
Caleb Phelps; William Phelps; Timothy Phelps; William Phelps; George Phelps; James Lodovick Phelps; William Phelps; John Phelps; Mary Phelps; William Phelps; Sarah Phelps; Samuel Phelps; Nathaniel Phelps; Joseph Phelps
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name
William Phelps
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
Birth Place Tewkesbury, England
Born by about 1593 based on estimated date of marriage. Came from Crewkerne, Somersetshire to Massachusetts Bay in 1630 on the "Mary & John." First settled in Dorchester; moved to Windsor in 1635. Died in Windsor 14 July 1672 ("Old Mr. William Phelps died."
Married: (1) By 1618 Mary _____, who was buried at Crewkerne 13 August 1626.
(2) Crewkerne 14 November 1626 Anne Dover. "Mistress Phelps" was the first on the list of women members of the church at Dorchester who came with Mr. Warham to Windsor. She died Windsor 30 August 1689 ("Mrs. An Phelps died.
William Phelps' burial is lost and his tombstone destroyed, but the Founders Monument in Pailsado cemetery remains as his cenotaph.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project
∼
Mr. William PHELPS [W14 in P&S] and several of his family members were buried on the land behind his house on in the area that is now Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His land extended all the way to Farmington River, formerly called "The Rivulet". His house stood on this land (on East Street), until the village took over the land, including his house. His son William Phelps's house is still standing nearby today. The village razed William's house in 1960s and leveled the land and the ancient cemetery, pushing all the stones to the back toward the river and burying them. All the headstones are missing. William Phelps and his family were certainly not buried at Palisado Cemetery nor at the Palisado Green where the Founders of Windsor is situated.
William Phelps "of Crewkerne, Somerset Co., England" was born in about 1592-1593; the approximate year was based on their oldest child's baptized year. The birthplace of William Phelps is UNKNOWN, but he was probably born in the Yeovil area, in Dorset or Somerset County, England.
His parents are UNKNOWN. He was "of Crewkerne" when he immigrated with his family to the New World.
[NOTE: This William Phelps of Crewkerne is NOT to be conflated with William Phelps who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1599. Phelps & Servin was incorrect in assuming that William of Tewkesbury was the one. In fact, William Phelps of Tewkesbury was still in England and was present at his relative's estate in 1637. He never went to America.]
William married twice.
1) He first married MARY (surname UNKNOWN) by 1618, location unknown. The estimated marriage year was based on their first child's baptism date on 9 Sept 1618 in Crewkerne. She was buried at Crewkerne, County Somerset, England on 14 Aug 1626. Her record was written as "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii day of August". Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 1/wf Mary ___; m 13 Aug 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset/Windsor[TAG 65:163]".
Sources: Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1445, Torrey Supplement, pg 50.
William and Mary had 4 children, all baptized in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England:
1) WILLIAM PHELPS Jr [W19]
bapt. 9 Sep 1618, Old Style (O.S.), Crewkerne. The September 1618 vital record says: "William the son of William Phelps was baptized the ix th day of September [1618]";
m. 1) Isabel WILSON on 4 Jun 1645 Windsor, no issue;
m. 2) Sarah PINNEY on 20 Dec 1676 Windsor, no issue;
died 10 Feb 1681,
2) SAMUEL PHELPS [W21]
bapt. 5 Aug 1621 O.S., Crewkerne. The Auguste 1621 vital record says "Samuell the son of William Phelps was baptized the v th day of Auguste";
m. Sarah GRISWOLD 10 Nov 1650 Windsor;
died in 1669, Windsor.
3) INFANT PHELPS
bur. Crewkerne, 8 Jan 1623 O.S. (1623/4), The January 1623 record says "An infant of William Phelps was buried the viii th day of January". [(1624 is the modern date].
4) Deac. NATHANIEL PHELPS [W22]
bapt. 6 Mar 1624 O.S. (1624/25), Crewkerne; the Marche 1624 record says "Nathaniell the son of William Phelps was baptized the vi th day of Marche"[1625 is the modern date];
m. Elizabeth (__) Copley 17 Sep 1650 Windsor;
died 27 May 1702 Windsor, aged 75 yrs.
Wife MARY was buried on 13 Aug 1626 O.S., Crewkerne. The August 1626 record says "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii th day of August".
2. William PHELPS married 2nd wife Anne DOVER on 14 Nov 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Per Crewkerne record, the November 1626 record says: "William Phelps and Anne Dover were married the xiv the day of November 1626". In addition, Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 2/wf Anne DOVER (-1675); m 14 Nov 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset [TAG 65:163]".
They had 7 children from this marriage:
(The first 4 were born in Crewkerne, the next 3 were born in America)
Sources: Crewkerne Parish records, GMB Vol. 3:1446, Windsor town records. Note that there were no Dorchester vital records on any of the Phelps members before they left for Windsor, CT.
1) CORNELIUS PHELPS,
Bapt. 13 Oct 1627 O.S. at Crewkerne. The October 1627 record says "Cornelius son of William Phelps was bapt. the xiii th day of October".
No further record, presumed to have died young. FOUND the burial record in Oct 2017.
Buried on 9 Jan 1627/28 at Crewkerne: The January 1727 record states "Cornelius son of William Phelps was buried on ix th day of January 1627". (Because it occurred in Jan. it's necessary to write the double date 1627/28, not 1627.)
2) JOSEPH (twin) PHELPS [W23]
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
m. 1) Hannah NEWTON on 20 Sep 1660 Windsor,
m. 2) Mrs. Mary (unk maiden surname) Salmon on 9 Jan 1676; died in 1684 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
3) MARY (twin) PHELPS I, died in infancy.
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
Mary died soon afterwards, about 16 days later.
Buried on 29 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne: The November 1628 record shows "...the xxix th day of November 1826. Marie, daughter of William Phelps was buried the same date." (the entry for the person listed above her name says xxix).
4) MARY PHELPS II,
bapt. 6 Dec 1629 at Crewkerne. The December 1929 record says "Maria Da: [daughter] of William Phelps bapt vi th day of December." No further record, presumed to have died young. It is possible she may have died anywhere between Crewkerne and the time her family sailed away in March 1630. Or she may have died in Dorchester, MA, but no vital records in Dorchester exist on any Phelps members. (No lives have been lost on this ship). Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1446
5) SARAH PHELPS [W20] Wade
b. c1632 (probably born in Dorchester, MA);
m. William WADE on 9 Jun 1658 Windsor;
died 1659, Windsor. No issue.
(There were no Dorcester vital records on any of the Phelps family before they moved to Windsor, CT).
6) Lt TIMOTHY PHELPS [W24]
b. Sep 1, 1639 Windsor;
m. Mary GRISWOLD 19 May 1661 Windsor;
died bef 28 Dec 1719 Windsor.
7) MARY PHELPS III [W25] Barber,
b. 6 Mar 1644 Windsor; m. to Thomas BARBER on 17 Dec 1663 Windsor;
d. 13 Feb 1724 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
It should be noted that the Dorchester vital records do not include those families who left for Windsor before 1643. There are no vital records on any Phelps in Dorchester.
Mr. William Phelps died in Windsor, Hartford Co., CT. "Old Mr. William Phelps died" [CTVR27]
Sources for William PHELPS and his family:
1) The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. III, P-W, p. 1444-6 [GMB: 3, 1444-6]. Other sources were also mentioned here.
2) Vital records at Crewkerne Parish, Crewkerne, Somerset County, England. They were written in "Secretary's Hand",
3) Phelps & Servin, Vol. 1. pg 85--86. Note: The 2-volume book contains numerous errors and/or omissions. They must be verified with primary records.
4) Dates were from various sources such as vital records, wills, probate, grants, etc. (see GMB to see other sources)
NOTE: Brackets [W_] indicate this person is a descendant of William and is numbered according to the Phelps & Servin's 2 volumes.
5) Numerous articles in genealogy magazines have been written about William's origins and his family, including TAG, NEHGS, and others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Journey to America - Life in Dorchester, MA and Windsor, CT:
William Phelps and his second wife Anne and four children William, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph boarded the ship Mary and John, owned by Roger Ludlow who was one of the assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company, on March 20, 1630. They and other families, about 140 emigrants in all, were all recruited by the Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorset Co., England. They were from the "West Country" of England consisting of three counties Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Many came from the towns of Dorchester, and Bridport, Dorset, Crewkerene and Taunton, Somerset or Exeter, Devon. They were all part of the church led by the Rev. John Warham. Under the command of Capt. Squeb (or Squibb), they sailed from Plymouth, Devon Co., England. It arrived at Nantasket, near present-day Hull, Massachusetts on May 30, 1630 without casualty. Soon, other ships arrived. This was a part of the Great Migration. They settled at Columbia Point, which the native Americans called "Mattaponnock". They renamed it Dorchester in 1630 in honor of Rev. White who organized the Dorchester Company. Today, Dorchester later became part of South Boston. It was annexed by the city of Boston in 1970.(From the Mary and John Clearing House, other historical accounts.)
[NOTE: Mary and John in 1630 was not part of the Winthrop Fleet that came two weeks later after it arrived at the American shores. Mary and John brought emigrants from England to Massachusetts two more times, in 1633 and again in 1634.
In 1635 William moved his family to what is now Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. It was formerly named Dorchester, but they renamed it to Windsor in 1637 under court order presided by William. He and many other men who founded Dorchester were also founders and first settlers of Windsor. In other words, Mr. Warham's church moved to Windsor. They played various important roles in the community. These founding fathers' names are engraved on the Founder's Monument on the Palisado Green, near Strong's House (formerly known as Flier's House), where Windsor Historical Society is situated today.
Mr. William Phelps was regarded as an important figure in both Dorchester and Windsor. According to a noted historian Henry Reed Stiles, he "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony." (Note that William Phelps was given the title "Mr". This title was given only to men with distinction, while the military titles were always used.)
Mr. William Phelps devoted most of his life serving. He served in varying governing capacities including judicial matters and held offices in early colonial government.
* On 19 Oct 1630, William Phelps applied to be made freeman. He was admitted on 18 May 1631. This allowed him to purchase land and to participate in juries. GMB 3:1444
* On 9 Nov 1630, he was one of twelve jurors and he was selected as a foreman for the first grand jury trial in the New England Colony, on the death of Austin Bratcher.
* On 27 Sep 1631, he was chosen Constable of Dorchester, MA, assigned to serve on committees given authority to settle land and boundary disputes, and given other key responsibilities in administering the affairs of the new town, including serving on the General Court.
* He also was a Lot layer, Fence Viewer, and a Land Surveyor. He was twice a Deputy for Dorchester to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632 and in 1635.
* Between 1633 and 1635, William and a few others were appointed as members of several committees by the General Court. They helped lay out boundaries between Boston and Roxbury, Wessaguscus and Barecove, and Hingham and Weymouth. He also surveyed Mount Wollaston in 1634.
* In 1634, William Phelps became one of three delegates from Dorchester to the first General Court in the colony.
* 5 May 1635, William Phelps was a member of the colony's General Court held in Newtown, now Charlestown, MA.
* On 3 Mar 1635/6, appointed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William was one of the 7 commissioners to govern the new towns on the "The Great River" before emigrating to Windsor. He governed the new colony in Connecticut in its first year.
* On 3 Mar 1636, the first legal committee was formed, consisting of William Phelps and 6 other men were authorized and given power to hear cases using witnesses, to evaluate, and to make impartial judicial decisions in Windsor.
*On 21 Feb 1637, William presided over the colony's General Court and ordered the town name change: "It is ordered y the plantacon called Dorchester shall bee called Windsor."
*On 1 May 1637, Mr. William Phelps, presiding over the committee, authorized them to start an offensive war against the Pequots. He helped organize the expedition to go after them. This conflict lasted two years.
Mr. William Phelps was a Magistrate , i.e., an old a term used for governor to govern a colony. By 1638, Massachusetts Colony admitted that the Connecticut Colony was out of its jurisdiction and it was practicing self-rule. The people of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford met in Hartford on 2 Jan 1639 and adopted the constitution for the Connecticut Colony. This document made it clear that it does not recognize authority superior to that delegated by the people other than God. Mr. Roger Ludlow drew up the constitution, along with the assistance of Mr. William Phelps and other magistrates.
* The first government consisted of five magistrates (officers) of a legislative, judicial and executive character, chosen by the freemen of the colony, and the house of assistants chosen by the towns. This continued until 1665.
*Mr. William Phelps held of the Office of Magistrate from 1639 to 1645, making him the first Governor of Connecticut Colony. He again held the office from 1645 to 1649, and again from 1656 to 1662. He also served as an assistant, equivalent to Lieutenant Governor.
* He was made a Deputy for Windsor to Connecticut General several times from 1645 to 1657.
Sources: P&S, Vol 1, pg. 72-80, GMB 3:1444-6, Dorchester, MA records, Massachusetts Colonial records, Connecticut State Library, Windsor records, etc.
[Note regarding the terms Magistrate, assistant: A Magistrate was what they were called back then to govern the Colonies. William Phelps and the others all took turns governing the Colony. John Winthrop was the head Governor in Boston and they were still under the Kings watch.]
In 1635 William first lived in Windsor, in the lowland of "the Rivulet" [Farmington River] that flows into "the Great River" [Connecticut River]. He was granted a lot that was 100 feet wide, next to Bray Rossiter, west of the Rivulet. This land was flooded in 1638-9. Due to its tendency to flood, he moved to higher ground above the First Meadows further north in 1639. This was known as Phelps Meadows. It is situated on the most northerly lot on the west side of the rivulet, on the east side of what is now East St leading north to Poquonock Road and north of west-east road Pleasant St.
Phelps purchased land from the Indians on more than one occasion. In a deed dated March 31, 1665, Phelps recorded that he had purchased a parcel of land about 30 years previously from Sehat, a Paquanick sachem. He was unable to provide title and prove his previous payment, forcing him to buy the land again. He paid to Sehat's descendant "Nassahegan, an Indian sachem" and his kinsmen "four trucking coats" and wampum. He had previously paid "two coats and 40 shillings in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn, and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny." Many records of purchase and sale of land by Mr. William Phelps are recorded in the Windsor land records.
Last Will and Testament of Mr. William Phelps,
or properly speaking, his Settlement Deed
These presents testify, that I, William Phelps of Windsor, on Connecticut, in consideration of a marriage concluded between my son Timothy, on the one part, and Mary, the daughter of Edward Griswold, on the other part; have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto my son, that he, the said Timothy, shall jointly enjoin and possess, together with me, all my housing, lands and accommodations, as also all my estate, both real and personal, both within door and without, with all the property emoluments, products, and income of the same, during my material life: And my said son in to inhabit and dwell in my house, with me and my wife, in joint way; and that it shall continue during my material life; and if my wife shall survive me, she have and enjoy in a joint way with my son the estate for her maintainence as before expressed. But if my wife chooses to settle in any place and to leave the house, then my son Timothy shall pay yearly to my wife, the sum of ten pounds during her material life, and in case I myself in my lifetime, or my wife after my decease, in her lifetime while she abides, to inhabit with my said son Timothy, she see cause or desire it, I do reserve power for both myself and for her, after my decease to dispose a barrel or two of cider and some apples yearly without any harm to the premises, and likewise I do reserve like liberty for myself and my wife, to dispose of my wearing apparel, and whom we shall meet to enjoy them after our decease. Also I do give full power of bequeathing the great brass pan at her decease; and my son Timothy is to carry the improvements of the whole Estate, and to order and dispose of the stock, so far as the necessity of our subsistance shall require, and after my decease and the decease of my wife, my said son Timothy shall have and enjoy all my whole Estate fore mentioned to him and his heirs forever; always provided that in case my said son Timothy shall die and leave no natural heirs begotten by him, that shall either not attain the age of twenty one years or marry, then the one-half of my lands excepting the orchard and pasture down to the bridge, that goeth into the meadow; also the upper pasture by the house that shall belong to the house, shall return to William, the son of my son Samuel. Also my son Timothy is to pay out of the Estate: Imprimis to discharge my daughter Mary, with that which is paid, the sum of thirty-four pounds, which is the full portion I allow her. To my son William twenty shillings, to Samuel ten pounds, to Nathaniel fifteen pounds, to Joseph five pounds – these legacies to my sons to be discharged within two years of my decease.
In consideration of the premises we both have herunto set our hands this 22nd day of April Anno Dom, 1660.
Witnesses to the signatures:
Daniel Clark, William Phelps
James Alford, Timothy Phelps
Entered on the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672.
SOURCE: Last Will and Testament of Mr. Phelps, from Windsor, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, The Phelps family of America and their English Ancestors, Phelps & Servin, Vol. I, p. 84-85/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Phelps' Origins:
Several assumptions and myths about Mr. William Phelps' birth ca.1593, origins and parentage are still being perpetuated today, in spite of discoveries since about 1982.
The reasons for these errors is from information in the The Phelps Family in America and their English Ancestors, compiled by Phelps & Servin, a two-volume genealogy, was published in 1899 and considered 100% factual information. Since 1987, discoveries including careful research by Robin Bush, Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Burton W. Spears and the Mary and John Clearing House , The Great Migration project by Robert Charles Anderson, the discovery of Crewkerne parish records and yDNA testing, have changed all that.
The major errors regarding William Phelps of Dorchester/Hull Massachusetts are as follows:
1. William Phelps born ca 1593 was from Tewkesbury.
*A William Phelps existed in Tewkesbury but is not genetically linked to the aforementioned William Phelps. More likely, William Phelps was baptized in Crewkerne or environs, including Yeovil and Dorset.
*William of Crewkerne was most likely born earlier than 1599, based on his eldest son.
*William Phelps of Tewkesbury, baptized Aug 1599, had a son named Richard christened in Tewkesbury 26 Dec 1619. William of Crewkerne did not have a known son named Richard.
2. George Phelps is William Phelps' brother.
DNA testing has proven that George Phelps is not a genetic match to William Phelps born 1593 with the result that William and George can not be brothers.
Other facts: William and George did not live near each other in Windsor, name their children the same, did not have the same education level, nor have the same occupation. All of these known facts added up to them NOT being brothers. George adopted the surname Phelps though he was NOT born a Phelps from Crewkerne, England. Around 1990, this fact was published in the New England Gen. Society journal.
3. William and George sailed together on Mary and John at the same time.
William sailed on Mary and John with his wife and 4 children, George sailed on Recovery. George Phelps is mentioned in Great Migration series Vol 5, M-P, pg. 445-450.
4. William's parents are William and Dorothy Phelps.
William's parents are still UNKNOWN. No evidence has yet been uncovered.
*Widowed Dorothy Phelps, the mother of the William Phelps of Tewkesbury, named her brother-in-law Edward Phelps in her will. He in turn, in his 1636 will (when he was of Tewkesbury), "appointed as an overseer, William Phelps, almost undoubtedly his nephew, and certainly not the William living in far away New England.'
5. William's wife's was Mary Ann Dover.
There is no evidence of this. The two wives' names were conflated into Mary Ann Dover.
William Phelps had two wives named
**1) Mary unknown
**2) Anne Dover
6. William Phelps of Crewkerne had a brother named Richard Phelps.
There is no evidence that supports this conclusion.
The naming patterns used by Mr. William Phelps and his children did not include George and Richard.
Note that William's children named their children with names like William, Samuel, Nathaniel, Cornelius, Joseph, Timothy, Mary, and Sarah, but none of them were named George or Richard. Other names were introduced by the spouse's side
Also note that middle names were not used until around 1800 or later.
The Phelps & Servin Phelps' two volumes The Phelps family in America and their English ancestors unfortunately cannot be considered as a primary source. While it is a valuable resource, it contains numerous errors and omissions. They are considered secondary source, meaning that other records must be used to verify the information recorded in these two volumes. These two volumes were compiled by people who were NOT trained researchers and they were not professional genealogists. It was compiled primarily based on correspondence and belief.
Several other genealogy books including Families of Ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut, Consisting of Volume II of the History of Ancient Wethersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to its Incorporation in 1693, From Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, With Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families also contain numerous errors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: Additional information on William's origins was written to her niece (me) in Sept. 2013 in a series of emails. And with her permission, this info can be found in Phelps Family History and William Phelps (colonist).
NOTE: This information must be fully acknowledged, not copied and pasted without reference. This credit goes to Margaret Phelps Swanson, certified genealogist and co-founder of "Phelps Connections."
sources for birth & death
Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
Name: William Phelps
Birth Year: Aug 1599
Death Year: 1672
Source: Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Six volumes. Edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888- 1889. (ApCAB)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name
William Phelps
Gender Male
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
First Marriage Date 1638
First Marriage Place Windsor, Conn
Father William Phelps
Spouse Mary Ann Dover; Mrs William Phelps
Child
Caleb Phelps; William Phelps; Timothy Phelps; William Phelps; George Phelps; James Lodovick Phelps; William Phelps; John Phelps; Mary Phelps; William Phelps; Sarah Phelps; Samuel Phelps; Nathaniel Phelps; Joseph Phelps
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name
William Phelps
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
Birth Place Tewkesbury, England
Married: (1) By 1618 Mary _____, who was buried at Crewkerne 13 August 1626.
(2) Crewkerne 14 November 1626 Anne Dover. "Mistress Phelps" was the first on the list of women members of the church at Dorchester who came with Mr. Warham to Windsor. She died Windsor 30 August 1689 ("Mrs. An Phelps died.
William Phelps' burial is lost and his tombstone destroyed, but the Founders Monument in Pailsado cemetery remains as his cenotaph.
Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project
∼
Mr. William PHELPS [W14 in P&S] and several of his family members were buried on the land behind his house on in the area that is now Windsor Veterans Memorial Cemetery. His land extended all the way to Farmington River, formerly called "The Rivulet". His house stood on this land (on East Street), until the village took over the land, including his house. His son William Phelps's house is still standing nearby today. The village razed William's house in 1960s and leveled the land and the ancient cemetery, pushing all the stones to the back toward the river and burying them. All the headstones are missing. William Phelps and his family were certainly not buried at Palisado Cemetery nor at the Palisado Green where the Founders of Windsor is situated.
William Phelps "of Crewkerne, Somerset Co., England" was born in about 1592-1593; the approximate year was based on their oldest child's baptized year. The birthplace of William Phelps is UNKNOWN, but he was probably born in the Yeovil area, in Dorset or Somerset County, England.
His parents are UNKNOWN. He was "of Crewkerne" when he immigrated with his family to the New World.
[NOTE: This William Phelps of Crewkerne is NOT to be conflated with William Phelps who was born in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1599. Phelps & Servin was incorrect in assuming that William of Tewkesbury was the one. In fact, William Phelps of Tewkesbury was still in England and was present at his relative's estate in 1637. He never went to America.]
William married twice.
1) He first married MARY (surname UNKNOWN) by 1618, location unknown. The estimated marriage year was based on their first child's baptism date on 9 Sept 1618 in Crewkerne. She was buried at Crewkerne, County Somerset, England on 14 Aug 1626. Her record was written as "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii day of August". Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 1/wf Mary ___; m 13 Aug 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset/Windsor[TAG 65:163]".
Sources: Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1445, Torrey Supplement, pg 50.
William and Mary had 4 children, all baptized in Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England:
1) WILLIAM PHELPS Jr [W19]
bapt. 9 Sep 1618, Old Style (O.S.), Crewkerne. The September 1618 vital record says: "William the son of William Phelps was baptized the ix th day of September [1618]";
m. 1) Isabel WILSON on 4 Jun 1645 Windsor, no issue;
m. 2) Sarah PINNEY on 20 Dec 1676 Windsor, no issue;
died 10 Feb 1681,
2) SAMUEL PHELPS [W21]
bapt. 5 Aug 1621 O.S., Crewkerne. The Auguste 1621 vital record says "Samuell the son of William Phelps was baptized the v th day of Auguste";
m. Sarah GRISWOLD 10 Nov 1650 Windsor;
died in 1669, Windsor.
3) INFANT PHELPS
bur. Crewkerne, 8 Jan 1623 O.S. (1623/4), The January 1623 record says "An infant of William Phelps was buried the viii th day of January". [(1624 is the modern date].
4) Deac. NATHANIEL PHELPS [W22]
bapt. 6 Mar 1624 O.S. (1624/25), Crewkerne; the Marche 1624 record says "Nathaniell the son of William Phelps was baptized the vi th day of Marche"[1625 is the modern date];
m. Elizabeth (__) Copley 17 Sep 1650 Windsor;
died 27 May 1702 Windsor, aged 75 yrs.
Wife MARY was buried on 13 Aug 1626 O.S., Crewkerne. The August 1626 record says "Marie the wife of William Phelps was buried the xiii th day of August".
2. William PHELPS married 2nd wife Anne DOVER on 14 Nov 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Per Crewkerne record, the November 1626 record says: "William Phelps and Anne Dover were married the xiv the day of November 1626". In addition, Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700, pg 59 states "PHELPS, William-1 (c1592-1672) & 2/wf Anne DOVER (-1675); m 14 Nov 1626 Crewkerne, co Somerset [TAG 65:163]".
They had 7 children from this marriage:
(The first 4 were born in Crewkerne, the next 3 were born in America)
Sources: Crewkerne Parish records, GMB Vol. 3:1446, Windsor town records. Note that there were no Dorchester vital records on any of the Phelps members before they left for Windsor, CT.
1) CORNELIUS PHELPS,
Bapt. 13 Oct 1627 O.S. at Crewkerne. The October 1627 record says "Cornelius son of William Phelps was bapt. the xiii th day of October".
No further record, presumed to have died young. FOUND the burial record in Oct 2017.
Buried on 9 Jan 1627/28 at Crewkerne: The January 1727 record states "Cornelius son of William Phelps was buried on ix th day of January 1627". (Because it occurred in Jan. it's necessary to write the double date 1627/28, not 1627.)
2) JOSEPH (twin) PHELPS [W23]
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
m. 1) Hannah NEWTON on 20 Sep 1660 Windsor,
m. 2) Mrs. Mary (unk maiden surname) Salmon on 9 Jan 1676; died in 1684 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
3) MARY (twin) PHELPS I, died in infancy.
Bapt. 13 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne. The November 1628 record says: "Joseph and Marie son and daughter of William Phelps were baptized the viii th day of November."
Mary died soon afterwards, about 16 days later.
Buried on 29 Nov 1628 O.S., Crewkerne: The November 1628 record shows "...the xxix th day of November 1826. Marie, daughter of William Phelps was buried the same date." (the entry for the person listed above her name says xxix).
4) MARY PHELPS II,
bapt. 6 Dec 1629 at Crewkerne. The December 1929 record says "Maria Da: [daughter] of William Phelps bapt vi th day of December." No further record, presumed to have died young. It is possible she may have died anywhere between Crewkerne and the time her family sailed away in March 1630. Or she may have died in Dorchester, MA, but no vital records in Dorchester exist on any Phelps members. (No lives have been lost on this ship). Crewkerne Parish record, GMB Vol. 3:1446
5) SARAH PHELPS [W20] Wade
b. c1632 (probably born in Dorchester, MA);
m. William WADE on 9 Jun 1658 Windsor;
died 1659, Windsor. No issue.
(There were no Dorcester vital records on any of the Phelps family before they moved to Windsor, CT).
6) Lt TIMOTHY PHELPS [W24]
b. Sep 1, 1639 Windsor;
m. Mary GRISWOLD 19 May 1661 Windsor;
died bef 28 Dec 1719 Windsor.
7) MARY PHELPS III [W25] Barber,
b. 6 Mar 1644 Windsor; m. to Thomas BARBER on 17 Dec 1663 Windsor;
d. 13 Feb 1724 Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT.
It should be noted that the Dorchester vital records do not include those families who left for Windsor before 1643. There are no vital records on any Phelps in Dorchester.
Mr. William Phelps died in Windsor, Hartford Co., CT. "Old Mr. William Phelps died" [CTVR27]
Sources for William PHELPS and his family:
1) The Great Migration Begins, Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol. III, P-W, p. 1444-6 [GMB: 3, 1444-6]. Other sources were also mentioned here.
2) Vital records at Crewkerne Parish, Crewkerne, Somerset County, England. They were written in "Secretary's Hand",
3) Phelps & Servin, Vol. 1. pg 85--86. Note: The 2-volume book contains numerous errors and/or omissions. They must be verified with primary records.
4) Dates were from various sources such as vital records, wills, probate, grants, etc. (see GMB to see other sources)
NOTE: Brackets [W_] indicate this person is a descendant of William and is numbered according to the Phelps & Servin's 2 volumes.
5) Numerous articles in genealogy magazines have been written about William's origins and his family, including TAG, NEHGS, and others.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Journey to America - Life in Dorchester, MA and Windsor, CT:
William Phelps and his second wife Anne and four children William, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Joseph boarded the ship Mary and John, owned by Roger Ludlow who was one of the assistants of the Massachusetts Bay Company, on March 20, 1630. They and other families, about 140 emigrants in all, were all recruited by the Rev. John White of Dorchester, Dorset Co., England. They were from the "West Country" of England consisting of three counties Somerset, Dorset and Devon. Many came from the towns of Dorchester, and Bridport, Dorset, Crewkerene and Taunton, Somerset or Exeter, Devon. They were all part of the church led by the Rev. John Warham. Under the command of Capt. Squeb (or Squibb), they sailed from Plymouth, Devon Co., England. It arrived at Nantasket, near present-day Hull, Massachusetts on May 30, 1630 without casualty. Soon, other ships arrived. This was a part of the Great Migration. They settled at Columbia Point, which the native Americans called "Mattaponnock". They renamed it Dorchester in 1630 in honor of Rev. White who organized the Dorchester Company. Today, Dorchester later became part of South Boston. It was annexed by the city of Boston in 1970.(From the Mary and John Clearing House, other historical accounts.)
[NOTE: Mary and John in 1630 was not part of the Winthrop Fleet that came two weeks later after it arrived at the American shores. Mary and John brought emigrants from England to Massachusetts two more times, in 1633 and again in 1634.
In 1635 William moved his family to what is now Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. It was formerly named Dorchester, but they renamed it to Windsor in 1637 under court order presided by William. He and many other men who founded Dorchester were also founders and first settlers of Windsor. In other words, Mr. Warham's church moved to Windsor. They played various important roles in the community. These founding fathers' names are engraved on the Founder's Monument on the Palisado Green, near Strong's House (formerly known as Flier's House), where Windsor Historical Society is situated today.
Mr. William Phelps was regarded as an important figure in both Dorchester and Windsor. According to a noted historian Henry Reed Stiles, he "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony." (Note that William Phelps was given the title "Mr". This title was given only to men with distinction, while the military titles were always used.)
Mr. William Phelps devoted most of his life serving. He served in varying governing capacities including judicial matters and held offices in early colonial government.
* On 19 Oct 1630, William Phelps applied to be made freeman. He was admitted on 18 May 1631. This allowed him to purchase land and to participate in juries. GMB 3:1444
* On 9 Nov 1630, he was one of twelve jurors and he was selected as a foreman for the first grand jury trial in the New England Colony, on the death of Austin Bratcher.
* On 27 Sep 1631, he was chosen Constable of Dorchester, MA, assigned to serve on committees given authority to settle land and boundary disputes, and given other key responsibilities in administering the affairs of the new town, including serving on the General Court.
* He also was a Lot layer, Fence Viewer, and a Land Surveyor. He was twice a Deputy for Dorchester to Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1632 and in 1635.
* Between 1633 and 1635, William and a few others were appointed as members of several committees by the General Court. They helped lay out boundaries between Boston and Roxbury, Wessaguscus and Barecove, and Hingham and Weymouth. He also surveyed Mount Wollaston in 1634.
* In 1634, William Phelps became one of three delegates from Dorchester to the first General Court in the colony.
* 5 May 1635, William Phelps was a member of the colony's General Court held in Newtown, now Charlestown, MA.
* On 3 Mar 1635/6, appointed by the Massachusetts Bay Colony, William was one of the 7 commissioners to govern the new towns on the "The Great River" before emigrating to Windsor. He governed the new colony in Connecticut in its first year.
* On 3 Mar 1636, the first legal committee was formed, consisting of William Phelps and 6 other men were authorized and given power to hear cases using witnesses, to evaluate, and to make impartial judicial decisions in Windsor.
*On 21 Feb 1637, William presided over the colony's General Court and ordered the town name change: "It is ordered y the plantacon called Dorchester shall bee called Windsor."
*On 1 May 1637, Mr. William Phelps, presiding over the committee, authorized them to start an offensive war against the Pequots. He helped organize the expedition to go after them. This conflict lasted two years.
Mr. William Phelps was a Magistrate , i.e., an old a term used for governor to govern a colony. By 1638, Massachusetts Colony admitted that the Connecticut Colony was out of its jurisdiction and it was practicing self-rule. The people of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford met in Hartford on 2 Jan 1639 and adopted the constitution for the Connecticut Colony. This document made it clear that it does not recognize authority superior to that delegated by the people other than God. Mr. Roger Ludlow drew up the constitution, along with the assistance of Mr. William Phelps and other magistrates.
* The first government consisted of five magistrates (officers) of a legislative, judicial and executive character, chosen by the freemen of the colony, and the house of assistants chosen by the towns. This continued until 1665.
*Mr. William Phelps held of the Office of Magistrate from 1639 to 1645, making him the first Governor of Connecticut Colony. He again held the office from 1645 to 1649, and again from 1656 to 1662. He also served as an assistant, equivalent to Lieutenant Governor.
* He was made a Deputy for Windsor to Connecticut General several times from 1645 to 1657.
Sources: P&S, Vol 1, pg. 72-80, GMB 3:1444-6, Dorchester, MA records, Massachusetts Colonial records, Connecticut State Library, Windsor records, etc.
[Note regarding the terms Magistrate, assistant: A Magistrate was what they were called back then to govern the Colonies. William Phelps and the others all took turns governing the Colony. John Winthrop was the head Governor in Boston and they were still under the Kings watch.]
In 1635 William first lived in Windsor, in the lowland of "the Rivulet" [Farmington River] that flows into "the Great River" [Connecticut River]. He was granted a lot that was 100 feet wide, next to Bray Rossiter, west of the Rivulet. This land was flooded in 1638-9. Due to its tendency to flood, he moved to higher ground above the First Meadows further north in 1639. This was known as Phelps Meadows. It is situated on the most northerly lot on the west side of the rivulet, on the east side of what is now East St leading north to Poquonock Road and north of west-east road Pleasant St.
Phelps purchased land from the Indians on more than one occasion. In a deed dated March 31, 1665, Phelps recorded that he had purchased a parcel of land about 30 years previously from Sehat, a Paquanick sachem. He was unable to provide title and prove his previous payment, forcing him to buy the land again. He paid to Sehat's descendant "Nassahegan, an Indian sachem" and his kinsmen "four trucking coats" and wampum. He had previously paid "two coats and 40 shillings in wampum for a third coat, and six bushels of Indian corn, and fifteen shillings in wampum for the fourth coat; and fifteen shillings in wampum is at six a penny." Many records of purchase and sale of land by Mr. William Phelps are recorded in the Windsor land records.
Last Will and Testament of Mr. William Phelps,
or properly speaking, his Settlement Deed
These presents testify, that I, William Phelps of Windsor, on Connecticut, in consideration of a marriage concluded between my son Timothy, on the one part, and Mary, the daughter of Edward Griswold, on the other part; have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto my son, that he, the said Timothy, shall jointly enjoin and possess, together with me, all my housing, lands and accommodations, as also all my estate, both real and personal, both within door and without, with all the property emoluments, products, and income of the same, during my material life: And my said son in to inhabit and dwell in my house, with me and my wife, in joint way; and that it shall continue during my material life; and if my wife shall survive me, she have and enjoy in a joint way with my son the estate for her maintainence as before expressed. But if my wife chooses to settle in any place and to leave the house, then my son Timothy shall pay yearly to my wife, the sum of ten pounds during her material life, and in case I myself in my lifetime, or my wife after my decease, in her lifetime while she abides, to inhabit with my said son Timothy, she see cause or desire it, I do reserve power for both myself and for her, after my decease to dispose a barrel or two of cider and some apples yearly without any harm to the premises, and likewise I do reserve like liberty for myself and my wife, to dispose of my wearing apparel, and whom we shall meet to enjoy them after our decease. Also I do give full power of bequeathing the great brass pan at her decease; and my son Timothy is to carry the improvements of the whole Estate, and to order and dispose of the stock, so far as the necessity of our subsistance shall require, and after my decease and the decease of my wife, my said son Timothy shall have and enjoy all my whole Estate fore mentioned to him and his heirs forever; always provided that in case my said son Timothy shall die and leave no natural heirs begotten by him, that shall either not attain the age of twenty one years or marry, then the one-half of my lands excepting the orchard and pasture down to the bridge, that goeth into the meadow; also the upper pasture by the house that shall belong to the house, shall return to William, the son of my son Samuel. Also my son Timothy is to pay out of the Estate: Imprimis to discharge my daughter Mary, with that which is paid, the sum of thirty-four pounds, which is the full portion I allow her. To my son William twenty shillings, to Samuel ten pounds, to Nathaniel fifteen pounds, to Joseph five pounds – these legacies to my sons to be discharged within two years of my decease.
In consideration of the premises we both have herunto set our hands this 22nd day of April Anno Dom, 1660.
Witnesses to the signatures:
Daniel Clark, William Phelps
James Alford, Timothy Phelps
Entered on the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672.
SOURCE: Last Will and Testament of Mr. Phelps, from Windsor, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England, The Phelps family of America and their English Ancestors, Phelps & Servin, Vol. I, p. 84-85/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
William Phelps' Origins:
Several assumptions and myths about Mr. William Phelps' birth ca.1593, origins and parentage are still being perpetuated today, in spite of discoveries since about 1982.
The reasons for these errors is from information in the The Phelps Family in America and their English Ancestors, compiled by Phelps & Servin, a two-volume genealogy, was published in 1899 and considered 100% factual information. Since 1987, discoveries including careful research by Robin Bush, Myrtle Stevens Hyde, Burton W. Spears and the Mary and John Clearing House , The Great Migration project by Robert Charles Anderson, the discovery of Crewkerne parish records and yDNA testing, have changed all that.
The major errors regarding William Phelps of Dorchester/Hull Massachusetts are as follows:
1. William Phelps born ca 1593 was from Tewkesbury.
*A William Phelps existed in Tewkesbury but is not genetically linked to the aforementioned William Phelps. More likely, William Phelps was baptized in Crewkerne or environs, including Yeovil and Dorset.
*William of Crewkerne was most likely born earlier than 1599, based on his eldest son.
*William Phelps of Tewkesbury, baptized Aug 1599, had a son named Richard christened in Tewkesbury 26 Dec 1619. William of Crewkerne did not have a known son named Richard.
2. George Phelps is William Phelps' brother.
DNA testing has proven that George Phelps is not a genetic match to William Phelps born 1593 with the result that William and George can not be brothers.
Other facts: William and George did not live near each other in Windsor, name their children the same, did not have the same education level, nor have the same occupation. All of these known facts added up to them NOT being brothers. George adopted the surname Phelps though he was NOT born a Phelps from Crewkerne, England. Around 1990, this fact was published in the New England Gen. Society journal.
3. William and George sailed together on Mary and John at the same time.
William sailed on Mary and John with his wife and 4 children, George sailed on Recovery. George Phelps is mentioned in Great Migration series Vol 5, M-P, pg. 445-450.
4. William's parents are William and Dorothy Phelps.
William's parents are still UNKNOWN. No evidence has yet been uncovered.
*Widowed Dorothy Phelps, the mother of the William Phelps of Tewkesbury, named her brother-in-law Edward Phelps in her will. He in turn, in his 1636 will (when he was of Tewkesbury), "appointed as an overseer, William Phelps, almost undoubtedly his nephew, and certainly not the William living in far away New England.'
5. William's wife's was Mary Ann Dover.
There is no evidence of this. The two wives' names were conflated into Mary Ann Dover.
William Phelps had two wives named
**1) Mary unknown
**2) Anne Dover
6. William Phelps of Crewkerne had a brother named Richard Phelps.
There is no evidence that supports this conclusion.
The naming patterns used by Mr. William Phelps and his children did not include George and Richard.
Note that William's children named their children with names like William, Samuel, Nathaniel, Cornelius, Joseph, Timothy, Mary, and Sarah, but none of them were named George or Richard. Other names were introduced by the spouse's side
Also note that middle names were not used until around 1800 or later.
The Phelps & Servin Phelps' two volumes The Phelps family in America and their English ancestors unfortunately cannot be considered as a primary source. While it is a valuable resource, it contains numerous errors and omissions. They are considered secondary source, meaning that other records must be used to verify the information recorded in these two volumes. These two volumes were compiled by people who were NOT trained researchers and they were not professional genealogists. It was compiled primarily based on correspondence and belief.
Several other genealogy books including Families of Ancient Wethersfield, Connecticut, Consisting of Volume II of the History of Ancient Wethersfield, Comprising the Present Towns of Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington; and of Glastonbury Prior to its Incorporation in 1693, From Date of Earliest Settlement Until the Present Time, With Extensive Genealogies and Genealogical Notes on Their Families also contain numerous errors.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE: Additional information on William's origins was written to her niece (me) in Sept. 2013 in a series of emails. And with her permission, this info can be found in Phelps Family History and William Phelps (colonist).
NOTE: This information must be fully acknowledged, not copied and pasted without reference. This credit goes to Margaret Phelps Swanson, certified genealogist and co-founder of "Phelps Connections."
sources for birth & death
Biography & Genealogy Master Index (BGMI)
Name: William Phelps
Birth Year: Aug 1599
Death Year: 1672
Source: Appleton's Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Six volumes. Edited by James Grant Wilson and John Fiske. New York: D. Appleton & Co., 1888- 1889. (ApCAB)
North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000
Name
William Phelps
Gender Male
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
First Marriage Date 1638
First Marriage Place Windsor, Conn
Father William Phelps
Spouse Mary Ann Dover; Mrs William Phelps
Child
Caleb Phelps; William Phelps; Timothy Phelps; William Phelps; George Phelps; James Lodovick Phelps; William Phelps; John Phelps; Mary Phelps; William Phelps; Sarah Phelps; Samuel Phelps; Nathaniel Phelps; Joseph Phelps
U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
Name
William Phelps
Birth Date 19 Aug 1599
Birth Place Tewkesbury, England
