First Generation In New England
Excerpted in part from
The Phelps Family of America and
Their English Ancestors, (Save
$201 by ordering through us.) Two volumes.
By Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps and Andrew T. Servin. (Eagle Publishing Company
of Pittsfield, Mass., 1899). Original spelling and punctuation
preserved.) pp 77-89.
 |
As a result of the book The
Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633,
(Volume III) by Robert Charles Anderson (available in  hardbound or
as a CD-ROM),
it is accepted by
a consensus of recognized genealogical scholars that William
Phelps of
Massachusetts and Connecticut is NOT the William Phelps of Tewkesbury records. |
William Phelps of Crewkerne, England
 |
Numbers in brackets (e.g, [W19]) or prefixing
names refer to the Phelps & Servin ancestral
numbers. The links are to the actual text scanned from the
original book. |
William married (1) Mary (?), who was buried at
Crewkerne, 13 August 1626. She was the mother of four children,
all baptized at Crewkerne:
- William [W19]
bapt. 9 Sep 1618.
- Samuel [W21]
bapt. 5 Aug 1621.
- infant, bur. Crewkerne, Jan 1623-24.
- Nathaniel [W22]
bapt. 6 Mar 1624-25.
William married (2) at Crewkerne, 14 Nov 1626, Ann
Dover. Ann was the mother of seven children:
- Cornelius, bapt. 13 Oct 1627.
- Joseph (a
twin) [W23]
- Mary (a twin), bapt. 13 Nov 1628. This Mary died soon
after birth.
- Mary, (another) bapt. 6 Dec 1629,
All the children above were baptized at Crewkerne. There is
no further record of Cornelius and the second Mary, both of whom
are presumed to have died young.
Ann had three additional children born in America:
Mr. Phelps of Crewkerne, his wife, and six children "emigrated
to New England in the ship Mary
and John, of four hundred totes burden, commanded by
Captain Squeb, with one hundred and forty' passengers. This company
had been organized into a church and selected their ministers
the day before sailing, as previously stated.
"They sailed from Plymouth, England, March 20th, 1630, arriving
and landing at Nantasket, now Hull, Mass., May 30th, 1630. This
company settled in Dorchester, Mass., the first settlers and
founders of that place.
![Click for larger images [117kb].](/resources/phelps/map-windsor-closeup-lg.jpg) |
| Windsor, Connecticut,
c 1640-1645. A detail
of a map of ancient Windsor highlighting
the homes of William Phelps Sr., William Phelps Jr., and
George Phelps. From Phelps
Family in America. For a much larger image, see this
view. [117kb]. |
"Dorchester claims the Honor of being the first town in the
Massachusetts Colony to organize a town
government. Mr. Phelps took an active position in town matters
and during the first six months was made a freeman.
"The following reference is made to him in the Massachusetts
Colonial Records, where his name is spelled Felps, Phelips and
Phelps.
Oct. 19th, 1630, William Phelps applied to be made freeman.
Nov. 9th, 1630, he was one of a jury of twelve, empanneled
for the trial of Walter Palmer, concerning the death of Austin
Brotcher, found not guilty of manslaughter. (This was the first
jury trial in the New England Colony.) Sept. 27th, 1631, he
was chosen constable of Dorchester. May 9th, 1632, He was one
of a committee of sixteen, chosen by the colony to see about
the raising of a public stock.
March 4th, 1634, one of a committee of three to lay out the
bounds between Boston and Roxbury.
1634, William Phelps, Charles Stoughton and George Gull, delegates
to the General Court from Dorchester this year.
May 14th, 1634, he was one of a committee of four to view
the ground at Mount Wollaston for the enlargement of Boston,
and draw a plan then and report to the next General Court.
March 4th, 1634, Ensign Gibbs and William Felpes were appointed
by the General Court to go with a committee of three to arrange
the bounds between Boston and Dorchester, and explain what
each town wants.
May 5th, 1635, he was a member of the General Court from Dorchester,
held in Newtown, now Charlestown.
July 8th, 1635. Mr. Newbury and William Phelps appointed a
Committee to set out the bounds between Wessaguscus and Barecove.
"The report of this Committee is interesting, being the style
and language of Mr. Phelps.
"The following is a true copy from the Massachusetts Colonial
Records:
"Sept. 3rd, 1635, "The bounds laid out between Hingham and
Weymouth, by order of the General Court by Mr Newbury deceased,
and William Phelps."
"The rover between Gingham and
Waymothe, roiling on the East syde of the ryver, that creeke
being their bounds to the head of it, to an oake marked, and
soe their lyne to run into the countrie, upon the same poynt
that boundeth Boston and Waymothe. Also wee appoyneted Waymothe
to snake v-se of all the timber on Hingham syde, from a cove
called Lovells Cove upwards in the ryver halfe a myle in bredth
and three quarters of a myle in length, for the space of fforty
yeares; also wee prhibited Waymothe for making any improuemt
of the ground.
By mee,
WILLM. PHELPS."
"The following references are made to Mr. Phelps in the Dorchester
Records:-
April 3rd, 1633. "It is agreed
that a double rayle fence with mortises in the posts of 10
foot distance one from the other, shall be set up in the Marsh,
from the corner of Richard Phelps his pale eastward to the
creeks, by the owners of the cows under named--proportionably
twenty feet to every cow."
With others "William Phelps two
cows-40 foote."
"Feb. 10th, 1634, Among the persons
appoynted 'to view the poles' for the east field, Will Phelps
and Mr. Thomas Stoughton. "
July 5th, 1635, "It is granted
to William Phelps, to fence in two acres and half of dry ground
adjoyning to his meadowe ground, in the little neck, in satisfaction
for what he wants in his home lot."
"In this year, 1635, Mr. Phelps's wife died. In the fall of 1635,
the Rev. Mr. Warham with sixty of his Church in Dorchester, removed
to the settling of Windsor, Ct. Mr. William Phelps and his family,
and brother George [Phelps], accompanied this expedition, though it is
probable that Mr. William Phelps did not go down to Windsor,
Ct. till the following spring.
"This journey is thus briefly described by the Historian: "Never
before had the forests of America witnessed such a scene as this,
driving their cattle before them,--the compass their only guide-through
the bewildering mazes of the unbroken forest, commencing
and ending each days march, with songs of praise and heartfelt
utterances of prayer, which sounded strangely amidst these solitudes.
They journeyed on through the chilly November days." That
which is now a journey of but a few hours behind the iron horse,
was then with them (the women, children and cattle) a journey
of two weeks.
"How applicable are the wise words of Daniel Webster:-" We
hear the whisperings of youthful impatience, and we see chilled
and shivering children, homeless but for a mother's arms, couchless
but for a mother's breast, until one's blood almost freezes."
"At the time of the emigration of the Dorchester colony, and
other Massachusetts settlers to Windsor, in 1635, it was supposed
to be under the control of the Massachusetts Company, and a commission
of seven persons was appointed to govern the new colony, in Connecticut;
for one year Mr. William Phelps was one of this commission.
"The William Phelps and
the First Local Government is a textual copy
of this commission, from the Massachusetts Colonial Records.
"Says Trumbull(3): "The
first Court held under this Commission was April 26th, 1636.
Mr. Roger Ludlow presiding, present in all, six, of these, Mr.
William Phelps was one."
"Says Stiles(2), Hist. Windsor: "The
town records of Windsor or Dorchester, as it was first called
prior to 1650, are not in existence. "
"From Stiles(2) History and others,
we gather the following:
At a Court Feb. 21st, 1637, "It
is ordered yt the plantacon called Dorchester shall bee called
Windsor."
At a Court held May 1st, 1637, Mr.
William Phelps presiding, "It
is ordered that there shall be an offensive war against the
Pequots."
"The Court held its sessions from time to time, and was legislative,
judicial and executive in character.
"In 1638 it being admitted that this Connecticut colony was out
of the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts colony, the people of
Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford, met in Hartford, Jan. 2nd,
1639, and adopted a constitution for the Connecticut colony.
This document recognized no authority save God, superior to that
delegated by the people.
"This document was drawn up by Mr. Roger Ludlow presiding
magistrate, with the assistance of the magistrates, of whom Mr.
William Phelps was one.
"From this date to the present time there has been no radical
change in the forms or principles of the government of Connecticut.
"This government consisted of five magistrates, 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 up to 1665.
"Mr. Phelps held the office of magistrate, from. 1639-1643, and
1656-1662; from 1645-1649 inclusive. He was a deputy also in
1651.
"At a Court held Sept. 9th, 1641, "It was ordered that the
governor, Mr. William Phelps, and Capt. Mason, are directed to
meet with Phenicke, concerning liberty to make salt in Rhode
Island, and to take first act."
"At a Court held 1642, the first of government on record
relating to Simsbury, whose Indian name was Massaco,
was an order passed by the Court of which Mr. William Phelps
was a member, and in these words
It is ordered that the governor, and Mr. Haynes shall
have liberty to dispose of that part of land on the river
called Massacoe, to such inhabitants of Windsor, as they shall
see cause.
"The following letter of Hon. Charles J. Hoadley, librarian,
explains the photographed document, signed by four of the magistrates
of the Connecticut colony, and written about 1661, and which
gives with others the autograph of Mr. William Phelps.
Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Nov. 19, 1895.
Sir:
The body of the document you caused to be photographed is
in the handwriting of Daniel Clarke, Secretary of the Colony.
The document has no date but was written in 1661, probably
in the summer.
The filing on the back is in a modern hand and is
1661
Magistrates attest yt
Mr. Talcott is Treasurer
of Connecticut Collony & order'd
to pay 1st Govr Winthrop £500
sterling in provisions &c.
Yours respectfully, Charles J. Hoadley.
"From Stiles(2) History of Windsor
and other records we get:
Jan. 4th 1638. Mr. Phelps with Messrs. Haynes,
and Ludlow and Hopkins, a Committee to settle Plymouth Colony
claims, with the Connecticut Colony, as regards to the Plymouth
Colonies' claims to land on the Connecticut River."
Jan. 13th. 1652, Mr. William Phelps, with five others from
the town of Windsor, grant to Thomas Parsons, a ferry, on the
Connecticut River for one year.
Dec. 13th, 1653, Mr. William Phelps
one of a Committee of five, "to advise with the Constable
in preparing twelve men for the Indian War."
July 16th. 1660, Old Roll Book of Church, Mr. William Phelps
paid 7 shillings slip rent, one of the highest rates paid that
year.
April 7th. 1663, To subscription for poor and wanting, in
other towns or colonies, Mr. William Phelps 9 shillings.
April 7th. 1673, A deed recorded in the land office, dated
May 15th. 1637, from the Plymouth Company to the Windsor Co.
for lands claimed by the Plymouth Co. in Windsor. Witnessed-Mr.
William Phelps and five others.
"The office of lister or assessor, was one of the earliest created
at this time; instead of appraising the land, or property assessed--the
land was classed in several grades--in 1675 the 1st. grade was,
persons owning a horse, and four oxen; 2nd. grade-owning a horse
and two oxen. Mr. William Phelps was of this grade of which at
that time there were 42.
"It may be interesting here to notice a few of the laws enacted
by our ancestor, Mr. William Phelps, and his associates, and
as executed by then, which with others are called the Blue Laws
of Connecticut."
"Says Stiles(2), "We find
capital crimes more numerous than now. It was a capital offence
to worship any other than the True God-to practice adultery-or
the crime against nature, or rape, or to blaspheme, or to exercise
witchcraft-or to steal amen or women-or for children 'unless
brought up in unchristian neglect,' to curse or to smite,
or to be stubborn or rebellious toward their parents.
"Lying in those days was deemed a peculiarly heinous offence.
In 1641 the General Court stigmatized it as a fowl and gross
sin,-and Mr. Webster of Hartford and Mr. Phelps of Windsor are
requested to consult with the elders of both churches, to prepare
instructions against the next Court, for the punishment of the
sin of lying."
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