Deacon Nathaniel Phelps
Excerpted 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).
Deacon Nathaniel Phelps was born in England about 1627. He married
Mrs. Elizabeth (Eliza) Copley (born between 1620 and 1623) on
September 17, 1650, in Windsor, CT. Mrs. Copley was married first
to Thomas Copley, by whom she had at least two children.
Nathaniel came to New England with his parents and their five
other children, at the age of three, residing in Dorchester six
years and then in Windsor where he grew to manhood and purchased,
of his brother, Samuel, the Orton place opposite his father's
for his own occupation.
About 1654, he made claim to a division of land in Northampton
and shortly removed to the new settlement, with his wife and
several children being among the earliest arrivals, although
he paid slip rent in Windsor as late as Jan. 4, 1659.
Nathaniel was a pious man, of good intellect and sound discriminating
judgment. He was chosen Constable, being the first person in
Northampton actually elected to that important office, according
to records available, serving after Robert Bartlett had officiated
in that capacity.
He signed the petition for a Minister and with his wife, signed
the church covenant; served as tithing-man and was one of the
first deacons, honored and respected by his fellow-men.
With others, he contributed land for disposal for town needs
and made a subscription to Harvard College, in 1673-1673.
Deacon Nathaniel, his sons, Nathaniel, Jr. and William, were
admitted as freemen, by the General Court at Boston, May 11,
1681, after having taken the Oath of Allegiance before Major
Pynchon, on Feb. 8, 1679.
His wife, with several young women, was fined for indulging
in vain and extravagant display.
In 1675 and 1676, King Philip's war was waged; and, from 1688
to 1698, the first French and Indian War was carried on, during
the reign of the Monarchs, William and Mary. Nathaniel, with
the other pioneers, had to participate in the common defense
against their enemies, especially in their desperate defense
of Northampton, during the attack by Philip's men, March 14,
1676.
The homestead, granted to him, was where the Parochial School
is. His son, Nathaniel, Jr., had a grant west of it and together
they owned a strip of land bordering on Park street, from Knightbrook
to Prospect Streets.
He occupied his homestead forty-three years, and his descendants
dwelt on the farm until 1835. It comprised the land that became
the site of Miss Margaret Dwight's School, later the college
institute of J. J. Dudley, now Shady Lawn. The old homestead
stood a few rods north of the present structure.
Deacon Nathaniel Phelps died in Northampton, MA on May 27, 1702,
at 75 years of age. His wife, Eliza, also died in Northampton
on Dec. 6, 1712. Their youngest daughter, Abigail lived 101 years,
four months and 11 days.
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