William Phelps and Mary Dover
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).
In the spring of 1636, William, with his children, departed
for Windsor, becoming a founder of that town. There, as in Dorchester,
he was an active and honored citizen; was one of eight commissioners
appointed by the Colony of Massachusetts Bay to govern the Colony
of Connecticut; was one of six who formed the first Court, or
general meeting, of Windsor in 1636; and was foreman of the first
Grand Jury in Connecticut.
In 1636 he married Mary Dover, whom was born in England about
1603. Mary had originally come to Massachusetts on the same ship
and William and his family. Together, they had two children.
At a court held May 1, 1637, William Phelps presiding, it was
ordered that there shall be an offensive war against the Requota,
in which war he served.
He was a Magistrate for 23 years, between the years of 1636
and 1662. He was a member of Council, in 1637. In 1641, he and
Mr. Welles, of Hartford, were a committee on lying - considered
a grievous fault. That same year, he served as Governor of the
Windsor Colony. He was also one of the earliest Governor's Assistants
and Representative from 1645 to 1657.
He purchased land from Sehat, an Indian sachem, of Windsor,
for four overcoats and he sold some of his land at 12 pence per
acre. Not being able to prove title and payment, he paid a second
time, the legal tender being wampum.
His dwelling was on a road running northerly, a short distance
north of the Mill River Valley; and he was among those who suffered
from the Great Flood, in 1639. Soon after, he removed further
south and settled on what is known as Phelps' Meadows. His residence
was about three-quarters of a mile northwest of Broad Street
on the road to Poquonock, the place owned, in 1859, by Deacon
Roger Phelps. The cellar of the old house may still be seen.
His son, William, lived a short distance east and Nathaniel,
for a while, dwelt opposite.
William Phelps was a man of property, as shown by the high pew
rent he paid. He subscribed, also, to the fund for the poor;
an excellent, upright, prosperous man in public and private life,
he was truly a pillar of both church and state.
Forty-two years of his life were spent in the New England of
the New World; six in Dorchester, and thirty-six in Windsor.
His last will and testament, in fact, a Settlement
Deed for his son Timothy's marriage with Mary, daughter
of Edward Griswold, was dated the 22nd day of April, anno dom.,
1660. It was entered on the Windsor, Connecticut register,
July 26, 1672, and signed by Matthew Grant, Register.
William died in his 73rd year, on July 14, 1672, and was buried
the following day.
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