Abigail Phelps

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Deacon Nath'l Phelps
• Residence: 1679, Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA

Notes:

Widow Elizabeth Copley

The "Phelps Family of America" seems to be the leading source for the Phelps family Trees, yet when it comes to Elizabeth Copley and Nathaniel Phelps, the Trees seem to deviate from what the sources reveal. Copley was Elizabeth’s name from her first marriage to Thomas Copley in England. (Also, she was not the daughter of Edward Griswold who came to America; they were about the same age, and there is no daughter named Elizabeth listed anywhere as a daughter of Edward the Colonist.)

Marriage of Mrs. Elizabeth Copley—widow:
The record below states that Elizabeth Copley was a widow when she married Nathaniel--meaning Copley was not her maiden name.

The American Marriages Before 1699 about Nathaniel Phelps says Nathaniel Phelps married Elizabeth Copley (Widow) in Sep 1650 in Windsor, Connecticut.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-b in/sse.dll?db=amr-1699&h=6896&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt&ssrc=pt_t13693691_p293293185 01_kpidz0q3d29329318501z0q26pgz0q3d32770z0q26pgplz0q3dpid

U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 about Elizabeth Copley’s marriage to Nathaniel Phelps on 17 Sep 1650 estimates her birth year about 1622. Records range from 1600 to 1630 for her birth year. The image for the second site below actually gives her birth date as ?1622, so they obviously don't know when she was born.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bi n/sse.dll?db=NewEnglandMarriages&h=162834&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource =2204

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.d ll?db=NewEnglandMarriages&h=162850&indiv=try&o_vc=Record%3aOtherRecord&tid=13693691& tpid=29326486395&rhSource=7249

Marriage of Thomas Copley and Elizabeth in England:
Elizabeth Griswold married Thomas Copley. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 about Thomas Copley has his birth in 1597. He married Elizabeth Griswold in 1628. (If she was 14 years old, the latest she would have been born is 1614--she certainly would not have been born in 1628 as Find A Grave says--it is just a memorial someone posted. There is no headstone.)

http://search.ancestry.com/ cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=WorldMarr_ga&h=275738&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt&ssrc=pt_t13693691 _p29329847488_kpidz0q3d29329847488z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid

The Millennium File about Thomas Copley says he was christened 30 Oct 1597 in Skelbrooke, York, England and died 18 Aug 1634 in Skelbrooke, York, England. His father was John Copley; his mother was Jane Angier Anger. He married Elizabeth Griswold whose father was Edward Griswold. They had a son Thomas Copley.

Family Data Collection - Births about Elizabeth Griswold say she was born in 1604 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and that her father was Edward Griswold. (This birthdate could be an assumption.) Her Millennium File assumes she was born in 1600 in Kenilworth, Warwick, England and died 6 Dec 1712 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA. Her father was Edward Griswold, her spouse Thomas Copley, her son Thomas Copley. (Her birth is obviously not correct at 1600; she would have died at 112.)

Warwickshire, England, Baptisms, Marriages, and Burials, 1535-1812 lists Elizabeth Grisold baptized 19 Jun 1609 in Solihull, Warwickshire, England; her father was Eduard Grisold. If this was the correct Elizabeth, she would have been 103 when she died. This longevity is within the realm of possibility since her daughter, Abigail, died at 101. There was another Edward Griswold in Warwickshire who was a cousin of Edward Griswold who came to America who was older; he was the father of Michael Griswold who also came to America.

In "Descendants of Thomas and Elizabeth Copley in America," by William Copley the summary states " Thomas Copley (1597-1634) married Elizabeth Griswold in 1628, and after his death, the widow and her family immigrated to join her immigrant parents in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Descendants lived in New England, New York, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere." This places her birth date more correctly, however, it makes an assumption that her "parents" were Edward and Margaret Griswold the Colonists. (She was more this Edward's age, and there is not a daughter of this Edward named Elizabeth.)

Given the close family relationships over the generations of the Griswolds and Phelpses, I considered whether widow Elizabeth Copley could have married this son of Thomas Copley and Elizabeth Griswold, Thomas Copley born about 1630 since Find A Grave suggests she was born in 1628. That would resolve the problem of the birthdates. But, the issue is compounded when these same Family Data Collection records –Deaths show Elizabeth Griswold died on 6 Dec 1712 in Northampton, Hampshire, MA. Besides, we know the names of Thomas Copley Jr’s wives.

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=genepoold&h=1084194&indiv=try&o_vc=Record: OtherRecord&rhSource=5769

Considering this death record, could Thomas Copley born in 1597 have married a much younger wife, Elizabeth Griswold in 1628 (possibly 14-16 years old born in 1612); they had two children, Thomas and ___. He died in England, and Elizabeth emigrated, and then remarried in 1850 a man 12 years her junior, Nathaniel Phelps in Windsor, CT in 1850? That would make her about 50 years old when she bore her daughter Mercy Phelps, and 100 when she died. Given the longevity of their daughter, Abigail, who lived to be over age 101, this could be possible.

Two children of Mrs. Elizabeth Copley:
In the Millennium File about Thomas Copley born 3 Sep 1630 in Skelbrooke, York, England, he died 3 Dec 1712 in Westfield, Hampden, MA. His father was Thomas Copley; his mother was Elizabeth Griswold. He married Ruth Denslow and they had a child Mathew Copley.

In her Will, after naming the sons of her husband, Nathaniel Phelps who had died a decade earlier, Elizabeth left Thomas Copley 3 pounds. The Millennium File about Thomas Copley gives his birth in Skelbrooke, York, England 3 Sep 1630. He died 3 Dec 1712 in Westfield, Hampden, MA. His father was Thomas Copley; his mother was Elizabeth Griswold. He married Ruth Denslow; they had a son Mathew Copley. Most conclusively regarding their relationship, amongst many other relatives, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 for Thomas Copley has the death of “old Thomas Copley of Suffield died” 29 Nov, and the next line “the old widow Phelps his mother died” 6 Dec., in Northampton, MA.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/2495/40143_270307__0065-00074/7646174?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.an cestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dMATownVital%26h%3d7646174%26indiv%3dtry%26o_vc%3dRecord%253aOt herRecord%26rhSource%3d7249&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord

In the image of U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 forThomas Copley it shows he died in 1712 and Ruth Denslow his wife (1653-1692, Suffield, CT); married 13 or 15 Nov 1672 in Westfield /Springfield /Suffield, CT. Then, Thomas Copley married Ruth (Cogan) Taylor (-1724), wife of Samuel; on 25 May 1693; Suffield, CT. The next line is: COPLEY, ____? & Elizabeth ___? (1627-1792) (which can’t possibly be the right death date, much less the correct birthdate), m/2 Nathaniel PHELPS 1650; Springfield/ Windsor, CT.

http://interactive.ancestry.com/3824/gpc_newenglandmarriages-0198/45329?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch. ancestry.com%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dNewEnglandMarriages%26h%3d45329%26ti%3d0%26indiv%3dtry%26gss %3dpt%26ssrc%3dgr_t13693691_p29329847799_ktidz0q3d13693691z0q26pidz0q3d29329847799z0q26hidz0q3d60380 54088z0q26dbidz0q3d3824z0q26rpidz0q3d45329z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q252c32782z0q26pgplz0q3 dpidz0q252ctidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d29329847799_h603805 4088&ssrc=gr_t13693691_p29329847799_ktidz0q3d13693691z0q26pidz0q3d29329847799z0q26hidz0q3d603805 4088z0q26dbidz0q3d3824z0q26rpidz0q3d45329z0q26ssrcz0q3dgrz0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q252c32782z0q26pgplz0q3d pidz0q252ctidz0q257cpidz0q257chidz0q257cdbidz0q257crpidz0q257cssrcz0q26pgpsz0q3d29329847799_h6038054 088&backlabel=ReturnRecord

2nd child: There is a record of an Elizabeth Copley christened 17 Aug 1631 in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England whose father was Thome Copley. England & Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 about Elizabeth Copley.

In the widely used source, The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors, it also states that Elizabeth Copley was a widow, "[Deacon Nathaniel Phelps] 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."*

It seems no two records are alike in giving Elizabeth Copley's birth date. Given her first marriage, it is quite likely she was Nathaniel’s age or possibly a little older than he. In “ U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 about Elizabeth Copley” , it says Elizabeth Copley born about 1622 married Nathaniel Phelps on 17 Sep 1650. I believe this to be most accurate, but Find A Grave says Elizabeth Copley Phelps born 14 Feb 1628 died at age 84 on 6 Dec 1712 burial in Northampton, Hampshire County, MA. (From her son’s death record, we know this to be her death date. Most likely her birth date was always just a guess on the part of the informant. Could her birth date and her daughter’s of the same name be confused? The records contradict each other.)

Find A Grave:
Nathaniel Phelps born in 1624 died at age 78 on 27 May 1702 burial in Northampton, Hampshire County, MA.

Elizabeth Copley Phelps born 14 Feb 1628 died at age 84 on 6 Dec 1712 burial in Northampton, Hampshire County, MA.

Deacon Nathaniel Phelps—
From the files of Stephen M. Lawson, "Nathaniel - bap. Mar. 6, 1624/5, Crewkerne, Somerset, England; d. May 27, 1702, Northampton, Hampshire Co., MA. Married at Windsor, Hartford Co., CT on Sep. 17, 1650 Mrs. Elizabeth COPLEY (b. 1630; d. Dec. 6, 1712)."

In “The Phelps Family of America”, “Deacon Nathaniel Phelps was born in England about 1627. 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…

“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."*

“…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.”* (Of course, in the "Phelps Family of America", we have since his publication discovered through further records and DNA that the father of Nathaniel is not correct his book. Nathaniel is of Crewkerne.)

*Excerpted from The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors, Two volumes. By Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps and Andrew T. Servin. (Eagle Publishing Company of Pittsfield, Mass., 1899)

Conclusions:
1. We know Thomas Copley married Elizabeth Griswold in England, and that he died in England. They had at least two children, one being Thomas Copley, Jr.

2. We know that old Thomas Copley, Jr and his old widowed mother Phelps died within days of each other in 1712 in Northampton, MA.

3. We know this Thomas Copley, Jr was born in England in 1630. Elizabeth was his mother, not his spouse, since we know the names of his spouses. Therefore, Mrs. Elizabeth Copley, widow, who married Nathaniel Phelps, would have to have been born before about 1616.

4. Elizabeth and Thomas Copley probably also had a daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1631 in Yorkshire, England.

5. Most likely, Thomas Copley, Sr married Elizabeth Griswold, daughter of an Edward Griswold in Warwickshire, England. They had two children, one being Thomas Copley, Jr. After Thomas, Sr’s death, widow Elizabeth and Thomas, Jr immigrated to New England, probably with her Griswold family. The Phelpses, Griswolds, Holcombs and Pinneys all emigrated at this time, and over the next several centuries the families often intermarried. Still a young woman, Elizabeth married Nathaniel Phelps and they had six children of their own, the youngest dying in infancy, Elizabeth then being in advanced years. Her husband, Nathaniel Phelps died in 1702 in Northampton, MA. Elizabeth and her son, Thomas, Jr both died a decade later in 1712 in Northampton when she was about 100 years old.

6. Elizabeth Griswold's father was an Edward Griswold. Edward Griswold the Colonist has two daughters that married Phelps brothers: Timothy married Mary, and Samuel married Sarah. El izabeth (about the same age as Edward the Colonist) married Nathaniel Phelps, brother of these other two Phelps brothers.

RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. From the book "Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33":
"William Phelps:
Origin: Crewkerne, Somersetshire Migration: 1630 on Mary & John First Residence: Dorchester Removes: Windsor 1635... Birth: By about 1593 based on estimated date of marriage. Death: Windsor 14 July 1672 ("Old Mr. William Phelps died" [Births Marriages and Deaths Returned from Hartford, Windsor and Fairfield and Entered in the Early Land Records of the Colony of Connecticut..., Edwin Stanley Welles, ed. (Hartford 1898), hereinafter refered to as CTVR, 27]). Marriage: (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 ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" in Some Early Records and Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor, Connecticut, 1639-1703 (Hartford 1930) hereinafter refered to as "Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 9]. She died Windsor 30 August 1689 ("Mrs. An Phelps died" [CTVR 57]). Children:
With first wife
i William, bp. Crewkerne 9 September 1618; m. (1) Windsor 4 June 1645 Isabel Wilson ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55; The American Genealogist, Volume 9 to present (1932+) 52:78]; m. (2) Windsor 20 December 1676 Sarah Pinney ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 72].
ii Samuel, bp. Crewkerne 5 August 1621; m. Windsor 10 November 1650 Sarah Griswold ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55].
iii Infant, bur. Crewkerne 8 January 1623[/4].
iv Nathaniel, bp. Crewkerne 6 March 1624[/5]; m. Windsor 17 September 1650 Elizabeth (____) Copley ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55].
With second wife
v Cornelius, bp. Crewkerne 13 October 1627; no further record.
vi Joseph (twin), bp. Crewkerne 13 November 1628; m. (1) Windsor 20 September 1660 Hannah Newton ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" in Some Early Records and Documents of and Relating to the Town of Windsor, Connecticut, 1639-1703 (Hartford 1930) 57; The American Genealogist, Volume 9 to present (1932+) 65:13-16]; m. (2) Northampton 19 December 1676 Mary (____) Salmon [Manuscript volume of vital records kept by John Pynchon, at Connecticut Valley Historical Museum 20].
vii Mary (twin), bp. Crewkerne 13 November 1628; d. soon.
viii Mary, bp. Crewkerne 6 December 1629; no further record.
ix Sarah, b. say 1632; m. Windsor 9 June 1658 William Wade [Loomis 1:63].
x Timothy, b. Windsor Aug. or 1 September 1639 ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55]; m. Windsor 19 March 1661[/2?] Mary Griswold ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 56].
xi Mary, b. March 1644 ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55]; m. Windsor 17 December 1663 Thomas Barber ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 25].  Comments: In 1919 Mary Lovering Holman prepared a brief account of the family of William Phelps [Mary Lovering Holman, The Scott Genealogy.... (Boston 1919), 252-53]. In 1990 Myrtle S. Hyde resolved the problem of the identity of the wives of William Phelps and was also able to find the baptisms of his children in England [The American Genealogist, Volume 9 to present (1932+) 65:161-66]. All the Crewkerne records cited above are taken from her article."

2. Mentioned in father's will per the book "The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors," comp. by Oliver Seymour Phelps of Portland, Oregon and Andrew T. Servin of Lenox, Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 72-85:
"The following is the last Will and Testament of Mr. William Phelps, or properly speaking, his Settlement Deed. From Windsor Records,
'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; 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 houseing, 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 is 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 maintenance as before expressed. But if my wife chooses to settle in any place and to leave the house, then my son shall pay yearly to my wife, the sum of ten pounds during her material life, and in case I myself in my life time, 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 both for 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 exempting 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 34 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 hereunto set our hands this 22nd day of April Anno Dom. 1660. Witness to the signatures: Daniel Clark, James Alford, William Phelps, Timothy Phelps. Entered o the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672'."

3. The book "The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors," comp. by Oliver Seymour Phelps of Portland, Oregon and Andrew T. Servin of Lenox, Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 88-89:
"Nathaniel Phelps, b. England, about 1627, emigrated to New England with his father, in ship Mary and John, settling with his father in Dorchester, removing to Windsor, Ct., in 1635-6, where he m. Elizabeth Copley, 17 Sep 1650. She was an English lady.
Says the Hon. James H. Phelps of Townshend, Vt., a descendant of the family of Elizabeth Copley, in England was the celebrated artist, John Copley, father of Lord Lyndhurst, who on the 30th of April, 1827, became Lord Chancellor of England.' Lord Lyndhurst appears to have no knowledge of this connection, as may be seen from his letter herewith attached. As this connection must be traced back over 200 years, here is no reason to doubt the same. Mrs. Phelps died in Northampton, Mass., 6 Dec 1712, some ten years after her husband. Her will probated in Northampton, Vol. II, 1678-1716. Reference is made to her sons Nathaniel and William Phelps, who are to have the land her husband left her, to be divided equally between them. Her homestead also to be divided between them, Nathaniel to have the side he lives in, and William the other side. To Abigal 50 pounds; to the children of Matthew and Mary Closson 5 pound each; to her son-in-law, Matthew Closson, 10 shillings; to Thomas Copley 3 pounds; to Samuel and John Lankton 20 shillings each.
Mr. Phelps resided on the Orton place opposite his father's homestead, which he purchased of his brother Samuel. Here he resided up to 1656-7, when he remvoed with part of his family to Northampton, Mass., one of his first settlers. Says Stiles: 'He was a pious man of good intellect, and of a sound, discriminating judgment - was one of the first deacons of the N. Church. His homestead was occupied by him for 43 years, and by his descendants until 1835.' His homestead comprised the land which was over fifty years ago occupied by Miss Margaret Dwight's school, and which at a later date was a College Institute of J.J. Dudley, Esq., and which is now Shady Lawn. the old homestead stood a few rods north of that edifice. (Clark's Northampton Antiquity).
Although Mr. Phelps, removed to Northampton in 1656-7, we find him paying slip rent in Windsor 4 Jan 1659.
8 Feb 1679, Dea. Nathaniel Phelps, with his sons Nathaniel Jr. and William, took the oath of allegiance before Worshipful Maj. Pynchon.
11 May 1681, he was made a freeman by the General Court at Boston.
He died in Northampton 27 May 1702, aged 75 years, honored and respected.
His children were:
I. Mary, b. Windsor, Ct., 21 Jun 1651, m. Matthew Closson.
II. Nathaniel, b. Windsor, Ct., 2 Jun 1653, m. Grace Martin.
III. Abigail, b. Windsor, Ct., 5 Apr 1655, d. aged 101 yrs, 4 mos. 11 days, m. John Alverd. No issue.
IV. William, b. Northampton, Mass., 22 Jun 1657, m. Abigail Stebbins.
V. Thomas, b. Northampton, Mass., 20 May 1661, d. unmarried.
VI. Mercy, b. Northampton, Mass., 16 Mar 1662, d. 15 Jul 1662."

4. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 565: "Nathaniel (Dea.) (son of William), m. 17 Sep 1650 (O.C.R.) Elizabeth Copley, 'an Englishwoman'; res. in Windsor on the Orton place near his father, but removed 1656 or '7 to Northampton, Mass.; was one of its founders; was regarded as a pious man, of good intellect, and of a sound discriminating judgment; was one of the first deacons of the N. Church. His homestead was occupied by him for 43 years and by his descendants until 1835; the last owner sold and removed to Ohio. This homestead 'comprised the land which was, over 50 years ago, occupied by Miss Margaret Dwight's school, and which at a later date was the College Instit. of J.H. Dudley, Esq., and what is now Shady Lawn. The old homestead stood a few rods N. of that edifice.' - 'Clark's Northampton Antiquities.'
Dea. Nathaniel Phelps d. 27 May 1702; his widow d. 6 Dec 1712. It has been said that she descended from the same family as the celebrated artist John Coply, father of Lord Lyndhurst; but the statement lacks corroboration. Her will (N. Prob. Rec.) divides house and lands equally between her sons Nath'l and Wm.; to her dau. Abigail ₤50; to ch. of Matthew and Mary Closson, ₤5 each; to her son-in-law, Matthew Closson, 10s.; to Thomas Coply, ₤3; and to Samuel and John Lankton, 20s. each.
8 Feb 1678, Dea. Nathaniel, with his sons Nathaniel and William, took the oath of allegiance before Worshipful Major Pynchon; 11 May 1681, he was made a freeman by Gen. Ct. at Boston. Children (the first 3 born at Windsor, the rest at Northampton):
A. Mary, b. 21 Jun 1651 (O.C.R.); m. 12 Dec 1670 at N., Matthew Closson, an irishman, servant of one of the early settlers of N.; had 10 ch., of whom but 4 lived to adult age; their eldest was b. in N.; they removed to Deerfield abt. 1672, where many of their descendants are now found amoung the most respectable families of D.
B. Nathaniel (Dea.), b. 2 Apr 1653. - O.C.R.
C. Abigail, b. 5 Apr 1655 (O.C.R); m. John Alvord.
D. William, b. 22 Jun 1657, 'at Northampton' (O.C.R.); m. Abigail Stebbins.
E. Thomas, b. 20 May 1661; d. young, unmd.
F. Mercy, b. 16 May 1662; d. 15 Jul 1662."

5. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, pp. 563-65, has the following information, but I omit the first part which states he was born in 1599 in Tewkesbury in County Gloucester and married Elizabeth since this is not regarded as being correct as explained in notes above: "William... came to Dorchester, Mass., with Rev. Mr. Warham, of whose church, formed in Plymouth, England, he was an original member. - Old Church Records. He was accompanied hither by his wife and five children... He was from the first a prominent and highly respected citizen at Dorchester, his name frequently occurring in the "Mass. Records." 19 Oct 1630, he applied to be made a freeman; 9 Nov 1630, he was one of the jury empaneled for the trial of Walter Palmer for the murder of Austin Brotchus - the first trial by jury in New England; 27 Sep 1631, he was appointed Constable of Dorchester; 4 Mar 1634, Ens. Gibbs and Wm. Felps were appointed by the Genreral Court to go with a committee of three to arrange the borders between Boston and Dorchester, and explain what each town wants; 5 May 1635, he was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts from Dorchester. In the spring of 1636 he removed with his children (his wife having died in Dorchester) to Windsor, whither his brother George is understood to have preceded him, in the first emigration of Mr. Warham's church in the fall of 1635.
In Windsor, as in Dorchester, he ranked as an honored and active citizen; was a member of the first court held in Connecticut, 1636; also in 1637, which declared war against the Pequots; was a magistrate from 1638 to the close of 1642; foreman of the first Grand Jury 1643; deputy to Gen. Ct. 1645, '46-'49, '51, '57; in 1658 was again made magistrate and held the office for 4 years after; is frequeintly named on the petit jury; in 1641 was appointed together with Mr. Welles of Hartford a committee on 'lying'. He was an excellent, pious, and upright man in his public and private life, and was truly 'a pillar in church and state.' His residence in Windsor was about three-quarters of a mile N.W. of Broad St on the road to Poquonock, on a place owned (1859) by Dea. Roger Phelps.
He m. (2) at Windsor, Mary Dover, b. in England, and who is said to have been a fellow passenger with him on the 'Mary and John.' She was a member of original church of Dorchester and Windsor. - O.C.R.
After a residence of 42 years in New England, ow which 36 where passed in Windsor, he died there 14 Jul 1672; his widow d. 27 Nov 1675. - O.C.R.
In the Old Church Records and other Windsor records, Mr. Phelps was distinguished from his son William as 'Ould Mr. Phelps.' children (by first marriage, born in England):
A. William, b. abt. 1620 (in a deposition taken at Hartford 29 May 1677, is mentioned as being about threescore years of age - i.e. b. 1617); removed from Dorchester with his father to Windsor where he was admitted to member of Windsor church 17 Nov 1639. - O.C.R. He m. (1) Isabel Wilson, 4 Jun 1645, 'now since 29 years and has had no child,' 15 Jul 1674 (O.C.R.); she admitted to Windsor 11 Mar 1654 (O.C.R.); d.s.p. He m. (2) Sarah (dau. Humphrey) Pinney, 20 Dec 167 (O.C.R.); she was b. 19 Nov, bp. 3 Dec 1648; he sett. one-third of his ppy. on her before marriage; no issue by her. He was made a freeman at Hartford 1669; d. 7 Feb 1681; contrib. 9 s. to Conn. Fund for Relief of Poor of other Cols., 1676. His noncupative will, dated 10 Feb 1681 gives all his land to his bro. Timothy. (He had land near his father, and his homestead on the N. side of the E. and W. road which ran from Josiah Ellsworth's {late Peter Brown's} house to the Rivulet. It was garrisoned in King Philip's War (1675/6) by details of Windsor men. William,. Jr. was a worthy man, tho' not a conspicuous figure as compared with his father. He had one of his wife's nephew's, Samuel Wilson, reside with him, and possibly (O.C.R.) adopted him. He gave him land on the opp. side of road form his own house. In making Sarah Pinney his second wife he executed a jointure before marriage, giving her much of his property, and a controversy arose, after the death of 'William the younger,' concerning this land, between her and the adopted son. William Phelps owned the W. part of the Ellison-Orton lot, 40 rods on highway, and bought of Sam. Pond 11 rods more, ext'g from his ho.-lot S. 51 rods of present ditch which drained the once swamp W. of old highway. - J.H.H.)
B. Sarah, b. abt. 1623; m. Windsor 9 Jun 1658 Wm. Wade of Middletown, Conn.; she d. 10 Jul 1659; s.p.
C. Samuel, b. abt. 1625.
D. Nathaniel, b. abt. 1627.
E. Joseph, b. abt. 1629.
By second marriage:
F. Timothy, 'was born here in Aug. 1639' - O.C.R.
G. Mary, 'was born here March 1644'; m. Thos. Barber; sett. at Simsbury and became the ancestors of the S. Barbers."

6. "The American Genealogist," 68(Jul 1990):161-166, "The English Origin of William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn., with Notes on His Marriages," by Myrtle Stevens Hyde:
"William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn....
Children (Phelps) of William1, prob. by his apparent first wife Mary (___), bp. Crewkerne, co. Somerset...
iv. Nathaniel bp. 6 March 1624[/5], d. Northampton, Mass., 27 May 1702 (James Edward Buckman, comp., "Northampton Deaths," in Forbes Library, Northampton, p. 13); m. Windsor 17 Sept. 1650 widow Elizabeth COPLEY (Windsor Early Recs. p. 55; see NEHGR 64[1910]:248 fn.). For his probate, see Hampshire Co., Mass., PR 3:93-94..."

Nathaniel married Elizabeth Copley on 17 Sep 1650 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA. Elizabeth (daughter of Thomas Copley and Elizabeth Griswold) was born on 14 Feb 1629 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA; died on 6 Dec 1712 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA; was buried in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The book "The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors," comp. by Oliver Seymour Phelps of Portland, Oregon and Andrew T. Servin of Lenox, Massachusetts, 1899, pp. 88-89:
"Nathaniel Phelps, b. England, about 1627, emigrated to New England with his father, in ship Mary and John, settling with his father in Dorchester, removing to Windsor, Ct., in 1635-6, where he m. Elizabeth Copley, 17 Sep 1650. She was an English lady.
Says the Hon. James H. Phelps of Townshend, Vt., a descendant of the family of Elizabeth Copley, in England was the celebrated artist, John Copley, father of Lord Lyndhurst, who on the 30th of April, 1827, became Lord Chancellor of England.' Lord Lyndhurst appears to have no knowledge of this connection, as may be seen from his letter herewith attached. As this connection must be traced back over 200 years, here is no reason to doubt the same. Mrs. Phelps died in Northampton, Mass., 6 Dec 1712, some ten years after her husband. Her will probated in Northampton, Vol. II, 1678-1716. Reference is made to her sons Nathaniel and William Phelps, who are to have the land her husband left her, to be divided equally between them. Her homestead also to be divided between them, Nathaniel to have the side he lives in, and William the other side. To Abigal 50 pounds; to the children of Matthew and Mary Closson 5 pound each; to her son-in-law, Matthew Closson, 10 shillings; to Thomas Copley 3 pounds; to Samuel and John Lankton 20 shillings each.
Mr. Phelps resided on the Orton place opposite his father's homestead, which he purchased of his brother Samuel. Here he resided up to 1656-7, when he removed with part of his family to Northampton, Mass., one of his first settlers. Says Stiles: 'He was a pious man of good intellect, and of a sound, discriminating judgment - was one of the first deacons of the N. Church. His homestead was occupied by him for 43 years, and by his descendants until 1835.' His homestead comprised the land which was over fifty years ago occupied by Miss Margaret Dwight's school, and which at a later date was a College Institute of J.J. Dudley, Esq., and which is now Shady Lawn. The old homestead stood a few rods north of that edifice. (Clark's Northampton Antiquity).
Although Mr. Phelps, removed to Northampton in 1656-7, we find him paying slip rent in Windsor 4 Jan 1659.
8 Feb 1679, Dea. Nathaniel Phelps, with his sons Nathaniel Jr. and William, took the oath of allegiance before Worshipful Maj. Pynchon.
11 May 1681, he was made a freeman by the General Court at Boston.
He died in Northampton 27 May 1702, aged 75 years, honored and respected.
His children were:
I. Mary, b. Windsor, Ct., 21 Jun 1651, m. Matthew Closson.
II. Nathaniel, b. Windsor, Ct., 2 Jun 1653, m. Grace Martin.
III. Abigail, b. Windsor, Ct., 5 Apr 1655, d. aged 101 yrs., 4 mos., 11 days, m. John Alverd. No issue.
IV. William, b. Northampton, Mass., 22 Jun 1657, m. Abigail Stebbins.
V. Thomas, b. Northampton, Mass., 20 May 1661, d. unmarried.
VI. Mercy, b. Northampton, Mass., 16 Mar 1662, d. 15 Jul 1662."

2. From the book "Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33" under the heading of William Phelps' Children: "Nathaniel, bp. Crewkerne 6 March 1624[/5]; m. Windsor 17 September 1650 Elizabeth (____) Copley ["Matthew Grant Record, 1639-1681" 55]." This would seem to indicate that Elizabeth was married to a Copley.

3. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 565: "Nathaniel (Dea.) (son of William), m. 17 Sep 1650 (O.C.R.) Elizabeth Copley, 'an Englishwoman'; res. in Windsor on the Orton place near his father, but removed 1656 or '7 to Northampton, Mass.; was one of its founders; was regarded as a pious man, of good intellect, and of a sound discriminating judgment; was one of the first deacons of the N. Church. His homestead was occupied by him for 43 years and by his descendants until 1835; the last owner sold and removed to Ohio. This homestead 'comprised the land which was, over 50 years ago, occupied by Miss Margaret Dwight's school, and which at a later date was the College Instit. of J.H. Dudley, Esq., and what is now Shady Lawn. The old homestead stood a few rods N. of that edifice.' - 'Clark's Northampton Antiquities.'
Dea. Nathaniel Phelps d. 27 May 1702; his widow d. 6 Dec 1712. It has been said that she descended from the same family as the celebrated artist John Coply, father of Lord Lyndhurst; but the statement lacks corroboration. Her will (N. Prob. Rec.) divides house and lands equally between her sons Nath'l and Wm.; to her dau. Abigail ₤50; to ch. of Matthew and Mary Closson, ₤5 each; to her son-in-law, Matthew Closson, 10s.; to Thomas Coply, ₤3; and to Samuel and John Lankton, 20s. each.
8 Feb 1678, Dea. Nathaniel, with his sons Nathaniel and William, took the oath of allegiance before Worshipful Major Pynchon; 11 May 1681, he was made a freeman by Gen. Ct. at Boston. Children (the first 3 born at Windsor, the rest at Northampton):
A. Mary, b. 21 Jun 1651 (O.C.R.); m. 12 Dec 1670 at N., Matthew Closson, an Irishman, servant of one of the early settlers of N.; had 10 ch., of whom but 4 lived to adult age; their eldest was b. in N.; they removed to Deerfield abt. 1672, where many of their descendants are now found among the most respectable families of D.
B. Nathaniel (Dea.), b. 2 Apr 1653. - O.C.R.
C. Abigail, b. 5 Apr 1655 (O.C.R); m. John Alvord.
D. William, b. 22 Jun 1657, 'at Northampton' (O.C.R.); m. Abigail Stebbins.
E. Thomas, b. 20 May 1661; d. young, unmd.
F. Mercy, b. 16 May 1662; d. 15 Jul 1662."
[Kerry's note: No Copley family biographies in same book.]

4. "The American Genealogist," 68(Jul 1990):161-166, "The English Origin of William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn., with Notes on His Marriages," by Myrtle Stevens Hyde:
"William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn....
Children (Phelps) of William1, prob. by his apparent first wife Mary (___), bp. Crewkerne, co. Somerset...
iv. Nathaniel bp. 6 March 1624[/5], d. Northampton, Mass., 27 May 1702 (James Edward Buckman, comp., "Northampton Deaths," in Forbes Library, Northampton, p. 13); m. Windsor 17 Sept. 1650 widow Elizabeth COPLEY (Windsor Early Recs. p. 55; see NEHGR 64[1910]:248 fn.). For his probate, see Hampshire Co., Mass., PR 3:93-94..."

Notes:

Arrival in America

William Phelps' actual family--myth and fact:
This particular source is the only passenger list that I’ve seen that actually lists the family members upon their arrival in America, but please understand there was no actual "list" of passengers. The "Lists" have been assembled from records of the people once they arrived in America using those dates found in other sources. (The house where the records were stored burned. Much of the erroneous information about the Phelps family's arrival in America probably came from the book "The Phelps Family in America" which was published before he completed his investigations in England; there was no wife Elizabeth. "Great Migration" is accurate.)

William’s wife’s name is given as Elizabeth in the passenger list. Fact: His first wife, Mary, died in Crewkerne 13 August 1626. Fact: He married Ann Dover 14 November 1626 in Crewkerne, but he arrives in America with wife Elizabeth...(myth) In “The Great Migration Begins” the author states, “In 1990 Myrtle S. Hyde resolved the problem of the identity of the wives of William Phelps…” , citing William's marriage record to Ann Dover in 1626 after his first wife, Mary died.

This wife Elizabeth is part of the myth perpetuated by the published "Phelps Family in America" where the author erroneously believed the Phelps colonists were a family from Tewkesbury. Many of the New England records, and the US and International Marriages records were assembled because of the information in this published Phelps history. This Elizabeth dying in 1635 (as his first wife), and then William marrying a 2nd wife in 1638 information was also perpetuated because of this published Phelps history. It was assumed to be correct information when it was not. There are no real and actual sources to support his theory. There is a real marriage record for William Phelps and Ann Dover marrying in Crewkerne 14 Nov 1626 a few months after his first wife Mary died in Aug. There is a source passenger listing for Anne Phelps on the same ship as William.

U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about Samuel Phelps

Family Members:
William Phelps and his family arrived in Nantuasket, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the "Mary & John". His family arriving with him were his wife Elizabeth; brother Richard; son Richard age 10 (1620), son William Jr; daughter Sarah age 7 (1623); son Samuel age 7 (1623); son Nathaniel age 3 (1627); son Joseph age 1 (1629); and brother George.
http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pili354&h=1541342&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:Ot herRecord&rhSource=7486

This summary states Elizabeth was the wife/mother's name in error. There is a Passenger list that names Anne Phelps as being on this ship: Anne Phelps arrival year 1630 in Boston, Massachusetts aboard the Mary & John.

England, Select Marriages, 1538–1973 about Anne Dover

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bi n/sse.dll?db=FS1EnglandMarriages&h=37742369&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt&ssrc=pt_t13693 691_p29326486395_kpidz0q3d29326486395z0q26pgz0q3d32768z0q26pgplz0q3dpid

U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s about Anne Phelps

http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=pili354&h=743437&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:Oth erRecord&tid=13693691&tpid=29326486395&rhSource=7486

BROTHERS?

The ship's list assumed that they were brothers and is part of the myth perpetuated by the published in "Phelps Family in America" where the author erroneously believed the Phelps colonists were a family from Tewkesbury. Stephen M. Lawson clarifies the relationship.

PHELPS-GRISWOLD From the files of Stephen M. Lawson

The Phelps Immigrants
"While there has been various claims about the Phelps ancestry in England, as yet no positive connection to any of the American immigrants (William, George and Richard) has been established. It has also been determined through Y-DNA analysis that William PHELPS and George PHELPS were not brothers and have no identifiable common patrilineal ancestor. The Phelps DNA Projectshows that the modal Y-DNA of descendants of William and George differ in 26 of 37 markers."

Here in the ship's list are William’s "brother", Richard, and his "brother" George arriving together. (Further search has shown that George probably arrived in 1634, a year later, on the Recovery.) In researching the cousins of the Phelps family, I see that the family line of George Phelps and of William Phelps both intermarry for generations into the Griswold, Pinney, Holcomb families and have many more family surname marriages in common, and also repeat many of the same family given names. This leads me to believe William and this George are probably related. Although the parents of Richard, William and George Phelps still remains a mystery, we are sure William is of Crewkerne rather than Tewkesbury. Several references to William’s "brother" George are made in “The Phelps Family of America”, but it was an assumption. DNA has proved otherwise. Of course, we can never know about Richard since he was never seen again.

About George Phelps, in the “Great Migration Begins”, the author leaves this comment:

ASSOCIATIONS: George Phelps of Dorchester and Windsor (not to be confused with GEORGE PHILLIPS of the same two places) may have been a brother of William Phelps [TAG 65; 165-66]. This George Phelps married as his first wife Philura Randal, daughter of PHILLIP RANDALL; he was also, in some manner as yet undetermined, an uncle of Elisha Hart, son of EDMOND HART.

Crewkerne or Tewkesbury?
Which is true? Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia. The full article gives quite a bit more information about the life of William Phelps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Phelps_(colonist)
William Phelps (colonist)
William Phelps, a Puritan from Crewkerne, England, was one of the founders of both Dorchester, Massachusetts and Windsor, Connecticut and was one of eight selected to lead the first democratic town government in the American colonies in 1637. He was foreman of the first grand jury in New England, served most of his life in early colonial government, and according to noted historian Henry Reed Stiles, Phelps "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony."

Origin of William Phelps
William Phelps (c. 1593 – July 14, 1672) was a Puritan Englishman who immigrated in 1630 to the American Colonies. Based on a family history written by Oliver Seymour Phelps and his son-in-law, Andrew T. Servin, The Phelps Family in America, many researchers mistakenly believe that William Phelps and a brother, George Phelps, both emigrated from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1630, to the New World.[1]

From Crewkerne
Phelps and Servin's identification of the origin of William Phelps of Dorchester, Massachusetts was based solely on an estimate of his birth date, derived from what was thought to be his age of 72 at death on July 14, 1672. Oliver Phelps located a William Phelps who was baptized in Tewkesbury on August 19, 1599, and thus identified him as the original immigrant. He also believed that George Phelps of Windsor, Connecticut, was William’s brother, despite the fact that they could not locate any records of Phelps in Tewkesbury.[1] Recent genetic research has shown no biological relationship between the descendants of William and George Phelps.[2]

Additionally, the will of William Phelps’ mother Dorothy in Tewkesbury, probated on May 5, 1617, mentioned a brother-in-law, Edward Phelps. His will in turn, probated on July 1, 1637, named as overseer of his estate his nephew, William Phelps, likely placing William Phelps of Tewkesbury in England and not across the Atlantic in the Massachusetts Bay.

More recent expert research has identified William Phelps of Crewkerne, Somersetshire, England as the probable immigrant.[3]

Family
Phelps was married twice: (1) Mary (surname unknown), buried in England in 1626, and (2) Anne Dover, who probably accompanied him and children from both marriages to Dorchester, Massachusetts, a town later subsumed as a neighborhood of Boston. The names and birthdates of his children correspond to the records later found in the American colony.[1]

Marriage to Mary
Phelps was born in Crewkerne, England and is estimated to have married his first wife Mary sometime between 1615–1618, as their first child William was baptized at Crewkerne on September 9, 1618. Mary and William had four children, all baptized before 1625 at Crewkerne: William, Samuel, an unnamed infant who died young, and Nathaniel.[4][5]:62 Mary was buried at Crewkerne on August 13, 1626.[6]

Marriage to Ann Dover
Three months after Mary's death, William married Ann Dover at Crewkerne, on November 14, 1626. They had four children in England: Cornelius, Joseph and Mary (twins), and another child named Mary. Researchers can not find further records of Cornelius or either of the two girls named Mary, and presume they all died young. After arriving in the Colonies, Ann and William had three more children: Sarah, Timothy, and a third Mary. Records in the Colonies have been found for the children named Joseph, Sarah, Timothy and the last Mary,[7] corresponding to records from the International Genealogical Index in Somerset listing the names of William Phelps' children from both wives.[8]

Immigration to New England
For more details on the Puritans' immigration to New England, see Great Migration (Puritan).

King Charles I of England had succeeded his father King James I of England in 1625, and continued his father's strong opposition to the Puritan movement, who opposed many of the Anglican Church's doctrines as retaining too much of its Roman Catholic roots. After the Puritans assumed control of Parliament, they began to pose a serious threat to the King's authority. In January 1629, in a move to neutralize his opponents, Charles dissolved Parliament entirely. The religious and political climate became so difficult for Puritans that many began to make arrangements to leave the country.

William Phelps was among them. Phelps had been a member of Reverend John Warham's church. Warham had been a minister since 1614, but was relieved of his ministerial duties in 1627 because of his “strong Puritan leanings.”[9]:66 The group Phelps joined was organized by the Reverend John White, Vicar of Dorchester, England. White is generally regarded as the sponsor of the earliest Massachusetts settlement after Plymouth. ...

The emigrants were organized by Rev. White on March 19, 1630 as the West Country Company at New Hospital, Plymouth, England, the day before leaving England. Although very few knew one another, they agreed to emigrate as a body to Massachusetts, where White had sent other groups over the prior six years.[10] White has been called “the father of the Massachusetts Colony,” despite remaining in England his entire life, because of his influence in establishing this settlement.[11] From their first arrival aboard the Mayflower in 1620, until 1629, only about 300 Puritans had survived in New England,[12] scattered in small and isolated settlements.

The group fasted, prayed and prepared themselves for their perilous long voyage. White preached sermons in the morning and afternoon; then, with his blessing, the group departed on March 20 for the New World aboard the Mary and John.

Historian Henry Reed Stiles noted, "In these early days the title of Mister or Mr. was only given to elderly persons of distinction, while all military titles were always used. William Phelps received this distinguished title of Mr."[25]

Stiles further noted that William Phelps "was one of the most prominent and highly respected men in the colony. An excellent, pious, and upright man in his public and private life, and was truly a pillar in Church and State."[25] The family historian Oliver Phelps cited William Phelps as "one of the fathers and founders of this now ocean-bound Republic."[1] ...

Death and burial
Phelps died at age 78 on July 14, 1672, and was buried the next day. His wife died three years later on November 27, 1675. A Settlement Deed for his son Timothy's marriage to Mary, daughter of Edward Griswold, another pioneer founder of Windsor, was dated April 22, 1660. Phelps’ last will and testament was entered on the Windsor, Connecticut register, July 26, 1672, and signed by Matthew Grant, Register.[25]

William married Mary Marshal in 1617 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. Mary was born on 24 Mar 1603 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England; died on 12 Aug 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Baptism: 30 Oct 1597, Skelbrooke, York, England

Thomas married Elizabeth Griswold on 7 May 1628. Elizabeth (daughter of George Griswold and Joanna Dousabele Leigh) was born in 1604 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England; died on 6 Dec 1712 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The following is based on excerpts from "Descendants of Thomas and Elizabeth Copley in America," by William Copley, Concord,49 High St., New Hampshire, 1981.

Thomas 1 Copley died August 18, 1634, leaving a widow with two young children and not much future in England. Since her parents and sister Sarah had emigrated to Dorchester, Mass., and then Windsor, Conn., in 1636, Elizabeth1 Copley followed suit. Her name is first mentioned in America on Sept. 17, 1650, when "widow Elizabeth Copley, and English woman," married Nathaniel Phelps in Windsor. He was born in England about 1627, the son of William Phelps. His brother Samuel married Elizabeth's sister Sarah Griswold less thatn two months later in Windsor.

Nathaniel and Elizabeth1 Phelps moved to Northampton, Mass., about 1656, where they spent the rest of their lives. Elizabeth1 was the mother of six children by her second husband. Nathaniel Phelps died in Northampton 27 May 1702. Elizabeth1 (Copley) Phelps died 6 Dec. 1712 in Northampton. She was probably about 100 years old, but no source gives her age.

George married Joanna Dousabele Leigh in 1594 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England. Joanna was born in 1576 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England; died on 28 Aug 1615 in Wooten, Warwickshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]