William Phelps^[1]

1593 - 1672  (79 years)

• Name	William Phelps
  Birth	1593	Crewkerne, Somerset, England
  Gender	Male
  Death	14 Jul 1672	Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA
  Person ID	I32954	Master
  Last Modified	31 Aug 2018

  
  

  Family 1	Mary Marshal,   b. 24 Mar 1603, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England d. 12 Aug 1626, Crewkerne, Somerset, England (Age 23 years)
  Marriage	1617	Crewkerne, Somerset, England
  Children	1. William Phelps,   b. 9 Sep 1618, Crewkerne, Somerset, England d. 10 Feb 1681, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 62 years)  [Father: natural]   2. Samuel Phelps,   b. 5 Aug 1621, Crewkerne, Somerset, England d. 15 May 1669, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 47 years) + 3. Nathaniel Phelps,   b. 6 Mar 1624, Crewkerne, Somerset, England d. 27 May 1702, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts, USA (Age 78 years)
  Family ID	F8073	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Aug 2020

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Ann Dover,   b. 1596, , , Somerset, England d. 27 Nov 1675, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	14 Nov 1626	Crewkerne, Somerset, England   [2]
  Children	1. Mary Phelps,   b. 21 Jun 1612, Corsham, Wiltshire, England d. 10 Jul 1655, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 43 years)  [Father: natural]   2. Richard Phelps,   b. 26 Dec 1619, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England d. 8 Jan 1624, Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 4 years)  [Father: natural]   3. George Phelps,   b. 1620, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England d. 17 Feb 1681, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 61 years)  [Father: natural]   4. William Phelps,   b. 17 Nov 1620, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England d. 7 Feb 1681, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 60 years)  [Father: natural]   5. Sarah Phelps,   b. 5 Aug 1622, , , Somerset, England d. 15 May 1669, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 46 years)   6. Elizabeth Phillips,   b. 1625, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England d. 1696, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, USA (Age 71 years)  [Father: natural]   7. Samuel Phelps,   b. 5 Sep 1625, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA d. 21 Oct 1641, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 16 years) + 8. Joseph Phelps,   b. 13 Nov 1628, Crewkerne, Somerset, England d. 5 Mar 1683, Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, USA (Age 54 years)  [Father: natural]
  Family ID	F8072	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	30 Aug 2018

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1593 - Crewkerne, Somerset, England Marriage - 1617 - Crewkerne, Somerset, England Marriage - 14 Nov 1626 - Crewkerne, Somerset, England Death - 14 Jul 1672 - Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• 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]

  
  

• Sources

  [S761] Yates Publishing, Ancestry Family Trees, (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), Ancestry Family Tree. http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=152327163&pid=24 [S763] Ancestry.com, England, Select Marriages, 1538-1973, (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.).