Timeline for events in the life of GEORGE PHELPS

Abt. 1610 - 1630, England

GEORGE PHELPS was born Abt. 1610, England. This date would put his age at 20-24 when he emigrated, abt. 25 when he was chosen a Freeman, abt. 27 when he first married, abt. 44 when his youngest son Nathaniel was born, and abt. 77 when he died. No known parents, birth or Christening dates have yet been discovered that can be definitively linked to George Phelps but it has been proven that he is NOT the son of William and Dorothy Phelps of Tewkesbury. That references should be removed from existing records.

DNA test results performed in 2006 have yielded two descendants related to George Phelps and two descendants related to Joseph Phelps, grandson of William Phelps the emigrant. DNA comparisons of these four individuals indicate that George Phelps is not even closely related to Joseph, the grandson of William Phelps, and by extrapolation, George Phelps is not likely to be the brother of William Phelps. Additional DNA test candidates for both of these lines are needed to make any definitive assertions of fact regarding the relationship, or lack thereof, between George and William, but so far, the DNA test results are suggesting that no relationship exists.

George Phelps may have been born or raised in either Dorsetshire or Somersetshire, England. This is based upon the known residence of other passengers on both the "Mary and John", and the "Recovery", but no records have yet been revealed to validate this. He apparently received no formal education. Later in life he signs documents with his mark instead of a signature.

In the summer of 1629, Mr. John White, wrote to Governor Endicott, to appoint places of habitation for 60 families out of Dorsetshire (Trumbell says this honorable company was derived from Dorsetshire and Somersetshire) which were to arrive in the following spring. Two devoted ministers, Messrs. Maverick and Warham, were selected. Two members of the government, chosen by the freemen or stockholders of the company in London, Assistants or Directors, Messrs. Rosseter and Ludlow, men of character and education, were joined to the association,. Several gentlemen, past middle life, with adult families and good estates, were added. Henry Wolcott, Thomas Ford, George Dyer, William Gaylord, William Rockwell, and William Phelps, were of this class. But a large portion of active, well trained young men, either just married or without families ... were the persons upon whom the more severe toils of a new settlement were expected to devolve.
-- History of Dorchester (1859) p. 17

1630 March 20th, This company assembled at Plymouth, Devonshire, where a large ship of 400 tons, the Mary and John, Capt. Squeb, chartered for voyage, was fitted out. She was destined for the Charles river. On May 30th, after a passage of 70 days, the ship, Mary and John, arrived at Nantasket. The number of passengers was 140.

1630 Sept. 7th, The Court Record makes no mention of any especial grant of Mattapan and the present territory of the town of Dorchester to the West Country settlers, though they doubtless had the sanction of the Court of Assistants, which authorized the use of their corporate name on the 7th of September; and the loss of the early leaves of the town records, renders the precise date of the first grants of land uncertain. They were made by a committee of the plantation, viz. the two ministers, Maverick and Warham, and the two deacons, Gaylord and Rockwell.
-- History of Dorchester (1859) p. 22

George Phelps may have emigrated, then unmarried, on the ship "Mary and John" in 1630 and is currently listed as a "possible" passenger on that vessel. It is also possible he is the "George P__?__ " aboard the ship "Recovery" of London, sailing from Weymouth in Dorsetshire in 1634. Both of these vessels landed in America at Dorchester.

1632-1635, Dorchester, Massachusetts

George Phelps resided in Dorchester, Massachusetts possibly as early as 1632, but at least by May of 1635.

From Dorchester Records we learn that "Jan., 1632, George Phelps with others is to have the great lot of six acres a piece next to the great lots laid out toward Neponset by Maverick, Warham, Gaylord and Rockwell".
-- Source cited by Phelps & Servin on p. 1259, as "Dorchester Records"
Note: This entry has not been definitively validated yet in the "Dorchester Records"

Edward Winslow explored the Connecticut Valley (Fall 1632) into Dutch territory (New Amsterdam) and built a fort and trading post near present-day Hartford (1633).
-- English Colonization, Early English Colonial Experience, (1999), p. 13

1633/34 March, George P--?-- (possibly Phelps), sets sail from Weymouth in Dorsetshire, England to New England aboard the Recovery of London, with Gabriel Cornish as its master. The vessel arrives 1634 June or July in Dorchester, Massachusetts.
-- Identifying George P--?-- of the Recovery, 1633 [1634], By John Plummer, NGSQ Vol. 77, Dec. 1989, # 4

1634 October 28, George Phelps chosen one of ten men "to order the affairs of the Colony, for one year."
-- Source cited by Phelps & Servin on p. 1259, as "Dorchester Records"
Note: This entry has not been definitively validated yet in the "Dorchester Records"

1635 May 6, George Phelps is chosen a Freeman.
-- Source cited by Phelps & Servin on p. 1259, as "Dorchester Records"
Note: This entry has been found in the "Dorchester Records" and is considered the oldest verifiable reference to George Phelps

1635-1670, Windsor, Connecticut

In the summer of 1635 some people had already reached the river and sat down at a place where William Holmes and others of Plymouth, had erected a trading house two years before. (now Windsor, Hartford Co., CT) and made preparations for bringing their families and settling permanently;...
-- History of Dorchester (1859) p. 37

It is likely that George Phelps was among the individuals who came with the first emigration that summer in 1635 from Dorchester since his lot was located adjacent to the Trading House that was established in 1633 at the junction of the Farmington and Connecticut rivers.
-- Connecticut Colonists, Windsor 1635-1703, Holbrook, (1986) p.ii, Plan of Ancient Windsor, 1640-1654

Of this location, says Marshall in his Ancestry of Gen Crant, "Mr. Joseph Loomis selected as a Homestead one of the most desirable places in Windsor. It was located in the north end of what is called the Island, overlooking the Farmington River, and commanding an extensive view of the surrounding country, including the Connecticut valley, the Windsor meadows, and the mountains on the east. No finer location in Windsor could have been selected by Mr. Loomis, while his neighbors were Henry Wolcott, George Phelps, and Matthew Allen who were the best of the pioneer families."
-- Phelps & Servin on p. 1259

"...and in November, sixty persons with a large number of cattle, travelled from Dorchester and arrived in safety at the river after much tribulation. During the first winter the suffering of these persons were intense, and they lost nearly all their cattle. Some individuals wandered back to Dorchester, and other avoided starvation by dropping down the river and taking refuge in a vessel at anchor at the mouth. In the spring of 1636, the settlers with Mr. Warham, proceeded to Windsor, his colleague Mr. Maverick having died at Boston the preceding winter."
-- History of Dorchester (1859) p. 37

1636 April 26, Mr. Ludlow, along with Thomas Stoughton, Henry Wolcott, Mr. Newberry, Humphrey Pinney, and Capt. John Mason, defrayed most of the expenses of the migration, and the new plantation. The Commission first met on April 26th, 1636 in Newtown (Hartford). These eight people were Windsor's first government, Roger Ludlow and William Phelps from Windsor, John Steele, William Westwood, and Andrew Ward of Hartford, William Swain and Henry Smith from Wethersfield, and William Pyncheon of Agawam.

In 1637 George Phelps , at the approximate age of 27, married Philura Randall, daughter of Philip and Joane (Fush) Randall. She was a member of the Rev. Mr. Warham's Church in Dorchester. By her he had six children.

Thirty men who went from Windsor to join in the fight against the Pequod Indians in May 1637. Capt. John Mason, Sgt. Benedict Alvord, Thomas Barber, Thomas Buckland, George Chappel, John Dyer, James Eggleston, Nathaniel Gillet, Thomas Gridley, Thomas Styles, Sgt. Thomas Stares, Richard Osborn, Thomas Parsons, William Thrall. The Indian village in this case was so completely destroyed that for many years, the settlers had no further trouble with the Indians. Some years later, the participants were given land grants. To quote from Dr. Styles records with regard to the first Indian war in New England, "The danger was imminent, and so complete the victory that it caused universal rejoicing throughout New England, and a grant of land was given each soldier and officer, and to this day the memory of an ancestor who was in the Pequod fight, is an honorable heirloom in every Connecticut family".

1638 August 26, Isaac Phelps son of George and Philura (Randall) Phelps was born in Windsor.

1640 October
From Henry Wolcott's memo., "While Mr. Hunt [sic. Huitt] was preaching to the good people of Windsor, from Roman's 12-17, during the Lecture George Phelps' house was burned so that it (the house) went over.
From J.H. Hayden's manuscript -- "Lot granted one and one half rods wide to George Phelps, on which he first resided on the Island, west side of the street. House burned in 1640. No house appears on the lot, when it was sold to Samuel Wolcott in 1660. After the fire he resided on the Dewey lot, first North of the Palisado, until he removed to Westfield."
NOTE: The above citation suggest that George and Philura (Randall) Phelps were residing with Thomas and Frances (Clark?) Dewey. Thomas Dewey and Philura Phelps died two days on April 27th and April 29th, 1648.

1640 December 25, The Windsor land inventory states that "Thomas Holcom his former grants sold to Josyas Hull, William [illegible] and George Phelps."

1642/43 January 22, Abraham Phelps son of George and Philura (Randall) Phelps was born Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

1647 June 24, Joseph Phelps son of George and Philura (Randall) Phelps was born in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

1648 April 29, George's wife Philura (Randall) Phelps died in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut
--Savage, James; A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (1860-62)

1649 March 22nd, George Phelps married (2) Frances Dewey, widow of both Joseph Clark and Thomas Dewey. By her he had three children.

[between March 1649 & June 1650]
A Particular Courte in Hartford
It is Agreed and Concluded betwixt this Courte in the behalfe of the Children of Thomas Dewey and Geo: Phelps of Wyndsor that the whole of the land both meadow and vpland mentioned in the said Deweys Invento: amounting to the Sum of 75 Shall bee sequestered for the Childre[ns] seuerall porcons so farr as it goes, and the remainder be[ing] 52, hee Ingages himselfe to giue in to the Courte sufficie[nt] security for the payment thereof according to the will of the Courte. The howse and peece of land belonging to it valued at 40, the said Phelps Accepts vppon his wiues parte of the estate.
-- Connecticut Particular Court Records of the Particular Court of Connecticut, 1639-1663, 1928, page 85

1649/50 February 7, Jacob Phelps son of George and Frances Phelps was born.

1652 February 15, John Phelps son of George and Frances Phelps was born.

1654 December 9, Nathaniel Phelps son of George and Frances Phelps was born.

-- Windsor Births - 1640s to early 1700s; First Book Windsor Births Marriages and Deaths, 1638-1704, G. R. Maude, Town Clerk, Feb 1906

On March 11, 1658, the General Court met in Hartford and established a Troop of Horse to act in the colonies defense. This troop was to consist of thirty-seven men under the direct command of Captain John Mason. Captain Mason had not only been the colonies military leader since the Pequot War of twenty years earlier, he was also a sitting magistrate and highly regarded in both military and civil affairs. These troops were to outfit themselves with their own horse, armor and firearms. Many of the men found among these original thirty-seven would eventually help shape the future of the Colony. On the list of troopers presented to the court and allowed was, with others from Windsor, George Phelps.
--The Memorial History of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Trumbull, Vol 1, p 174-180

1661/62, March 8th, In his will, Philip Randall, father of Philura (Randall) Phelps (deceased), of Windsor named as his grandchildren "Isack Phellps", "Abrahm Phellps" and "Joseph Phellps".

1662 May 13th, George Phelps, with others, submitted a petition to the General Court requesting a grant of land at Waronoake (Westfield) for the establishment of a plantation.
-- Massachusetts Archives Collection (1629-1799)

1667-68, George Phelps and his son Isaac, removed to Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. George may have left his wife behind in Windsor until after 1670.

1668 January 21, At a meeting in Woronoco, it was "voted that James Cornish, George Phelps, Thomas Dewey and Tho. Noble shall go to Springfield the first Tuesday in February next at the towne meeting, to propound to the town for the settlement of our place and affayres, ... "

1668-1687, Westfield, Massachusetts

1668 March 13th, "At a meeting of the proprietors of land of Woronoake [alias Westfield] on the ffort side March 13th, 1668, for laying out the proportions of land on the ffort side."

Isaac Phelps; Lot 9, 10 acres in Meadow Division. Lot 10, 3 acres in 1st Plowed Division. Lot 8, 5 acres in 2nd Plowed Division.

George Phelps; Lot 10, 26 acres in Meadow Division. Lot 8, 8 acres in 1st Plowed Division. Lot 6, 14 acres in 2nd Plowed Division.
-- History of Hampden County, Massachusetts (1902) p. 329

1668/69, March 19, a daughter was born to Isack and Ann (Gaylord) Phelps in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.
-- Mass. Vital Records to 1850, Westfield 1669-1854, Births, Marriages, Deaths, Intentions 1669-1760 Vol A, #28

1669 October 11, George Phelps is still enrolled at Windsor, Connecticut.

1670, George Phelps may have moved the rest of his family to Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.

1672 September 30, Elisha Hart chose his "uncle" George Phelps as his guardian, suggesting that Edmund Hart's wife was a Phelps, or that Hart's sister or his wife's sister was one of the two wives of George Phelps.

1676, George's son Isaac Phelps is Selectman of Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts

1676 March 26th, a company of people on their way to church from Longmeadow to Springfield were waylaid by Indians. Two were killed, two wounded and two women and their babies captured. During the winter, two men were killed and two houses burned in Westfield.
-- History of Hampden County, Massachusetts (1902) p. 352

Says Barber of George Phelps and the Indians, "It is recorded that Mr. Phelps who lived in Shepard's lane, returning from his work in Pochosic, coming to the fording of the Great River, when he saw three Indians in the River: as they were coming towards him, he considered his situation perilous, but clapping his hands and crying out "Here they are, my boys, we have them", at which the Indians took the alarm and fled."
-- Phelps & Servin on p. 1262.

1677, George Phelps and his son Isaac Phelps are Selectman of Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts
-- History of Hampden County, Massachusetts (1902)

1687 April, George Phelps deeded a considerable portion of his Westfield land to John Gunn. It may be that he intended to return to Windsor, however, this he did not do as he died the following month.
-- Phelps & Servin on p. 1262-3

1687 May 8, George Phelps died at Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.
--Savage, James; A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (1860-62)

Last Will & Testament of GEORGE PHELPS:

APRIL: YE 24TH: 1683: The last Will & Testament of George Phelps of Westfield, in the County of Hamshire, in the Colony of the Massachusetts Company, who being cracy of Body though yet my Memory of understanding by God's Goodness is continued: yet not knowing the tyme of my departure which I wait for, & Desire to commit my Soule to God that gave it & my Body to christian Burial; & Leave this as my Last Will.
Concerning my wife If it shall please God to continue her after me, & concerning my children: And before I come to the disposal of my outward Estate, I desire thanke fully to acknowledge ye great and abundant Goodness of God to me in takeing care of me & providing for me the Comforts of this life, the hopes of a better, in and through the abundant riches of his grace through Jesus Christ: And I desire to Leave this as a word of most solemn & weighty counsel to my deare children, firstly and chiefly above all things that they cleave to God, & to the covenant of his grace with all theire hart, & with all their souls laboring in sincerity to keep his covenant & to walke in his wayes, to observe his statutes & do ym. & to associate ym selves with them that feare God to live in love & peace both one with another & with all men, that so the God of Love & peace may dwell with them & keep them in his feare & crown ym with his blessings especially with spiritual blessings in Cnt Jesus.
Concerning my Dear wife, I exhort my children to be careful & tender of her, Loveing and dutyful towards her in all things, that she want nothing that may be necessary to her comfortable subsistence, to hearken & attend to her Counsel from time to time: and I give unto my wife, all my bedding & house hold stuffe for her use & to be at her free dispose at her decease, and twenty pounds which is due to me from Taham Graunt of Windsor, if she need it not herselfe, to be disposed of by her to such of her relations as she shall judge have most need: And for her maintainence while she lives, I give unto my wife Two pounds fifteen shillings p Annum, to be paid by my Son Joseph Phelps of Windsor (see Note 1), in halfe wheate and the halfe Indian Corn, during her life: Also I give unto my wife six pounds per Annum to be paid by my three Youngest sons, Jacob, John & Nathaniel, each of them forty shilling to be yearly paid during her life: further I give unto my wife the use of my Land at Windsor (see Note 2), which Lyes on the east side of the great River, being Ten Rods in breadth more or less, & a quarter part of yt orchard & if these be expended & the use of yearly income be not sufficient for her comfortable maintenance, then a part of all this Land shall be disposed of as need shall be: But if the Sale of this Land be not needed for my wive's necessary use whilst she lives, then after her decease with what other Lands, now in Common may afal to me at Windsor, I give to my Sons (see Note 3) as followeth:
To my son Isaac a Third Part & to my son Joseph a Third part, & the remaining third part I give to my sons Jacob, John and Nathaniel: Also I give to my son Jacob four acres of the Northerly end of my home lot here in Westfield, with the house, barns & orchard upon it, only reserving one end of the house for my wife whilst she lives: And seeing he hath all my buildings here, he shall help his brothers John & Nathaniel, if ye build in Westfield, each of them a month work with his own hands, & his Team six days: And a third part of the fruit of the orchard to John if he live here, & a third part to Nathaniel for seven yeeres after the date here of. They maintaining each of ym a third part of the fence of the orchard: Also I give to my son Jacob a third part of my Meadow Lands in Westfield, the whole being in estimation four score acres: further I give to my son John all my land on the East side of the Highway at my house with the Low Land by the River, for a home lot, one third part of my meadow Land in Westfield, the whole being in estimation 80 acres.
I give my son Nathaniel the remainder of my House Lot, being about seven acres & one third part of my Meadow in Westfield, the whole being in estimation four score acres.
I give to my son Isaac, the best coats of my wearing apparel & My Mare, the colt I give to his son Isaac my grandchild: the rest of my wearing apparel, I give to my Sons Jacob, John and Nathaniel. That this is my last will & testament if I doe not otherwise order before my Decease. I testify by subscribing my hand; And doe desire Ensign Lumes & my Son Isaac Phelps be over seers, & take care that my Last will be pformed to the true Intent & meaning thereof: And I doe order my three youngest Sons to se al my Just debts paid. And if anything appeare dubious, or any difficulty arise in or by the Interpreting, or understanding of my will or anything relating thereunto, I order it may be referred to the hearing & determination of or Reverend Pastor Mr. Taylor and Ensign Lumes, whom I impower to determine the same as they shall Jude right: That this is my Last will & Testament I testify by subscribing my hand the day & year before mentioned.
the Mark X of George Phelps

Subscribed in the presence of: Edward Taylor, Samuel Loomes, Isaac Phelps.

Mr. Edward Taylor & Samuel Loomes did Personally appeare before John Pyncheon Esq., the Judge of the prerogative Corte for the tyme of George Phelps deceased his signing the writing on the three sides this Instrument, & that he did sign it as his last Will and Testament, and that he was of sound memory & mind to the best of their discerning, and Isaac, Jacob & John & Nathaniel Phelps, four of said deceased sons, are approved & legally confirmed to be Administers to the Estate of ye said father & to see to the true performance of this their said father's last will and testament according to the true Intents year of:

As attests John Holyoke, Clerke of Said Corte.

1687 June 15th, this is here recorded in these records for Will from the original last will and Testament of the above said George Phelps of Westfield late deceased.

P. John Holyoke, Clerke for said Records

A copy of the Inventory of the Estate of George Phelps of Westfield, in Hampsire, deceased presented to the Judge of the Prerogative Corte for Hamshire, in his ma'ties Territory & Dominion of New England.

An Inventory taken of the Estate of George Phelps of Westfield, who departed this life May 8, 1687.

1. The Homestead was prized at....38p. 0s. Od.
2. Lands in the field 80 acres in est.....206p.
3. Land at Windsor.....40p.
4. Bedding & Household Stuff at.....18p.
5. Wearing Apparel.....8p. 16s.
6. Bookes, Tooles, Iron, Saddle, Bridle, Jersey Cloath & other small things at....6p.14s.
This estate was taken and prized by us.....317p. 10s.
Samuel Loomes
Jno. Sacket
June 4th & June 6th 1687

NOTES RE. THE WILL OF GEORGE PHELPS:
(1) His son Joseph is residing in Windsor at the time of his death.
(2) "... my Land at Windsor, which Lyes on the east side of the great River, being Ten Rods in breadth more or less, & a quarter part of yt orchard..." The land George still owned in Windsor at the time of his death was 55 yards, or 165 feet in breadth. (1 rod = 5.5 yards)
(3) The absence of his son Abraham from his father's will is curious. Apparently, Abraham Phelps, when very young, was adopted by his cousin, Abraham Randall, and inherited his property. Abraham Randall died childless in 1690, leaving his property to Abraham Phelps and other items "to the children of George Phelps."

1690 September 27, Frances Phelps, widow of George Phelps, died at Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts.

"PHELPS (Old Widow) Died Sept. 27 1690." Hampshire County Records in Book in possession of Robert Q. Morris of Springfield, page 35.
-- Mass. Vital Records to 1850: Westfield 1669-1854, Index: Death Females 1669-1842 #21