William Phelps, the Emigrant, was born circa 1593 in England.
1,2 He married
Mary Unknown circa 1617 in England. They were apparently not married in Crewkerne, Somerset. Some sources give the place of marriage as Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, but that may be another William Phelps.
2 William Phelps, the Emigrant, married
Anne Dover on 14 November 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England.
2 William Phelps, the Emigrant, died on 14 July 1672 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut, at age ~79. [CTVR 27: "Old Mr. William Phelps died."].
2,1 He was buried on 15 July 1672 in Palisado Cemetery, Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.
3 His wife,
Mary, died in August 1626 in Crewkerne, Somerset, England, at age ~30, leaving him a widower.
2 William Phelps, the Emigrant, and
Anne Phelps emigrated in 1630 from England to Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonioal America, on the ship Mary & John. The Mary & John left England in March of 1630 and arrived seventy days later on May 30, 1630, at the mouth of what is now Boston harbor. The ship's captain refused to sail up the Charles River as planned, because he feared running the ship aground in waters that he had no charts for. He instead left the passengers in a desolate locale miles from their intended destination. The settlors were forced to transport 150,000 pounds of livestock, provisions and equipment 20 miles overland to their final destination [Dorchester].
4,1,5
He and Anne Phelps lived between 1630 and 1635 in Dorchester, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America.
1 William Phelps, the Emigrant, and Anne Phelps moved from Dorchester, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Bay Colony, British Colonial America, to to Windsor, Connecticut Colony. circa 1635. These folks were amongst the founders of Windsor, Connecticut in 1635 when they left the safety of the coast for the savage lands along the Connecticut River. The Pequot Indians were at war with everyone including other Indians. When the colonists bravely sent a small armed group against the overwhelming number of Pequots and won. It was a vicious war and there was much bloodshed, but the colonists helped the peaceful Indians to destroy the warlike Pequots and the colonists were rewarded with land given to them by the Indians who they helped. The Pequots had taken this land from the other Indians to begin with. The Pequots were actually from far up north but were driven out by the much stronger Huron tribe. He and Anne Phelps lived between 1635 and 1672 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America.
William Phelps, the Emigrant, left a will in 1660 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut.
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 part ; 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 maintainence 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 excepting the orchard and pasture down to the bridge, that goeth into the meadow; also the tipper 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 thirtyfour 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. 166o.
Witness to the signatures:
Daniel Clark, William Phelps,
James Alford, Timothy Phelps.
Entered on the Windsor, Conn., Register, July 26th, 1672. MATHEW GRANT, Register."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.