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 for a George 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] |
George Phelps