Person:Nathaniel Phelps (2)

Original member of Northampton First Church (Northampton First Church 1661-1891, US/CAN 974.423/N1 K23c, Solomon Clark, 1891). Nathaniel was one of those who approved the petition to acquire a minister for the community in 1657. Both he and his wife signed the Church Covenant in 1661, becoming full members of the church.

'He came to New England with his father [arrived 1630 on "Mary and John"], and resided in Windsor, Conn., until 1656, when he removed to Northampton Mass., and was made a Freeman there on 11 May 1681.'^[4]

His will 'was proved at Northampton Mass., 2 Sept. 1702. He gives to widow, Elizabeth, sons Nathaniel and William, sons-in-law John Alverd and Matthew Clesson; widow to have use of all property and the right to give what she desires to her son Thomas Copley and her grandsons Samuel and John Langton. He suggests that his friends Ebenezer Strong and Medad Pomeroy render any assistance necessary in settling the estate.'^[4]

"Widow Copley was living near Nathaniel's father in Windsor, with her chldren, Thomas and Elizabeth Copley, when she married Nathaniel. About 1656 they moved to Northampton where he was one of the founders. He occupied his homestead there 43 years and it remained in the family until 1835, when it was sold and the last Phelps moved to Ohio. In 1892 it was called Shady Lane.^[5]

"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 its first settlers. Feb. 8, 1679, Deacon Nathaniel Phelps, with his sons Nathaniel Jr. and William, took the oath of allegiance before Worshipful Maj. Pynchon."^[5]

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 #22 Nathaniel Phelps, in Phelps, Oliver Seymour, and Andrew T. Servin. The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors: With Copies of Wills, Deeds, Letters, and Other Interesting Papers, Coats of Arms and Valuable Records. (Pittsfield, Mass.: Eagle Publishing Company, 1899)
   1:89-91 .
2. ↑ William Phelps, in Anderson, Robert Charles. The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995)
   3:1446.

   'NATHANIEL, bp. Crewkerne 6 March 1624[/5]; m. Windsor 17 September 1650 Elizabeth (_____) Copley [Grant 55].'

3. ↑ #14 William Phelps, in Phelps, Oliver Seymour, and Andrew T. Servin. The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors: With Copies of Wills, Deeds, Letters, and Other Interesting Papers, Coats of Arms and Valuable Records. (Pittsfield, Mass.: Eagle Publishing Company, 1899)
   1:72-74.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Holman, Mary Lovering, and Harriett Grace Scott. The Scott Genealogy. (Boston, Mass., 1919)
   page 253.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Spear, Burton W. Search for the passengers of the Mary & John, 1630. (Toledo, Ohio: B.W. Spear, c1985-)
   7:66.
6.   Savage, James. A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England: Showing Three Generations of Those Who Came Before May, 1692, on the Basis of Farmer's Register. (Boston: Little, Brown, and Co, 1860-1862)
   3:406.

   "NATHANIEL, Northampton, s. of William, b. in Eng. had liv. at Windsor, m. 17 Sept. 1650, wid. Elizabeth Copley, had Mary, b. 21 June 1651; Nathaniel, 2 Apr. 1653; Abigail, 5 Apr. 1655; all b. at W. but at N. had William, 22 June 1657; and Mercy, 1662; was freem. 1681, a deac. and d. 27 May 1702; but in fam. geneal. 1 May 1690; and his wid. d. 6 Dec. 1712. Mary, m. 1670, Matthew Clesson, and Abigail, wh. m. John Alvord, d. 26 Aug. 1756, therefore, allow. for the correct. of old style 4 yrs. bef. aged 101 yrs. 4 mos. and ten days, the oldest person that ever d. at N."