Washington

PHELPS, Nelson Dewey

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont: A Record of the 
Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding 
of a Nation. Carleton, ed. Chicago: Lewis, 1903, pp 508-510

Hon. Nelson Dewey PHELPS, of Barre [Washington County, Vermont] is a 
representative of an ancient family of English origin, which for nearly three 
centuries has been prominent in the colonial and national annuals of New 
England. William PHELPS, the founder of the family in America, was born 19 
August 1599 in Tewksbury, England, that ancient Saxon town which, more than a 
century before, had witnessed one of the greatest battles of the War of the 
Roses, a battle which resulted in victory for the White Rose, one of that 
long series of conflicts in the course of which first one flower and then the 
other gained the ascendancy until the union of the houses of York and 
Lancaster restored peace to the kingdom and founded the Tudor dynasty. The 
birth of William PHELPS took place a few years before the brave and brilliant 
reign of Queen Elizabeth was succeeded by the narrow-minded rule of the 
"schoolmaster king" whose opposition to the Puritans, expressed in the 
declaration that he would "harry them out of the land," resulted in the 
planting of the New England colonies. That William PHELPS belonged to that 
noble company of nonconformists, or that he was at least in sympathy with 
them, is indicated by the fact that he emigrated to Massachusetts in the year 
1630, and settled at Dorchester [Suffolk County], whence, in 1635, he removed 
to Windsor, Connecticut. Of the name of his first wife, as well as the time 
and place of his marriage, no mention is made, but we are informed that in 
Windsor [Hartford County], Connecticut, he [William PHELPS] married his 
second wife, whose name was Mary DOVER. The date of the death of this 
emigrant ancestor is not given, but it may be supposed to have taken place at 
Windsor, Connecticut, that town remaining the residence of the family for at 
least two subsequent generations.

Timothy PHELPS, son of William and Mary (DOVER) PHELPS, was born 01 September 
1639, probably at Windsor, Connecticut. He served in the colonial army with 
the rank of lieutenant, and no doubt participated in King Philips's war, 
perhaps forming one of the party who effected the capture of that warrior. 
On 19 May 1661 he [Timothy PHELPS] married Mary GRISWOLD, and resided 
throughout his life at his birthplace.

Nathaniel PHELPS, son of Timothy and Mary (GRISWOLD) PHELPS, was born 27 
January 1677, at Windsor, Connecticut. No details of his life have reached 
us, with the exception of the fact that he married, 28 March 1700, Hannah 
BISSELL. It would seem, however, that he removed, before middle life, to 
Hebron [Tolland County], Connecticut, and that his death probably occurred in 
that place.

Solomon PHELPS, son of Nathaniel and Hannah (BISSELL) PHELPS, was born 29 
July 1716, in Hebron, Connecticut, and married 10 May 1738, Temperance 
BARBER. His life appears to have been wholly uneventful, and was no doubt 
passed entirely at his birthplace.

Bissell PHELPS, son of Solomon and Temperance (BARBER) PHELPS, was born 16 
February 1754 at Hebron, Connecticut. Soon after he attained his majority 
the Revolutionary struggle was ushered in by the fight at Lexington, and 
Bissell PHELPS seems to have been among the first who enrolled themselves in 
the patriot army. He held a captain's commission from Quartermaster General 
Nehemiah HUBBARD under General WASHINGTON, and must have been present at the 
siege of Boston and during the disastrous campaign in New Jersey, the gloom 
of which was relieved by the victories of Trenton and Princeton. After the 
arrival of General LAFAYETTE, in the summer of 1777, Captain PHELPS resigned 
and re-enlisted under the French commander, serving until the close of the 
war. It might be supposed that when the restoration of peace permitted him 
to abandon the hardships of a soldier's life, Captain [Bissell] PHELPS would 
gladly have settled on the homestead, there to pass the remainder of his days 
amid the quiet and retirement of familiar scenes, but instead of this he 
removed, for what reason we are not informed, to Middlefield [Hampshire 
County], Massachusetts, whence he further migrated in 1791 to Waitsfield 
[Washington County], Vermont, making the journey with his two yoke of oxen, 
and doing the work of a pioneer in his place of destination. Captain 
[Bissell] PHELPS was twice married, first, 12 January 1775, to Lovina 
SKINNER, who died 28 March 1802; and 27 February 1803 to Sally WATERMAN, born 
31 January 1772 at Killingly [Windham County], Connecticut. Captain 
[Bissell] PHELPS closed his long, useful, and adventurous life at the age of 
ninety-one, dying in Waitsfield [Washington County], Vermont, 25 October 
1845. His [second] wife survived him many years, [Sally] passing away 06 
April 1871, in the one hundredth year of her age.

Alexander PHELPS, son of Bissell and Lovina (SKINNER) PHELPS, was born 06 
October 1780, at Hebron [Tolland County], Connecticut. The migrations of the 
family took place during his infancy and boyhood, and in Waitsfield, Vermont, 
he resided for the remainder of his life. He [Alexander PHELPS] married 
Rachael STEELE, daughter of John and Sarah (COFF) STEELE, of Tolland, 
Connecticut, where she was born 19 June 1780. Alexander PHELPS enjoyed a 
more peaceful existence than his father, but without inheriting his 
longevity, his death occurring 29 May 1826, when he had scarcely reached the 
prime of life. His wife outlived him more than thirty years, dying at 
Waitsfield, Vermont, 08 July 1857.

David Martin PHELPS, son of Alexander and Rachael (STEELE) PHELPS, was born 
10 October 1824 at Waitsfield [Washington County], Vermont, and received his 
education at the schools of his native town. During the early years of his 
life he followed the occupation of a farmer, but possessed abilities which 
fitted him for the administration of affairs, and at the solicitation of 
those who were desirous of availing themselves of those abilities and also of 
securing for Mr. PHELPS a suitable field for the exercise of his powers, he 
removed to Burlington [Chittenden County], Vermont, where he acted as the 
representative of several commercial houses. Mr. PHELPS was a Republican in 
politics, and took an active part in town affairs. His neighbors testified 
to the esteem and confidence in which they held him by electing him to the 
office of representative in the state legislature. During the Civil War Mr. 
PHELPS was prominent in the enlistment of men for the army, and by every 
means in his power rendered efficient aid to the soldiers, both in the field 
and in the hospital. He was a member of the Congregational church, in which 
he served as deacon. Mr. [David Martin] PHELPS married, at Waitsfield 
[Washington County, Vermont], 28 May 1857, Zilpha Brooks DEWEY, born at 
Berlin [Washington County], Vermont, a descendant of Thomas DEWEY, the 
American ancestor of the DEWEY family, who came to this country in 1633. Mr. 
and Mrs. PHELPS [David Martin and Zilpha Brooks (DEWEY) PHELPS] were the 
parents of two children: Nelson Dewey PHELPS, mentioned at length hereafter; 
and Henry Alexander PHELPS, also born at Waitsfield, Vermont, 15 October 
1861. Mr. [David Martin] PHELPS died 18 September 1869, and his wife 
[Zilpha] expired 31 October 1894, in Barre [Washington County], Vermont.

Nelson Dewey PHELPS, son of David Martin and Zilpha Brooks (DEWEY) PHELPS, 
was born 27 February 1859, in the town of Waitsfield, Washington County, 
Vermont, and his elementary education was received at the common schools of 
his native town and of Burlington. Later he attended a graded school at 
Northfield [Washington County], Vermont, afterward becoming a student at the 
Barre Academy at Barre, Vermont. His early life was spent on his father's 
farm in Waitsfield, and four years were passed in Burlington [Chittenden 
County]. In 1884 he went to Barre, Vermont, where Orvis JACKMAN was then 
conducting a hardware business on North Main Street. This business Mr. 
[Nelson Dewey] PHELPS purchased, and on 01 January 1885 his brother, Henry 
Alexander PHELPS, bought an interest in the establishment, which has since 
been conducted under the firm name of Phelps Brothers. On 01 January 1892 
they moved into the Gordon block, where they have one of the best equipped 
stores in their line in the state. Under their skillful management the 
business has been much enlarged and is in extremely flourishing condition. 
The activities of the firm are not limited to the care of this establishment, 
extensive as it is, but they are also much engaged in plumbing and heating, 
and are large real estate dealers.

Mr. [Nelson Dewey] PHELPS is an extremely public-spirited citizen, taking an 
active interest in all the affairs of the community. He served for several 
years as chief of the fire department of Barre, and for a considerable period 
acted as superintendent of the water works. In 1901 he was elected mayor of 
Barre by a non-partisan vote, and his administration of that office was such 
as to promote the very best interests of the city. Mr. PHELPS is a member of 
the Republican party and in the memorable campaign ending 02 September 1902, 
he was elected one of the senators from Washington County to the state senate 
for a term of two years. During the session of the legislature he was 
appointed on the following committees of the senate: committee on 
corporations, committee on fish and game, and committee on printing.

Mr. PHELPS is a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with Granite Lodge, 
Free & Accepted Masons, of Barre. He also belongs to the Fish and Game 
League of Vermont, and is a member of the following social and sporting 
organizations: the St. Bernard Club, the Vincitia Club of Barre, and the 
Burlington Yacht Club of Burlington. Mr. [Nelson Dewey] PHELPS married, at 
Montpelier [Washington County], Vermont, 13 September 1880, Miss Annie Maria 
JOSLIN, daughter of Cornelius Emerson and Josette (DUMAS) JOSLIN, and had one 
child, Blanche Annie, born 29 March 1881, and died 09 July 1887. Mr. PHELPS, 
who was born at Waitsfield [Washington County], Vermont, is a descendant of 
Thomas JOCELYN (as the name was originally spelled), who was born in 1592 in 
Lancaster, England, and came to America in 1635, being a passenger on board 
the ship "Increase." He settled first at Scituate [Plymouth County], 
Massachusetts, whence he removed to Hingham [Plymouth County, Massachusetts], 
and finally made his home at Lancaster [Worcester County], Massachusetts.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly