| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. The periodical "The American Genealogist," 65(Jan 1990):13-16, "Probable Fathers of Hannah and Joan Newton, Wives of Joseph2 Phelps and Benedict1 Alvord of Windsor, Conn.," by Edwin D. Witter, Jr.
"Joseph Phelps sonn of William Phelps married Hanna nutin septmr 20, 1660..." So Matthew Grant's handwriting reads in his Old Church Record ("Some Early Records and Documents of Windsor, Conn., 1639-1709" [Hartford 1930], hereafter Windsor Recs., p. 57). "Joseph Phelps, b. England about 1629, emigrated with his father to New England, settling ... at Dorchester, Mass., removing to the settling of Windsor, Ct., in 1635-6. He m. 1st, Hannah Newton 20th Sept. 1660 ... She was daughter of Roger Newton and sister of Joan Newton who m. Benedict Alvord [in Windsor on 26 Nov. 1640 (Windsor Recs. P. 22.)." So said Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps and Andrew T. Servin in "The Phelps Family of America" (Pittsfield, Mass., 1899), p. 91. The same information and the same wording appear in the second edition of Henry R. Stiles, "History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor" (Hartford 1891-92), 2:565, and this work was doubtless the source of the statement in the "Phelps Family."
But Phelps and Stiles were in error. Joseph Phelps' wife Hannah was not the daughter at the Rev. Roger Newton and his wife Mary Hooker, nor was she the sister of Joan/Jane Newton, wife of Benedict Alvord. James Savage recognized the first error in his "Genealogical Dictionary" ... (Boston 1860-62), 3:406. Yet Maude Pinney Kuhns, "The Mary and John" (Rutland, Vt., 1943), p. 62, Burton W. Spear, "Search for the Passengers of the Mary & John 1630" (Toledo, Ohio, 1985-), 7:70, and "Pedigrees of Descendants of the Colonial Clergy: #1601-2100" (n.p.1987), pp. 22, 67, perpetuate this error.
This is the background of my work on the problem. When I first began studying genealogy, I had the great good fortune of receiving assistance from the Iate Dr. Claude W. Barlow, FASG. In 1975 I invited his attention to the quotation from the Phelps genealogy, thinking that it was valid. He replied: "Apparently this identity of Hannah Newton is one of the famous errors of the past that have Ied many astray ... [O]n the basis of dates alone we can eliminate Roger [as Hannah's father]."
Dr. Barlow died in January 1976, leaving the solution to the identity of "Hanna nutin" incomplete. At the urging of some like-minded genealogical friends, I invited the attention of the late Dr. George F McCracken, FASG, to the apparent error, and his note of 17 Jan. 1980 concluded that "the wife of Joseph Phelps was not a daughter of the Rev. Roger Newton."
That Jane, wife of Benedict Alvord, was a daughter of the Rev. Roger Newton is impossible on chronological grounds, since he was only about twenty when she married. That Hannah, wife of Joseph Phelps, was his daughter is, at best, highly unlikely. The Rev. Roger1 Newton, who became the first minister of Farmington, Conn. (1652-57), and the second minister of Milford (1660-83), married Mary2 Hooker, daughter of the Rev. Thomas1 Hooker, minister of Hartford, Conn. According to J. Gardner Bartlett, the source of much of the Newton account that appears in Flagg's "Founding of New England," the marriage, of which no record has been found, occurred about 1645 (Ernest Flagg, "Genealogical Notes on the Founding of New England..." [Hartford 1926], hereafter Flagg, p. 206). Roger Newton was born about 1620, son of Samuel Newton (Flagg p. 206); thus he was about 25 when he married Mary Hooker, with no indication of a previous marriage. Their first recorded child, Samuel, was baptized on 20 Oct. 1646 (Flagg pp. 175, 206; Lucius Barnes Barbour, "Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut" [Baltimore 1977] p. 420). There is no mention of a Hannah in any of the wills of the family. Most significantly, the will of the Rev. Thomas Hooker, dated 7 July 1649, mentions grandchildren, including "the child of my daughter Mary Newton" [emphasis added] (Charles W. Manwaring, "A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records' [Hartford 1904-6] 1:16-18; the date of the will is corrected from 1646 to 1649 in the errata [1:602]); this terminology makes it clear that Mary (Hooker) Newton had only one child by July 1649. That child was Samuel, who was baptized in 1646 and survived to marry and produce a family. Since Hannah was married in 1660, she must have been born earlier than Samuel and is thus excluded by Thomas Hooker's will from being a daughter of Mary (Hooker) Newton.
The final evidence is the will of Roger Newton. "The Reverend mr Roger Newton Pastor of the church of christ in milford," "weake of body, not knowing how short my time in this world may bee," left a will dated 12 March 1682/3, with codicils dated 16 March 1682/3 and 4 June 1683; his estate inventory was dated the following 12 June (New Haven Probate District Record Book I, pt. II, p. 104 [renumbered]). He left to eldest son Sam[ue]ll Newton, "besides what I gave him upon his marriage," various parcels of land; to son Ezekiell Newton, land; to son John Newton, "all ye charges which I have been at about his house," plus land; to daughter Susanna Stone, "one of my best cows..." besides what I have already given her; to daughter Sarah Newton, "all those things which her mother desired she should have" and already delivered to her, and 150 acres in Farmington; to son Roger Newton, the bed he lay on, etc.; to daughters Mary Newton and Allice Newton, all those things their mother desired they should have and already delivered to them, land, etc.; to son Roger Newton, the east end of the house, etc.; to son Ezekiell Newton, the "west halfe of my house from top to bottome," etc. There is nothing in the will to suggest other children.
Taken altogether, the evidence above leaves no doubt that Roger Newton was not the father of either Hannah (Newton) Phelps or Joan/Jane (Newton) Alvord. Who then was their father or fathers?
The one clue Dr. Barlow left me was a strong belief that there was a good reason why Stiles, hence the Phelps Family, considered Joan and Hannah to be close kin. Dr. Barlow thought it more likely that the relationship was aunt and niece than sisters because of the twenty years between marriage dates.
Pursuit of a reasonable solution to the question began with Matthew Grant's entry of the "Phelps-Nutin" marriage. Given the uncertain orthography of the period, Hannah's name might have been Newton, or Norton, or Nurton. One by one, men of these surnames and time were considered as possible kin to Jane and Hannah; then what appeared to be the probable solution turned out instead to be a probable error.
"A Genealogy of the Descendants of Alexander Alvord," by Samuel M. Alvord (Webster, N.Y., 1908), pp. 12-13, documents that Benedict "Alford," a hero of the Pequot War, returned to Broadway, co. Somerset, England, where he witnessed a sale of cattle that were "with Mr. Hall in New England," from Richard Standerwick of Broadway to Nicholas "Nurton of Waymouth in New England," on 20 Feb. 1639[/40?]. Benedict returned to Massachusetts, taking an oath, as that witness, before Gov. Dudley on 25 Aug. 1640. Nicholas Norton was of Weymouth, Mass., but the possibility that he was the father of Hannah (Newton) Phelps seems negated by the fact that his daughter Hannah married Augustine Williams (George Walter Chamberlain, ‘History of Weymouth [Mass.] with Genealogies..." [Boston 1923] 4:445). An examination of Somerset Bishops' Transcripts shows the marriage of a Nicholas Norton to Yeedith Baker in North Petherton on 17 April 1615, and in Broadway, we find Joan, daughter of Nicholas Morton [sic], baptized on 6 May 1598, too old to have married in 1640 Benedict Alvord and had children born as late as 1655 (Almira Larkin White, "Ancestry of John Barber White" [Haverhill, Mass., 1913], hereafter White Anc., pp. 243-44).
The break-through clue is found in White Anc., pp. 243-44, wherein it states that Benedict Alvord "m. Nov. 26, 1640, Joane Newton, probably the daughter of Surgeon John Newton of Coniston [sic], Devonshire, England." The will of John Newton of Colliton [sic], Devonshire (executed 3 April 1646, proved 24 April 1647), gives to "Anthony, my said son, and Joane, my said daughter, which are now in New England, six pounds apiece" (NEHGR 49[1895]:384-85; Henry F. Waters, ‘Genealogical Gleanings in England' [Boston 1901] 2:1040-41). The baptism of this Joan is found in the Colyton Bishops' Transcripts: "Jane [sic] Newton of John 20 March 1616[/7]," thus making her about age 23 at the date of the marriage to Alvord in 1640.
Joan/Jane's brother, Anthony Newton of Colyton, was, as his father's will indicates, an immigrant to New England. Anthony was in Dorchester, Mass., in 1637 as a proprietor and was granted lands in Braintree in 1639 but did not live there. He engaged in the settlement of Lancaster, Mass., in 1652, but there is no indication that he lived there either. He moved to Milton, Mass., and was one of the first members of the church there, 24 2m [April] 1678, his wife joining the church from Dorchester on 18 7m [Sept.] 1681 (Charles Henry Pope, "Pioneers of Massachusetts" [Boston 1900] p. 328). He was voted land in Milton from the "new grant," "not as an original settler but as one who had claims as an early townsman" (NEHGR 49:482). Anthony died in Milton 5 May 1704 ae 94 years, without a probate record (Milton VR p. 236). A deed in 1696/7 explains why: he left all of his land to his son Ephraim, who probably supported him until his death (Suffolk Co. LR 21:565).
Anthony1 Newton is the most likely father of Hannah, wife of Joseph Phelps, and Anthony's sister Joan/Jane Newton is the most likely wife of Benedict Alvord. Anthony Newton of Dorchester and Milton did have a daughter Hannah. From the "Records of the First Church of Dorchester in New England, 1636-1734" (Boston 1891) (hereafter Dorchester CR), p. 6, we find that "goodman newton" is listed as a member of the church on "28 of 12 mo. [Feb.] 1641." Then the baptisms follow, without parents' names: Hannah Newton and Mary Newton "1 mo.: 6to 1642" [6 March 1641/2]; John Newton "8to 11mo 1642" [8 Jan. 1642/3]; Ephraim Newton "19 - 7mo. 47" [19 Sept. 1647]; Abigail Newton "18-12-50" [18 Feb. 1650/1] (Dorchester CR pp. 154, 155, 158, 160); it appears that these are the children of Anthony. If John, Ephraim, and Abigail were baptized shortly after birth, then Hannah and Mary were probably born from 1636 to 1640. This would make Hannah a perfect age to marry Joseph Phelps in 1660.
We don't know enough to prove the parentage of Hannah (Newton) Phelps, and Joan (Newton) Alvord. The solution suggested is simply the odds-on most likely one. In view of Anthony's traveling about, particularly on matters concerning settlement at Lancaster, we may speculate that Hannah visited her aunt Joan/Jane Alvord in Windsor, and there met her future husband. Windsor was settled primarily by people from Dorchester, Mass.
I am grateful to the late Dr. Claude W. Barlow, FASG, and the late Dr. George E. McCracken, FASG, for their analyses of the Newton-Phelps-Alvord problems; to Ann S. Lainhart, Boston, Mass., for research on Anthony Newton; to Donna Siemiatkoski, Windsor, Conn., for research in Windsor records; and to Alison Franks, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, for first pointing out the Newton-Phelps error to me."
2. The book "The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors," comp. by Oliver Seymour Phelps of Portland, Oregon and Andrew T. Servin of Lenox, Massachusetts, 1899, pp.91-93:
"Joseph Phelps, b. England, about 1629, emigrated to New England with his father, settling with his father in Dorchester, Mass., removing to the settling of Windsor, Ct., in 1635-6
He m. 1st, Hannah Newton 20 Sep 1660 (Says another authority, 2 Sep 1660; this may be the date of publication.) She d. in Simsbury, 1675. She was the daughter of Roger Newton and sister of Joan Newton, who m. Benedict Alvord. He m. 2nd, Mary Salmon, 9 Jan 1676. She was widow of Thomas Salmon. She d. 16 Jan 1682 (Northampton Rec.), by her he had no issue.
Mr. Phelps' residence in Windsor was next to his brother Williams', on the road running east and crossing the Poquonock road, and near the present Poquonock road.
Says the history of Simsbury in 1666: 'The Committee specified terms upon which those who took lands in Massaco (now Simsbury), should have them.' The record of the 1st grant was made in 1667; of the thirty, in all who had grants we find in Weatonge (a district), Joseph Phelps.
In 1669, by order of the Assembly in a record of the Freeman of each town, we find with others belonging ot Massaco (now Simsbury), Joseph Phelps.
The early settlers of Simsbury suffered greatly by the Indians. On 13 Mar 1676, it was ordered by the General Court that the people of Simsbury remove to the neighboring settlements or plantations with their cattle and valuables, and soon after their buildings were burned by the Indians. This took place Sat., 26 Mar 1676.
Says Phelps the Historian: ' The ruin was complete. Nothing but desolation remained. During all the Indian wars before and since this event, no destruction of an English settlement in New England had taken place, in which the ruin was more extensive or more general than this conflagration.
A neighboring mountain overlooking Simsbury was then called 'Phelps Mountain,' because Mr. Phelps owned lands on it, and where it is supposed King Philip was then encamped, overlooking and gloating in the destruction he had caused.
Early in 1676, the danger being over, most of the settlers returned.
4 May 1677, we find Joseph Phelps, with nine othes, petitioning the General Assembly for assistance in taxing, on accuount of loss caused by the Indians, which was partially granted.
17 May 1683, we find him with 31 others, in all 32 (probably the voters of Simsbury at that time) signing a paper, the substance of which was that they not agreeing on a spot for locating their Meeting House, there being two places selected. It was decided to cast lots, and Gov. John Talcott and Capt. John Allyn were chosen to do this...
In a deposition taken at Hartford 22 May 1677, he is mentioned as being about 46 years old.
Mr. Phelps was made a Freeman in 1664, and died in 1684, aged 55.
His children, all by the first wife, Hannah Newton, were:
I. Joseph, b. Windsor, 20 Aug 1667, bp. 27 Aug 1667, m. 1st Mary Collier; 2nd Sarah Case; 3rd Mary Case.
II. Hannah, b. Windsor, 2 Feb 1668, d. young.
III Timothy, b. Simsbury, Ct., 18 May 1671, m. Rachel Moore.
IV. Sarah, b. Simsbury, May 1672, m. John Hill.
V. William, b. Simsbury, May 1674, d. unm. 8 Oct 1689.
7 May 1682, we find his name in a petiiton to retain the Rev. Samuel Snow."
3. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 565: "Joseph (son of William), m. (1) 20 Sep 1660 Hannah (dau. Roger) Newton (O.C.R.), and sister of John Newton, who m. Benedict Alvord; she d. in Simsbury 1671. He m. (2) 9 Jan 1676, Mary Salmon (Northampton "Recs.), widow of Thomas Salmon, who d. 16 Jan 1682. He was made a freeman 1664, and d. at S. 1684. His res. in Windsor was next to his brother William's, near the present Poquonok road; but his he sold (1668) to John Gillette, and soon rem. to Simsbury. Children (the two eldest b. in Windsor (O.C.R.), the rest in Simsbury):
a. Joseph, b. 2 Aug 1667.
B. Hannah, b. 2 Feb. 1668; d. yg.
C. Timothy, b. abt. 1671.
D. Sarah, b. abt 1672; m. John Hill; had John, b. 1702.
E. William, b. abt 1674; d. 8 Oct 1689. - 'Col. Rec.' "
[Kerry's notes: Neither Newton nor Salmon biographies are found in this book.]
4. "The American Genealogist," 68(Jul 1990):161-166, "The English Origin of William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn., with Notes on His Marriages," by Myrtle Stevens Hyde:
"William1 Phelps of Dorchester, Mass., and Windsor, Conn....
Children (Phelps) of William, v-viii by his second wife Anne (Dover) (bp. Crewkerne), ix-xi either by Anne or by a third wife (see discussion above)...
vi. Joseph (twin?) bp. 13 Nov. 1628, d. Simsbury, Conn., bef. 5 March 1683/4 (date of inventory of his estate); m. (1) Windsor 20 Sept. 1660 Hannah2 Newton (Windsor Early Recs. p. 57), prob. dau. of Anthony1 Newton of Dorchester and Milton, Mass. (TAG 65:13-16); m. (2) Northampton 19 [not 9] Jan. 1676 Mary (___), widow of Thomas Salmon of Northampton (Northampton TR, microfilm at FHL; Selim Walker McArthur [ed. Donald Lines Jacobus], "McArthur-Banes Ancestral Lines" [Portland, Maine, 1964] p. 153). For Joseph2 Phelps' probate, see Manwaring 1:347-48..."
MARRIAGE:
1. From the book "New England Marriages Prior to 1700,' by Clarence Almon Torrey, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, copy in the Windsor, CT., Historical Society Library, p. 576:
"Phelps, Joseph (approx. 1629-1684 and 1/wf Hannah Newton (-1675, 1671?); 20 Sep 1660, 2 Sep, 20 Sep; Windsor, CT/Simsbury, CT.
Phelps, Joseph (-1684) and 2/wf Mary (___) Salmon (-1682?) w Thomas; 19 Dec 1676, 9 Jan 1676; Northampton."
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1642 - 1675 (~ 32 years)