Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Nathaniel Phelps

Male 1678 - 1746  (68 years)


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  • Name Nathaniel Phelps 
    Born 7/07 Jan 1677/8  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Christened 13/13 Jan 1677/8  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 23 Sep 1746  Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I2118  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father Timothy Phelps,   b. 1 Sep 1639, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 2 Mar 1716/1717 to 28 Sep 1719, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years) 
    Mother Mary Griswold,   b. 5 Oct 1644, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. From 1717 to 1719, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 72 years) 
    Married 19/19 Mar 1661/2  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F1213  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Hannah Bissell,   b. 18 Sep 1682, Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1717, Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 34 years) 
    Married 28 Mar 1700  Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1273  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Abigail Filley,   b. Dec 1685, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Nov 1761, Hebron, Tolland, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 75 years) 
    Married 5 Nov 1719  of Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1274  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Mentioned in father's will and listing of father's children as follows per 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. 93-97:
      "Hartford Probate Records. Vol. 9, p.p. 338. Last will and testament of Mr. Timothy Phelps of Windsor, in the County of Hartford and Colony of Connecticut in New England.
      'I, Timothy Phelps of Windsor, in the town, county and colony aforesaid in New England, being very aged, and yet through the mercy of God retaining a good measure of that understanding and memory that he had been pleased to bestow upon me, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament: First, I commit my soul to God in Jesus Christ my saviour and my body to the earth, to be decently entered. As for my estate Real and personal, my just Debts and funeral expenses being deducted and paid by my Ex's, I will devise and bequeath as followeth.
      Imprimis, I give, devise, and bequeath all my estate whatsoever, Both Real and personal, To my three sons William, Cornelius, and Samuell to have and to hold and Improve the same in trust for the use of my wife during her natural life and after her decease my will is and I hereby do give and devise all my houseing and Lands with the appurtenances, to my sons Timothy Phelps, William Phelps, Cornelius Phelps, Samuel Phelps, Natl. Phelps and the heirs of Joseph Phelps, in the Room of their father to be equally divided into Six Equal parts provided always; and it is my will that they pay and make up to their Sisters Sarah, Hannah, Ann and Martha, my daughters or to their heirs and to the heirs of my daughter Abigail deceased fourty eight pounds as money apiece and my will is that what they have already received as entered upon my book shall be reckoned as part of said sum and if my said sons and the heirs of my son Joseph shall pay their sisters and their heirs above mentioned in equal proportion except that the heirs of Joseph shall pay four pounds more then an equal proportion and my son Cornelius four pounds less then an equal proportion. And my will further is that my wife shall have the free disposal of all her wearing apparel at her decease and that my grandson Samuel Tiler shall have half of that bequeathed to the heirs of my Daughter Abigail if he liveth with me so long as I live or till he comes to the age of eighteen years and I do hereby nominate and appoint my living wife Mary to be my executrix and my three sons William, Cornelius and Sam'l to be my executors to this my last will and testament.
      In witness whereof that his is my last will and Testament I ye sd. Timothy Phelps have hereto put my hand and seal this Second day of March Anno Domini 1716 or 1717. Timothy (his X mark and a seal] Phelps... [Witnesses: John Mansfield and Thomas Moore.]
      And whereas I being aged and my wife so and not knowing how long it may please God to continue my life and not knowing what debts and charge may Arise before I leave this world my will is that my sons and my daughters & their heirs shall pay their equal parts and shares of my debts and charges after my decease and my daughters Sarah Hannah, Ann & Martha & and the heirs of Abigail shall have fourty six pounds apiece with what they have already have to be paid as money out of my estate after my decease by the charge as above mentioned I intend that if there be any extraordianry charge so that the improvement of my estate will not maintain me this addition of my will was made and published this 2nd day of March 1716 or 1717. Timothy [his X mark and a seal] Phelps. Witnessess: John Mansfield and Thomas Moore.'
      [There is another statement added 28 Sep 1719 wherein the two witnesses came before Matthew Allyn, Asst., to declare that they saw Timothy Phelps sign the document with a sound mind and memory.]
      Children [listed in the book] (all born Windsor, CT.) were:
      I. Timothy, b. 1 Nov, bp. 8th 1663, m. Martha Crow.
      II. Joseph, b. 27 Sep 1666, m. Sarah Hosford.
      III. William, b. 4 Feb 1669, m. 1st Abigail Mudge, 2nd Ruth Barber.
      IV. Cornelius, b. 26 Apr 1671, m. Sarah Mansfield.
      V. Mary, b. 14 Aug 1673, d. 23 May 1690, aged 17 yrs.
      VI. Samuel, b. 29 Jan 1675, m. Abigail Eno.
      VII. Nathaniel, b. 7, bp. 13 Jan 1677, m. 1st Hannah Bissell, 2nd Abigail Pinney.
      VIII. Sarah, b. 27 Dec 1679, m. David Marshall of Hebron, Ct.
      IX. Abigail, b. 3 Jun 1682, m. Samuel Filer.
      X. Hannah, b. 2, bp. 16 Aug 1684, m. Thomas Phelps.
      XI. Anne, b. 2 Oct 1686, m. David Porter.
      XII. Martha, b. 12 Nov 1688, m. Corporal Samuel Holcomb."

      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. 110-111:
      "Capt. Nathaniel Phelps, b. Windsor, CT., 7 Jan, bapt 27 Jan 1677-8, removed with his brother Timothy to the settling of Hebron in 1690, before marrying. He m. 1st Hannah Bissel, 28 Mar 1700, dau. of Samuel and Abigail (Holcomb) Bissel. She b. Windsor, 18 Sep 1682, d. in Hebron 24 Feb 1717, aged 35 yrs. Her father was the fourth child of John Bissell the emigrant. He married 2nd Abigail Pinney, 5 Nov 1719, died Hebron, 28 Nov 1761. Capt. Phelps was the first town clerk on the organization of the town of Hebron in 1708-9, an active man in town affairs and captain of the militia. He died in Hebron, 23 Sept., 1746, in his 69th year.
      Children by 1st wife, Hannah Bissel, born Hebron, CT:
      I. Hannah, b. 22 Jan 1701-2, m. Jacob Sherwin.
      II. Nathaniel, b. 19 Sep 1703, m. Mary Curtis, 2nd Rachel Sawyer.
      III. Joshua, b. 19 Sep 1709, d. 1 Jan 1712 (or 28).
      Iv. Solomon, b. 29 Jul 1716, m. Temperance Barber.
      Children by 2nd wife, Abigail Pinney:
      V. Abigail, b. 18 Apr 1721, m. three times.
      VI. Alexander, b. 6 Jan 1723-4, m. widow Anna Phelps, 2nd Theodora Wheelock.
      VII. Mehitable, b. 23 Jan 1726, m. David Ingraham."

      3. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, pp. 565-6: "Timothy Phelps (Lt.) (son of William), m. 19 Mar (1661, Old Church Record) Mary (dau. of Edward) Griswold of Kenilworth, CT, b. at Windsor, 5, bp. 13 Oct 1644, and d. some years before her husband. He owned the Half-Way Covenant, Windsor Church, 8 Nov 1663 (O.C.R.); he was freeman at Windsor, 1664; rec'd his commission as Lieut. under Col. Wm. Whiting, with Capt. Matthew Allyn, in 1709 in Queen Anne's War; he d. 1719; the will of Capt. Tim. Phelps of Windsor, dated 2 Mar 1717, mentions all his twelve children (except Mary who died young) and 'grandson Samuel Filer'; he resided in Windsor on the original Phelps homestead. Children (born Windsor, first eight O.C.R.):
      A. Timothy, b. 1 (bp. 8, O.C.R.), Nov 1663.
      B. Joseph, b. 27 Sep 1666.
      C. William, b. 4 Feb 1668(9).
      D. Cornelius, b. 26 Apr 1671.
      E. Mary, b. 14 Aug 1673; d. 23 May 1690.
      F. Samuel, b. 29 Jan 1675.
      G. Nathaniel (Capt.), b. 7 (bp.13, O.C.R.) Jan 1677.
      H. Sarah, b. 27 Dec 1679; m. David Marshall.
      I. Abigail, b. 5 Jun 1682; m. Samuel Filer; she d. 28 Jan 1709.
      J. Hannah, b. 4 Aug 1684; m. as 2d wife Jas. Eno.
      K. Ann, b. 2 Oct 1686; m. David Porter.
      L. Martha, b. 12 Nov 1688; m. Corp. Samuel Holcomb."

      4. Henry R. Stiles, "The History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," 1892, v. 2, p. 569: "Nathaniel Phelps (son of Lt. Timothy, g.son of William), rem. to Hebron, Conn., 1690, with his elder brother Timothy; at org. of Hebron was chosen first town clerk. He d. Hebron 23 Sep 1746; m. (1) 28 Mar 1700, Hannah (dau. Samuel and Abigail Holcomb) Bissell, b. Windsor, 18 Dec 1682; d. Hebron 24 Feb 1717; (2) Abigail Pinney, 5 Nov 1719. Children (b. Hebron):
      A. By first wife:
      a. Hannah, b. 22 Jan 1701/2; m. Jacob Sherwin, 20 Mar 1734.
      b. Nathaniel (Lt.), b. 19 Sep 1703; m. (1) Mary Curtis, 26 Aug 1726; (2) Rachel Savage, 26 Mar 1752.
      c. Joshua, b. 19 Sep 1709; d. 12 Jan 1712/13.
      d. Solomon, b. 29 Jul 1716; married Temperance Barber, 10 May 1738; resided Hebron; 9 children.
      B. By second wife:
      e. Abigail, b. 18 Apr 1721; m. a Bartholomew.
      f. Alexander, b. 6 Jan 1723/4.
      g. Mehitable, b. 23 Jan 1726; m. David Ingraham, 4 Sep 1746; res. Hebron; had (1) David (Ingraham), b. 16 Jan 1748."

      5. From the book "Our Town's Heritage, 1708-1958, Hebron, Connecticut," by John Sibun, 1975, Connecticut State Historical Society:
      "The first white men to settle in town were Timothy Phelps and William Shipman, who arrived in Hebron from Windsor in June 1704. The area, then a wilderness, was used by the Indians as a hunting ground, and the few white men who knew of its existence passed through to other locations. The first two houses were located along Route 85 south of today's center. Approximately on what is now the Hilding driveway, Shipman built his homestead and Phelps constructed his home across the road on the land now owned by the Porter family. It is possible they worked on their property during the summer months only for the first two years, and returned to their families in Windsor when winter set in.
      The settlers had some prior knowledge of what to expect before they arrived, as the land had been scouted years before but never occupied. Like so much territory on which Connecticut towns were founded, Hebron's land was owned originally by the Indians. However, in the case of Hebron, it was obtained not by seizure or conquest, but legally, in the form of a legacy drawn up by Joshua, Sachem of the Western Nehantics…
      …Hebron became an incorporated town in May 1708 with nine families living within its boundaries.
      Up until then, Lebanon excepted, towns had been named for their English counterparts and Hebron was the second Biblical name used in Connecticut. No one is certain how or why the name of Hebron came to be used. It may have been named by a scholar of the Bible, for it was apt in that its Hebrew origin meant a settlement created by people coming from diverse directions. There are numerous Hebrons in the United States, and the one in Nova Scotia was founded by people from Hebron, Connecticut, who were Tory "refugees." The original Hebron in Palestine was old in Abraham's day and is believed to be one of the two oldest cities in the world.
      The first settlers in Hebron included Shipmans, Roots, Sawyers, Posts, Tillotsons, Palmers, Curtis, and two families of Phelps. Filers, Jones, Youngs, and Trumbulls were also among the very earliest families.
      Probably the first spot named in the area was Prophet's Rock in use even before the name of Hebron. Prophet's Rock, located on the Smith property on Burrows Hill Road, is really two pieces of granite which look as though one large mass had been cleaved down the middle. It stands on the brow of the highest point around with one stone slightly larger and higher than the other. Each part of the rock has an overhang where one can huddle snugly from the rain and wind, and a sheltered place where a fire can be lighted. It is easy to see why Indians probably used the rock for refuge and observation when on the trail. When man was not there, it became a natural lair for the hunted animal or one sheltering itself from the noonday sun.
      Here in 1706, so legend has it, the wives of Shipman and Phelps came to find their husbands. One evening the two original settlers heard strange sounds echoing across the valley, and an investigation revealed their families standing on the rock calling for them. It is conjecture whether they really could be heard. Be that as it may, the men were overjoyed to be reunited with their families. Martha Crow Phelps thought her place was with her husband and on her own initiative had resolved the situation. Bringing with her the goods that would make life in a virgin area more bearable, she camped along the way as the trip apparently took a few days. It is said she did not hurry, but negotiated the rough going stoically, clutching her Bible to herself as she lay down in the shelter of rocks and rested under fallen trees. Born in Windsor 36 years before, it could not have been an easy decision to make the journey, for Martha's mother had "disappeared" many years before when she had set out on a like journey to seek her husband.
      Hebron is the 41st oldest town in the state and its very early origin can be shown by the fact that the Mayflower had arrived at Plymouth a bare 80 years before the first white men came to the region. For many people this magic date, to all intents and purposes, marks the start of the country's history. During the 1600's Plantations were founded in areas such as Saybrook, Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield which were accessible by waterways. It was not until later that inland towns, such as Hebron, came into being.
      The 17th century was a time when the Indians in Connecticut chose sides and either fought for, or against, the white man. The Pequot tribe, which alone outnumbered the Englishmen, was one of the biggest and fiercest bands which roamed the countryside and frequently plundered the tiny colonies. Eventually, with the aid of other tribes, notably the Mohegans of Saybrook who hunted up through Hebron, the white man gradually brought lasting peace to the Connecticut countryside.
      Before 1704 there was nothing to distinguish Hebron from the rest of this part of New England. Deer and other wild game roamed across a brush wilderness, slept in the caves, and sunned themselves on the great slabs of rock which dotted the countryside. Hunting the game to provide food and clothing, Indians from the local tribes hurried along the trails that had been blazed up from the shore line. Hebron was laced with these paths. The town area, as we know it now, probably did not support a regular large community of Indians, but from time to time, may have had isolated small resident groups.
      In addition to hunting, the Indians used the area for a little seasonal farming. Each spring, the tribes would send some of their members to take possession of large inland hillsides suitable for growing corn. To clear the land quickly, vegetation was burned to the ground. Other Indians arrived with seed corn and ground fish porgies for fertilizer, and after the planting was completed, returned to their shore line homes. At the end of the summer the Indians collected their harvest. Some of it was used on the spot for a big celebration feast complete with dances around a corn stalk fire. The festivities over, the Indians headed for the shore with a corn supply which they hoped would last them through the long winter months ahead. Indians still used Burnt Hill, situated next to the Hebron road of that name, for growing corn long after the first white men came, but gradually the settler edged the red man out of his use of this type of land.
      Very little, if any, trouble occurred between the first local Hebron settlers and the Indians. But in the first few decades when there was general unrest in the state, some residents took to sleeping in a Block House which was situated near the site of the old Brick School and what is now the junction of Route 85 and the Old Colchester Road.
      In 1705, the Connecticut General Assembly authorized John Pritchard and John Plumb to survey the five mile tract (what is now part of the eastern and southern sides of Lebanon), the boundaries to be marked on convenient rocks. These markers remain; the one in Goshen bears the legend LVMC (for Lebanon Five Mile Corner). Many years ago, Clarence Bissell led a small party to rediscover the Hebron "L Rock." They set off from what is now Archie Green's house and located a flat rock three quarters of a mile from the southwest corner of Amston Lake; the chiseled "L" was still legible.
      The "town fathers" also established laws at this time with which to govern the community. The first complete record of Town Officers was made in December 1709 when a town clerk, constable, 3 townsmen, surveyor of highways, and a lister were elected. It was voted that a diamond would be the town brand for cattle, and a certain white oak centrally located, was designated as the town's notice board. Initially, town meetings were held in various private homes. At this time, the primary business at meetings was that of establishing a church.
      An early town law stated that no timber, wood, hay, or stone could be transported out of town. This was to ensure that the community did not experience any shortages in its attempt to become self-sufficient. In 1710 the state was petitioned to allow the town the right to tax the land within its boundaries.
      There are few details of the first town meeting which was held on September 20, 1708, at which Timothy Phelps was elected Town Clerk. Another Phelps, Nathaniel, was "elected" in 1712 to be the town's first innkeeper. It appears that enough visitors were passing through the village to warrant such action. His tavern was situated near the Colchester line…
      …It is very hard to find a time in the town's history when a Jones was not in residence. The oldest family grave- stones go back to 1775, but Joneses were in town long before that time. Many of them were soldiers including Ezekiel Jones who had been a drummer boy in the Revolution. Several towns in the state have a Jones family, and it is safe to say probably in many cases their ancestors came from Hebron many years before. Not only is there a street called after the prolific Jones family in Hebron, but there is a cemetery on that street named for them. For many years, they gathered once a year to put the cemetery grounds in order and at the same time have a picnic where everyone was brought up to date on the news of all branches of the family.
      One Hebron Jones, Joel, found that being a principal citizen of the village had its drawbacks. In the late 18th century, he spent some time imprisoned in Tolland jail after the town was unable to pay its county taxes. This was one way the law could be enforced to collect taxes, but para- doxically, a sure way that a person could gain the respect of his fellow citizens…"
      [Included with this article is a line drawing depicting "Martha Crow Phelps seeks her husband, with her on the "Prophet's Rock." Also there is a photo of the rock. Also included is a copy of a township map drawn in 1744 by Isaac Pinney with the original in the Connecticut State Library Ecclesiastical Vol. VII. The map lists the following Phelps: Esq. Phelps, Capt. Phelps, N. Phelps, C. Phelps, Noah Phelps, S. Phelps, and Phelps. The Phelpses are generally clustered to the east of the township center and approximately a third of the way up from the bottom of the township. There is only one "Jones" listed and that is on the western edge approximately 2 miles up from the southern border. This was John Jones' residence at which time he would have been a teenager in the household. There is still a Jones Street and Pond at the old location of the Jones. There is also a Jones Cemetery. Also listed are three "Porters" just to the west of the Phelps.]

      5. From an undated newspaper article published by the "Manchester (Connecticut) Evening Herald": "Hebron in History and Story," by Susan B. Pendleton. Article found in the Windsor Historical Society Library, call no. R979.6N:
      "When the Herald indicated a willingness to allow space for some bits of fact and legend about Hebron, it deleighted me beyond measure, and I only wished that my old friend F. Clarence Bissell of blessed memory were here to help in the task. We people of Hebron probably owe more to Mr. Bissell for gathering and preserving Hebron history than to any other person, not even excepting that delightful old historian, the Rev.Samuel Peters, who sang Hebron's glories in the early days in such a way that it was hard to tell fact from fancy.
      Hebron as a town may, be said to have taken its initial start in the world of Attawanhood, (whose baptismal name was Joshua), sachem of the Western Nehantics, and third son of Uncas, gread sachem of the Mohegans, made a will, February 1675-6, giving to twenty-nine Saybrook men and women a large tract of land, with a map drawn by himself, showing its location on both sides of the Unguashot River. This river, which runs along the eastern part of Marlborough near the Hebron line, is now commonly known as the Blackledge river, and a sign placed by the state gives that name. It seems a pity that the old Indian name was not used instead. I believe this word is pronounced as if spelled Ungushet, whith accent on the second syllable. It is a wide and beautiful stream.
      Chistian Convert.
      Attawanhood left part of this land to his children, and wished them to be taught and trained after the manner of the white peoople. The home of this old sachem was in what is now Lyme, near the Eight Mile Island. He became a convert to Christianity and was given the name of Joshua at bptism. His will, which may be found entire in the State Library, is an interesting document, but too long to be quoted here in full. By its terms he gives to his two sons, in addition to other tracts, 'forty acres of land already broke up at Podunk, and also a plot of land about half a mile square lying in the last addition to Hartford bounds, and in case either die, then to my two squaws or the survivor of them. Further, my will is that my children be brought up for the first four years, henceforward, with Trusty and their mother to teach them English, and that they should live at or near Saybrooke.' He provides for his daughter, and gives further direction as to the schooling of the three, adding 'Also it is my desire that they come not among the Connecticut Indians.'
      Trusty was his slave, also an Indian. He says of him 'Also I desire Trusty may not go to the Narragansetts. I have chosen him to have the oversight of my children, as aforesaid. Also I desire to be buried at Saybrooke, in a coffin, in an English manner.'
      The Strange Sign.
      The will is signed and sealed at Pattapoque, Feb. 27, 1675-6. Attawanhood (or Joshua, if we must use his less romantic English name) ...[missing pages]
      ...towns, had been settled, the former in 1700 and the latter in 1702, and there were undoubtedly well defined trails for a good part of the way, over which the settlers made their march.
      Further light is thrown on the beginnings of Hebron by the narrative of Governor John S. Peters, a native of Hebron, born in 1772, in his historical notes written in 1843. He says that the two first settlers built log house on ground 'now occupied by Ira Bissell and Joel Wilcox, in autumn of 1705.' Trumbull has this date 1704, but possibly the discrepancy may be accounted for by the 'old style and new style' system of dates. It seems likely, whatever the date, that the settlers built their log houses that first fall after staking out their claims. Hilding brothers now live on the Ira Bissell place, and when a few years ago, they made some excavations for the purpose of making a foundation for a garage, they came upon the old site of one of the log hosues. An ancient looking ink bottle was found by one of the men while digging. The bottle was whole and is preserved by the Hilding family. While this may have been part of refuse or junk thrown nto the cellar hole or foundation after the old log house had gone down it probably dated well back to the early days of the town. And it may easily have been owned by the first settlers.
      First White Woman.
      Governor Peters in his memoirs tells the story of the coming of the first white woman in these words: 'While the men were making preparations for their families iin the summer of 1706, they brought their provisions with them and remained for weeks at their new homes. Their wives, being anxious for the welfare of their husbands and unwilling to be left too long alone, four or five started one shining morning for the promised land, twenty long miles through the wilderness, regulating their course by marked trees and crossing the streams on logs felled for the purpose.
      Night overtook them in the lower part of Gilead. They wandered from the line and brought up on the hill south of Nathan Smith's house was later located. Fearing that the wolves would regale themselves on their delicious bodies they concluded to roost upon the top of the high rock on the summit of the hill. Here they proclaimed their lamentations to the winds. This novel serenade attracted the attention of their husbands, who wandered towards the sound until they fortunately found their wives on the rock which they had chosen for their night's repose.
      The gratification of the interview can be better imagined than described.'
      As Governor Peters was a great hand for setting down memoirs or historical notes, and as he could easily have talked with the children or grandchildren of these early settlers, there would seem to be no doubt of the truth of the delightful little tale.
      Hardy, Brave Women.
      One can imagine these brave, eager women, impatient at the long delay which had left them at Windsor, separated from their husbands, and with no means of finding out whether they were so much as dead or alive. It is no wonder that, wearied of waiting and eating out their hearts with anxiety, they finally decided to take the matter into their own hands and find out for themselves where their husbands were and how they were faring.
      Two of these women were Timothy Phelps' wife and William Shipman's wife. It is thought that a third may have been Nathaniel Phelps' wife, and it has also been suggested that an unmarried sister or two may have accompanied them. Timothy Phelps' wife was Martha Crow, who was born in Windsor in 1670, and was therefore 36 years old. Her husband was 43, and at the time they had five children, Martha, 16, Timothy, 13, Noah 12, Cornelius, 8, and Charles, 4. It is supposed that the oldest daughter, Martha, may have stayed at home to look out for the younger children.
      Perhaps one reason why Martha, Timothy's wife, was bent on making the trip to the new settlement of her husband was an account of a poignant memory of a painful experience which had happened in her family years before. Her father, Christopher Crow, as tersely noted on Windsor records, had 'disappeared for parts unknown.' His wife, Mary Burr Crow, Martha's mother, going in search of him was never heard from again, so the children were left fatherless and motherless, although, it is said, well provided for. The mystery of the disappearance of the parents has never been solved, though descendants have made all possible research. Probably it was Martha who was the leading spirit in the Hebron walking trip.
      Strange Disappearance.
      They undoubtedly started out early in the morning on a pleasant summer day, wearing homespun garments and stout shoes. No doubt, too, they carried along with them as much provision in the shape of food as they could manage, samples of their own cooking maybe, with which to regale their husbands who had been so long deprived of such good things. Supposedly the trip went well at first; the trail not difficult to follow, logs over the streams easy to cross, the woods green and pleasant whith the sun shining through here and there, marks on the trees to set them right when they were at all doubtful.
      One can picture them resting by the side of some brook, along about noon, eating their carefully carried lunch, and drinking from the stream. By that time their feet were getting tired and they were a little stiff and lame. They went on a little slower, and by and by it began to grow darker in the thick woods, harder to make sure of their way. And at last dusk came creeping on. The shadows gave the trees a wierd look. They could no longer distingush the marks on the trees. It is no wonder that the wayfarers strayed from the trail, casting about in a panic until they brought up in the lower part of Gilead. Only there was not any Gilead then, nothing but wilderness of trees.
      As the darkness deepened, they heard hoarse, ominous sounds, and they wandered wildly here and there in the attempt to find their bearings. No doubt well trained in woods lore the women managed to reestablish their way in the right general direction. Finally they stumbled by chance upon a great boulder in the vicinity of Burrow Hill, near Edwin T. Smith's place. Mr. Smith is a descendant of the Nathan Smith mentioned by Peters in his account. But of course nobody lived there then.
      They hailed the great rock as a heaven sent refuge, and managed somehow or other to scramble up on its rugged sides and cast themselves down on its broad, flat top. If at this stage they gave way to 'lamentations' as the facetious historian, Peters, would have us believe, it is hardly to be wondered at, but I believe that after they had taken a minute or two to catch their breaths and send up a prayer to heaven, they made the welkin ring with a loud hallooing, in the hope that maybe, just possibly, the men would hear them and come to their rescue.
      Rescued.
      The distance across the valley from the rock to the place where the log houses were located in not so far that such a call might not have been heard on a still summer evening. And what a meeting that must have been when the men came hurrying pell mell, to find the women on top of the rock!
      After having walked considerably further than twenty miles, in their wanderings, these hardy pioneer women must have been almost exhausted, but it can easily be imagined that in their delight at finding their 'men folks,' they forgot their weariness and were able to continue the mile or so more to the pleasant little log houses in their promised land.
      Nathaniel Phelps' wife was Hannah Bissell, a daughter of Samuel. From the women of this party many Hebron people have descended, indeed, it is probably not too much to say that about all the old Hebron families can trace back to them in one way or another.
      The rock of the story may be seen today just as it was when the women scrambled atop of it, and many parties of young people or others interested in historical lore continue to visit it. It is on a pasture owned by Edwin T. Smith. It is a relic of the glacial period and by some mighty convulsion."

      6. FHL book 929.273 L995m "Ancestors and Descendants of Thomas Rice Lyon and his Wife Harriet Wade Rice...," by Patty Barthell Myers (2003), pp. 357-60:
      "EDWARD1 GRISWOLD, son of George Griswold and his first wife Dousubel (___) and half-brother of Matthew Griswold...
      [Children...]
      viii MARY GRISWOLD, bpt. Windsor 13 Oct 1644; d. 1690; m. 19 May 1661/2 TIMOTHY PHELPS, b. Windsor 1 Sept 1639; d. 1719, s/o William Phelps and his second wife, Mary Dover. Children (PHELPS): Timothy m. Martha Crow, d/o Christopher Crow and Mary Burr; Joseph m. Sarah Hosford; William m/1 Abigail Mudge, m/2 Ruth Barber, d/o Samuel Barber & Mary Coggens; Cornelius m. Sarah Mansfield; Mary d. in her teens; Samuel m. Abigail Eno, d/o James Eno and Abigail Bissell; Nathaniel m/1 Hannah Bissell, d/o Samuel Bissell & Abigail Holcomb, m/2 Abigail Pinney; Sarah m. David Marshall; Abigail m. Samuel Filer; Hannah m/1 Thomas Phelps, m/2 James3 Eno (James2,1); Ann m. David Porter, s/o John Porter & Joanna Gaylord; Martha m. Samuel Holcomb...
      (Edward Elbridge Salisbury & Evelyn McCurdy Salisbury, Gen. & Biog. Monographs on the Fam. of Griswold, Wolcott, Pitkin, Ogden, et.al.; pp: 10-13; Nash, Fifty Puritan Ancestors, pp. 102-5; Ruth Lee Griswold, Griswold Family, pp. 188-9; Richard A. Wheeler, History of Stonington, Conn., p. 537; Alvan Talcott, Families of Early Guilford, Conn., pp. 530-1; Esther Griswold French and Robert Lewis French, The Griswold Family, The First Five Generations in America, p. 13 et seq.; Savage sv Edward, George, Francis, Joseph Griswold; Torrey sv Edward, George, John, Joseph, Francis Griswold; James Bemis.)"

      CHRISTENING:
      1. There is a discrepancy in the baptismal dates given in the "Phelps Family of America." See both quotes above with one quote saying 13 Jan 1677 and the other 27 Jan 1677-8. I am not sure which is accurate: 13 or 27.

      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, Nathaniel and Hannah Bissell (1682-1717); 28 Mar 1700, 20 Mar 1700; Windsor, CT."

      2. The book "The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records," Hebron Town Vital Records:
      "Phelps, Nath(anie)ll, m. Abigill Pin(n)ey, 5 Nov 1719, vol. 1, p. 70."

      DEATH:
      1. The book "The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records," Hebron Town Vital Records:
      "Phelps, Nathaniell, Capt. d. 23 Sep 1746, vol. 1, p. 44."
      "Phelps, Nathaniel, Capt. d. 23 Sep 1746, vol. 2, p. 337."