The Phelps Family
Eleanor ___ Phelps had five children when she married Thomas Trusler of Salem, Massachusetts.
It is possible that they were married in England, as Thomas had been married before and had a daughter in England. She and her family were certainly here by 1634. Thomas had set up his business of brick making in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1629. They were members of the first church in Salem in 1639. The Trusler farm was “in the woods” about 5 miles from the meetinghouse in Salem, at the site of the modern town of West Peabody.
Eleanor Trusler was taken to court, in April 1644, for her Gortonist opinions, saying, “our teacher Mr. Norris taught the people lies.” Governor Winthrop was advised to bind her over to Boston Court as an example others might fear, lest “That heresie doeth spread which at length may prove dangerous.” At the Trusler trial, one Casandra Southwick testified that Eleanor “did question the government ever since she came.”
Thomas died in 1654. Eleanor’s will was written in 1655, leaving the farm to her two sons jointly.
Children:
Nicholas Phelps, son of Eleanor Phelps Trusler, was born before 1629 in England. He was a weak man with a crooked back, and a strong spirit.
He was married about 1650 to Hannah Baskel, and lived on the family farm. In the late 50’s they became Quakers, and suffered severe persecution. (See the following story on Hannah Baskel)
Henry was banished from Massachusetts on pain of death in May 1659. He went to Barbados, to England in 1661, to protest the treatment to King Charles II. Upon his return, he was not well, and died in late 1662, or 1663, at Salem.
In 1664, Hannah was married/2 to his brother Henry and moved to Albemarle Sound, Carolina. Henry died between 1672 and 1676, and Hannah was married for the third time to James Hill. She may have been married, fourthly, at Perquimans Quarterly meeting to Joseph Smith on 7 March 1695/6.
Children:
Jonathan Phelps Sr., son of Nicholas Phelps and Hannah Baskel, was born about 1652, in Salem, Massachusetts, and moved as a child to Albemarle County, Carolina.
He was married about 1674, at Perquimans Monthly Meeting, North Carolina, to Hannah (_______). He also was a staunch Quaker like his parents. Most of the early Quaker meetings were held at his house. The monthly meeting was established at his house in 1683.
He died 21 February 1688/9. His widow was married the last of March 1690, to John Lilly, and had two daughters born at Perquimans: Sarah Lilly, born 15 June 1691, and Hannah Lilly, born 29 September 1694.
Hannah Phelps Lilly died 15 February 1700/1 and John Lilly died 17 July 1701, both in Perquimans County, North Carolina.
Children:
Samuel Phelps, son of Jonathan Phelps and Hannah, was born 6 August 1684, in Albemarle County, Perquimans Monthly Meeting, North Carolina. He was married there about 1705 to Hannah (______).
In 1701 he and James Chesen petitioned the court for a share in the crop made that year at John Lilly’s saying that they had lived with Lilly (his stepfather) until he died. Samuel was awarded a full share and Chesen was given a half share.
By an act of the assembly in 1715, Samuel was appointed a vestryman in the established church; and in 1724, he was appointed justice of the peace for the precinct of Perquimans, he died between April and July 1728. The children were all born there.
Children:
Jonathan Phelps III, son of Jonathan Phelps and Hannah, was born 13 April 1687, in Perquimans, Albemarle County, North Carolina.
He was married there 16 day 12 month (February) 1720, to Elizabeth Toms, born 20 November 1699, in Perquimans, daughter of Francis Toms and Margaret Bogue Larence. (See Bogue Family, Part IV and Toms Family, Part II)
Jonathan died there between December and January 1732/33.
Elizabeth was married/2 at Perquimans in 1734, to Zachariah Nixon, the 4th, by whom she had other children. (See: Nixon Family, Part II). Her will was dated 16 February 1769.
The children were all born in Perquimans.
Children:
Henry Phelps, son of Jonathan Phelps and Elizabeth Toms, was born 5 March 1724/5, in Perquimans County, North Carolina.
He was married on 3d 6mo (August) 1748, in Perquimans Monthly Meeting, Perquimans County, North Carolina to Margaret Newby, who was born 29 May 1728, in Perquimans, the daughter of Francis Newby and Huldah Hunnicutt. (See Newby Family, Part II)
Huldah Hunnicutt was born about 1701, in Prince George County, Virginia, and died before April 1744, in Perquimans County. She was the daughter of Robert Hunnicutt, born in 1675, died 1752, married about 1700, to Margaret Wyke, born about 1675, Virginia.
He died in Perquimans County in 1752, between 1 May and July.
Will written: 19 May 1752
Will Probated: July, 1752
Perquimans Co., NC
Son: Jonathan ("all my lands and plantations * * * the fourth part of my negroes * * * Foxes Journals first and second part &c." Wife and Executrix: Margaret. Daughter: Elizabeth Phelps. Executors: Jonathan Phelps (brother) and Zachariah Nixon (father-in-law). Witnesses: Francis Tomes, Francis Nixon and Sarah Newby. Clerk of the Court: Edmund Hatch.
Margaret was married/2 on 3 October 1753, to Joseph Outland.
Children:
Jonathan Phelps IV, son of Jonathan Phelps and Elizabeth Toms, was born 28 12month (February) 1730/1, in Perquimans County, North Carolina.
He was married 5 October 1750, to Dorothy Jordan. He died in Perquimans in 1759. Dorothy was married/24 April 1762, to John Skinner.
Children: