Mary Gilson

Mary and her husband were part of the romantic, adaptive Compromise Generation. Her daughter was part of the idealistic Transcendental Generation.

Year by year in the life of Mary Gilson
The childhood and adolescence of Mary Gilson in their historical context
The prime years of Mary Gilson in their historical context
The mature years of Mary Gilson in their historical context
The final years of Mary Gilson in their historical context

Descent chart

Birth of Mary Gilson
Born: 7 May 1771
Birthplace: Pepperell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Parents
Father: John Gilson, d. 1776 (our ancestor)
John Gilson was shot (and presumed killed) in the Battle of White Plains
Mother: No information on Mary's mother, our ancestor
Siblings
No information on siblings
Spouse and children
Husband: Joshua Phelps II, 1774-1807 (our ancestor),
from Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
(son of Joshua Phelps I and Lois Ballard Phelps, our ancestors)
Married in Pepperell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, 13 January 1796
Daughter: Mary Phelps, 1802-1866 (our ancestor)
No information on other children
Other information
Occupation: Probably housewife
Religion: No information available
Death of Mary Gilson Phelps
Died: 24 October 1856
(age 85 years 5 months 17 days)
Deathplace: Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
Buried West Parish Cemetery, Andover, Massachusetts
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Sources on Mary Gilson Phelps:

  • Wendy Edmands Pearson, in her research for membership in the Colonial Dames
  • Mary Caroline Findley Edmands, 1887-1970, in her research for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution
  • Mary Anna Hawes Edmands Ashbrook, 1917-1992, in her compilation of Mary Caroline Findley Edmands's research,
    which included the following tombstone inscription at West Parish Cemetery: "In memory of Mr. Joshua Phelps who died Aug. 23, 1807."

    Mary Ashbrook cited "Attested Records #2 G & H #5 #6 Andover, Mass. V.R. vol. 1, p. 303; vol. 2, p. 49." Town Clerk's Records, Andover, Mass.: "Died in Andover. Mary Phelps aged 85 years, wife of Joshua Phelps; born in Andover, parents not given, buried in West Andover." Tombstone inscription, West Parish Cemetery, Andover, Mass.: "In memory of Mary, wife of Joshua Phelps who died Oct. 24, 1856, 85 years, 5 months."

    Mary Ashbrook cited Manuscript Genealogy of Phelps Family by Charlotte Helen Abbott, Mem. Hall Library, Andover, Mass., p. 8, as well as the disputes with the data there:
    Samuel Phelps 5 (Samuel 4-3, Edward 2, Henry 1) and wife Priscilla Chandler had Joshua 6 born June 25, 1738 who married Lois Ballard in 1767, daughter of Hezekiah Ballard and wife Lydia Chandler, born July 19, 1746. He died Dec. 23, 1798, and she died Dec. 21, 1836. Children of above recorded on p. 10:

    • Lois, born May 26, 1767, m. Isaac Blunt, Jr.
    • Hannah, born 1769, married Nathan Abbott
    • Joshua(7) born 1774, married Mary Gilson of Pepperell, 1795, daughter of John Gilson; she was born in 1778(?) and died Oct. 24, 1856. Her father was shot [and presumed killed?] at the Battle of White Plains, N.Y. [this was in 1776!, so he could not have begat a daughter born in 1778].
    • Samuel, born 1779
    Included in Miss Abbott's list of children for Joshua(7) and wife Mary (Gilson) Phelps is Mary, born Aug. 21, 1802, married Levi Bean.

    "Note: The Phelps genealogy does not have a correct record of this family as the Andover, Mass., Vital Records and the above records prove." --L.W.M. [Mrs. McQueston]

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