Joshua Phelps I

Joshua was part of the reactive, nomadic Liberty Generation. His parents were part of the idealistic Awakening Generation. His wife was part of the heroic, civic-minded Republican Generation. His children were part of the adaptive Compromise Generation.

Year by year in the life of Joshua Phelps I
The childhood years of Joshua Phelps I in their historical context
The adolescence and adulthood of Joshua Phelps I in their historical context

Descent chart

Birth of Joshua Phelps I
Born: 25 June 1738
Birthplace: Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
Parents
Father: Samuel Phelps III, 1712-1795 (our ancestor)
Mother: Priscilla Chandler, 1713-1778 (our ancestor)
Siblings
No information on siblings
Spouse and children
Wife: Lois Ballard, 1746-1836 (our ancestor),
from Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
(daughter of Hezekiah Ballard III, b. 1720 and Lydia Chandler Ballard, b. 1720,
our ancestors)
Married in Andover 17 February 1767
(Joshua and Lois were second cousins,
both of them great-grandchildren of John Chandler I, 1655-1721 and Hannah Abbott Chandler, 1650-1741 (who were themselves first cousins);
Joshua's mother and his mother-in-law were first cousins.
This marriage was the second generation of a second-cousin marriage: Joshua's father and mother were second cousins.)
Daughter: Lois Phelps
b. 26 May 1767, married Isaac Blunt, Jr.
Daughter: Hannah Phelps
b. 10 September 1769, married Nathan Abbott
Son: Joshua Phelps II, 1774-1807 (our ancestor)
Son: Samuel Phelps
b. 15 August 1777, d. 26 Sep. 1778
Other information
Occupation: Fish Officer (charged "to clear the Fish courses and to see that the Laws of the Province relating to the Fish called Alewives be duly observed" during 1775, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1779 in Andover. He also served the town as Surveyor of Highways in 1778 and 1779, and as a Warden in 1781.
Religion: No information available
Death of Joshua Phelps I
Died: 23 December 1798
(age 60 years 5 months 28 days)
Deathplace: Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts
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Sources on Joseph Phelps I:

  • 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, who cited "Attested Records #7 #8 #9 Andover, Mass. V.R. vol. 1, p. 302; vol. 2, p. 270. See Phelps vol. 2, 524." "Joshua [Phelps I] married Lois Ballard 1767; Children: Lois 5/24/1767 married Isaac Blunt, Jr.; Hannah 9/10/1769 married Nathan Abbott; Joshua 4/8/74 married Mary Gilson; Samuel 8/15/1777 buried Sept. 26 1778."

    Concerning the occupation of Joshua Phelps I, Mary Ashbrook cited "Civil Officer, List of Town Officials for Andover, Mass. 1775-1780."

    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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