Ralph Sheldon

Ralph married Barbara Stone on 27 Apr 1629 in Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 29 Jul 1708, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Notes:

Isaac Sheldon (1629-1708) = Mary Woodford (1636-1684)
Thomas Sheldon (1661-1725) = Mary Hinsdale (1665-1738)
Benjamin Sheldon (1697-1773) = Mary Strong (1701-~1770)
Mary Sheldon (1731-1805) = Joseph Lyman, Jr. (1731-1804)
Joseph Lyman III (1767-1847) = Anne Jean Robbins (1789-1867)
Catherine Robbins Lyman (1825-1896) = Warren Delano, Jr. (1809-1898)
Sara Delano (1854-1941) = James Roosevelt (1828-1900)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945)

Isaac married Mary Woodford in 1653 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. Mary (daughter of Thomas Woodford and Mary Blott) was born on 24 Jan 1636 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 17 Apr 1684 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Mehitable Gunn before 1687. Mehitable (daughter of Thomas Gunn and (Unknown wife of Thomas Gunn)) was born on 28 Jul 1644 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut; died in 1720. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Sarah Warner on 25 Nov 1685. Sarah (daughter of Daniel Warner and Mary) was born on 24 Jun 1667 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Hannah Stebbins on 5 Nov 1679. Hannah (daughter of John Stebbins and Abigail Bartlett) was born on 8 Jul 1664 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 29 Feb 1704 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts; was buried in Old Deerfield Burying Ground, Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Elizabeth Lee on 20 Apr 1708. Elizabeth was born in 1669; died on 4 May 1758; was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas Sheldon (1661-1725) = Mary Hinsdale (1665-1738)
Benjamin Sheldon (1697-1773) = Mary Strong (1701-~1770)
Mary Sheldon (1731-1805) = Joseph Lyman, Jr. (1731-1804)
Joseph Lyman III (1767-1847) = Anne Jean Robbins (1789-1867)
Catherine Robbins Lyman (1825-1896) = Warren Delano, Jr. (1809-1898)
Sara Delano (1854-1941) = James Roosevelt (1828-1900)
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882-1945)

Family/Spouse: Mary Hinsdale. Mary was born on 22 Jul 1665; died in Sep 1738. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 27 Aug 1663, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts

Thankful married Benjamin Edwards on 23 Feb 1681. Benjamin (son of Alexander Edwards and Sarah Baldwin) was born on 24 Jun 1652 in Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts; died on 31 Oct 1724 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 10 Apr 1769, Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts

Jonathan married Mary Southwell on 30 Dec 1708 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. Mary (daughter of William Southwell and Sarah Stebbins) was born on 25 Feb 1688 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 11 Jan 1768 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Isaac married Elizabeth Pratt on 28 Feb 1716 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Elizabeth (daughter of Daniel Pratt and Elizabeth Lee) was born on 16 Aug 1693 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 6 Sep 1745 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Leo van de Pas's site has Sarah Sheldon's parents as Isaac Sheldon III and Elizabeth Pratt, and Isaac Sheldon III's parents as Isaac Sheldon Jr. and Sarah Warner. His citation is Gary Boyd Roberts' 1984 book American Ancestors and Cousins of the Prince of Wales. Roberts is a highly respected genealogist, but I literally can't find anyone else who agrees with this. It's still possible, of course, that Roberts is right and the absence of this extra generation is simply one of those gross errors that gets endlessly repeated in online genealogies.

Unfortunately, van de Pas doesn't give dates for any of these people, and I'm guessing (based on Roberts's 600 Immigrants, etc, which I own) that this is because Roberts' book doesn't either. If I find a source with plausible dates that includes the extra generation, I'll be inclined to revisit the question.

Sarah Sheldon family tree from van de Pas's site.

Sarah Sheldon Parsons page at findagrave.com, giving the much more common parentage.

Family/Spouse: Josiah Parsons. Josiah (son of Joseph Parsons and Elizabeth Strong) was born on 2 Jan 1681 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 12 Apr 1768 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary Smith. Mary (daughter of John Smith and Mary Root) was born on 7 May 1689 in Hadley, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 29 Oct 1771 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Old Center Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Samuel Phelps. Samuel (son of Nathaniel Phelps and Grace Martin) was born on 18 Dec 1680 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 9 Dec 1745 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Phineas married Deborah Hathaway on 7 Jun 1743 in West Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Deborah (daughter of Jacob Hathaway and Deborah Kent) was born on 28 Dec 1722 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts; died on 17 Jan 1753 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 22 Aug 1772

Daniel married Lucretia Gross on 31 Dec 1749 in First Church, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Lucretia (daughter of Capt. Jonah Gross and Susannah Howard) was born on 21 Aug 1724 in Hartford County, Connecticut; was christened on 23 Aug 1724 in First Church, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 13 Sep 1772; was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Joseph married Sarah Collyer on 16 Oct 1755 in First Church, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. Sarah (daughter of Daniel Collyer and Thankful Goodwin) was born before 11 Aug 1736; was christened on 11 Aug 1736 in Wethersfield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 21 Dec 1785; was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 23 Dec 1814, Chester, Hampden, Massachusetts

Family/Spouse: Martin Phelps. Martin (son of Deacon Nathaniel Phelps and Abigail Burnham) was born on 24 Dec 1723 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 12 Nov 1795 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married John Hanchett on 5 Jul 1733 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. John (son of John Hanchett and Lydia Hayward) was born on 1 Nov 1709 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 8 Dec 1796 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Simeon married Grace Phelps on 10 Nov 1748 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Grace (daughter of Timothy Phelps and Abigail Merrick) was born on 15 Sep 1728 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 9 Feb 1824 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Zion's Hill Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Martha married Ezra Clark on 13 Dec 1739. Ezra (son of Ebenezer Clark and Abigail Parsons) was born on 4 Apr 1716 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died after 9 Feb 1788 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 26 Dec 1746, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut
• Alternate birth: 1747
• Alternate death: 18 May 1842, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut

Notes:

"The Sheldon Magazine states she was the daughter of David and Mary (Harmon) Sheldon, born 11 Dec. 1745. However, the only Deborah Sheldon of the right age found in Barbour's Suffield records was born 15 Dec. 1745, the daughter of Phineas and Deborah (Hathaway) Sheldon." [The Descendants of Thomas Hanchett, citation details below.]

Deborah married David Hanchett on 24 Oct 1765 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. David (son of John Hanchett and Mary Sheldon) was born on 8 Jun 1743 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 4 Sep 1819 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Mary Sheldon. Mary (daughter of Joseph Sheldon and Sarah Collyer) was born about 1767; died on 25 Feb 1853 in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Aft 19 Feb 1812

Notes:

Still in Hartford, she is identified as her late husband's executor in the Hartford Courant of 4 Mar 1812, page 4.

Her death notice in the Hartford, Connecticut Christian Secretary for 18 Mar 1853, indexed in the Hale Collection (citation details below), says that she died 25 Feb 1853 in Steubenville, Ohio and calls her "Revolutionary War Widow of Roderick of Hartford." Her death in Steubenville was also mentioned in the Hartford Times on 19 Mar 1853.

There is a Find a Grave entry for a Mary Sheldon with no dates at all, only the information that she was buried at Union Cemetery in Steubenville. (This is not the entry for her daughter Mary Sheldon McDowell.) Perhaps it refers to this Mary Sheldon, who did die in Steubenville. But this Mary died in 1853, and the cemetery's web site says it was founded in 1854.

Family/Spouse: Roderick Sheldon. Roderick (son of Daniel Sheldon and Lucretia Gross) was born in 1755; died on 8 Jan 1812 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Old South Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Spencer Phelps and Naomi Clark were third cousins, being both great-great grandchildren of Isaac Sheldon (1629-1708) and Mary Woodford (1636-1684). Who were themselves Gx5-grandparents of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Spencer married Naomi Clark after 19 Mar 1781. Naomi (daughter of Ezra Clark and Martha Phelps) was born on 4 Oct 1753 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 25 May 1784; was buried in Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Spencer married Theodomy Allen after 25 May 1784. Theodomy was born on 25 Nov 1755 in Chesterfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 18 Nov 1841. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

David married Deborah Sheldon on 24 Oct 1765 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Deborah (daughter of Phineas Sheldon and Deborah Hathaway) was born on 15 Dec 1745 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died between 1842 and 1847 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Huldah married Daniel Gillette on 24 Nov 1791 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Daniel (son of Daniel Gillette and Rachel Southwell) was born on 15 Oct 1758 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 14 Feb 1833 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

See the entry for her son Spencer Phelps (1782-1865) for proof that Spencer was her son, not a son of Theodomy Allen, second wife of Spencer Phelps (1753-1829).

Naomi married Spencer Phelps after 19 Mar 1781. Spencer (son of Martin Phelps and Martha Parsons) was born on 20 Feb 1753 in Northampton, Hampshire, Massachusetts; died on 24 Jan 1829 in Deerfield, Franklin, Massachusetts; was buried in Center Cemetery, Chesterfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 22 Feb 1777, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut
• Alternate death: 5 Apr 1813, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut

Hannah married Benajah Kent on 22 Aug 1799. Benajah (son of Deacon Amos Kent and Sarah Austin) was born on 21 Jul 1746; died on 14 Jun 1821 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Old Center Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: of Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio

Notes:

The Find a Grave record for Mary Sheldon, which contains no dates and says only where she was buried, has to refer to this one and not to her mother, because the wife of Roderick Sheldon died in Steubenville in 1853 and Union Cemetery was founded in 1854.

Mary married Alexander Johnston McDowell on 19 Jul 1814 in Jefferson County, Ohio. Alexander (son of Dr. John McDowell and Martha Johnston) was born in 1788 in New London Crossroads, Chester, Pennsylvania; died on 6 Dec 1871 in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio; was buried in Union Cemetery, Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Fought in the War of 1812.

Spencer Phelps (1782-1865) appears in most online genealogies as a son of Spencer Phelps (1753-1829) by his second wife Theodomy Allen (1755-1841). But the older Spencer's first wife Naomi Clark died in 1784. If the younger Spencer was born in 1782, his mother was Naomi Clark, not Theodomy Allen.

Evidence:

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 shows Naomi Clark born 4 Oct 1753 in Northampton, Massachusetts, daughter of Ezra and Martha Clark.

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, "CLARK, NAOMI of Northampton, Intention of marriage to Spencer Phelps, published March 19, 1781."

Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 shows Spencer Phelps born 24 May 1782 in Chesterfield, Massachusetts (just outside Northampton), son of Spencer Phelps and Naomi.

This headstone at Bridge Street Cemetery, Northampton, Massachusetts, of "Mrs. Naomi Phelps Wife of Mr. Spencer Phelps who died May 25 1784 In the 31st Year of her life".

Family/Spouse: Mary Kniep. Mary (daughter of Christian Burchard Kniep and Maribah Miller) was born on 13 Dec 1784 in near Mt. Tom, Hampden, Massachusetts; died on 22 Apr 1851 in Kirtland, Lake, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: 22 Feb 1777, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut
• Alternate death: 5 Apr 1813, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut

Hannah married Benajah Kent on 22 Aug 1799. Benajah (son of Deacon Amos Kent and Sarah Austin) was born on 21 Jul 1746; died on 14 Jun 1821 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in Old Center Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lucinda married Albert Kent on 21 Sep 1825 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Albert (son of Benajah Kent and Hannah Hanchett) was born on 20 Jun 1800 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 10 Mar 1853; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 10 Mar 1856

Albert married Lucinda Gillette on 21 Sep 1825 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Lucinda (daughter of Daniel Gillette and Huldah Sheldon) was born on 2 Oct 1801 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 27 Apr 1855 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Lydia married Eli Todd Tappan on 4 Feb 1851 in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio. Eli (son of Benjamin Tappan, Senator from Ohio and Elizabeth "Betsy" Lord) was born on 30 Apr 1824 in Steubenville, Jefferson, Ohio; died on 23 Oct 1888 in Columbus, Franklin, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Transcription of a handwritten history of his family by Morris Charles Phelps, here.

Transcriptions of some entries, from August 1851, of the journal of the Morris Phelps Emigrating Company.

Transcript of a journal of daily events kept by Morris Charles Phelps in Alpine, Utah from 1856 through 1859.

Much more about Morris Charles Phelps here.

By "SMSmith" at Find a Grave:

"Morris' line goes back to William Phelps who immigrated to America in 1630. Morris' mother was the descendant of a Hessian soldier who was captured at Trenton during the American Revolution. He then joined the colonial army and fought with Washington. Morris attended school in various frontier communities as his family moved west. They settled in Ohio and he had the opportunity to attend school briefly at Mentor, Ohio. His diaries and letters show a better than average vocabulary and he was excellent penman.

"When he was about nineteen years of age, he visited his relatives in Illinois. While there he met and fell in love with Laura Clark. Laura was born in New Fairfield, Connecticut on July 28, 1807. Morris and Laura were married March 26, 1826. They lived in Illinois for five years and their two oldest daughters, Paulina Eliza and Mary Ann were born there. They became interested in the new religion of Mormonism in 1831 and after several weeks of investigation, they were baptized in the Dupage River on August 18, 1831. They left Illinois two months later and joined the Saints in Missouri. Their daughter, Harriet Wight, was born soon after their arrival. Morris and his family were driven from their homes in Jackson County and moved north into Clay County. He was called on a mission for the church in 1834 and was sent to the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. This left Laura alone with her three daughters. She taught school and practiced obstetrics. Charles C. Rich traveled with Morris as his companion, Morris baptized Laura's parents who moved to Missouri and help her while Morris was away.

"Morris spent the winter of 1835-36 as a carpenter on the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. He was ordained a high priest and attended the dedication of the Temple on April 6, 1836. He then returned to his family in Missouri. He returned home in time to help his family move again because of persecution.

"Morris established a home on a small farm just outside of Far West and it was here that his first son, Joseph Morris was born in 1837. Although there was intense persecution and bitterness, this was a time of happiness for the family. Morris invested in a merchandising business and did quite well. The happiness did not last for long, because new mobs formed and caused a great deal of damage and sorrow. They raided the Phelps home and threatened Morris' life, but only killed his hogs, Morris said in his diary that 'I was attacked by the mob...my property was confiscated and I was made a prisoner. (October 31, 1838.) Was put in jail where I remained until July 4, 1839, from which made my escape with Parley P. Pratt, by the assistance of Orson Pratt and my wife, Laura.'

"While Morris was incarcerated, Laura and the children went with her parents to Montrose, Iowa. They found an abandoned farmhouse and made a home. Morris and Parley Pratt were chained with wrist and ankle irons in such a manner that they could only sleep on their backs. The story of Laura's plan to free her husband is amazing and illustrates the great faith courage. She and her brother, John Wesley Clark, rode horseback from Montrose to Columbia, Missouri, a distance of 160 miles. A grandson, Will R. Holmes left the following account: 'Here was her plan to free them: She would secrete three horses in some brush a short distance from the jail. As an excuse to get the jailer to unlock the prison door, she would suggest to the jailer that he open the door and pass the coffee pot in to the prisoners through the open door. Should the jailer unlock the door, it would be the signal to get busy, pull the door wide open, grab the jailer, throw him to the floor and flee for their lives.'

"Laura was warned by her brother, John not to touch the prisoners or assist them as that would be an offense. Will Holmes' history continues: 'The scheme worked but not without difficulties. The second door was unlocked and King Follett (one of the prisoners) pulled the door open and ran out, Parley P. Pratt was to follow and grandfather Phelps, being an athlete and wrestler, was to throw the jailer down and he would follow. It proved to be an exciting event...it was the fourth of Fourth of July and hundreds were nearby celebrating.'

"The escapees made it to where Orson Pratt and John Clark were waiting with the horses. They split up and made their way to Illinois. Morris was quite ill from exposure and being confined to prison for eight months. Laura was left to the mercy of the mob in Columbia. A young man sneaked her away from the angry mob and then assisted her in returning to Illinois where she found friends.

"Morris went on another mission east in 1839. He took Laura with him and also his youngest child, Joseph. Another son, Jacob Spencer, was born in Indiana. Morris' writings reveal the next tragic event, which occurred shortly after the end of the mission to the east. 'Rested a few days, got our children together and settled in Macedonia, Illinois, 25 miles east of Nauvoo. Here we lived in peace and quiet for some time. My wife, Laura, acting in the capacity of a midwife, by over exertion and by traveling day and night, took sick 1st of February and died on the 9th of February, 1842.'

"Laura's death was a great sorrow to Morris, especially with the five small children. Persecution against the Mormons was beginning in Illinois and he worried about protecting them from the mobs. Morris met Sara Thompson, the daughter of David and Leah L. Thompson. Sara was twenty-two years old and a schoolteacher. She was born March 20, 1820 in Pompey, New York and had come to Nauvoo with her widowed mother. Morris and Sara were married March 27, 1842 and they moved into Nauvoo where Morris could work on the temple. Two daughters were born to them while living in Nauvoo, but both died in infancy. Laura's youngest child, Jacob, was accidentally scalded to death. Morris' daughters Mary Ann and Paulina married Charles C. Rich and Amasa M. Lyman respectively. Hyrum Smith Phelps, Sara's third child, was born in Nauvoo on February 26, 1846. This was the bitter cold night that many saints were being driven from their homes and across the Mississippi River.

"The Phelps family reached Winter Quarters in the fall of 1846. They remained here for five years and prepared for the journey to the mountains. Morris spent five his time building and repairing wagons and travel equipment. Morris married Martha Barker Holmes on February 26, 1848. Martha was fifty years and the mother of James Holmes, who later married Morris' daughter, Harriet. They came to Utah together in 1851 and settled in Alpine. Morris and James Holmes owned interest in a sawmill and other properties in Alpine. Morris served as an Alderman and as a counselor in the bishopric while they lived in Alpine. In June, 1864, both men pulled up stakes and followed Charles C. Rich to Bear Lake.

"Morris' first home in Montpelier was a one room log hut with a dirt floor and a dirt roof. The floor was covered with straw and the roof leaked. The door was made of wooden planks with a latch that was operated by a buckskin, which was pulled in at night for a lock. The furniture was homemade and the beds were made of small poles bored into the walls and supported with crossbeams. The mattress was made of straw. The logs were obtained from 'Joe's Gap,' a narrow gorge two miles north of Montpelier, which opened into a pine-covered canyon. It was Morris's son, Joseph, who found the narrow ravine, and ever since that time it has been called 'Joe's Gap.' The food was cooked on open fireplaces or in Dutch ovens covered with coals. Clothing was all hand made. Every family had its spinning wheel and each community had good weavers. Sarah T. Phelps was one of the most prominent weavers. Most all of the clothing was made from homespun cloth. Men wore buckskin shirts and britches and beaver vests and caps to keep them warm.

"The first year, 1864, an early frost damaged the crops. Teams went to Cache Valley for flour, but before they got back it snowed so hard that they were unable to reach the settlements without additional aid. The winter was a long and severe one, the snow was deep and blizzards made travel impossible. Communication between settlements was made on snowshoes. By spring most of the people were eating frozen potatoes or sticky bread made from frozen wheat.

"Morris later built a large, two-story home with wooden floor and shingle roof, the first in Montpelier. This became a center for community gatherings. He became postmaster of Montpelier in 1869 and was ordained a patriarch by Brigham Young in 1873. Sarah was the first President of the Relief Society in Montpelier. She also served the community as a midwife and she delivered 580 women without a loss. Morris and Sarah lost one daughter, Martha, in Montpelier, who was nineteen. Their daughters, Amanda and Olive, grew to maturity. A son, Charles Wilks, died as a child. Morris and Sarah had seven children, but raised only three. Morris Phelps died at Montpelier on May 22, 1876. After his death Sarah moved to Mesa, Arizona with her son Hyrum. She died there on January 31, 1896."

Regarding the birth date and place of Morris Charles Phelps: Memorial to the Pioneer Women of the Western Reserve ed. Mrs. Gertrude van Rensselaer Wickham (Women's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, 1896), quoted at length here, says that Spencer Phelps came to the township of Leroy in the Western Reserve in 1803, that Mary "Keneep" arrived two years later, and that Spencer and Mary were married there in December 1807. If this is true (which is obviously not established), it calls into question whether Morris Charles Phelps was in fact born on 20 Dec 1805 in Northampton, Massachusetts as reported in many family histories and on his headstone in Montpelier, Idaho. It's worth noting that we have been unable to find any record of the birth of any Morris Phelps in western Massachusetts in the first decade of the 19th century. Is it possible that Morris Charles Phelps was actually born circa 1808 in Ohio? This would mean he began courting Laura Clark Baldwin on his trip to Illinois when he was actually sixteen, and married her in Laurenceville when he was about eighteen -- exactly the ages at which a young man might be tempted to add two years to his claimed age, particularly when far away from any close relatives who might contradict him.

Morris married Laura Clark Baldwin on 26 Mar 1826 in Lawrenceville, Lawrence, Illinois. Laura (daughter of Timothy Baldwin and Polly Keeler Clark) was born on 28 Jul 1807 in New Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut; died on 2 Feb 1842 in Macedonia, Hamilton, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Morris married Sarah Thompson on 27 Mar 1842 in Hancock, Illinois. Sarah (daughter of David John Thompson and Leah Lewis) was born on 20 Mar 1820 in Pomfret, Chautauqua, New York; died on 31 Jan 1896 in Mesa, Maricopa, Arizona. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 10 Mar 1856

Albert married Lucinda Gillette on 21 Sep 1825 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. Lucinda (daughter of Daniel Gillette and Huldah Sheldon) was born on 2 Oct 1801 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; died on 27 Apr 1855 in Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut; was buried in West Suffield Cemetery, Suffield, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Described in his son's Yale obituary as a "merchant, banker, and founder of the packing industry in Chicago." Yale B.A., 1853.

From Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale University Deceased from June, 1900, to June, 1910. (citation details below):

Albert Emmett Kent, son of Albert and Lucinda (Gillette) Kent, was born on September 1, 1830, in Suffield, Conn.

After graduation he engaged in the grain and produce business with his brother in Chicago with success, but his health at length became so seriously impaired that he sought restoration in the climate of California. In 1871 he purchased a large estate at San Rafael, where he made his home, but business interests called him back to Chicago for part of the time.

In 1885 he presented to the University funds for the erection of the Kent Chemical Laboratory, and by his will left a generous bequest for the enlargement of that building.

He died at t,he home of his sister in Genoa, Nebr., on January 8 1901, at the age of 70 years.

He married on July 28, 1857, Miss Adaline E. Dutton, of Springville, N.Y. She survives him with one son, a graduate of Yale in the class of 1887. A son and daughter died in early life.

Two 1901 Nance County, Nebraska newspaper clippings posted to Albert Emmet Kent's Find a Grave page:

First clipping: Albert E. Kent died at Genoa last Wednesday at the home of his niece, Mrs. E. L. Burk, where he was visiting. Mr. Kent was the senior member of the Kent Cattle company. He was 70 years of age and was called the pioneer packer of the west. His remains were taken to Chicago for interment.

Second clipping: Tuesday at Genoa occurred the sudden death from heart failure of Mr. Wm. Kent, principal stock holder in the Kent cattle company. The deceased was 76 years old and his death was not unexpected as he has been a sufferer for years from heart disease.

His home was in California, and he was in this county visiting relatives. His remains were taken to Chicago for interment.

-----

[Both clippings contributed and transcribed by Linda Berney.]

Albert married Adaline Elizabeth Dutton on 28 Jul 1857 in Springville, Erie, New York. Adaline (daughter of Alva Dutton and Elizabeth Holt) was born on 3 Mar 1834 in Colden, Erie, New York; died on 16 Mar 1914 in Ogden, Weber, Utah; was buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Cook, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]