(revised 10/2009)
Based on the Bjorkman paper and our extensive research, it is extremely unlikely there were any other male Phelps who survived the Perquimans Phelps. We have concluded that this Jonathan moved to Randolph Co, NC in central NC by 1783. He bought property there[1] and was noted as a deed chain carrier a number of times through 1797[2]. Additional strong evidence of his move is found in two Perquimans deeds: In 1779 Jonathan is named as a resident of Guilford Co.[3] In 1790 he is named as a resident of Randolph County which was formed from Guilford Co. in that year.[4]
Quakers from his area had begun a westward movement with local memberships declining, including movements to the Back Creek Monthly Meeting in Randolph Co, NC [5]. As a Quaker in Perquimans,he was disowned in 1775[6] for attending cousin Benjamin’s wedding (who was also disowned) He begins to sell property in Perquimans Co. from 1774 through 1795. The next year, 1796, he is named in Randolph Co. Quaker minutes as being a Randolph Co resident, in the marriage of a daughter, Elizabeth.[7] His wife is not named, perhaps deceased.
The last recorded male Phelps in the Perquimans deed books of this period was Jonathan Phelps (#3) in 1795[8]. He is seen in the 1790 Randolph Co census as Jonathan Philps and as Jonathan Phelps in the 1800 Randolph Co census[9]. By 1800, the census records indicate he and his wife were born bef 1755 and had 3 sons and 4 daughters. (There is a Jonathan reported once in the Tyrrell censuses in 1790[10]. It is very unlikely this was our Jonathan, nor a relative to the Perquimans Phelps.)
By 1830, the records indicateJonathan #3 was deceased.
In 1830, the Mary, named as the widow of Jonathan #3, along with and the children Huldah, Sarah, Mark, and Samuel sold 72 acres to Hardy Winslow.[11] We find them moved to Randolph Co, Indiana as reported in an 1884 Henry Co, Indiana history naming Jonathan and Mary Phelps (of Randolph Co) See the downloadable file below, page 672 Henry county. as grandparents of children then living in Indiana[12]. Supporting this move is those on the 1830 Randolph Co. deed show up in the 1830 Randolph Co census [13] and the later Rush and Henry county (Indiana) censuses.
A time line of the related facts about Jonathan is available in the addendum found here.
[1] 1783 Sept 27 Jonathan buys 320 A. in Randolph Co (Randolph Co, NC Land Warrents 1778-1948.)
[2] 1783 Jonathan is noted as a deed chain carrier up through 1797 Randolph Co, NC Land Warrents 1778-1948.)
[3] 1779 , 10,1 Perquimans Deed book L, p 51, 240 A. (registered in 1795) Jonathan Phelps of Guilford Co (part of which became Randolph Co in that year) sells . New Hope T.S.
[4] 1790, Perquimans Deedbook I, p 953 Jonathan of Randolph Co, NC sells to Robert Newby
[6] 1775 9,6 Perquimans Quaker MM: Jonathan Phelps [Henry’s son] is Disowned for attending Benjamin’s wedding. Encyclopedia of American Genealogy
[7] 1796 9,28 Back Creek, Randolph Co, Quaker MM: Elizabeth Phelps dt daughter of Jonathan Phelps, Randolph Co, m. Gabriel Newby [Newby was a familiar name in the Perquimans area and had married into the Phelps families]
1796 9,28 Back Creek, Randolph Co, Quaker MM: Gabriel, son of William and Elizabeth Newby, Randolph Co, married Elizabeth Phelps
[8] Perquimans grantor deedbook index through 1819. only Margaret, Mary and Elizabeth are named after 1795.
[9] 1790 Randolph co census : 1 male 16 or over, one male under 16, two females.
1800; Census Place: Hillsboro, Randolph, North Carolina; .Roll 32; Page: 334: 2 males 0-9, 1 male 10-15 and one male over 45. 4 females 0-9, 1 female 16-25 and one female over 45.
[10] Year 1790 Tyrrell Co.Census: one male over 16 [b. bef 1774], one under 16 [b bet 1774-1790], two females over 16 [b bef 1774].
[11] 1830 Randolph Co Deed Book 20, page 504. Mary Phelps, widow of Jonathan Phelps#3, decd., Samuel Phelps, Sarah Phelps, Huldah Phelps and Mark Phelps, heirs at law of Jonathan Phelps, all of Randolph County, NC, to Hardy Winslow, dated 10 Sept 1830. Land located on the waters of Back Creek. Henly's corner. Containing 72 acres. Winslow paid $100.00 Mary Phelps made her mark, it appears as if Samuel, Sarah, Huldah and Mark all signed. Witnesses were Nathan and Jesse Winslow. Registered February Term, 1837.
[12] Ancestry.com. History of Henry County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, mil [database on-line]. Provo, UT: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: History of Henry County, Indiana : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : also a condensed history of Indiana, embodying accounts of pre-historic races, aborigines, Winnebago and Black Hawk wars, and a brief review of its civil and political history.. Chicago: Inter-State Pub. Co., 1884.
[13]Souce Citation: Year: 1830; Census Place: Regiment 1, Randolph, North Carolina; Roll 125 Mark Phelps - 1 male 0-4, 1 male 20-29 and 1 female 20-29
[5] Encyclopedia of American Genealogy. {Compiled by Thomas W. Marshall}by Hinshaw, William Wade, 1867-1947, Baltimore, Genealogical Pub. Co., c1969-<1977>