Individual Details
James Stewart Phelps
(Abt, 1783 - Abt, 1866)
Note from Ralph Terry: My past data on the Phelps family came from Kirby Phelps in the early 1980s. In 2020, I have found that James Stewart Phelps had several wives, not just two. I am working to sort out these wives and their children as I find proofs and dates. DNA has helped find probable relatives and our connections.
The children born from 1801 to 1826 were given by Kirby Phelps as the children of Nancy Fitzgerald. This list was constructed by Kirby from early censuses.
Either James Phelps was not married to Melissa Isabella Black or they had a child during the time he was married to Nancy Fitzgerald. From census records, he appears to be living in Kentucky and then Illinois, judging from his children's birthplaces. Melissa Black was in Alabama.
It appears at this time that Nancy Fitzgerald was not the mother of the John Phelps, as James and Nancy are on the 1850 Hamilton County, Illinois census with seven children with the youngest being George P., Willis and Isaac D. M. Phelps. I have 2 DNA connections with lines through Willis. Nancy is only 32 years old in the 1850 census, born about 1818, so she could not have been married to James Phelps by 1800.
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"James S. Phelps is shown in the 1820 Edgefield County, South Carolina census with Enoch Phelps; it is thought that they were brothers. They both came to Butler County, Alabama in the 1820's. James S. stayed in Butler County, but Enoch went to Newton County, Mississippi, where he died." (Information from Kirby J. Phelps, 109 Sunset Drive, Greenville, Ala 36037, 1983.)
Served in the War of 1812.
Possible sons of James S. PHELPS:
Butler County, AL:
Twnp 10-N, Range 16-E:
Section Date Name Acres
29 Morgan Mills 238.425
30 Nov 1853 Edward A. Phelps 80
30 July 1854 Lorenzo D. Phelps 40.1
31 Feb 1852 Lorenzo D. Phelps 40.1
32 Nov 1858 Terrell Phelps 79.725
33 Aug 1837 Ardin J. Phelps 80
33 Aug 1837 James Phelps 80
33 Dec 1852 Edward A. Phelps 80
33 July 1854 Terrell Phelps 40
33 Oct 1854 Terrell Phelps 40
33 Nov 1858 Terrell Phelps 80
Twnp 10-N, Range 15-E:
3 Feb 1852 Edward A. Phelps 82.175
10 Feb 1854 Lorenzo D. Phelps 39.91
10 July 1854 Edward A. Phelps 39.91
25 Nov 1853 Edward A. Phelps 40.86
Twnp 9-N, Range 16-E:
05 Sep 1858 Lorenzo D. Phelps 233.4
05 Nov 1858 Lorenzo D. Phelps 77.325
06 Apr 1848 Terrell Phelps 39.425
06 Sep 1849 Terrell Phelps 39.425
Twnp 7-N, Range 13-E:
09 May 1841 Enoch Beasley (where James Phelps was enumerated in 1850 Butler Co, AL census)
Dallas County, Twnp 13-N, Range 11-E:
25 Oct 1835 Ardon J. Phelps 40.04
CENSUS:
1810 Edgefield District, SC:
James PHELPS 1 male 26-45 1 female 26-45
2 males 10 2 females 10
1820 Edgefield District, SC:
James PHELPS 1 male 45+ 1 female 45+
1 male 10-16 1 female 16-26
4 males 10 2 females 10-16
1 female 10
1830 Dallas County, AL:
James PHELPS
1840 Butler County, AL:
James PHELPS 1 male 60-70 1 female 50-60
1 males 15-20 1 female 15-20
1 male 10-15
Terrel PHELPS 1 male 20-30 1 female 20-30
1 male 5
Joseph PHELPS 1 male 30-40 1 female 20-30
2 males 5-10 1 female 5-10
1 male 5
These three are living next door to each other in Butler Co, AL in 1840.
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1850 Hamilton County, Illinois census.
1860 White County, Illinois census. Nancy is not shown.
The children born from 1801 to 1826 were given by Kirby Phelps as the children of Nancy Fitzgerald. This list was constructed by Kirby from early censuses.
Either James Phelps was not married to Melissa Isabella Black or they had a child during the time he was married to Nancy Fitzgerald. From census records, he appears to be living in Kentucky and then Illinois, judging from his children's birthplaces. Melissa Black was in Alabama.
It appears at this time that Nancy Fitzgerald was not the mother of the John Phelps, as James and Nancy are on the 1850 Hamilton County, Illinois census with seven children with the youngest being George P., Willis and Isaac D. M. Phelps. I have 2 DNA connections with lines through Willis. Nancy is only 32 years old in the 1850 census, born about 1818, so she could not have been married to James Phelps by 1800.
..................................................................................................
"James S. Phelps is shown in the 1820 Edgefield County, South Carolina census with Enoch Phelps; it is thought that they were brothers. They both came to Butler County, Alabama in the 1820's. James S. stayed in Butler County, but Enoch went to Newton County, Mississippi, where he died." (Information from Kirby J. Phelps, 109 Sunset Drive, Greenville, Ala 36037, 1983.)
Served in the War of 1812.
Possible sons of James S. PHELPS:
Butler County, AL:
Twnp 10-N, Range 16-E:
Section Date Name Acres
29 Morgan Mills 238.425
30 Nov 1853 Edward A. Phelps 80
30 July 1854 Lorenzo D. Phelps 40.1
31 Feb 1852 Lorenzo D. Phelps 40.1
32 Nov 1858 Terrell Phelps 79.725
33 Aug 1837 Ardin J. Phelps 80
33 Aug 1837 James Phelps 80
33 Dec 1852 Edward A. Phelps 80
33 July 1854 Terrell Phelps 40
33 Oct 1854 Terrell Phelps 40
33 Nov 1858 Terrell Phelps 80
Twnp 10-N, Range 15-E:
3 Feb 1852 Edward A. Phelps 82.175
10 Feb 1854 Lorenzo D. Phelps 39.91
10 July 1854 Edward A. Phelps 39.91
25 Nov 1853 Edward A. Phelps 40.86
Twnp 9-N, Range 16-E:
05 Sep 1858 Lorenzo D. Phelps 233.4
05 Nov 1858 Lorenzo D. Phelps 77.325
06 Apr 1848 Terrell Phelps 39.425
06 Sep 1849 Terrell Phelps 39.425
Twnp 7-N, Range 13-E:
09 May 1841 Enoch Beasley (where James Phelps was enumerated in 1850 Butler Co, AL census)
Dallas County, Twnp 13-N, Range 11-E:
25 Oct 1835 Ardon J. Phelps 40.04
CENSUS:
1810 Edgefield District, SC:
James PHELPS 1 male 26-45 1 female 26-45
2 males 10 2 females 10
1820 Edgefield District, SC:
James PHELPS 1 male 45+ 1 female 45+
1 male 10-16 1 female 16-26
4 males 10 2 females 10-16
1 female 10
1830 Dallas County, AL:
James PHELPS
1840 Butler County, AL:
James PHELPS 1 male 60-70 1 female 50-60
1 males 15-20 1 female 15-20
1 male 10-15
Terrel PHELPS 1 male 20-30 1 female 20-30
1 male 5
Joseph PHELPS 1 male 30-40 1 female 20-30
2 males 5-10 1 female 5-10
1 male 5
These three are living next door to each other in Butler Co, AL in 1840.
..............................................................................................................................................
1850 Hamilton County, Illinois census.
1860 White County, Illinois census. Nancy is not shown.
Events
| Birth | Abt, 1783 | North Carolina | |||
| Marriage | November 16, 1799 | Tyrrell County, North Carolina - Mary Ann Spruill | |||
| Marriage | December 4, 1823 | Muhlenburg County, Kentucky - Nancy Fitzgerald | |||
| Marriage | Abt, 1841 | Melissa Isabella Black | |||
| Death | Abt, 1866 | Yellow Shank, Butler County, Alabama |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Ann Spruill (1785 - 1840) |
| Child | Prudence Phelps (1801 - ) |
| Child | James Phelps (1802 - ) |
| Child | Penelope Phelps (1803 - 1880) |
| Child | Dorcas Mariah Phelps (1805 - ) |
| Child | Joseph Arden Phelps (1810 - 1850) |
| Child | George Washington Terrell Phelps (1811 - 1886) |
| Child | Phelps (1813 - ) |
| Child | Phelps (1816 - ) |
| Child | John Phelps (1819 - 1895) |
| Child | Rebecca Phelps (1820 - 1880) |
| Child | Lorenzo Dow Phelps (1823 - 1892) |
| Child | Edward A. Phelps (1826 - 1879) |
| Spouse | Melissa Isabella Black (1819 - 1842) |
| Child | Isabella Melissa Phelps (1842 - 1909) |
| Spouse | Nancy Fitzgerald (1813 - 1860) |
| Child | Ann "Annie" Phelps (1828 - ) |
| Child | Mary "Polly" Phelps (1831 - 1888) |
| Child | Charlotte Phelps (1832 - 1850) |
| Child | William Phelps (1834 - ) |
| Child | George Patrick Phelps (1841 - 1906) |
| Child | James Willis Phelps (1845 - 1915) |
| Child | Dr. Isaac D. M. Phelps (1848 - 2) |
| Father | Moses Phelps (1750 - 1794) |
| Mother | Miriam Davis (1755 - ) |
| Sibling | Enoch Spruill Phelps (1774 - 1848) |