The Phelps/Felps Family of Rowan County, North Carolina and Jasper County, Georgia.
The Family of Aquilla Phelps and his sons Thomas and James, who left Rowan County, North Carolina to cast their lot in the Georgia and Louisiana Frontier. This Phelps family has it's origins in Baltimore County, Maryland where Aquilla Phelps' father, Avinton Phelps and grandfather, Thomas Phelps, had made their own migration into the wilds of North Carolina in the mid-1700's. I have compiled this data from through various sources available on the internet in an effort to place these widely scattered bits of information in a single document for all Phelps researchers to see and have at their disposal. Hopefully it will encourage further conversation and collaboration among present day Phelps family history afficianados.
I descend from James Phelps and his wife Mary of Caswell County, North Carolina. Recent DNA testing has confirmed a family relationship between my James Phelps of Caswell County, North Carolina and Thomas Phelps d.1751 of Albemarle County, Virginia. The specific relationship has yet to be determined, however as the DNA testing is expanded the answers will be discovered. I would like to encourageand challenge all Phelps researchers to find a living "Male" descendant of your line to gather a DNA test from. If you are a "Male" Phelps it is of utmost importance that you yourself submit your own DNA test, as it is where the future of Genealogy is headed. Many "brick walls" will be laid to rest as DNA will provide the evidence we all seek.
I am in the process of digesting the files on Southern Phelps in Georgia and elsewhere, graciously sent to me by Margaret Swanson, a noted Phelps Researcher who had published the "Phelps Connections Newsletters". Margaret is descended from the New England Phelps Group, yet she collected vast amounts of Phelps information on Southern Phelps and the "frontier states" that their descendants migrated to. Her work deserves an article by itself. Unfortunately I still work "Full Time" and only have limited time to devote to my research. I will try to share her work with everyone at a later date.
Latham Mark Phelps----April 2007
I begin with information provided by Ed Phelps, who in my opinion is the most authorative researcher on the Phelps/Felps family of Rowan County, North Carolina that I have seen. I'm sure there are others, yet Ed Phelps went one step further and shared his information with the world by posting his research for all to see. I would encourge all Phelps researchers to do the same. I have always shared this philosophy since I began my own research in the 70's. The Internet has provided us all with the vehicle to tell our family stories, so that future generations will be able to find their "Roots" as well.
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Felps linked to many families
Author: Jim Drew-WhitakerDate: 7 Oct 2001 5:20 PM GMT
Hi Patsy
The Rowan Co., NC Felps were descendants of Baltimore Co.,
Maryland. There's a Samuel Felps mentioned. Please let me know
more about your ancestors in Russell Co., VA. There some
Whitakers who also migrated there. Thanks. Best regards, Jim
I received the following from Ed Phelps about 2 years ago.
Lots of great information here on several families in Rowan
Co., NC from Maryland & Pennsylvania.
Jim
You might be able to read this and get something from it. From
my research I do know the Whitakers in Rowan County NC came
down from Baltimore County Maryland about the same time as the
Felps, and then they all moved to GA in the 1770's the same
time. The Felps then again moved to Warren County KY during
the early 1820's. Our Felps name changed in the family bible
of my ggg grandfather during the later of 1850's for some
unknown reason.
AVINTON FELPS
Born in Baltimore County Maryland abt.1711
Died in Rowan County North Carolina abt.1790
"Blacksmith"
Son of Thomas Felps & Mrs. Rosanna Swift
Shown in the St. George's Parish Register in Baltimore County,
Maryland is the marriage record of Avinton Felps and Rachel
McElroy dated April 23, 1730. Rachel was born Aug. 7, 1713 and
was the daughter of John and Francis McElroy.
On June 20, 1725 John McElroy was granted a survey for 100
acres that was named "Rachel's Delight" and this tract of land
was located on the head of a small draught being a draught of
the upper groom spring the west side of Deer creek. John had
conveyed 50 of the 100 acres of "Rachel's Delight" to his
daughter at the time she had married.
On Sept. 5, 1732 the father of Rachel, who referred to himself
as a planter in various deeds, had sold the last of his land
"John's Beginning" in Baltimore County, Maryland to John Long
of Cecil County, L50, 200 acres, John (x) Mackelroy. Wit:
Signed Avinton Felps and Stephen Onions.
One must assume now that the McElroy family, Avinton and
Rachel Felps, had began their Southwest movement on the trail
of "The Great Wagon Road" also known as "The Carolina Road".
It does appear that both families left Baltimore County
Maryland during the later part of 1732. The family of John and
Francis McElroy have disappeared into the wilderness from the
years of 1732 until 1742, about 10 years before surfacing in
the North Carolina frontiers. It appears from the following
land deed that Avinton and Rachel Felps, temporarily located
in Orange County Virginia.
ORANGE COUNTY VIRGINIA
Formed from Spotsylvania County in 1734
Aug. 5, 1741 Avinton & Rachel Felps, Yeoman, of Orange County
Virginia to Henry Thomas, planter, of Baltimore County
Maryland, L10 paid by Isaac Webster, 50 acres...west side of
Deer creek, known as "Rachel's Delight" Signed Avinton Felps.
Wit: Isaac Webster and Richard Ruff.
Avinton and Rachel apparently returned to Baltimore County,
Maryland to sign the deed because his acknowledgement was
taken there, as well as Rachel's mark ( R ) on the release of
dower.
LAND HO!
NORTH CAROLINA
In Edenton, Chowan County North Carolina, the land office of
the Lord Granville Proprietory had opened in 1745 and
thousands of people in Maryland and Virginia took to the Great
Wagon Road that would lead them to these new frontiers in
North Carolina. By 1753, in the Granville district of North
Carolina, land was selling at the rate of 5 shillings per
hundred acres, regardless of acreage.
PAGE 5
CRAVEN COUNTY
Was first created as Archdale Precinct of Bath County in 1705.
The name was changed about 1712. It was named in honor of
William Lord Craven, one of the Lords Proprietors of Carolina.
The county seat was first called Chattawka, or Chattoocka, and
later in 1723 it was changed to New Bern.
The McElroy families arrive in Craven County
In 1742 William McElroy, planter, bought 150 acres from Edward
Frisby.
In 1743 Archibald McElroy bought 50 acres from Moses Tillman,
Witt; James and Ruth McElroy.
In 1744 John McElroy, planter, bought 198 acres from Henry
Owens Sr. Also in the same year he bought 350 acres, and then
another 150 acres from Thomas Barnett.
In 1745 Archibald McElroy, blacksmith, bought 320 acres from
John Fryer a merchant.
Apr. 6, 1750, Land Grant to William McElroy, 100 acres
JOHNSTON COUNTY
Was formed in 1746 from Craven County
Aventon Felps and the McElroy's are living on Crabtree Creek
near the Neuse River in St. Patrick's Parish, Johnston County.
Aventon Felps is listed there on April 12, 1749 as a sworn
chain-carrier for Lord Granville Surveyor, John Wade.
Johnston County Grantor Index Book l - Nov l746 - April l750
From To Page
Cole, George Abbinton Felps 16 (page 16 indicates recorded
early in the book 1746 or early 1747)
Mills, Thomas Abbinton Felps 38
McIllroy, John John Belk 56
McIllroy, Archibald Paul Hartsfield 140
McIllroy, William John Turner 156
Johnston County Grantor Index Book 3 - April 1754 - April 1755
From To Page
Felps, Avinton Alexader Avery 176
McIllroy, William John Belk 12
McIllroy, Archibald Thomas Bevan 56
McIllroy, Archibald Thomas Bevan 57
McIllroy, James William Blake 223
House, William Archibald Mukelroy 374
May 1755, Johnston County, NC Sir: this Comes to Let (sic)
Know that I have sold my Land containing one hundred & fifty
Acres, lying in Johnston County, on the North side of Walnut
Creek joying to the Great Branch on Both sides, to John SMITH
and I Desire your Honner (sic) to give the said John SMITH a
Deed in his own name and in Sodoing (sic) you will ablige your
friend and Humble Servant this 3rd. (sic) day of May 1755.
Signed Silus MONK, Witnessed and Signed, Thomas FELPS &
William BRYAN.
PAGE 6
In the fall of 1752 at the land office in Edenton in Chowan
County, Col. Francis Corbin the Commander of the Frontier
Militia and Land Agent for Lord Earl Granville, directed Lt.
Col. George Smith and some Militia Rangers, to escort William
Churton a Surveyor, the Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenburg and
a few other Moravians to the west along the Indian Trading
Path that meandered out of Virginia, crossed the Eno River at
Hillsborough and then on to the Trading Ford at the Yadkin
River in Anson County where William Churton would survey and
lay out the boundries for the 100,000 acres of a Wachovia
Tract of land that Lord Granville agreed to sell to the
Movarian Church in Bethleham, Pennsylvania.
ANSON COUNTY
Was formed in 1750 from Bladen County
In 1753, before the Movarians had received their land from
Granville, Avinton Felps received a survey of the Granville
land for 500 acres in Anson County that was surveyed by Major
James Carter, with his sworn chain-carriers, John Smith and
Abiga McCoy.
This tract of land was located on the Yadkin River near the
mouth of Reedy Creek. Later on, this land was found to be
within the surveyed boundries of the 100,000 acres of land
that Lord Granville had sold to the Movarians. Aventon Felps a
blacksmith, and his oldest son Aquilla Felps who was a
sawmiller, settled on Reedy Creek a tributary of the Yadkin
River. I am positive that the main purpose for the Felps
settlement at that time, was to provide skills and services
for the establishing of the new German settlements of,
Bethania, Bethabara and Salem, that was soon to follow.
Feb 12, 1753 Michael Miers sold to Avinton Felps a blacksmith,
both of Anson County, for L25 Virginia money, 357 acres in
Anson on North side of Yadkin river above mouth of Reedy
creek. Signed- Michael (+) Miers, Witt. James Carter, William
Bishop. Proved 20 Sept. 1753.
It appears that by 1753, Avinton Felps still owns property in
Johnston County and 1 platt with 500 acres, 1 platt with 357
acres, located on the North side of the Yadkin River between
Muddy and Reedy Creek. The land bought from Miers was the land
where Aquilla Felps lived, and built a sawmill and a
horse-ford, both of these landmarks were used in many deeds of
locations in the Reedy Creek area. There has been no records
found where Aquilla ever bought or sold land.
ROWAN COUNTY
Was formed in 1753 from Anson County.
It was named in honor of Matthew Rowan who was a prominent leader before the Revolution
and who for a short time after the death of Governor Gabriel
Johnston was acting governor. The county seat was first called
Rowan Court House. It has been called Salisbury since about
1755.
In 1753, Avinton Felps was commissioned as a Ensign in the
Rowan County Militia by Major James Carter.
July 12, 1754, Avinton Felps was appointed as commissioner
(Captain) of the roads from Muddy Creek to the District of
Henry Doland and Capt. John Hanby Esqr.
At periodic intervals, the court appointed prominent men
living at widely seperated points to serve as commissioners
for the roads. It was the responsibility of each of these
commissioners to obtain service for road construction and
maintenance from the able-bodied men living in his particular
district. Fines were levied upon commissioners and individual
settlers for failure to meet this obligation.
Avinton Felps also served on the petit jury for the Court of
Pleas and Quarter Sessions a number of times and stated his
claims against the county for his services. He also served
many times as a Juror for the Salisbury District Superior
Court.
The Movarian Records, Vol. #3, contains a map of Rowan County,
made in 1756, showing Avinton Felps living on Reedy Creek in
Wachovia. Aquilla Felps is living nearby on Reedy Creek
showing the location of his horse-ford crossing the creek.
PAGE 7
During the peak of the French and Indian War's in 1759 the
Cherokee Indians went on the warpath down the Yadkin River
terrorizing settlements of that part of the frontier. Captain
Aventon Felps was called upon to serve in several expeditions.
"May ye 15th 1759, The Publick of North Carolina to Capt.
Avinton Felps Dr. To Scouts, Sent Out a man Alarm of Indians
being seen on the Frontiers of Rowan County".
(Thomas Felps the son of Avinton is listed as a Private in the
company of scouts under the command of his father Avinton.
Thomas was not listed as a tax poll for 1759 or any other time
until 1768, therefore being that a taxable was a white male
above sixteen years of age, Thomas would have been under 16
years old in 1759 born after the year of 1743 and being that
he is listed on the 1768 tax list, he had to be at least 16
therefore he was born before 1752). The birth of Thomas was-
between 1743 and 1752.
June 11, 1759, To a Scout, Capt. Avinton Felps, Ordered out by
Lt. Col. George Smith to Range the Woods in Order to Discover,
the Enemy if any.
Oct. 19, 1759, This day came Capt. Avinton Felps before us the
Subscribers and made Oath on the Holy Evanangelist Almighty
God that the within account of Thirty two Pounds Eight
Shillings and Eight Pence proclamation money charged against
the Publick of North Carolina according to the best of his
knowledge is just and true as it now stands stated. Sworn
before us, Capt. John Hanby and William Buis. Signed......
Avinton Felpes
April 25, 1759, Avinton was named in his father's Will filed
in Baltimore County Maryland.
1759, Aquilla Felps, List of Taxables in Rowan Co. (born
before 1743)
Oct. 8, 1761, Aquiller and Avinton Felps was on the List of
Taxables in Rowan Co.
A taxable was a white male above sixteen years of age or a
negro or mulatto slave of either sex above twelve years
April 20, 1762, Avinton Felps and David McElwain of Rowan Co.
North Carolina sold 50 acres (1/2 of Jones Venture) to Edward
Morgan of Baltimore Co. Maryland. Avinton and David apparently
returned to Baltimore County, Maryland at that time to sign
the deed because their acknowledgement was taken there,
Signed...... Avinton Felps and David McElwain. (David McElwain
was indentured to Avintons father Thomas on Sept. 1, 1741).
Oct. 21, 1762, John McElroy was wittness to land deed located
on both sides of Reedy Creek.
July 14, 1764, On Motion of John Dunn Ordered that a road be
laid out the Neares & Best way from John Howards Ferry to the
road from Bethabara to Salisbury near Reedy Creek, running up
from said ferry in the fork to Boon's Road & persons following
appointed to lay of said road: John Roberts, Edward Turner,
Nicholas White, Edward Williams, Isaac Holdman, Capt. Avinton
Felps, Mathew Sparks, Will' Sparks, Francis Taylor, Thomas
Jones, James Whitaker.
Wild animals proved a great inconvenience to the frontier
agriculturists. Accordingly bounties were offered to all
persons who killed a wolf or a wild cat or a panther within
ten miles of any settled plantation.
On Oct. 10, 1765, presented to Rowan County as bounty claims
for woolfs, panthers and cats. The list of names included,
Quilla and John Felps.
PAGE 8
During 1767, an act was passed requiring every master or
mistress of a plantation, or the overseer in case the owner
did not reside in the county, to kill or cause to be killed
every year seven crows or squirrels for each taxable under his
or her control. Failure to do so was penalized by a fine of
four pence for each crow or squirrel less than the required
number, while those who killed more than were required were
entitled to receive a bounty of four pence for each in excess
of the requisite number.
John Felps married Mary Williams 1766, Samuel Williams,
bondsman. Sometime between 1761 and 1768 Thomas Felps a son of Aventon
and Rachel (McElroy) Felps married Jane Smith a daughter of
Capt Aaron and Francis (Keeling) Smith. [Now corrected to John Smith based on new information below] . Children were:
Avington Felps, John Felps, Thomas Felps, Samuel Felps,
Brittain Felps, William Felps, Keeling Felps, Ezekiel Felps,
Pherabe Felps, Ede Felps, and Jane Felps. The sister of Thomas
Felps who was Laurania Felps married Ezekiel Smith the brother
of Jane Smith. Children were Abington Felps Smith, William C.
Smith, John Carraway Smith, Lovett Smith, Pheriba Smith,
Ezekiel Smith and Thomas Keeling Smith.
1768, Aquala 1 poll, John 1 poll, Avinton 5 polls, and Thomas
Felps 6 polls were on the list of John Ford's district of
taxables, also Peter Whitaker 1 poll, Mark Whitaker 2 polls.
Moses Parrish 2 polls. Poll = taxable persons, no distinction
was made on the 1768 tax list between the negro and white
taxables. (Moses Parrish was indentured to Avintons father
Thomas in 1729).
Aquala Felps (born before 1743)
John Felps (born before 1752)
Thomas Felps (born between 1743 and 1752)
Only Aquilla and Avinton was listed on 1759 and 1761 tax
rolls, they were the only Felps above 16 years old.
William Felps married Elizabeth Jones April 20, 1768, Mark
Whitaker, bondsman.
Nov. 23, 1768 The names of Aquilla and John Felps were
included with 28 other names on the Regulators petition that
was signed by some inhabitants of Rowan and Orange Counties.
April 3, 1769, Avinton Felps a blacksmith & wife Rachel to
Thomas Felps for L120 proclamation, 357 acres on north side of
Yadkin river 1/2 mile above branch of Reedy Creek,
Signed...... Avinton Felps and Rachel (R) Felps. Wit: Adam
Spaugh, Jonas Sparks. Proven, May Court 1769. Records indicate
that this land sold to Thomas was located between Avinton's
and Aquilla's places on the Reedy Creek.
From the will of Thomas Felps- "likewise all my farming
utensil, carpenter, blacksmith and toziners tools". This is a
good indication that Aventon had sold more than just land to
his son Thomas, it appears it was more like LOCK, STOCK &
BARREL. The blacksmith tools noted in the will, probably
belonged to Aventon.
PARTS FROM THE WILL OF THOMAS FELPS
1. I give and bequeath to Jane my dearly beloved wife all my
lands houses and orchards, from a cross fence against Charley
Catons fish pond up to Isaac Whites line.
2. Also I give to my well beloved son Thomas Felps Jr, the
upper part of my land about twenty paces or yards, below a
cross fence that is a little way below my upper fishing
landing (except one half of the fishery) and running from
thence to a little dam thence up the branch, with the water
course, to my back line straight as the cause will direct.
3. Also I give to my well beloved son Samuel Felps, all my
land lying between one above mentioned Thomas Felps Jr. and
the above mentioned Jane Felps land, at the cross fence
against the said Charles Catons fish pond, and likewise one
half of the upper fishing place.
Nov. 4, 1784, Rowan Co State Grant # 723, 50 shillings, 100
acres to Richard Dowell, 272 acres on Yadkin R betw Muddy &
Reedy Crk, adj Thomas Felps' fishing landing & Henry Miller.
1784 State Grant # 981 to Charles Caton, 150 acres in the
forks of the Yadkin River adjoining Aquilla Felps's mill.
Aug. 3, 1782, Avinton Felps to daughter Lucrsa Loyd, widow,
for love, Negro named Philes. Signed....Avinton Felps Wit:
George Reed...Proved Nov. 1782.
Aug. 1787, Avinton Felps sold a negro named Punch to James
Williams, Signed....Avinton Felps
PAGE 9
Notes;
1.) Avinton could read and write, and he always wrote his last
name as "Felps or Felpes" on all original researched
documents. I have found him on many documents as Avengton,
Avington, Abington, etc., Phillips, Phelps, Fealps, etc., that
was written by other people.
This is a true copy of Avinton's signature, signed by him in
1759, the original document is when Avinton made his Oath on
the Holy Evanangelist Almighty God that the within account of
Thirty two Pounds Eight Shillings and Eight Pence proclamation
money charged against the Publick of North Carolina.
It is located at Raleigh's History of Archives.
2.) Shown in the St. George's Parish Register, on the same
page as Rachel McElroy born August 7, 1713, daughter of John &
Francis Mackelroy, is James Whitaker born February 8, 1721 son
of Mark and Elizabeth Whitaker, and Peter Whitaker born May 6,
1716, son of John and Ann Whitaker, who had lived close to
Thomas Felps ( the father of Avinton) in Baltimore County,
Maryland.
3.) The family of Squire Boone (father of Daniel Boone) lived
in the same area as the Felps families in Rowan County.
From the Rowan County Militia List, The Publick of North
Carolina to Capt. Morgan Bryan on April 25th 1759, to a Scout
sent Out in the Alarm of *Daniel Hossey & Others being
Killed... includes the names of John and Danl Boone.
Richard Henderson purchased a large tract of land lying in
Tennessee and Kentucky and employed Daniel Boone to blaze the
way for a colony, which was established at Boonesborough,
Kentucky, just before the Revolution.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Felps
Ed Felps/Phelps Posted: 8 Jul 2002 3:35PM GMT
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
NORTH CAROLINA
JOHNSTON COUNTY
Created in 1746 from Craven County
On April 12, 1749 Aventon Felps is listed as a Sworn Chain-Carrier for Lord Granville Surveyor, John Wade.
Mar. 25, 1749, William McIllroy, 181 acres N side Crabtree Creek, joining the said creek and the bent of the said creek. Wits: James Carter, John Haywood. SCC: Thomas House, John Belk. Surveyor John Wade.
April 25, 1749, William McIllroy, 340 acres on Crabtree Creek, joining Thomas House. Wits: James Carter, John Haywood. SCC: John McIllroy, John Cook. Surveyor John Wade.
During the fall of 1752 at the Granville land office in Edenton, Colonel Francis Corbin the Commander of the Frontier Militia and Land Agent for Lord Earl Granville, directed Lieutenant Colonel George Smith and some Militia Rangers, to escort William Churton a Surveyor, the Bishop August Gottlieb Spangenburg and a few other Moravians to the west along the Indian Trading Path to the Yadkin River where William Churton would survey and lay out the boundries for the 100,000 acres of a Wachovia Tract of land that Lord Granville agreed to sell to the Movarian Church in Bethleham, Pennsylvania. By 1753 in the Granville district of North Carolina, land was selling at the rate of 5 shillings per hundred acres, regardless of acreage.
In 1753 Avinton Felps received a survey of 500 acres in Anson County from Lord Granville, surveyed by James Carter with his sworn chain-carriers, John Smith and Abiga McCoy.
This tract of land was located on the Yadkin River near the mouth of Reedy Creek. Later, this land was found to be within the surveyed boundries of the 100,000 acres of land that Lord Granville had sold to the Movarians.
ROWAN COUNTY
Created in 1753 from Anson County
On Feb 12, 1753 Michael Miers sold to Avinton Felps a blacksmith, both of Anson County, for L25 Virginia money, 357 acres in Anson on North side of Yadkin river above mouth of Reedy creek. Signed- Michael (+) Miers, Witt. James Carter, William Bishop.
Long before the actual outbreak of hostilities powerful forces were gradually converging to produce a clash between the aggressive colonials and the crafty Indians. As the settlers pressed farther westward into the domain of the red men, arrogantly grazing their stock over the cherished hunting-grounds of the Cherokees, the savages, who were already well disposed toward the French, began to manifest a deep indignation against the British colonists because of this callous encroachment upon their territory.
Listed in the Colonial Soldiers of the South, during the years 1754 - 1760 Colonel Francis Corbin, Lieutenant Colonel George Smith, Major James Carter and Adjutant John Dunn was in charge of the Rowan County North Carolina Militia. Avinton Felps is listed as Ensign under the command of Captain John Hanby.
The frontier of North Carolina was placed in a very precarious situation. At the beginning of the war the Cherokees and Catawbas were friendly to the frontiersmen, but soon the savages began to molest the whites. There was great uneasiness among the people of Anson and Rowan County because they did not know at what moment the Indians might take up the tomahawk against the settlements.
Early in the year of 1754, one thousand pounds in proclamation money that is, in money which was issued by the provincial government and which was greatly depreciated in value was appropriated to buy arms for the poorer inhabitants of Rowan and Anson.
During the peak of the French and Indian War's in 1759 the Cherokee Indians went on the warpath down the Yadkin River terrorizing settlements of that part of the frontier. During that summer Indian alarms were frequent and Avinton Felps, now promoted to the rank of captain, and with his hardy frontiersmen, was called upon to serve in several expeditions to scour the woods in search of the lurking Indian foe. These armed rangers, who were clad in hunting-shirts and buckskin leggings, was also very skilful in the employment of Indian tactics when fighting.
1759 ROWAN COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA
FRONTIER MILITIA ROLL
May ye 15th 1759, The Publick of North Carolina to Captain Avinton Felps Dr. To a Scout Sent Out a man Alarm of Indians being Seen on the Frontiers of Rowan County-----
Avinton Felps 6 Days @ 7/6...................................... 2.5
Willis Ellis Senr. 6 Days @ 5/ ...................................... 1.10
Phillip Howard Ens. 6 Days @ 4/6...................................... 1.7
Israel Cox Sergt. 6 Days @ 4/ ...................................... 1.4
Private Men
Roger Turner 5 Days @ 2/8....................................... 13.4
Joseph Bryan 5 Days @ 2/8....................................... 13.4
George Parks 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Allen Parks 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Gabriel Enochs 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Peter Cross 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Henry Hagy 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Mirack Davis 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Phillip Davis 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Thomas Evans 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
James Whitsitt 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Conrod Carn 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Danl Holyfield 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
John Fry 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Leonard Hazzard 6 Days @ 2/8....................................... 16.
Thomas Felps 3 Days @ 2/ ....................................... 8.
L18.8.8
Thomas Felps under 16 years old, son of Avinton Felps
June 11, 1759, To a Scout Ordered Out by Col. George Smith to Range the Woods in Order to Discover the Enemy if Any.
Avinton Felps Capt. 6 Days @ 7/6.................................... L 2.5
Phillip Howard Ens. 6 Days @ 4/6...................................... 1.7
Jonathan Hanby Serg. 6 Days @ 4/ ...................................... 1.4
David Smith Serg. 6 Days @ 4/ ...................................... 1.4
Hermon Butler Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Henry Carns Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Martin Marr Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Solomon Ozburn Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Gidion Lewis Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Paul Whistenhunt Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Abraham Goss Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
John Crow Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Jacob Yount Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
Martin Birely Private 6 Days @ 2/8...................................... 16
L14. ---
North Carolina )
Rowan County )
This day came Capt. Avinton Felps before us the Subscribers and made Oath on the Holy Evanangelist Almighty God that the within Acct of Thirty two Pounds Eight Shillings and Eight Pence proclamation Money Charged Against the Publick of North Carolina According to the Best of his Knowledge is Just and true as it Now stands Stated. Sworn Before us this 19th day of October 1759.
John Hanby
William Buis
Avinton Felps
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Felps and Alamance
Ed Felps/Phelps (View posts) Posted: 8 Jul 2002 3:41PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames:
THE BATTLE OF ALAMANCE
May 16, 1771
Shortly after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763, American patriots began to resent English control of their affairs. Operating in loose-knit groups under a variety of names, these people resisted attempts by Britain to unfairly tax commerce. The Sons of Liberty resisted the Stamp Tax in 1765, throughout the 13 colonies.
HILLSBOROUGH
ORANGE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA
WILLIAM FEW Sr., moved from Chester County PA, to St. George's Parish in Baltimore County Maryland and married Mary Wheeler a daughter of Benjamin Wheeler, in 1743. William and Mary (Wheeler) Few, moved to Orange County where Few bought 640 acres on both sides of the Eno river from James Taylor during March in 1758. Few owned a a grist mill on the Eno, and operated a tavern from his home in Hillsborough.
JOSEPH MADDOCK a Quaker, lived a few miles from Hillsborough on Cain Creek and owned a grist mill in Orange County. During the uprising of the regulators, at Maddock's Mill, in 1766 a group of men, apparently enthusiastic over the success of the Sons of Liberty in resisting the Stamp Act, called the people to gather to determine whether the free men of Orange county labor under any abuses of power or not.
WILLIAM CANDLER grew to manhood in the South River Quaker Settlement along the James River in Bedford County Virginia. In 1755, at age nineteen, William joined the Quaker meeting at South River. Several years thereafter, he was elected clerk of the Quaker Meeting. In 1760, William Candler contracted with Joseph Ray at Fort Lewis to carry supplies to soldiers stationed at Dunkard Bottom on the New River. Candler acquired 248 acres on the branches of Fishing Creek next to Joseph Anthony on July 11, 1761. William Candler married Elizabeth Anthony in 1761. Elizabeth was a daughter of Joseph Anthony and Elizabeth Clarke, also members of the Quaker Meeting. William Candler was the administrator of his father's will that was filed early 1766 in Bedford County. Then in late 1766, he asked the Quaker meeting officials at South River to settle his business -- to give him a certificate of good standing for departure. William and Elizabeth Candler moved to Orange County, near the Cane Creek Quaker meeting house. The Fews and the Candlers became intimate friends, and their children intermarried.
NORTH CAROLINA REGULATORS PETITION
Petition October ye 7th 1768
Rowan & Orange Counties
Partial list of Names
Benjamin Few-Orange
James Few-Orange
William Few Sr-Orange
Aquilla Felps-Rowan
John Felps-Rowan
Samuel Jones-Rowan
James Williams Senr-Rowan
Edward Williams-Rowan
James Williams-Rowan
Philip Williams-Rowan
Petition October ye 9th 1769
Anson County
Partial list of Names
Elijah Clarke-Anson
John Clarke-Anson
John Marshall-Anson
David Phelps-Anson
On April 3, 1769, Avinton Felps a blacksmith, and Rachel coveys to their son Thomas Felps, a tract of land containing 357 acres on the north side of Yadkin river 1/2 mile above branch of Reedy Creek. Signed...... Avinton Felps and Rachel (R) Felps.
Under the leadership of Joseph Maddock a group of Quaker colonizers from the Cane Creek meeting house, moved to Georgia in about 1770 to take up a large grant given to them by Georgia Governor Wright in St. Paul's Parish along Wahatchee Creek near the old Quaker settlement of Brandon, but which later became known as Wrightsborough.
QUAKER TRAIL TO GEORGIA
The state of irritation into which America had been thrown by the injudicious measures of the British Parliament was not allayed by its subsequent action. Before proceeding with the record of these events, reference may be made to an outbreak which at this time occurred in North Carolina, not directly due to English action, yet arising from the corruption and inefficiency of functionaries of the British government. Abuses in the collection of exorbitant fees by public officers, and in permitting the sheriffs and tax-collectors to delay the payment of public moneys, produced an association of the poorer colonists, who claimed that they were being overtaxed for the support of dishonest officers, and who assumed the title of Regulators. Other events added to their discontent, and they broke out into wild outrages, assembling in 1771 to the number of two thousand, and declaring their purpose to abolish courts of justice, exterminate lawyers and public officers, and overturn the provincial government in favor of some mad scheme of democracy devised by their foolish or knavish leaders. The respectable part of the community rose in opposition to these insurgents, but the battle came anyway, at Alamance, on May 16, 1771.
After the Regulator's had failed at Alamance and the day following the battle, Governor Tryon of North Carolina issued a proclamation offering with a few exceptions to pardon all those who would submit to the government and take an oath of allegiance to the King.
On 17 May 1771, Samuel Jones a Regulator was taken to Wachovia as prisoner and then on May 31, 1771 Jones was exempted from pardon by Gov. Tryon.
Many of the frontiersmen refused Governor Tryon's offer, became discouraged and felt that it was best to go where they would not be so oppressed. In 1771 more than 1500 families left the counties of Rowan, Orange and Anson of the provincial North Carolinia.
William Few Sr., and one of his sons James Few, had associated themselves with the Regulators. On May 16, 1771, three hundred of the Regulators was killed, and left dead on the Alamance Battleground. James Few was one of the leaders of the Regulators and he was captured that day at the Battleground, tried, convicted, and hanged by a royal "drum-head court-martial," for high treason. After leaving the Battleground that day, Governor Tryon and his royal army, rode back to Hillsborough, turned towards the Few Plantation, and rode through the fields destroying all crops that belonged to the Few Plantation.
Shortly after the Battle of Alamance, the Few and the Candler families moved to the Quaker Settlement at Wrightsborough in St. Paul's Parish Georgia. William Few Jr. remained behind to help settle his father's affairs. Such as being compensated by and from the Colonial Province of North Carolina, because of the act of Governor Tryon with his royal army in destroying crops, on his fathers plantation.
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Felps and Revolutionary War
Felps and Revolutionary War
Ed Felps/Phelps (View posts) Posted: 8 Jul 2002 3:50PM GMT
Classification: Query
Surnames:
THE BATTLE OF ALAMANCE " WAS THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION"
The struggle for American Liberty and Independence...began in North Carolina, at the "Battle of Alamance".... kindled the flame...that eventually....spread with the rapidity of a wild forest fire, until the oppressed of the thirteen colonies were aflame with righteous indignation and unitedly determined to throw off forever the YOKE of British oppression......at the hands of historians has never received due mention or proper credit...
WRIGHTSBOROUGH
(BRANDON)
ST. PAUL'S PARISH IN COLONIAL GEORGIA
Shortly after the arrival of Joseph Maddock in Georgia, he petitioned for 200 acres to build a gristmill on the north fork of Briar Creek. The petition was approved but not granted until April 2, 1771.
Dec. 3, 1771, Avinton Felps Granted to self, 150 acres, St. Paul's Parish, Bounded on East by land surveyed for---Wells, South and West by land surveyed for Ebenr. Smith, other side vacant. Signed by Edward Barnard for Avinton Felps. Feb. 5, 1772.
William Candler was appointed as the Deputy County Surveyor by Governor Wright - in Colonial America this was a major political appointment. This appointment marked a man of intelligence, education, woodsmanship, and military ability.William does not appear in the Quaker records of the Wrightsborough meeting. The events of the Revolution overtook the details of normal life for most Quakers and it was against their stated principles, but fought anyway against the British foe. Many Quakers was disowned and removed from amongst the faith, for that reason.
Daniel Marshall had charge of a Baptist Church on the Uwharrie River and was well known through-out the Yadkin River Valley in Anson and Rowan County North Carolina. Shortly after the battle of Alamance, the Rev. Daniel Marshall and his family moved to Wrightsborough. A meeting house was built in the Spring of 1772, and the Rev. Daniel Marshall became the first pastor, ministering from his headquarters at the Great Kiokee.
On Oct. 15, 1773, Greenbury Lee, from South Carolina, was granted 100 acres at head of branch of Brier Creek called Beaver Dam, half a mile above the Indian Trading Path. Greenbury Lee married Elizabeth Few, a daughter of William and Mary (Wheeler) Few.
In 1773, and on the eve that the Revolutionary War broke out, Elijah Clarke, one of the signers on the regulators petition on October 9, 1769 in Anson County North Carolina, moved his family near the Quaker settlement of Wrightsborough Georgia. Elijah Clarke (1733-1799) was born in Edgecombe County, N. C. and married Hannah Arrington (1737-1827).
July 5, 1774, William Felps, 350 acres, St. Paul's Parish, Bounded southwesterly by Benjamin Wells and James Brown, other sides vacant. Granted to William Felps by William Candler. Signed William Felps Sept. 14-1774.
Aug. 24, 1775, Thomas Ford of St. Paul's Parish, to William Felps, planter, of same parish, conveying 150 acres lying on both sides of Brier Creek on the north fork of the Great Kiokee, and to include Felps sawmill seat. Witnesses: Ormond Roe and Greenbury Lee.
In 1776, William Few Jr. joined his family near Wrightsborough in St. Paul's Parish Georgia. About this same time, Few won admittance to the bar, based on earlier informal study, and set up practice in Augusta, and married Catherine Nicholson.
RICHMOND COUNTY
Was created from St. Paul's Parish Feb. 5, 1777
Originally comprising the northern portion of Richmond County, the area initially was settled by Quakers, Baptists, and others who refused to fight in the Revolutionary War. The early years of the American Revolution were quiet in Georgia. In 1778 new orders from London marked out the south as the main theater of war. British warships that had been sailing off the New York Harbor headed to the South Carolina and Georgia coast.
GREENBURY LEE was commissioned as a colonel during the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. His Militia fought in the battle of Brier Creek, Ga 3rd day of March 1779 and was involved in several other expeditions of guerrilla fighting against the British.
WILLIAM CANDLER was commissioned as a major in the Royal militia, he resigned his commission and joined the fight for American Independence when he entered the Revolutionary War but afterward, rose to the rank of colonel and served in the GA militia as second-in-command under Gen. Elijah Clarke. William Candler was in the attack on Augusta, at King's Mountain, and Blackstocks. His distinction as a Major, then later Colonel of the Georgia "Refugees" of the American Revolution has been chronicled by his descendants.
SEE PLATE-WILLIAM FEW JR.
WILLIAM FEW JR. When the War for Independence began, William Few Jr. enthusiastically aligned himself with the Whigs. Although largely self-educated, he proved to be a leader; becoming Lieutenant-Colonel of the Richmond County Militia in 1779; he was elected to the Georgia Provincial Congress of 1776; in 1777 and 1779, served in the Assembly. During this same period, he sat on the State Executive Council, as Surveyor-General and Indian Commissioner.
ELIJAH CLARKE was commissioned as colonel, led American forces against the British in battles at Alligator Creek, Kettle Creek, Musgrove's Mill, Fish Dam, Blackstock's, Long Cane, Beatties Mill and two sieges at Augusta, the last one successful. Colonel Elijah Clarke became a Brigadier General. As soon as Colonel Clarke raised the siege of Augusta, in the summer of 1780, he withdrew to the Little River country, which had been overrun and devastated by the enemy. He there furloughed his men for a short time, in order that they might look after the welfare of their families and get themselves in readiness for another active campain. About the last of September they met at the appointed rendezvous and, "when Clarke was ready to march he found himself at the head of about three hundred men who had in their train four hundred women and children. The condition of the country for two years had been such that the vestiges of cultivation were scarcely to be seen anywhere, and to leave their families behind under such circumstances was to subject them to certain want, if not starvation, in a country under the control of an enemy whose barbarity has been fully described."
Colonel Candler's family was among those refugee's thus driven from their homes by a cruel and merciless enemy. (the women and children of the families; Felps, Fews, Jacksons and Clarks, was included among those refugee's). Colonel Clark therefore resolved to escort these helpless women and children to East Tennessee which was a part of North Carolina, between the French Broad and the Holston Rivers, on Nolachucky where they would be in a land of plenty and out of the reach of a barbarous enemy. With this helpless multitude, and with not more than five days subsistence, Colonel Clark commenced a march of near two hundred miles through a mountainous wilderness to avoid being cut off by the enemy. On the eleventh day they reached Wattauga and Nolachucky Rivers, on the north side of the mountains, in a starved condition. Many of the men and women had received no subsistence for several days, except nuts, and the last two even the children were subsisted on the same kind of food. Many of the tender sex were obliged to travel on foot, and some of them without shoes.
WILLIAM FELPS died sometime in 1782 or 1783 and he left no last will and testament. It is very possible that he died while fighting for the Revolution, but there is no evidence that he did, at this time. On May 10, 1783, Elizabeth Felps, Moses Marshall (son of Rev. Daniel Marshall) and William Candler of the county of Richmond (planters) are held and firmly bound unto the said county in the full and just sum of five hundred pounds sterling as surety for the estate of William Felps (planter) dec'd.. Elizabeth Felps was appointed Admx. Edmond Cartledge, Daniel Marshall and William Few Sr. was appointed as the apprs. for the estate inventory of William Felps. May 15, 1783, An Inventory of Goods and Chattels of the Estate of William Felps, dec'd both Real and Personal as appraised by us this day. Signed Edmond Cartledge, Daniel Marshall, William Few Sr.
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Created on Feb. 25, 1784.
A treaty had been made with the Cherokee at Augusta, May 31, 1783 and was signed by Lyman Hall, the Governor of Georgia, Col. Elijah Clarke and William Few Jr. The state of Georgia had devoted a large part of Washington County, for bounty land, to her soldiers. The land grants were made in lots of 250 acres free from taxation for some years, and if one preferred to pay tax'es, he was to have 287 1/2 acres. Washington County was much exposed in it's early settlement to Indian forays and was settled slowly, in the northern and eastern sections on the Shoulderbone Creek and the Ogeechee River.
DAVID D. FELPS was under the command of Col. Greenbury Lee during the Revolutionary War and on Feb 20, 1784, was issued a certificate of service #209 that would allow said Felps 250 acres of bounty land that was to be set aside in Washington County for Georgia's Revolutionary Soldier's. William Candler, the father in law of David D. Felps, was listed as the person taking up such certificate for said Felps. On July 25, 1784, David D. Felps received his bounty survey, Warrant 1309, lot 473 for 287 1/2 acres of "very good land" in Washington County bounded on all sides by vacant lands.
A partial list showing names of men that was also under the command of Col. Greenbury Lee during the Revolutionary War and was issued a certificate of service.
William Few Sr., issued Feb 25, 1784
Ignatius Few, issued March 11, 1784
William Candler Jr., issued Feb 20, 1784
Henry Candler, issued Feb 20, 1784
Certified