Assuming James’ wife, Mary, was a Killingsworth,
could James have come from where Mary’s family came from, possibly Johnston or
Edgecombe counties, NC or Surry Co, VA? Even though there is no evidence to
disprove a Killingsworth connection, I found no such marriage claim by the
Killingsworth researchers nor was there any other evidence of such a marriage.
Also, I did not find a potential James Phelps in any of the new areas. If
either could be found our line might lead to the Felps/Felts of Surry Co, VA
in early 1700s. The research of others indicates the Felts of Surry/Sussex
moved to Warren Co, NC – and by 1835 the Felts name appears in Caswell, not
far from there. (One DNA test for a Thomas Felts in NC did not match our
line’s DNA. See the Phelps DNA Project)
This intriguing possibility resulted from the curious appearance of the name
“Freeman Killingsworth Phelps” in at least two descendants of James’ son
Obediah. Below you will find all my research. I will summarize here. I have
provided many source records, but unfortunately nearly all the Killingsworth
genealogies have very little real proofs. A Killingsworth Farmily Book has
been named but I was unable to determine what sources were used in that book.
Since no one ever claimed a Phelps marriage, I did not make every effort to
prove or disprove the Killingsworth family claims.
The rest of this report can be seen at the
here.