Research on the Phelps in Early Barbados -
Research by D. Phelps, contributions by B. Emery and M. Phelps
Jan 16, 2008 Updated 9/21/2008
Added 11/2014 1650-1700 Quakers freed 133 slaves in Barbados Englishmen Transplanted: The English Colonization of Barbados 1627-1660 p 164 1670/71 George Fox, a Quaker leader had been in Limerick and also Barbados with a delegation of Friends. Fox and others were there in 1671 to convert slaves to Christianity. Quakers had begun work there earlier. Englishmen Transplanted: The English Colonization of Barbados 1627-1660 p163 Is it possible that these slaves - or Irish children - were given Christian names like those Quakers back in Limerick?
New research and observations of 7/2008 throw great doubt on the theory of a Quaker link in Barbados. Brenda Emery noted that Quakers do no observe baptisms. In addition research into the Limerick Quaker dated registers indicates the potential Thomas Phelps of Limerick could not have been in Barbados. The Ireland Quaker - Barbados connection is now severely questioned. See this report.
Items included:
Phelps Records in Early Barbados with additional records including Pond records
Related colonial America records
Possible origins of Limerick, Ireland Now discredited by some researchers.
A link to "THE PIOUS AND THE PROFANE: THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF EARLY BARBADOS PLANTERS" with Quaker information
Research in 2008 by D. Phelps of the Limerick Quaker dated registers indicates the potential Thomas Phelps there could not have been in Barbados.
Phelps Records in Early Barbados - with additional records including Pond Records -
Researched and compiled by D Phelps
Barbados Records Baptisms 1637-1800 compiled by Joanne McRee Sanders, Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore 1984
Thomas son of Thomas & Jane Phelp May 9 1662, Christ Church Parish Page 263, original page 58, RL1/17
Thomas son of Thomas and Jane Phelp Sept 15, 1664 Christ Church Parish, Page 265, original page 68, RL1/17
Mary dau of William & Elizabeth Phelp Oct 7, 1666 Christ Church Parish Original page 77, RL1/17
"Few slaves in Barbados, with the notable exception of those at Codrington
[1741], were baptised until the 1820" Source: "Slave Names and Naming in
Barbados 1650-1830", William and Mary Quarterly 1996, by Handler and Jacoby, p
709: Their source was "The Unappropriated People: Freedom in the Slave
Society of Barbados, and Plantation Slavery" by Handler and Lange
135 blacks were baptized here (37 free, 37 adults 42 children, 19 mulattos.) Mulattos, slaves, freemen were identified in the list Thomas was NOT so identified
Barbados Records Marriages 1643-1800 compiled by Joanne McRee Sander
Thomas Phelp and Jane Reynald Jan 26, 1662 Christ Church Parish, Page 17, original page 32, RL1/20
Note: The earliest recorded marriage in this parrish was April 9, 1643.
Jno: Blewett & Elnor Phelps Aug 21, 1664 St Michael Parish, Page 17, original page 87, RL1/1
Note: The earliest recorded marriage in this parrish was Jan 3, 1648/9. There were only three marriages recorded in this parish between Oct 12, 1659 and August 14, 1664, barely allowing for this Phelps marriage. Could there have been others?
Barbados Records - wills and Administrations 1639-1725 :
Kingman, Willman p.61 Dep, 5 May 1680, Peter Bruessse age 30 & Richard Phelps age 30: "Being at the island of Tabago about 12 Mar last William Kingman lay sick. He gave his estarte to wf Mar Kingman & gr dau Elizabeth Runney."
Delve, William of Bdos 21 Mar 1653 p.280 Wf Elizabeth Delve; rent due from Gabriell Phelps; gr ch George Ricotts; Ensign William Arnell, John Ford, and Elisha Farmer - Xtrs. signed William Delve Wit: Gabriell Phelps Recorded 22 Mar 1658/9
Russel, Abraham, planter Christ Church Parish, 28 Mar 1669, p. 137 Dorothy Richman; Nicholas Phelps; Robert Egerton,l son of Rowland Egerton, Joane Austin - 1 shilling; Elizabeth Copleman - 1 shilling; Edward Sheerman; mentions Thomas Thickpenny; John Russell Jr, Abraham Russell, & Mary Russell (?), ____ of John Russell Sr; ____Pococke of St Philips & James Coates of St Michaels - Xtrs. signed Abr: Russell Wit: Edward (X) Sherman, Rowland (x) Egerton, John Evans Proved 6 April 1669
Pond in Barbados: Because this Phelps/Felps line is now known to be biologically related to a Pond line due to paternal YDNA tests, these Pond records are included.
Baptism: April 23 1702 , p. 614 Thoms McGrah, a mulo. freeborn aged about 22 years, Mr. Wm: Pond, Jams: Morrison, & Jane West his chosen WIt.
Wills:
Pond, Mary of Bdos, widow, being sick and weak in body. St Peters Parish, 19 Sep 1718, p 537. Friend George Morrison of St Lucys Parish planter - Xtr and all my estate and plantations. signed Marg: (x) Pond Wit: George Gibson, Mayn: (or Majn:) Morrison, James Morrison, I Biggs Proved 14 Sept 1719 (court names testatrix Mary Pond)
Pond, William, cordwainer St Michaels Parish, 29 July 1702, p 465 Son Michael Pond and my wf Alice Pond* - Xtrs. signed will: (x) Pond Wit: Edwd: Greene, WIlliam (x) Shaw, Will: (x) Saunders Proved 11 August 1702
Map as shown in Barbados Baptisms
Quakers in Barbados - pages from Tracing Ancestors in Barbados, A Practicle Guide - by Geraldine Lane An excellent source of information where this can be ordered is at this web site
Since Quakers refused to conform to the Anglican Church, they were generally not recorded in the parish registers. They established their`` own registration system for birth, marriage and burial. These records do not survive in Barbados. For any Friends who were born and married in England before settling in Barbados, there is likely to be a record of their birth (assuming they were a birthright Quaker) and a marriage in the Digest Registers of Quaker births, marriages and burials. These cover approximately 1650-1837, when civil registration was introduced in England. There is a summary of the Digest Registers on the website of the Quaker Library in London: www.quaker.org.uk/library/guides/libgenea.htmi
Other sources
Besse, Joseph. Sufferings of Early Quakers, America-New England & Maryland, West Indies-Antigua Barbados Jamaica and Nevis, Bermuda (BDA, BML)
Quakers suffered persecution for their beliefs for many years. For example, they were often fined or imprisoned for refusing to take oaths, serve in the armed forces or support the Anglican Church by paying tithes. Cases of persecution were recorded in books of sufferings, and in 1753 Joseph Besse published a detailed account of those occurring in Barbados, among other places. This has now been reprinted with a new introduction and an index of people and places. More than 70 pages of the book relate to Barbados, and this is a rich source of information on Barbados Quakers.
Sources at the BML [in Bermuda)
The BML holds a large collection of information on the Quakers of Barbados. This is gathered together in a folder and includes many -.names of individuals. Notebooks containing Quaker information can also be found in the Library's Shilstone Collection.
The Journal of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society (BDA, BML, NLS)
The Journal has published numerous articles on Quakers, many of them listing names:
Brinegar, L. Brett. Radical Politics and Civil Disobedience: Quaker Resistance in Seventeenth Century Bridgetown, Vol. 49: 150-166
Brome, Joseph A. (Ed. by) John Candlers Visit to Barbados 1849, Vol. 28: 128-136
Cadbury, Henry J. Barbados Quakers 1683-1761, Preliminary List, Vol. 9: 29-31*
Cadbury, Henry J. Account of Barbados 200 Years Ago, Vol. 9: 81-83
Cadbury, Henry J. 186 Barbados Quakeresses in 1677, -Vol. 9: 195-197
Cadbury, Henry J. A Quaker Account of Barbados in 1718, Vol. 10: 118-124
Cadbury, Henry J. Witnesses of a Quaker marriage in 1689, Vol. 14: 186-187
Cadbury, Henry J. Glimpses of Barbados Quakerism 1676-79, Vol. 20: 67-70
Related colonial America records
From Latham Mark Phelps 1/2008 with additional info by Doug Phelps
Cavaliers and Pioneers-Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants Volume II 1666-1695 by Nell Marion Nugent
Page 345-346 Tho. Felps.:
CHRISTOPHER WORMLY (Wormeley),
Esqr., 800 acs., in Middlesex Co., formerly Lancaster, a mile from
the river, 21 Apr. 1690, p. 62. Beg. by the Church Path from Col. Antho.
Elliott's house; by sd. path from Col. Smith's house, &c. Granted to Leu't. Col.
Anthony Elliott, 26 Feb. 1661, deserted, & now granted by order, &c.
Imp. of 16 pers: Jno. Smith, Ja. Tutnell,
Robert Cuningham, Jno. Cross, Sarah Cross, Robert Palmer, Wm. Witherington, Jane
Roberts, Ann Finch, Tho. Felps,
Adam Eland, Geo. Knott, Su. Tilley, jno. Elliott, Wm. Rogers, Joan Sibbs.
[ Lancaster County was named for the English county. It was formed from York and Northumberland Counties in 1651. Middlesex County probably was named for the English county. It was formed from Lancaster County about 1669.]
In 1704 a Thomas Phelps is reported in King and Queen Co, VA Rent Rolls of VA 1704-5 Note that King & Queen Co. is adjacent to Lancaster & Middlesex. James Lea, son and heir of William Lea, deceased, appointed his friend, Thomas Phelps of Caswell County (1727-1823), to be his lawful attorney to obtain title to a twenty-five acre tract of land in King and Queen County. This has been considered as a clue the K&Q was Thomas' origin.
Cavaliers and Pioneers-Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants Volume II 1666-1695 by Nell Marion Nugent
Page 322
MR. WILLIAM EDWARDS, 480 acs., 23 Apr. 1688, p. 648. On W. side of Greene Sw.,
cor. of John Clarke, in Owens' lyne; adj. John Clements; Syon Hill; Mr. Samuell
Plaw; & Mr. Bins, &c. Granted Edward Pettaway, 20 Apr. 1684, deserted, & now
granted by order, &c. frans. of 10 pets: Wm. Robins, James Moore, Antho.
Evarard, Thomas Cooke, James Willice, Sarah Evans,
Where was this located??????????????????/
Christopher Wormeley had business dealings with
Barbadoes-See below Also see the
Barbados possibilites
in this paper
From ECONOMIC HISTORY OF VIRGINIA IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY. AN INQUIRY INTO
THE MATERIAL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE, BASED UPON ORIGINAL AND CONTEMPORANEOUS
RECORDS pub 1896 by PHILIP ALEXANDER BRUCE
1 Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1663-1668, p. 85, Va. State Library. The
following entries in the county records will further show the intimacy of the
connection between Virginia and Barbadoes in this age. John Thomas, of the sloop
Content, belonging to the Isle of Barbadoes, appoints as his attorney in
Virginia, Thomas Ward.
Records of Norfolk County, original vol. 1695-1703, f. p. 125. Benjamin Dwight, of Barbadoes, sues Christopher Wormeley for debt.
See orders, Oct. 7, 1689, Records of Middlesex County, original vol.
1680-1694. It is stated in the inventory of John Godsill of Lancaster County
that a parcel of rum belonging to his estate is expected from Barbadoes. Records
of Lancaster County, original vol. 1674-1687, f. p. 22. The will of John Morrah
of Rappahannock County contains the following: " I give to my godson, Thomas
Warden of Barbados, 1000 Ibs. of muscovado sugar, now in the hands of Joseph
Warden of Barbados, his father." Vol. 1677-1682, p. 17, Va. State Library.
Nicholas Ware of Rappahannock County "acknowledges himself bound to John VassalI
of Barbados in 17,234 Ibs. tobacco." Original vol. 1656-1664, p. 274. See also,
William and Mary College Quarterly for April, 1892, p. 145. 2 Letters of William
Byrd, May 29, 1689.
Christopher Wormeley definitely had Indentured
Servants--See below
INSOLENT AND CONTEMPTUOUS CARRIAGES: RE-CONCEPTUALIZING ILLEGITIMACY IN COLONIAL BRITISH AMERICA
by JOHN WATKINS. A 2003 thesis (copyrighted)
"Though women remained susceptible to corporal punishment and
public shame, they no longer worried about the economic consequences of
fornication. New England women effectively distanced themselves from
financial responsibility for illegitimate offspring. Since judges
expected men to cover the economic costs of a bastard youth, some
historians assert that courts served the interests of the mother. 76
Though judges seldom ruled in favor of female defendants, not all women
allowed their subjugated status to prevent them from seeking justice.
For instance, in June 1693, *Christopher Wormeley* impregnated Margaret
Devorage, a servant on his *Middlesex* (Virginia) plantation. Wormeley
disciplined Devorage for conceiving an illegitimate child by increasing her
period of servitude by two years. Challenging the punishment, Devorage
maintained that she would perform no additional work once her Serviice is
Expired.
Devorage filed legal charges against Wormeley because he had Refused to
sett your pettitioner
[Devorage] free & to pay her Corne & Cloathes According to the Custome of this
Country. Devorage, along with a plethora of non- whites, women, and bonded
individuals, understood that the construction and enforcement of colonial
bastardy laws was inherently unfair and created
an arrangement that permitted privileged white men to thrive at their expense. "
Possible origins of Limerick, Ireland
Research in 2008 by D. Phelps of the Limerick Quaker dated registers indicates the potential Thomas Phelps there could not have been in Barbados.
A link to a Limerick Ireland newsletter with Thomas Phelps Quaker reference. A PDF paper identifies Thomas Phelps as early as perhaps 1664 and as late at 1673, 1675, 1681 (Discovered by John Phelps of Annapolis).