Aquilla Phelps, son of Brittain and Likely Descendant of Thomas Felps, d 1759 Balltimore Co, MD

The following research was done by Mark Phelps of Snow Camp, NC. It offers a link of the reported line of kit 108474 to the Thomas Felps d. 1759 of Baltimore Co, Md.

 1.  Brittan (Britton/Britten/Brittain or Philtain) Phelps  b.  NC   

         2.  Aquilla Phelps  b bet 1822-1828,  NC;    d. 1913, Van Lear, Johnson County, KY    m. Sarah Hickey

              3.   Theo J. Phelps b abt 1863  VA

              3.   Adolphus Phelps  b abt 1880  VA   m. Lora Webb

              3.   Lucinda Phelps (daughter) b abt 1871

              3.   Leander Phelps b abt 1885 VA

              3.   William King Phelps  b.  1/25/1865, Abington, Washington County, VA; d. 1924, Elk City, OK   m. Zora Webb

                    4.  Edward Phelps  b. 6/28/1898, Van Lear, KY;  d. 6/09/1961, Sacramento, CA

                         5.   Lt. Col. Ralph Edward Phelps b. 9/16/1921  Elk City, Ok.    d. 11/4/2004  West Fork, Ark.

                                Descendant  Kit 108474 12 markers , upgrading to 37  Haplogroup E

 

While I was researching Reuben Phelps (one of the sons of James Phelps d.1786 Caswell Co.,N.C.) I discovered that Martin Phelps was a son of Reuben Phelps. Martin died in 1826, 11 years prior to his father's death in 1837. Martin's brother Isham Phelps, was executor of Martin Phelps estate. After placing this Martin Phelps in my family line, I began to do further searching on Martin Phelps and discovered a whole new line of Phelps, at least to me, in Washington and Russell Counties, Va. Census Records showed another Martin Phelps there so I dug deeper.

Washington Co., Va. was formed in 1777 and Russell Co. formed in 1786 from Washington Co.  In a 1796 taxlist we see Samuel Felps with 2 polls in Russell co. Va. In a 1801 tax list we see John Felpes, Abington Felpes and Samuel Phelps, all with one poll. In 1802 John, Abington and Samuel appear in Russell Co. Va. again.

In the 1810 Washington Co. Va. Census we see Abingdon Phelps and John Phelps.We also see a Valentine Phelps in the 1810 Census. Valentine is sometimes listed as "Valentine Fulps", who we see in the 1830 Claiborne Co.,Tn Census as "Valentine Felps" age 50-60 and in 1840 listed as "Valentine Fulps" age 60-70 and in 1860 as "Valentine Fulps" age 80 born in NC.

By 1820 we see Martin Phelps appear on the Census in Washington Co.Va. Martin Phelps was a son of Samuel Phelps of Washington/Russell Co. Va. Samuel Felps/Phelps was born in Rowan Co. N.C.,according to the book "Prairie Queens" by Alice Bell Gander. http://www.prairiequeens.com/ Alice Gander is connected to the Phelps thru John Phelps born 1800, son of Samuel Phelps of Washington /Russell Co Va. to see the Phelps section of her book go to http://www.prairiequeens.com/images/Prairie_Queens_Book/Ida_Frances_Phelps.pdf

My theory is that Samuel, Abington and John Phelps are all sons of  Thomas Felps d.1794 Rowan Co. N.C. Thomas Felps had sons by these names as well as a son named Brittain. Thomas' father was Aventon Phelps of Rowan Co. N.C.. Thomas had a brother named Aquilla. From the work of Ed Phelps"
" 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. 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."

With the naming patterns in the ancestry of Chuck Potts, Britt(Brittain), Aquilla son of Britt, this screams Rowan Co NC Felps/ Phelps family. As the DNA and Haplogroup matches the James of Caswell Co NC, Thomas of Albemarle VA, and Felps/Phelps of Rowan Co and Maryland, I think it is most likely the Rowan Co NC Felps/Phelps that Chuck Potts ties to. Brittain Felps of Rowan Co NC and Lincoln Co TN had a son Brittain Jr. There are others Felps/Phelps men named Brittain who all tie to Rowan Co NC. Perhaps Abington Phelps in Washington/Russell Co VA had a son named Britt and grandson Aquilla. This will require further study, yet I'm confident Chuck's family begins in Rowan Co NC.

Here is more info on Aquilla Phelps of Washington Co Va and Johnson Co Ky who married Sarah Hickey, Feb. 28th 1861 in Washington Co VA, per the Marriage Register of Rev. Alexander Little http://www.rootsweb.com/~varussel/vitals/alexanderlittlemarriagereg.html

 

More info on Aquilla Phelps of Washington Co VA.

Source is-- http://donaldpuckett.tripod.com/documents/id7.html

AQUILLA PHELPS: born in May 1825 in North Carolina, was a farmer in Washington County, VA, when the War began. Too old to serve in the regular Confederate Army, Phelps joined the Washington County[VA] Confederate Militia, mustering into service on April 6, 1862. He surrendered at Abingdon, VA, on May 6, 1865, and moved to the Greasy Creek section of Johnson County, KY, prior to 1879, and worked as a farmer until his death on Dec. 13, 1913. He was a Democrat and member
of the Church of Christ. Quiller Huff's parents were William Huff and Lucinda Rebecca Phelps.

I have not yet been able to find anything about William's family. On his death certificate, Lucinda Rebecca's brother Leander (Lee) Phelps stated that William was born in Letcher County, Kentucky.  Lucinda Rebecca's father was Aquilla Phelps, born in North Carolina in 1825. His father was Britt Phelps. I am currently researching
Aquilla's parents. Aquilla moved to Washington County, Virginia where he married Lucinda Rebecca's mother, Sarah Dye Hickey. Aquilla served in the Washington County Militia in the Civil War. Soon after the end of the war, he moved his family to Floyd County, Kentucky, where they appeared on the 1870 census. Around 1879, the family moved to the Greasy Creek area of Johnson County. Aquilla was a farmer, and after his children had left home, they boarded miners from the Van Lear Mine
(miners appear as boarders on the 1910 Johnson County Census). Upon his death in 1913, he was buried at Wolf Pen Hollow, Van Lear, Kentucky.

Sarah was the daughter of Matthew Hickey and Lucinda Dye, and was born in Washington County, Virginia in 1844. Moving to Kentucky with her husband and family, she lived with Aquilla until his death. After his death, she lived with Quiller Huff's parents, William and Lucinda Rebecca, until their untimely deaths during the influenza epedemic in 1920. Until her death in 1928, Sarah lived with another daughter, Rachael Phelps Butcher. Sarah was buried in the Club House Cemetery, Van Lear, Kentucky.

Many were unaware that Quiller Huff was married three times--first to Ruth Octavia Stanley, then to Nancy Davis Johnson, and finally to Nola Daniels, hence the three marriage certificates displayed.  When the Family History Page is complete, it will give more detail about anything I might find about William's ancestry, Aquilla and
Sarah Phelps, and Quiller Huff's service in World War I. I welcome any contribution anyone might have.