| Birth: | May 21, 1760
Reading
Middlesex County
Massachusetts, USA | | Death: | Jul. 28, 1835
Grafton
Windham County
Vermont, USA | 
Elijah was the second of three children (1st son) born of Joseph and Edeth Phelps.
In April 1775, Elijah (age 15 years), then residing at Reading, Middlesex County, Massaachusetts, enlisted as a Private for eight months in Captain Josiah King's Company, Colonel David Brewer's (9th) Massachusetts Militia Regiment (later under the command of Colonel Rufus Putnam). Elijah was stationed for the principal part of his term of enlistment on Prospect Hill overlooking Boston Harbor where he helped erect several forts and fortifications. He was there at the time of the Battle of Bunker Hill. At the expiration of this service, Elijah enlisted for one year in the same Company and Regiment then in Continental service. He remained at Prospect Hill and it's vicinity for several months. Thence he moved with the army to West Point, New York and to the Jersey's. After serving out his time, he was discharged at West Point.
In 1777, Elijah moved to Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts. In September 1777, he enlisted at Fitchburg for three months as a Private in Captain William Thurlo's Company under the command of Major Ebenezer Bridge. They went to Bennington, Vermont and thence to West Cambridge, Albany County (now Easton, Washington County) New York. There they erected a Fort opposite to Saratoga where they remained until the surrender of British General John Burgoyne and his army. Thence they returned to Bennington where he was discharge at the expiration of his service being out 25 days.
On January 1, 1778, Elijah enlisted at Fitchburg for six months as a Private in Captain John Morgan's Company. This Company was raised from detached militia from Hampshire and Worcester Counties to guard stores and magazines at Springfield and Brookfield. Elijah went to Springfield, Hampden County, Massachusetts where he was employed in guarding the stores, cleaning guns, etc. at the Springfield Labratory (Armory). At the expiration of this service, he was discharged.
Elijah married, January 10, 1783 at Fitchburg, Keziah (Johnson) Gibson (1762-1817) by whom he had 7 children: Elijah (b. 1784), John (b. 1786), Joseph (b. 1788), Keziah (1792-1804), Samuel (b. 1784), Rebecca (b. 1796), and Eidth (b. 1798). Soon after he married, Elijah moved to Grafton, Windham County, Vermont.
References:
(1) "Vital Records of Reading Massachusetts, To The Year 1850." by Thomas W. Baldwin, 1912, Pg. 181
(2) "The Phelps Family of America and Their English Ancestors," Vol. II., by Oliver Seymour Phelps & Andrew R. Servin, 1899, Pgs. 1602, 1624 & 1722
(3) US Federal Military Pension File # R8169
(4) "Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War." Vol. XI, by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 1903, Pg. 284
(5) "The Old Records of the Town of Fitchburgh Massachusetts" Vol. II., by Walter A. Davis, 1899, Pg. 228
(6) "Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windham County, VT., 1724-1884" by Hamilton Child, 1884, Pg. 188
| | | Burial:
Middletown Cemetery
Grafton
Windham County
Vermont, USA |
Created by: Chazmanbsr
Record added: Aug 29, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 29402717 |
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