James Phelps

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130123604/james-phelps

James Phelps
BIRTH 1520
Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire, England
DEATH 10 May 1588 (aged 67–68)
Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire, England
BURIAL
Tewkesbury Abbey
Tewkesbury, Tewkesbury Borough, Gloucestershire, England
MEMORIAL ID 130123604 · View Source
MEMORIAL
PHOTOS 3
FLOWERS 11
James Phelps was born in 1520 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England. He was the son of Richard Phelps Phylyppes (1497-1579) and Mary Tomes Phelps Phylyppes (1502-1584).

James married Joan Coke in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England in 1558. This couple became parents to the following known children: Robert, William, Nicholas, Walter, Thomas, George, Anne, Alice, Keneline and Edward.

James died on 10 May 1588 in Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, and I believe he was buried at or near the Tewkesbury Abbey Church in Tewkesbury, England.

James was supposed to be the brother of Francis Phylppe of Nether Tyne, Staffordshire, England according to the records found in the Tewkesbury Abbey Church.
Note
From "A Genealogy of Allison Phelps and Related Lines" by Bernice P. Johnson. James Phelps - the first Phelps whose record we know, He was born in 1520, 5 years before Elizabeth was crowned. He married Joan (last name not known). We find in Perogative Court of Canterbury Administrations for 1587 - 1591, page 60, the following mention of her name: "May 10th, 1588, Commission issued Joan Phelps, relict of James Phelps, late of Tewkesbury, deceased, to administer the goods and chatels of said deceased." Their children were baptized at Tewkesbury Abbey which establishes them as Catholics at this time. James and Joan were probably married in the Tewkesbury Abbey.

Citation
Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucester, Gloucestershire; Gloucestershire Church of England Parish Registers; Reference Number: GDR/V1/242

In my research I just found this 1984 pages PDF about the Phelps family "The Phelps Family of America and their English Ancestors with Copies of Wills, Deeds, Letters And Other Interesting Papers" compiled by Judge Oliver Seymour Phelps of Portland, Oregon This book was published in 1899. Page 36 of that book (50 on PDF) titled "The Phelps Family in Europe": "The Phelps family were originally Italians, and were then called "Welfs " From Italy they removed to Germany, and took the name of Gulphs, thence to Scotland, where they were called Phelps (the tradition is) from Scotland, they sailed for Bristol, but through stress of weather they were driven to Porlock, where they settled down and bought property. Porlock is a coastal village in Somerset, England.

From my research, their son Thomas Phelps and grandson, Thomas Phelps were the first Phelps in America coming to Jamestown, VA in 1607, 1608 and other years. These are recorded on " Passenger & Immigration Lists Index" on several documents called " They have many descendants in many states in the USA. There is documented proof of this fact that will be shared on their parents' Find a grave page. They were part of the Tradesmen. From these records (copied on this page and obtained from Ancestry we learn that the Phelps family from England were part of the London, England joint-stock company who came to Jamestown, Colony of Virginia in 1607 & 1608. You can read more about this as well as the Phelps family history in the links below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company
https://www.historyisfun.org/sites/jamestown-chronicles/timeline.html
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LY1M-P69
https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G005042.pdf

Family Members
Parents
Richard Phelps Phylppes
1504–1579

Mary Tomes Phylppes
1502–1584

Spouse
Photo
Joan Coke Phelps
1538–1604

Children
William Phelps
1560–1611

Photo
Thomas Phelps
1563 – unknown

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Walter Phelps
1565–1616

Edward Phelps
1578–1636