Descendants of Abigail Phelps

1. Abigail¹ Phelps; b. 1769;^{^[1]}^{,^[2]} m. Eli Winchell, age 23, son of Lieut. Elisha Winchell and Mary Thrall, 27 Dec 1790;^{^[3]} d. 19 Jun 1845 in Granville, MA, at age 76 years of ulcers.^{^[4]}^{,^[5]}

     Eli Winchell was born on 20 May 1767 in Turkey Hills (East Granby), CT.^{^[6]} He died on 7 Apr 1859 in E. Granville, MA, at age 91.^{^[7]} He was made a freeman on 16 Sep 1799 in Salmon Brook Society, Granby.^{^[8]}
He lived on 1 May 1804 in Granby, Hampshire, MA,
In 1804 Eli is called of Granby, MA when he sells land to Worthy Thrall.^{^[9]}
In 1805 Removed to E. Granville, MA from Turkey Hills, CT.

     In 1805 Eli moved his family from Turkey Hills (East Granby) CT to E. Granville, MA and bought a farm in the southwest part of the town. He lived there until May, 1842 when he moved into the northeast part of the town to live with his son Luke.
     In the history of Granville, MA, it is written that the Winchells are one of the oldest families of the town, being people of prominence in this vicinity for many generations. Winchell mountain carries the name of this family.
     "Eli Winchell, a native of Granby and followed farming in that vicinity for some years, but removed to Hampden County at an early day, buying a farm in East Granville; in connection with tilling the soil he kept a public house for several years.". In 1814, Eli was a licensed tavern keeper in Granville.

     Children of Abigail¹ Phelps and Eli Winchell were as follows:
          2.            i.       Talcott² Winchell, b. 31 May 1792 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. (1) Abbie Spelman; m. (2)Maria T. Taylor.
                        ii.        Alexander Winchell; b. 10 Sep 1794 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; d. 9 Jun 1805 in Southwick, MA, at age 10.
          3.         iii.        Abigail Winchell, b. 20 Jan 1797 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. Homer Griswold.
          4.         iv.       Luke Winchell, b. 4 Apr 1799 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. (1) Persis Miller; m. (2) Caroline D. Gibbons.
          5.            v.      Eli Winchell Jr., b. 30 Sep 1802 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. Wealthy Permelia Gillett.
                        vi.       Mary Winchell; b. 11 Mar 1805 in Granville, MA; m. (1) Chandler Clark; m. (2) Aaron Clark in East Granville, MA.
          6.         vii.       Alexander Winchell, b. 29 May 1808 in E. Granville, MA; m. Lois Drake.
                      viii.       Norris Winchell; b. 12 Jun 1810 in E. Granville, MA; d. 1814 in E. Granville, MA, of worms (trichinosis), at age 4.

2. Talcott² Winchell (Abigail¹Phelps); b. 31 May 1792 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. (1), at age 20, Abbie Spelman, age 15, daughter of Deacon Elijah Spelman and Mary Chapman, 30 May 1813 in E. Granville, MA; m. (2), at age 49, Maria T. Taylor 22 Jul 1841 in Suffield, CT; d. after 1870 in E. Granville, MA.

     Abbie Spelman was born on 13 Dec 1797. She died on 18 Dec 1839 in E. Granville, MA, at age 42.
     Children of Talcott² Winchell and Abbie Spelman all b. in E. Granville, MA, were as follows:
                         i.       Charlotte³ Winchell; b. 2 Oct 1816; m., at age 20, Lorenzo Luce 6 Sep 1837 in E. Granville, MA.
                        ii.        Edwin Morris Winchell; b. 9 Mar 1818; m. (1), at age 24, Sarah Smith 2 Nov 1842
                                    in Southwick, MA; m. (2), at age 47, Mary Taylor Jul 1865 in Waukokee, MI; d. after 1868.
                      iii.        Chapman Winchell; b. 17 Feb 1824; m., at age 39, Jane E. Shores 29 Aug 1863 in E. Granville, MA.
                        iv.       Mary C. Winchell; b. 3 Mar 1826; d. 28 Oct 1844 in Suffield, CT, at age 18.
                         v.      Adelia S. Winchell; b. 9 Jan 1829; m., at age 22, Marcus Andrews, age 24, son of
                                    Eliphalet Andrews and Keziah Brown, 27 Dec 1851 in Simsbury, CT.
                        vi.       Morton J. Winchell; b. 9 Feb 1833; m., at age 19, Eliza Smith Jun 1852 in Southwick, MA.

     There were no children of Talcott² Winchell and Maria T. Taylor.

3. Abigail² Winchell (Abigail¹Phelps); b. 20 Jan 1797 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m., at age 22, Homer Griswold, son of Abel Griswold, Sep 1819 in E. Granville, MA; d. 21 Mar 1864 in Collinsville, CT, at age 67.

     Children of Abigail² Winchell and Homer Griswold were as follows:
                         i.       Norris Homer³ Griswold; b. 20 Apr 1821 in E. Granville, MA; m., at age 21, Cordelia Searle 2 Jan 1843.
                        ii.        Abigail Theresa Griswold; b. 22 Oct 1822 in E. Granville, MA; m., at age 24, Benjamin F. Randall 3 Feb 1847.
                      iii.        Mary Antoinette Griswold; b. 7 Aug 1828 in E. Granville, MA; d. 1 May 1829 in E. Granville, MA.
                        iv.       Persis Antoinette Griswold; b. 22 Apr 1831 in E. Granville, MA; m., at age 16, Thomas McHard 26 Mar 1848.
                         v.      George Washington Griswold; b. 8 Dec 1834 in Collinsville, CT; d. 28 Jun 1839 at age 4.

4. Luke² Winchell (Abigail¹Phelps); b. 4 Apr 1799 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT; m. (1), at age 27, Persis Miller 11 Sep 1826 in Granville, MA; m. (2) Caroline D. Gibbons after 1832 in Granville, MA; d. 1879 in MO at age 80 years.

     Persis Miller died on 20 Oct 1832.

     Children of Luke² Winchell and Persis Miller were:
                         i.       Henry M.³ Winchell; b. 1832 in Granville, MA; m. Arte Johnson before 1867 in Barkhamstead, CT.

     Children of Luke² Winchell and Caroline D. Gibbons both b. in Granville, MA, were as follows:
                         i.       Georgia O.³ Winchell; b. 18 Oct 1839; m., at age 23, Timothy R. Rose 17 Nov 1862
                                    in Granville, CT; d. 2 Jul 1867 in Granville, MA, at age 27.
                        ii.        Lenora M. (twin) Winchell; b. 18 Oct 1839; d. Dec 1839.

5. Eli² Winchell Jr. (Abigail¹Phelps); b. 30 Sep 1802 in Turkey Hills (E. Granby), CT;^{^[10]}^{,^[11]} m. Wealthy Permelia Gillett, daughter of Rodolphus Gillett and Theodosia Dewey, 1831 in Southwick, Hampden, MA;^{^[12]}^{,^[13]} d. 10 Aug 1867 in Southwick, MA, at age 64 of Cholelithiasis (gall stones).^{^[14]}

     In 1836 Eli buys the homestead of Wealthy's parents, Rodolphus and Thede (Dewey) Gillett. The transaction includes land in both Granby CT and neighboring Southwick MA.
     In 1850 Eli is living Southwick Ma. with his wife Wealthy and their two children 16 year old Sarah A. and 13 year old Clydon. He is a farmer owning land valued at $1,100. In 1860 Eli and Wealthy are apparently living in the same household as R. F. (Rensalaer Frank) Messenger, husband of their daughter Sarah and her child Willis I. (Irving). No land value is shown for Eli. He claims personal items worth $75. In the same year, Eli's son Clyden is shown to have married his first cousin Louisa Winchell and started his family. He claims real estate valued at $500.
     Eli dies in the summer of 1867 and five years later Wealthy, Sarah and Irving move to Utica, NY.

     Wealthy Permelia Gillett was born on 29 Nov 1813 in Granby, CT.^{^[15]}^{,^[16]} She died on 25 Jun 1904 in Utica, NY, at age 90.^{^[17]} She was buried on 27 Jun 1904 in New Forest Cemetery (no stone), Utica, NY, in public grounds, Tier 7, Grave #18. She lived in 1874 in 34 Elizabeth St., Utica, NY. She lived in 1885 in 246 Howard Ave (renting), Utica, NY.
     Wealthys' brother Albert and sister Lucina are found in New London, CT in 1850. It is possible that Wealthy, along with her daughter Sarah and grandson Irving also moved to New London after the death of Eli in 1867. In 1872, Wealthy, Sarah and Irving move to Utica, NY. It is not known what brought them to Utica. It is possible that they had some Gillett or Winchell relatives in the area.

     Children of Eli² Winchell Jr. and Wealthy Permelia Gillett were as follows:
          7.            i.       Sarah Ann³ Winchell, b. 20 Sep 1833 in Southwick, MA; m. Rensselaer F. Messenger.
          8.         ii.        Clydon Rodolphus Winchell, b. 1837; m. Louisa Winchell.

6. Alexander² Winchell (Abigail¹Phelps); b. 29 May 1808 in E. Granville, MA; m. Lois Drake in Southwick, MA; d. 22 Aug 1862 in E. Granville, MA, at age 54.

Children of Alexander² Winchell and Lois Drake were:
9. i. Louisa³ Winchell, b. 1839; m. Clydon Rodolphus Winchell.

7. Sarah Ann³ Winchell (Eli², Abigail¹Phelps); b. 20 Sep 1833 in Southwick, MA;^{^[18]}^{,^[19]} m., at age 21, Rensselaer F. Messenger (as his 2'nd wife), son of Josephus Messenger and Betsey Day, 30 Apr 1855 in Southwick, MA;^{^[20]}^{,^[21]} d. 2 Jun 1921 in Utica, NY, at age 87 of Intestinal Nepheritis;^{^[22]} bur. in Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY, Lot 4768 plot 58, 8" flush marker "Messenger", Buried from Calvary Episcopal Church.

     Rensselaer F. Messenger was born circa 1825 in Granby, CT.^{^[23]}^{,^[24]} He married (1) (_____) (_____). He died on 12 Aug 1889 in Granby, CT, of Phthisis Catarrha (tuberculosis).^{^[25]} He was buried in West Granby Cemetery (no stone) Buried by the town, no stone. Rensselaer F. was more commonly known as Frank Messenger.^{^[26]} He was made a freeman on 4 Apr 1846 in Granby, CT^{^[27]}

Aka Frank Messenger
     Marries Sarah Ann Winchell April 30, 1855. He shows up on the 1860 Southwick MA. census along with Sarah, his four year old son, Willis Irving, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law. Twelve years later, Sarah, her son Willis Irving, and her widowed mother Wealthy (Gillett) Winchell come to Utica, NY apparently without Rensselaer Frank. Rensselaer Messenger, s/o Josephus, dies at the age of Abt 66 in 1889, apparently poor as he is buried by the town. He is listed as single at his death. Research in Hartford CT might show whether he and Sarah were officially divorced.

     Children of Sarah Ann³ Winchell and Rensselaer F. Messenger were:
          10.          i.       Willis I.⁴ Messenger, b. 10 Feb 1856 in Granby, CT; m. Bridget Gagan.

8. Clydon Rodolphus³ Winchell (Eli², Abigail¹Phelps); b. 1837;^{^[28]} m. Louisa Winchell, daughter of Alexander Winchell and Lois Drake, circa 1858 in East Granville, MA;^{^[29]} d. 14 Jul 1908 in Granville, MA.

     Clydon's wife, Louisa, was his first cousin. She was the daughter of Alexander Winchell, brother to Clydon's father Eli, and Lois Drake. She and Clydon had 3 children, Letta, Clarence, and Frederick. However, when Clydon died in 1908, he left only one son, Clarence. His estate consisted of an old house and shed on 4 acres of land and a pile of boards with a total value of $129.00.
     When his son Clarence died in 1927, Clarence had $2.00 and a check from the town of Granville for $200.00. After expenses his estate totaled $55.00 to be divided amongst his cousins Herbert Winchell of Springfield, Ella Clap of Granville, and Mary E. Clark of Windsor. His Utica NY cousins, Mary, Clarence, Margeurite, Mabel, and Loretta Messenger apparently missed out on this legacy.

     Louisa Winchell was born in 1839. She died before 1908.

     Children of Clydon Rodolphus³ Winchell and Louisa Winchell were as follows:
                         i.       Letta⁴ Winchell; b. 1859 in Southwick, MA;^{^[30]} d. before 1908.
                        ii.        Frederick Winchell; d. before 1908.
                      iii.        Clarence L. Winchell; b. 1865 in MA; d. 23 Jun 1927 in Granville, MA, at age 62 years.

9. Louisa³ Winchell (Alexander², Abigail¹Phelps); b. 1839; m. Clydon Rodolphus Winchell, son of Eli Winchell Jr. and Wealthy Permelia Gillett, circa 1858 in East Granville, MA;^{^[31]} d. before 1908.

     Clydon Rodolphus Winchell was born in 1837.^{^[32]} He died on 14 Jul 1908 in Granville, MA.

10. Willis I.⁴ Messenger (Sarah³Winchell, Eli², Abigail¹Phelps); b. 10 Feb 1856 in Granby, CT;^{^[33]}^{,^[34],^[35]} m. Bridget Gagan, daughter of Hugh Gagan and Ann McCabe, 1884 in Utica, NY; d. 15 Dec 1899 in Utica, NY, at age 43 of a hemorhage;^{^[36]} bur. in Forest Hill Cemetery, Lot T33, Forest Hill Cemetery (no stone), Utica, NY.
     Willis I. was more commonly known as Irving Messenger.
Aka Irving Messenger
     Irvings birth is recorded in the Granby CT. town records as a son born to Rennselaer F. Messenger, 32 and Sarah Ann Messenger, 22, residing in Granby, fathers occupation Tailor. The 1860 Federal Census lists him as "Willis I."

     Bridget Gagan was born on 11 Jul 1858 in (Co. Meath?), Ireland.^{^[37]}^{,^[38]} She died on 11 Oct 1947 in Utica, NY, at age 89.^{^[39]} She was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery (stone) Section B-3, #64, Utica, NY. She immigrated in 1872 to from Ireland.^{^[40]} She lived in 1900.
     It is believed that Bridget came to America with her two sisters, Ann and Mary. Ann marries Pat Crosby and possibly ends up around Washington (DC?). Mary never marries, although I have found no record, my mother claims Mary died in Utica. Apparently the three girls came without their parents or siblings. It is quite possible that they came as indentured servants/maids. Many Irish used this option to pay their passage to America. Bridget came to the US from Ireland in 1872 at the age of 14, In 1884 she married Irving Messenger.
     Although her birth place is unknown to me as yet, her grand daughter Catherine (Lange) Bankert recalls Bridget talking of going to Dublin with her mother to sell items, indicating that her birth was probably in proximity to the Dublin area. Census records for 1910 show that Bridget was of the English part of Ireland.

     Children of Willis I.⁴ Messenger and Bridget Gagan all b. in Utica, NY, were as follows:
                         i.       Mary Frances⁵ Messenger; b. 12 Nov 1886;^{^[41]} b. 12 Nov 1890 in According
                                    to death certificate (differs with 1900 and 1910 census); m. Charles Henry Lange, age 30, son of
                                    Charles Henry Lange and Catherine Wolfe, Nov 1909 in Syracuse, NY;^{^[42]};
                                    d. 9 Dec 1940 in Utica, NY, at age 54;^{^[43]} bur. in Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY.
                        ii.        Clarence Messenger; b. Aug 1889;^{^[44]} d. 1958 in Utica, NY, unmarried.
                      iii.        Marguerite Messenger; b. Jul 1891;^{^[45]} m. Peter Roberts in Utica, NY.
                        iv.       Mabel Messenger; b. Dec 1892;^{^[46]} m. George Hillman in Utica, NY.
                         v.      Loretta Messenger; b. 2 Jun 1895;^{^[47]} m. Leo Duffy in Utica, NY; d. Sep 1986 at age 91.

^{^[1]}Newton H. Winchell and Alexander N. Winchell, Winchell Family Genealogy, 2'nd Edition: (1917; photocopy, Boston, MA: New England Historical and Genealogical Society, 1997), p. 146. Hereinafter cited as Winchell Gen..

^{^[2]}NEHGS, Granville MA, Vital Records to the year 1850 (n.p.: 1914), 234.

^{^[3]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen., 146.

^{^[4]}Ibid., p. 146.

^{^[5]}NEHGS, Granville MA, Vital Records, 234.

^{^[6]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen., p. 146.

^{^[7]}Ibid.

^{^[8]}Mark Williams and Carol Laun, Granby CT Town Records Vols. I & II (n.p.: Salmon Brook Historical Society, 1986), p. 43.

^{^[9]}unknown name of person, Windsor Land Records unknown file number, unknown repository, unknown repository address, 22:63.

^{^[10]}unknown household, unknown record type, Syracuse, NY, Onondaga County Public Library.

^{^[11]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen., p. 147.

^{^[12]}Bridget Messenger household, 1900 US Census, Oneida Co., New York, City of Utica, 12'th Ward, ED 78, SD 13, sheet 16, dwelling 446, family 367 (p. 197A), at Utica Public Library, Utica, NY, Shows Wealthy Winchell, a widow, married 69 years (circa 1831).

^{^[13]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen., 228.

^{^[14]}Ibid., p. 228.

^{^[15]}Obituary:Wealthy (Gillett) Winchell, Utica Observer Dispatch, Utica, NY, Monday, June 27, 1904, The obituary gives a birth year for Wealthy as 1912. This is supported in the 1850 and 1860 census. However, the marriage of her parents was in 1813 and, although possible, it would be unlikely that she was born before her parents marriage. A birth year of 1813 seems more likely and is supported by census in 1875, 1880 and 1900. Hereinafter cited as Utica Observer Dispatch.

^{^[16]}Wealthy P. (Gillett) Winchell entry, Death registration, #18554, at Bureau of Vital Statistics, Utica, NY, Shows her parents as "Rudolphus Winchell" [should read "Gillett"] and Theodosia Dewey. Hereinafter cited as Death Certificate, Wealthy (Gillett) Winchell.

^{^[17]}Death Certificate, Wealthy (Gillett) Winchell, #18554.

^{^[18]}unknown author, Cemetary records for Sarah Winchell Messenger, Forest Hill Cemetary (n.p.: n.pub.).

^{^[19]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen., 228.

^{^[20]}Intention of Marriage, Reuben F. Messenger, Sarah A. Winchell; (n.p.: Massacheusetts Vital records to 1850. Southwick 1771 - 1890, Marriage intentions 1818-1906, microfiche #7).

^{^[21]}unknown author, Southwick, MA - Vital Records (n.p.: n.pub.), 1-40, Ransler F. Messenger 29, farmer, born and reside in Granby, CT, 2nd marriage, s/o Josephus Messenge of Granby, CT, married 30 Apr 1855, Sarah A. Winchell, 22 born and reside in Southwick, MA, 1st marriage, d/o Eli Winchell of Southwick, MA.

^{^[22]}Obituary:Sarah (Winchell) Messenger, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, Friday, June 3, 1921. Hereinafter cited as Utica Daily Press.

^{^[23]}unknown household, unknown record type, Syracuse, NY, Onondaga County Public Library, R. F. Messenger, age 35 (b.c. 1825).

^{^[24]}Wilson Messenger household, 1850 U.S. Census, Town of Granby, Hartford Co., CT, p. 158 (stamp), p. 345 (hand), Onondaga County Public Library, Syracuse, NY. "Ransom" in the household of his brother, Wilson, also Joseph, and his mother, Betsey. Age 26 (b.c. 1824).

^{^[25]}Granby Vital Records: 1-504, Rensselaer Messenger died in Granby 12 Aug 1889, age 66, male, single, born and resides in Granby, laborer, died of Phthisis Catarrhal, s/o Josephus and Betsey Messenger, Granby Town Hall, Granby, Connecticut. Hereinafter cited as GVR.

^{^[26]}unknown record type, Syracuse, NY.

^{^[27]}Mark Williams and Carol Laun, Granby CT Town Records.

^{^[28]}unknown household, unknown record type, Syracuse, NY, Onondaga County Public Library.

^{^[29]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen..

^{^[30]}unknown record type, Syracuse, NY.

^{^[31]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen..

^{^[32]}unknown record type, Syracuse, NY.

^{^[33]}Obituary:Irving Messenger, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, Saturday, December 16, 1899. Hereinafter cited as Utica Daily Press.

^{^[34]}Winchell and Winchell, Winchell Gen..

^{^[35]}GVR: 10 Feb 1856, son born to Ransalaer F. Messenger, 32, and Sarah Ann Messenger, 22 reside Granby, occupation Tailor.

^{^[36]}Utica Daily Press, Saturday, December 16, 1899.

^{^[37]}1900 US Census, Oneida Co., New York, City of Utica, 12'th Ward, ED 78, SD 13, sheet 16, dwelling 446, family 367 (p. 197A).

^{^[38]}Obituary:Bridget (Gagan) Messenger, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, Thursday, October 9, 1947. Hereinafter cited as Utica Observer.

^{^[39]}unknown author, Conversation with Dick Roberts, son of Margueretta Messenger (n.p.: n.pub.).

^{^[40]}1900 US Census, Oneida Co., New York, City of Utica, 12'th Ward, ED 78, SD 13, sheet 16, dwelling 446, family 367 (p. 197A).

^{^[41]}Ibid.

^{^[42]}Obituary:Mary (Messenger) Lange, Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, December 10, 1940. Hereinafter cited as Utica Daily Press.

^{^[43]}Ibid.

^{^[44]}1900 US Census, Oneida Co., New York, City of Utica, 12'th Ward, ED 78, SD 13, sheet 16, dwelling 446, family 367 (p. 197A).

^{^[45]}Ibid.

^{^[46]}Ibid.

^{^[47]}1910 US Census, Bridget Messenger entry; (n.p.: Oneida Cty, City of Utica, 12'th Ward, p. 9200 sheet 8 B).