Oliver Phelps
Encyclopedia
Oliver Phelps was born in Poquonock, Connecticut and moved to Suffield, Connecticut
, where he apprenticed to a local merchant. He shortly thereafter became a tavern keeper in Granville, Massachusetts
. During the Revolution
he was Deputy Commissary
of the Continental Army
and served until the end of the war. He supplied troops and was commended by General George Washington
.
Phelps was Deputy Commissary
of the Continental Army
. He was introduced to Robert Morris, the great financier of Revolutionary times. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from 1778 to 1780; and a member of the United States Constitutional Convention in 1779 and 1780. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate
in 1785, and of the Governor’s council in 1786. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1805, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of New York
in 1804
on the ticket headed by Aaron Burr
.
. They purchased title to most of western New York
from the state of Massachusetts.
At first they thought to make (modern day) Geneva
their headquarters, but discovered by survey, just in time, that their site was just east of their boundary. So they chose Canandaigua, New York
, at the head of Canandaigua Lake
, as the seat of the new Ontario County
. The name Canandaigua is derived from the Iroquois word "Kanandarque" which means chosen spot. It was the site of the principal village of the Seneca Indians, burned by the whites during the war in the Sullivan Expedition
.
, bought the Hatheway House, and opened a land sales office there and another in Canandaigua. He was appointed the first judge of Ontario County (1789–1793), even before he moved there. He built the first framed house in Canandaigua in 1792, then built a mill. Phelps retained extensive holdings in the infant Ontario County. He maintained an interest in its affairs—and in further land speculations.
After additional entanglements in western real estate ventures which resulted in "personal embarrassment" and, for a time, the prospect of debtor's prison, Phelps settled down in Canandaigua in 1802.
His troubles were not over, however. Purchasers of his land had continued difficulty paying off the mortgage loan
s which he held. He was generous in extending terms to them, to his own detriment.
This article is based in part upon material originally written by Brian Phelps and licensed for use in Wikipedia under the GFDL
.
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, where he apprenticed to a local merchant. He shortly thereafter became a tavern keeper in Granville, Massachusetts
Granville, Massachusetts
Granville is a town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 1,566 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History and Description :...
. During the Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
he was Deputy Commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
and served until the end of the war. He supplied troops and was commended by General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Political office
During the Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
Phelps was Deputy Commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
of the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. He was introduced to Robert Morris, the great financier of Revolutionary times. He was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1778 to 1780; and a member of the United States Constitutional Convention in 1779 and 1780. He was a member of the Massachusetts Senate
Massachusetts Senate
The Massachusetts Senate is the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, the bicameral state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Senate comprises 40 elected members from 40 single-member senatorial districts in the state...
in 1785, and of the Governor’s council in 1786. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Eighth United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1805, and ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
in 1804
New York gubernatorial election, 1804
The 1804 New York gubernatorial election was held in April 1804 to elect the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New York.-Results:-See also:*New York gubernatorial elections*New York state elections...
on the ticket headed by Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
.
Purchases interest in western New York
The connections he thus established aided his efforts in forming in 1789 a syndicate with Nathaniel GorhamNathaniel Gorham
Nathaniel Gorham was the fourteenth President of the United States in Congress assembled, under the Articles of Confederation...
. They purchased title to most of western New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from the state of Massachusetts.
At first they thought to make (modern day) Geneva
Geneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
their headquarters, but discovered by survey, just in time, that their site was just east of their boundary. So they chose Canandaigua, New York
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
, at the head of Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake
Canandaigua Lake is the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes, in the U.S. state of New York. The city of Canandaigua is located at the northern shore of the lake and the village of Naples is just a few miles south of the southern end...
, as the seat of the new Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
. The name Canandaigua is derived from the Iroquois word "Kanandarque" which means chosen spot. It was the site of the principal village of the Seneca Indians, burned by the whites during the war in the Sullivan Expedition
Sullivan Expedition
The Sullivan Expedition, also known as the Sullivan-Clinton Expedition, was an American campaign led by Major General John Sullivan and Brigadier General James Clinton against Loyalists and the four nations of the Iroquois who had sided with the British in the American Revolutionary War.The...
.
Builds home in Suffield
After the purchase, Phelps returned to Suffield, ConnecticutSuffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...
, bought the Hatheway House, and opened a land sales office there and another in Canandaigua. He was appointed the first judge of Ontario County (1789–1793), even before he moved there. He built the first framed house in Canandaigua in 1792, then built a mill. Phelps retained extensive holdings in the infant Ontario County. He maintained an interest in its affairs—and in further land speculations.
Loses land holdings and home
Despite vast land holdings that were worth a fortune, changing money values on mortgages held on the tracts of land sold and a depressed land market caused Phelps to get into financial difficulty. In about 1800, the reverses forced him to sell his Suffield home and his interest in the Hartford National Bank and Trust Co. Phelps moved to Canandaigua, where he built a grist mill and endowed an academy. He was also appointed the first judge of Ontario County.After additional entanglements in western real estate ventures which resulted in "personal embarrassment" and, for a time, the prospect of debtor's prison, Phelps settled down in Canandaigua in 1802.
His troubles were not over, however. Purchasers of his land had continued difficulty paying off the mortgage loan
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
s which he held. He was generous in extending terms to them, to his own detriment.
Death and burial
Phelps died on February 21, 1809 in debtors prison in the town he sold and helped develop. He was interred in the Pioneer Cemetery in Canandaigua, New York.This article is based in part upon material originally written by Brian Phelps and licensed for use in Wikipedia under the GFDL
GNU Free Documentation License
The GNU Free Documentation License is a copyleft license for free documentation, designed by the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project. It is similar to the GNU General Public License, giving readers the rights to copy, redistribute, and modify a work and requires all copies and...
.