Phelps, Winthrop Henry, 1818-1885

Rev. Winthrop Henry Phelps (1818-1885), the son of William and Chloe Reed (May) Phelps, was born in Albany, N.Y., on 1 May 1818. He married, on 23 May 1848, Mrs. Lucy Fassett (Robinson) Benjamin; they had four children. Phelps died in New York city on 15 December 1885.

Rev. Phelps studied theology and served as a Congregational minister for almost twenty years. Through March 1849 Phelps preached largely in Greenfield, Saratoga County, and Hillsdale, Columbia County, N.Y. Thereafter he preached in various Berkshire County, Mass., towns including primarily Curtisville and Monterey. In June 1861, he exchanged his primary pulpit for one in Hitchcockville, Litchfield County, Conn. He spent two working weeks in Michigan in March of 1861, and he occasionally preached in other places as well including New York city and Fall River, Mass.

On 4 May 1863 Phelps enlisted into the Union Army as a chaplain. He was commissioned into the 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment Connecticut, Company S on 5 June 1863 and was mustered out on 18 August 1865 in Fort Ethan Allen, D.C. He later removed to New York city and was connected with the American Bible Society.

From the description of Sermon register, 1845-1863. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191277032