Phelon, Henry A., 1831-1902

Henry A. Phelon (born 1831) was a United States naval officer and merchant. Pelon was born in Nantucket, Mass., and moved to West Springfield, Mass., in 1841 with his parents Mary Ann Folger Phelon and Henry Phelon. He became a sailor in 1848 and thereafter served on whaling ships and in the merchant service, eventually obtaining the rank of captain. During the Civil War he volunteer for service with the United States Navy and in February 1862 received a commission as acting master. He served as executive officer on the Victoria and the Commodore Perry, commanded the gunboat Shawsheen, served as executive officer of the Atlanta, and in July 1864 took command of the Monticello, in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral Samuel P. Lee, in whose squadron he later commanded the Daylight . After the war Phelon returned to West Springfield where he was a merchant and postmaster. He was married on 13 June 1865 to Josephine Brand, daughter of C. C. Brand of Norwich, Conn. In 1876 he was appointed to a position in the customs house at Boston, Mass. He died sometime after 1900.