Elder Samuel Sharp lived in Salem; elder in the church; married Alice ____; died about 1647; she died, his wido, Aug ___ 1667; children; 1. Abigail; married Thomas Jeggles; 2. Elias, baptized Jan. 1, 1636-7; living in 1652, when he was servant of John Hardy, having four years more to serve; 3 Edward baptized April 14, 1639; 4. Mary, baptized June 29, 1640; married John Norton; 5. Elizabeth, baptized (as Experience) Sept. 19. 1641; married Christopher Phelps; 6. Nathaniel, baptized Nov. 10, 1644; 7 Hannah, baptized Jan. 31, 1646-7; married Peter Odlin of Boston.
Edward Nicholson was living in Marblehead as early as 1644.
Edward Nicholson died in the autumn of 1660, and his widow married secondly, ____ Brown before 1673. Mr. Nicholson’s children were: 1. Christopher; living in 1661; 2. Joseph, born about 1641; living in 1673; 3. Samuel; living in 1674; 4. John; living in 1665; 5. Thomas, born about 1654; living in 1669; 6. Elizabeth
page 248 … They were welcomed by several families in Salem, who sympathise with the new faith, Lawrence Southwick’s and Nicholas Phelps’ being the most prominent among them. Meetings were held at the same time as the church services, at which the strangers preached of repentance and forgiveness of sins through Christ, and of the joy of the spiritual life.
On Sunday, June 27th, a meeting was held at the house of Nicholas Phelps in “the woods” as that western portion of the territory of Salem was then called. This house stood on the northerly side of Lowell Street, just westerly of the Phelps Mills railroad station, in West Peabody. . . The Phelps house was built upon the Norris grant by Eleanor, widow of Thomas Trusler about 1654. She died the next spring, having devised this estate to her sons Henry and Nicholas Phelps (children by her former husband). The half interest of Nicholas was taken for the payment of fines for being a Quaker and not attending church, and Henry bought it in. In 1664, he conveyed the estate to Joseph Pope. . .
page 251 Nicholas Phelps, who was a weak man, and one whose back was crooked, was fined forty shillings for entertaining Quakers (continues on page 252)
p. 252 and 253
and having the meeting at his house, and also fined for being a Quaker and for absenting himself from public worship. Hannah, wife of Nicholas Phelps was present at this meeting . . . John Hill lived on the north side of Gardner Street, in Peabody, about eight hundered and fifty feet easterly from Liberty Street. On Sunday, July 4, 1658, . . . there were present . . . Mrs. Nicholas Phelps, . . . At another meeting of the Friends, held on Sunday, July 11th, there were present Nicholas Phelps . . .
p. 256 and 257
Much endeavor was vainly made to convince and reform the prisoners . . . and the court then ordered that . . . Nicholas Phelps . . . depart out of this jurisdiction before the first day of the next court of election, which if they should neglect or fail to do, they should then be banished under pain of death . . . Nicholas Phelps took advantage of an opportunity to sail for England, four days later, with the intention of laying the whole matter before parliament. They returned together, but Mr. Phelps, being weak in body, after some time died. His mother, Mrs. Eleanor Trusler, had died in 1655 and her sons Henry and Nicholas Phelps inherited her farm in West Peabody, where at the house thereon the first meeting of the Friends had been held. Nicholas Phelps’ half of the house and lands were taken for the payment of fines . . .
974.45/51 H2ps Vol. 3 Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah
