Noah Phelps

Ancestor Number

A090184 »

Date of Birth

January 22, 1740

Place of Birth

Simsbury, Connecticut

Date of Death

1809

Place of Death

Simsbury, Connecticut

Spouse(s)

Lydia Griswold

Children

Noah Amherst, Lydia Griswold, Chandler Conway, George P., and Elisha Phelps

Service during theAmerican Revolution

Capt, Lt Col, Col, PS, CS; Justice of the peace 1779; Judge of probate 1783; Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 to ratify the Federal Constitution

State of Service

Connecticut

Donor

Oregon State Society in honor of his great granddaughter, Mary Phelps Montgomery, first State Regent of Oregon - 1896-1898

Noah Phelps aided in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775, while he was a captain in the Connecticut militia.

He was a member of the Committee of War for the expedition to capture Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point. The committee raised £300 for expenses accrued while undertaking capture of the fort.

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Phelps gained intelligence by listening to British soldiers describe the defenses of the fort at a local farmhouse where he lodged for the night.

He then went to the fort disguised as a peddler seeking a shave. He was able to collect information on the construction, strength and force of the garrison. While talking to the commander he remarked on one section that was in a dilapidated condition saying it would afford a feeble defense. The commander responded, “Yes, but that is not our greatest misfortune. All our powder is damaged, and before we can use it, we are obliged to dry and sift it.” Phelps reported his information to General Ethan Allen.He later helped finance and organize a militia which was assigned to General Washington’s army. He was present at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. In May 1779, Phelps was promoted to Colonel of the 18th Connecticut Regiment. After the war he was selected to be the Major General of the state militia.

His tombstone is engraved with “A Patriot of 1776. To such we are indebted for our Independence.”