The earliest record of the Phelps family in Salem is when Eleanor married her second husband, Thomas Trusler. They were members of the first church of Salem in 1639. Tusler was in Salem by 1629 when a kiln for burning bricks and tiles was built , a business he operated until his death in 1654. Eleanor had five Phelps children of which only two are known to me. Perhaps some of the children stayed in England. There was a William Phelps, who came to America from Tewksbury, England on th e Mary and John in 1630. Whether he is related to this family is unknown. Eleanor Trusler was taken to court, in April 1644, for her Gortonist opinions, saying "our teacher Mr. Norris taught the people lies."Governor Winthrop was advised to bin d her over to Boston Court as an example others might fear, lest "that heresiee doeth spread which at length may prove dangerous." At the Trusler trial, one Consandra Southwich testified that Eleanor "did question the government ever since she c ame."[1] Eleanor Trusler died in 1655, and her sons Henry and Nicholas Phelps inherited her farm in West Peabody, Massachusetts. The first meeting of the Friends (Quakers) was held in this house. Nicholas Phelps half of the house and lands wer e taken for the payment of fines. Batter, the treasurer, apparently turned it over to Nicholas brother, Henry, who owned the other half interest. Henry may have married Batter's sister. Henry sold the entire estate to Joseph Pope on 18 Jul 1664 . Many years later, the place returned into the Phelps family and then remained in the family until Francis Phelps took the ancient house down in 1856. Henry, may have had children who remained in Massachusetts
The Back Rhodes of Our Genealogy
Abt 1605 - 1655 (~ 50 years)
