Oliver Phelps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oliver Phelps
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district |
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| In office March 4, 1803 – March 3, 1805 |
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| Preceded by | None; new seat |
| Succeeded by | Silas Halsey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 21, 1749 Poquonock, Connecticut Colony, British America |
| Died | February 21, 1809 (aged 59) Canandaigua, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Pioneer Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Seymour |
| Children | Oliver Leicester, Mary |
| Occupation | Merchant, commissary, land speculator |
| Profession | Judge, politician |
Oliver Phelps (born October 21, 1749 – died February 21, 1809) was an important American figure. He started as a tavern keeper in Massachusetts. During the American Revolution, he helped supply the army. After the war, he became a judge and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. He also became a major land speculator in New York state.
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Early Life and Family
Oliver Phelps was born in Poquonock, a town in the Connecticut Colony. When he was just three years old, his father passed away. His mother then had to raise their seventeen children by herself. To help his family, Oliver started working at a local store when he was only seven.
In 1770, at age 21, he married Mary Seymour. They moved to Suffield, Connecticut, where he trained with a local merchant. Later that year, they moved to Granville, Massachusetts. There, Oliver opened his very own store. Oliver and Mary had two children: a son named Oliver Leicester and a daughter named Mary.
Serving His Country
When the American Revolution began, Oliver Phelps joined the Continental Army. He fought in the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which were some of the first battles of the war. In 1777, he left active military service.
Using his experience as a merchant, he became the Massachusetts Superintendent of Purchases of Army Supplies. This meant he was in charge of buying supplies for the army. He also served as a Deputy Commissary for the Continental Army. A commissary is someone who provides food and other supplies to soldiers. General George Washington praised Oliver for his hard work in supplying the troops.
Political Career
Oliver Phelps was also active in politics. From 1778 to 1780, he was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He also took part in the Federal Constitutional Convention in 1779 and 1780. This was a meeting where important decisions were made about the new country's government.
After the war, he became a successful businessman. He was elected to the Massachusetts Senate in 1785. He also served on the Governor’s council in 1786. Later, he was elected to the Eighth United States Congress as a Democratic-Republican. He served in Congress from 1803 to 1805. In 1804, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of New York but did not win.
A Big Land Deal
Oliver Phelps became very involved in land speculation. This means buying large areas of land, hoping to sell them later for a profit. His connections from the Revolutionary War helped him. In 1788, he teamed up with Nathaniel Gorham. They formed a company to buy and sell land.
The Phelps and Gorham Purchase
After the American Revolution, there was confusion over who owned land in western New York. Both Massachusetts and New York claimed the same areas. In 1786, they signed the Treaty of Hartford to settle their claims. This treaty said that Massachusetts owned land west of a certain line in New York.
Phelps and Gorham convinced the Massachusetts government to let them buy this land. They paid for it using special paper money called "Massachusetts Consolidated Scrip". This scrip was not worth much at the time, which made the land seem cheaper.
Negotiating with Native Americans
In July 1788, Phelps met with chiefs of the Five Nations of Native Americans. The Native Americans believed they owned the land. Phelps explained that because they had sided with the British in the war, and the British had given up the land in a peace treaty, the tribes might only keep what the United States allowed.
Phelps and Gorham wanted to buy 2,600,000 acres (about 10,520 square kilometers). But the Native Americans refused to sell land west of the Genesee River. Phelps suggested they could build a grist mill (a mill for grinding grain) to help the tribes. He asked for a large section of land for the mill.
Finally, Phelps and Gorham bought the rights to 494,000 acres (about 2,000 square kilometers). This included a special area called the Mill Yard Tract. They planned to build a saw mill and a grist mill there. The Native Americans were surprised later by how much land was needed for just one mill! Phelps and Gorham paid about $1 million for this land.
Developing New Towns
At first, Phelps and Gorham thought of making Geneva their main base. But they found it was just outside their land boundary. So, they chose Canandaigua, New York instead. Canandaigua was at the head of Canandaigua Lake. The name "Canandaigua" comes from an Iroquois word meaning "chosen spot." It became the main town for the new Ontario County.
Financial Challenges
Oliver Phelps built a beautiful home in Suffield, Connecticut, showing off his wealth. He opened land sales offices in Suffield and Canandaigua. He and his partners sold 500,000 acres (about 2,023 square kilometers) to various buyers.
However, they didn't raise enough money to meet their payments. In 1790, they had to sell a huge portion of their land, about 1,276,569 acres (about 5,166 square kilometers), to U.S. Senator Robert Morris. Phelps and Gorham kept only two small areas for themselves.
Later, the value of the Massachusetts scrip they used to buy land went up. This made the remaining land they wanted to buy much more expensive. They had to give up their contract for that land. Despite still owning a lot of land, changing money values and a slow land market caused Oliver Phelps to have financial problems. In 1790, he was forced to sell his home in Suffield.
He continued to invest in land, even buying a million acres along the Mississippi River. He also helped start the Connecticut Land Company. This company bought a large part of what is now Ohio. Phelps borrowed a lot of money for these ventures. By 1796, his lenders demanded payment. To avoid being sent to debtors' prison, he went into hiding for a while. In 1802, he moved to Canandaigua, New York.
Death and Burial
Many people who bought land from Oliver Phelps also struggled to pay their debts to him. He tried to help those who couldn't keep their agreements. Oliver Phelps passed away on February 21, 1809, in Canandaigua, the town he helped create. He was buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Canandaigua, New York.
