Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...
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Kinney was born in Winsted, <strong>Connecticut</strong>,<br />
March 30, 1816, son <strong>of</strong> Sheldon Kinney,<br />
Sr., who lived in New Preston, Con-<br />
necticut, and who married Ellen Clark.<br />
Sheldon Kinney, Sr., died in May, 1876,<br />
and his wife died in 1879. His father,<br />
Pari Kinney, married Sarah Hine, and<br />
his grandfather's name was Pari also. On<br />
his maternal side Mr. Kinney was a descendant<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Farren family, who were<br />
among the first settlers <strong>of</strong> East Haven,<br />
<strong>Connecticut</strong>.<br />
Sheldon Kinney was brought up in<br />
Winsted, <strong>Connecticut</strong>, and attended the<br />
schools in that town. In his youth he<br />
learned the trade <strong>of</strong> molder, but this work<br />
proved too strenuous and he was compelled<br />
to give it up. After this he was<br />
engaged with his father for many years<br />
in the butcher business, and did much<br />
in cattle buying and droving, as at that<br />
time it was the custom to drive the cat-<br />
tle over the country to their destination.<br />
He also followed merchandising in Winsted.<br />
For some time, Mr. Kinney was<br />
the owner <strong>of</strong> the "Winsted House." In<br />
1863 he removed to Rainbow, Connecti-<br />
cut, where he took up farming. In 1868<br />
he reopened what was formerly known as<br />
the "Old Roberts Tavern," and called the<br />
hotel the "Maple House." This hotel was<br />
a favorite stopping place at that time. In<br />
1880 he returned to his farm, where he<br />
died September 5, 1892, and is buried in<br />
the Windsor Cemetery. In politics Mr.<br />
Kinney was very prominent in the Demo-<br />
cratic party, always being an active<br />
worker in its interests. For a period <strong>of</strong><br />
seven years he held the position <strong>of</strong><br />
keeper <strong>of</strong> the town's poor, and was ex-<br />
ceedingly well known in this capacity.<br />
Mr. Kinney was a member <strong>of</strong> the Poquonock<br />
Grange. On November 27, 1846,<br />
Mr. Kinney married Eliza Abiah Phelps,<br />
a direct descendant <strong>of</strong> William Phelps,<br />
who emigrated to New England in<br />
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY<br />
251<br />
the ship "Mary and John" in 1630.<br />
Originally, the Phelps family came<br />
from Tewksbury, Gloucestshire, England.<br />
There James Phelps was born about 1520.<br />
William Phelps, son <strong>of</strong> James and Joan<br />
Phelps, was born at Tewksbury, baptized<br />
August 4, 1560, died about 161 1, and his<br />
wife, Dorothy, about 1613. Their son,<br />
William Phelps, the emigrant ancestor<br />
<strong>of</strong> Eliza A. (Phelps) Kinney, came here<br />
in the ship "Mary and John," which sailed<br />
from Plymouth, England, March 20,<br />
1630, and landed at what is now Hull,<br />
Massachusetts, and they were the first<br />
founders and settlers <strong>of</strong> that place. Wil-<br />
liam Phelps was made a freeman during<br />
the first six months and was very active<br />
in the town's affairs. The wife, whose<br />
name is not known, died in 1635. Their<br />
son, Lieutenant Timothy Phelps, was<br />
born in Windsor, September 1, 1639, and<br />
lived there on land purchased from the<br />
Indians by his father, and was made a<br />
freeman, May 2, 1664. In 1709 he was<br />
appointed a lieutenant and served under<br />
Colonel Whitman in Captain Matthew<br />
Allyn's regiment in Queen Anne's War.<br />
He married Mary Griswold, March 19,<br />
1661, daughter <strong>of</strong> Edward Griswold, <strong>of</strong><br />
Killingworth, born in Windsor and bap-<br />
tized October 13, 1644. Lieutenant<br />
Phelps died in 1719, his wife Mary previ-<br />
ous to this time, the exact date not being<br />
on record. Their son, Cornelius Phelps,<br />
was born in Windsor, April 26, 167 1, died<br />
1741<br />
Mansfield, daughter <strong>of</strong> John and Sarah<br />
(Phelps) Mansfield, born in Windsor,<br />
January 5, 1685, died 1774. Their son,<br />
Timothy Phelps, born in Windsor, Feb-<br />
; married, November 2, 1704, Sarah<br />
ruary 3, 1713, lived in Windsor and Colebrook.<br />
He married, April 24, 1746, Margaret<br />
Gillett, daughter <strong>of</strong> Daniel and<br />
Margaret (Eno) Gillett, born in Windsor,<br />
December 31, 1723. Their son, Timo-<br />
thy Phelps, born in Windsor, July 14,