Groveland Twp. – He was born in 1763, joined the Militia of Connecticut at 14, and encountered Gen. George Washington during his service.
The Ortonville Cemetery is home to the grave of Norman Phelps Sr.’patriot, family man and resident of Ortonville.
Phelps was buried in the cemetery with no designation as a soldier. Now, more than two centuries later at his graveside in the Ortonville Cemetery, Phelps will be honored in September with special rededication.
‘We want to honor these patriots that have been forgotten and that came to Michigan like Phelps,? said Gerald J. Burkland, first vice president, Michigan Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
‘We rededicated these graves that have not been marked.?
Burkland, who met with the Ortonville Historical Society on Wednesday to organize the rededication, says currently an estimated 1,300 American Revolutionary War veterans are buried in Michigan. Many of the graves are not recognized as soldiers, but due to the efforts of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and members of the Daughters of the American Revolution about 300 have been identified.
After 164 years Phelps? legacy as a patriot and distinguished service to the American Revolution was discovered by his fourth great-granddaughter Diane Irish-Ward and third great-grandson Herb Phelps of South Carolina.
Phelps, along with his wife Sarah Cole came to Ortonville in 1840 to live with their son Benjamin and Angelina Orton-Phelps. He died in September that year. The Phelps, Orton and Irish families are some of the first in the Ortonville area.
According to documents obtained by his family, in 1777 Phelps volunteered into the service of the United States as a musician-fifer in the Connecticut Militia. He then served with the Connecticut Continental Line and various other units as a fifer until his discharge in April 1782. The documents also include mention of Phelps? company being reviewed by Gen. George Washington.