ISABEL WILSON

• General Notes
  •  Robert had a sister, Isabel Wilson, who married William Phelps in Windsor. After the death of Robert, his young son Samuel would live as a son of William and Isabel who themselves had remained childless. It is of interest that both Robert, and his sister Isabel, married into prominent and respectable families.
    Robert Wilson and Isabel (Wilson) Phelps are called "kinsman" and are the first people named in the will of Thomas Nowell in 1648. Another bequest is made to Christopher Nowell [a nephew?], son of Edward Nowell of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. Isabel (Wilson) Phelps was a witness to this will and signed with her mark [X]. The relation of Robert and Isabel to Thomas Nowell is not stated and fifty years later Robert's sons were still involved in the execution of this will and call themselves next of kin in this country.
         In 1976 George McCracken suggests a possible relationship of Robert Wilson and Thomas Nowell (TAG 52:76-85). McCracken suggests that Thomas Nowell is not himself related to the Wilson's, but that Thomas may have had a first unknown wife who was related to the Wilson's. In the will of 1663, Edward Stebbins, father-in-law of Robert Wilson, leaves a bequest to Richard Weller, who was the widower of a woman named Ann Wilson. If Ann Wilson was a sister of Robert and Isabel, it would seem that she would also be included in the will of Thomas Nowell. McCracken suggests that Ann Wilson might be a half sister of Thomas and Isabel, and that is was their mother, and not hers, who had some relationship with an unknown first wife of Thomas Nowell.