The following is a short extract from The Feltus Family Book Containing a Biographical Sketch of The Rev. Henry James Feltus, D. D.  Late Rector of St. Stephens, New York City. Together with a genealogy of all descendants to date.
REVEREXD HENRY JAMES FELTUS, D.D., the first of this genealogy, was born December 25, 1775, in the county of Carlow near the city of Dublin, Ireland. The anonymous writer of "Lines on the Death of Rev. Dr. Henry J. Feltus" (the authorship being attributed to T. Kirk by a pencil note on copy in Penna. Hist. Soc.) who aflfirms an acquaintance with our subject from youth, states that his father was a merchant and, dying while his children were young, left the care of them to the widowed mother; and that the mother opened a private school to aid in her task of providing for the family. While the son is referred to by this writer as "the fond and only son," it is known that he was not an only child, since he was accompanied by his sister upon his migration to America.
At an early age the boy was apprenticed to a carpenter named Huson in Dublin. While yet young, probably scarce 15, he was received into the same communion as that of his mother, Methodist Episcopal, during the pastorate of Rev. William Miles, the author of "A History of Methodism." Coming next under the pastoral influence of Dr. Adam Clarke, the noted biblical commentator, by him he was brought into contact with Dr. Thomas Coke a popular preacher of his day who later became the first bishop of the M. E. church in America; also into contact with John Wesley, founder of the Methodist church; and with Rev. Henry Moore, the biographer of Wesley. By association with these men he was stimulated in religious zeal so that while working at the trade of carpentry, from the age of 18 he frequently preached. He was particularly active in "The Strangers' Friend Society," organized after the style of societies developed by Wesley, for the help of the poor, sick and strange.
 In 1794, Mr. Feltus married Martha Ryan "youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan of Golden Lane, Dublin." Very little is ascertainable concerning his wife beyond the statement that she was also a communicant in the Methodist church, and was associated in a philanthropic society with Jane Newland a lady who devoted her life to humanitarian work.

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