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From: john newman <>
Subject: [NJHUNTER] Phillips Series in the Lambertville Beacon, 1933
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 05:42:50 -0800 (PST)

A little while ago, I mentioned to the list that I was doing some reseach on the Phillips family in Hunterdon (particularly Amwell) and that I had come across a series of articles in the Lambertville Beacon. The series is focused on Justice John Phillips' ancestors. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the research. I have noted some errors; and oftentimes lack of detail of his uncle's family - his father's half brother (wouldn't you know it is my line which I am having difficulty with).

Well, I have started to transcribe those articles, by Charles Stryker Fillips and will post them a little at a time (hopefully weekly). This first article is not extremely interesting as it simply attempts to give some background on the origins of the name. It seems to be entirely an excerpt from another Phillips researcher. I have tried to keep spelling, punctuation and grammar in the original. In later issues, he noted errors in prior issues and I have simply corrected the erroneous issue instead of keeping true to the original by posting those mistakes.

By the way, Charles S. Fillips explains later in the article why he spells his name this way. His sister was a teacher and part of a movement to simplify spelling. Hence, he and his sister replaced the "Ph" of Phillips with a simple "F."

THE LAMBERTVILLE BEACON, April 13, 1933.

John Phillips and Some of His Relatives, compiled by Charles Stryker Fillips

The following quotation from Eleanor Lexingtons "Phillips Family" is a good introduction to any article dealing with any of its members.

"Emperors and kings, princes and dukes, have borne the name of Phillips, or Philip, and the family has a rich heritage in its traditions. The name is nearly as old as the world itself. Phillipi was a city of ancient Macedonia, and the founder of Macedon was Philip-aPhilip.

"The name is of Greek origin, from philos-hippos, a lover of horses. This was in the era when the hero was a man of action. Phillips had been a surname in Great Britain for 500 years, and the family can be traced back in unbroken line to the year 1200. The homes have been in Devon, Suffolk, Warwick, Stafford and Leicester. At Stratford-on-Avon the family has been seated for centuries. The orthography of this branch is Phillipo.

"It is not an easy matter to keep track of the spelling of the name. In Wales, where the family flourished, Phillipse is the usual form, and the oldest coat-armor of the family is that granted to the Welsh branch. The coat is extremely simple, proving its antiquity.

"Among various orthographies, the following may be given as samples: Phylyppe - the two ys certainly confer great distinction but dont adopt them unless able to live up to them. Then there are Phillips, a form seen at the present day; Phillopoe, Phillot, Phillipo, Philcox is called a diminutive, and Phelp, Phelps, Phillipson are derived from the same root. The son of Phillip is the meaning of Phillipson. The Phillipsons of Thirlwell, Northumberland, traced back to Phillips Thirwell. Phipp and Filkin are also derived from Philip.

"The Phillips of Staffordshire are derived from Francis Phyllype of Neyther Teyne. He lived in the reign of Edward VI. Grace Dien Manor in Leicester was the home of the Phillips. The Kings sergeant, in the reign of James II was a Phillips.

"The Westminster Abbey has the honor of guarding the ashes of the poet, John Phillips, who were it for nothing else, would be remembered as the first to have a genuine appreciation of Milton. Ambrose Phillips was an Englishman of lettres, of a good Leicestershire family.

"The pilgrim Rev. George Phillips, came over with Governor Winthrop, who said of him he was a godly man, specially gifted. Rev. George was a son of Christopher, of Norfolk, England, and a graduate of Cambridge. His salary of the first pastor of the Watertown, Mass. church, 1630, was 3 hogshead of meale, 1 hogsheade of malte, 4 bushels of Indian corn, 1 bushel of oatmeal and 50 lbs. of salt fish. He also had 30 acres of land. His wife dies soon after they made their home in the New World. If we had her portrait should we not see:

Her very best gown is spread billowed round --

The kind that was "stand by itself," Ill be bound!

It came from a chest where the lavender hid,

To steal from its folds as she lifted its lid.

"Pastor George consoled himself with a new wife, probably the wife of Capt. Robert Weldon. By his two wives he had nine children, one son the Rev. Samuel a favorite name with the Phillips had eleven children of whom one, his daughter Elizabeth, who married Rev. Edward Payson, had twenty children. The founder of the Long Island Phillips was Zerubabel, son of George the immigrant. Other founders of families were Ebenezor, Thomas, John and James all of Massachusetts.

"Walter and Andrew were Maine pioneers, and Michael, Richard and Jeremiah settlers in Rhode Island.

"The first mayor of Boston, were he was born, 1770, was John Phillips, who son was Wendell, the brilliant orator.

"Among officers of the Revolution were Sergeant Noah Phillips, who was one of the Lexington Alarm."

"His name is also spelled Phelps. L[i]eut. Thomase and Capt. Samuel were from Rhode Island; Ensign John and Lieut Jonathan and Colonel Joseph were from New Jersey; Ensigns Samuel and James were of the Virginia family. These names were spelled Phillips. The Maryland family were Philips. Samuel Phillips, Jr. born at North And[o]ver, Mass., 1751, was member of the Provincial Congress and of the Constitutional Convention of 1779. He was president of the State Senate for fifteen years, and Lieutenant Governor of his State. He also incorporated the first academy of Massachusetts and helped to endow it.

"One line of the Phillips, through marriage with a member of the Drake family, can claim the family of sir Francis Drake, as near if not next of kin.

"The coat of arms reproduced is Blazoned in American Heraldry: Azure, a lion rampant, sable, ducally, gorged or chained. Crest: "Ducit Armor Patriae," "The love of my country leads me on." The coat-armor is attributed to Rev. George, Pilgrim Father.

"Burkes Peerage blazons this coat of arms for Sir John Phillips, also spelled Philips, who was created a baronet in 1621, of Picton Castle, Pembroke. The supporters of this coat of arms are two horses, argent. Readiness for King and Country" is the significance of the horse in heraldry. The Barons Milford of the Irish peerage, trace back to Sir John Phillips. The date of granting of one coat of arms in 1579.

(To be continued in the Beacon next week).



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• [NJHUNTER] Phillips Series in the Lambertville Beacon, 1933 by john newman <>