Arthur Isaac Phillips (abt. 1845 - 1883)

Born about 27 Jul 1845 in Dale Posthouse, Pembrokeshire

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Mary (Lloyd) Phillips — married 26 Oct 1869 in St. Mary Redcliffe, Bristol, Gloucester, England

Descendants

Died 24 Jan 1883 at about age 37 in Bridgend, Wales

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Biography

Arthur Isaac Phillips 1845 - 1883 Born 27th July, 1845 in Dale, Pembrokeshire. Arthur was the first son and second of 7 siblings born to Isaac and Mary Phillips (the local postmaster and his assistant wife). He appears at the Post Office on the Census of 1851 as a five-year old scholar.

So far, finding Arthur Isaac Phillips on the 1861 Census is proving challenging.

On the 26th of October, 1869 at St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol, Arthur married Elizabeth Mary Lloyd of Pembroke, daughter of John and Mary Lloyd. The Parish Records give Arthur's middle name as John, rather than Isaac. The names of the fathers are evidence that Arthur Isaac and Arthur John are indeed the same person. Residence for Arthur and Elizabeth is given as Boar's Head, Redcliff Street, Bristol. Arthur's trade is noted as "Joiner".

Around late 1869 or early 1870, Arthur and Elizabeth moved into 11 Wood Street, in the heart of Cardiff (between the present location of the Millennium Stadium and the Central Bus Station). This area of Cardiff was known as `Temperance Town`, due to the abstinence and dislike of alcohol by both the owner and developer of the land. The houses there were built on land secured after re-routing the River Taff, which was also responsible for the creation of the Arms Park.

Their first child, William A. L. Phillips, was born there in 1870. On his son`s birth certificate it notes Arthur`s occupation as `Joiner`. From a letter found in the Family Bible, it is known that Arthur`s father had also dabbled in the lumber trade. By the Census of 1871 though, his occupation has changed to Telegraph Foreman. On this birth certificate Arthur repeated his use of John for his middle name.

Their second son, Albert Charles Phillips, was born there in 1872, followed by Edith Emily Phillips in 1874.

On the 7 of January 1878, sons Albert and William were admitted to school in Bridgend. The address given for the family was 25 Oddfellows Row. Edith Emily was also admitted there in September of the same year. In March 1878 Ernest Lloyd Phillips was born in Bridgend, as was Isaac John Phillips in 1882. Sometime between late 1878 and 1881 they moved to 1 Green St, Coity Fields, (Green Street is near the centre of Bridgend, just off the Coity Road, and can be seen on Google Earth). Green street may have been only recently built around then? On the Census of 1881, whilst living in Green Street, Arthur gave his profession as `Lineman Postal Telegraph`.

Arthur Isaac died in 1, Green St., Bridgend on 24th January 1883, as noted in the Family Bible. His Death Certificate gives his Cause of Death as "Low Fever", or Typhus Mitior. Present at his death was a Mrs. Maria Richards, who may have originally been from Pembrokeshire too. Arthur was 37 years old when he died. He was buried at Coity Cemetery on 27th January, 1883.

Elizabeth was left to bring up their five children: WA (13), Albert (11), Edith (9), Ernest (4) and Arthur (one month). Elizabeth remained on the Census in Green St. at least until 1911.

It is hard to tell on the 1881 Census if Arthur had written his name as Arthur I. or Arthur J. Phillips, but this has been transcribed as Arthur J. Phillip. The original of this census shows that Arthur J. Phillip was born in Dale. On observing the handwriting more closely, it could be an I for Isaac. It is also possible to see a small s at the end of Phillip. Interestingly, whilst registering his two eldest sons for school in Bridgend, Arthur wrote his middle name as Lloyd!

WA Phillips`s marriage notice in 1899 notes his father`s occupation as `Post Office Inspector`, although he died 16 years earlier.

UK Census 1851 for the Post Office, Castle Way, Dale, Pembrokeshire.

1. Isaac Phillips. Head. Mar. 35. Post Master. Harroldston Saint Issells, Pembrokeshire.

2. Mary Phillips. Wife. Mar. 37. Assistant Post Master. Freystrope, Pembrokeshire.

3. Emily Adelaide Phillips. Daughter. 7. Scholar. Dale, Pembrokeshire.

4. Arthur Isaac Phillips. Son. Scholar. 5. Dale, Pembrokeshire.

5. Elizabeth Mary Phillips. Daughter. 4. Scholar. Dale, Pembrokeshire.

6. Mary Frances Phillips. Daughter. 2. Scholar. Dale, Pembrokeshire.

UK Census 1871 for 11 Wood St., (Temperance Town), St. Mary's, Cardiff.

1. Arthur Phillips., Head. Mar. 35 (sic - should be 25). Telegraph Foreman. Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire.

2. Elizabeth Phillips. Wife. Mar. 30. Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

3. William Phillips, Son. 9 months. Cardiff, Glamorganshire.

UK Census 1881 for 1 Green St., Coity, Bridgend

1. Arthur Phillips. Head. Mar. 35. Lineman Postal Telegraph. Dale, Pembrokeshire.

2. Elizabeth Phillips. Wife. Mar. 40. Wife. Tenby, Pembrokeshire.

3. William Phillips. Son. 10. Scholar. Cardiff, Glamorganshire.

4. Albert Phillips. Son. 9. Scholar. Cardiff, Glamorganshire.

5. Edith Phillips. Daughter. 7. Scholar. Bridgend, Glamorganshire.

6. Ernest Phillips. Son. 3. Scholar. Bridgend, Glamorganshire.

Sources

• National School Admission Registers & Log-books 1870-1914 Transcription via Findmypast.com

• UK Census 1851, 1871 and 1881

• Parish BMDs on FMP

• Birth Cert

• Notes in Family Bible

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Owen Phillips for creating Phillips-7713 on 28 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Owen and others.