William Phillips (aft. 1583 - aft. 1654)

Born after 1583 in England

Descendants

Died after 16 Apr 1654 at about age 71 in Taunton, Bristol, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Erin Cole [send private message]

Suspect Relations

No documentation for parents or siblings other than John. There is no mention of other children. Without an actual source to corroborate, the relationships beyond John, James and Elizabeth should be viewed as suspect. The baptism for Thomas in Norfolk gives Anne as the name for his mother.

Biography

William is presumed to be born after 1583 because he was still eligible for military service in 1643.^[1]

William's name was among those who had "taken up freedom" in 1648. He was surveyor in 1653.^[1]

Emery said that "Mr Phillips's wife Elizabeth was sister of William and John Parker,"^[1] but it is not apparent what evidence he had for this claim.

William's will, dated April 16, 1654, names him as "three score and ten at least", which also confirms a birth year of about 1583. His will also mentions his wife, Elizabeth, son James, who is to be executor. He gives his house to his wife and son, James. If son James should die without issue, then certain property is to go to the children of his son-in-law, James Walker. Mention is also made of daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Walker, and her little daughter, Hester Walker.^[1][2] Emery asserted that "this Elizabeth was his own daughter doubtless so that the 'in-law' is superfluous." However, the word daughter-in-law could refer either to the wife of a son (the modern usage) or the daughter of a spouse (in modern usage, a step-daughter); so Elizabeth could be inferred to be the child of William's wife by an earlier marriage.

DNA

The following notes are by Erin Cole, December 2018 and March 2019:

There has been much confusion in the Phillips line but y-DNA testing is being used to sift through the many Phillips lines in America (73 identified by January 2012).^[3]

There are 8 Phillips males who have had their y-DNA tested and have been put in Family Group 19. Four of the test takers indicate their descent from William.

NOTE: The members of groups 18 and 19 are not descended from a common ancestor within the last 1000 years. William and his descendants are not related to the Nicholas Phillips clan from Family Group 18.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Emery Page 66
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-997D-VSPS : 6 March 2023), Wills 1633-1686 vol 1-4 > image 149 of 616; State Archives, Boston. Page 1-2
3. ↑ Phillips DNA Project: Family Group 19

• Emery, Samuel Hopkins. History of Taunton, Massachusetts: From Its Settlement to the Present Time, Syracuse, NY, D. Mason & Co., 1893.