Joseph Philips Sr. (abt. 1717 - 1792)

Born about 11 Dec 1717 in Wiston, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Husband of Mary (Unknown) Philips — married 1742 in Eglwyswen, Pembrokeshire, Wales

Descendants

Died 18 May 1792 at about age 74 in Vincent Township, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Joseph Philips Sr. performed Patriotic Service in Pennsylvania in the American Revolution.

Burial

Vincent Baptist Church Cemetery, Chester Springs, PA

Note

From Phillips Family History A Brief History of the Phillips Family, Beginning With the Emigration From Wales, and a Detailed Genealogy of the Descendants of John and Benjamin Philips, Pioneer Citizens of Wilson County, Tenn:

Note: It was in Wales, rugged little province of the British Isles, that Joseph Philips was born and reared. On her barren hillsides and in her secluded valleys, a brave and hardy race has lived since a day earlier than the history of Iman is recorded; a race of tenacious people, thrifty, sturdy and industrious.

It was from this stock of hardy people that Joseph was descended, and it was in this land of legend that he was born and reared. Of his birthplace and early life we know nothing. However, it is recorded that his eldest son, David, was born in Pembrokeshire, so it is probable that the father was born and reared in that section of Southern Wales. It is also know that Joseph was a weaver after he immigrated to America, so it is logical to presume that he learned this trade in boyhood and practiced it during the years he lived in the old country.

Joseph Philips married a Welsh maiden named Mary, born in 1710 (and Mary has always been a marked favorite as a family name), and three of his sons were born in the old country.

It would be interesting to know what motives inspired Joseph Philips, a man of almost middle age with three sons at this fireside, to turn his eyes westward to the new land across the seas. Possibly it was because many of his relatives had preceeded him and had written back enticing narratives of the new country. The Rev. John Philips, a Welsh Baptist minister, immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1692, and the records show that there were other settlers in Pennsylvania by the name of Philips at the date Joseph Philips sailed from Wales.

They landed in this country in dark days. It was the beginning of the seven-year French and Indian War. Braddock's defeat occurred in 1755.The Indians were on the warpath and the tomahawk flourished on the frontier. George II was on the throne of England; George Washington was just coming into manhood and prominence. Philadelphia was a little village of a few thousand people.

The first place of settlement of Joseph Philips was in the vincinity of West Chester, Chester county, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia.

From Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania:

Rev. David Philips, son of Joseph and Mary Philips, came from Wales to America prior to the Revolution, and took an active part in that conflict, having command as captain of a company of militia.

From History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania:

Rev. David Philips was born March 26, 1742; was a captain in the Revolution, a son of Joseph Philips, who was born in Wales, in 1716, and married to a Welsh lady who was born in 1710. Joseph came to America in 1755 with his three sons, David, John and Josiah.

About 1755 Joseph Philips, in company with his brother. Rev. David Philips, came to America from Wales. Of the early life of Joseph but little is known, he being thirtynine years of age at the time he emigrated to America. He settled in Chester county, where he purchased a small tract of land, erected a two-story log house, and there remained until his death. He married a Welsh lady, whose first name was Mary, and three children, David, John and Joseph, were born to them.

Sources

• DAR record https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A208558
• Jordan, John W. Genealogical and Personal History of Western Pennsylvania, Vol. 2, Pages 746-748 (Lewis Historical Pub. Co., New York, 1915)
• Cushing, Thomas History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Part II, Pages 427-428, 501, 761-762 (A. Warner & Co.., Chicago, 1889)
• [https://books.google.com/books/about/Phillips_Family_History.html?id=-h6kwwEACAAJ
• Northwestern Historical Association. Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (Northwest Historical Association., Madison, Wisconsin, 1904, Vol. 1, p. 186-188)
• Find A Grave: Memorial #33481119

Posted by Thomas Owen Philips (wikitree ID Philips 1709) on May 19, 2021.

“Philips Family. Re-Union and Names of Descendants. 1877.” This is a family history report and genealogy created by attendees at the 1877 Philips Family Reunion in Chester County, Pennsylvania. It was published in Philadelphia in 1780 by the printer William Syckelmoore. At the time that this record was created at least one grandchild of Joseph and Mary Philips, namely Hannah Philips Eaches, was alive and in attendance.

Some excerpts from this 1877 family history: “Joseph Philips … was born in Wales in 1716. Of his birth place and early life we know nothing. It would be interesting for us today to know more of the man, of is birth, place, of the life and training of his boyhood. Married to some Welsh maiden Mary (born in 1710) with a home and family of his own growing up about him, it would be interesting to know what motives caused him to lift his eyes across the Atlantic to these Western lands. … In 1755, as tradition goes, when 39 years of age, he came to this country with his wife and three boys, David, John, and Josiah. In the sailing vessels of those days it was something of a heroic venture to brave 3000 miles of water.”

“The first place of residence of Joseph Philips was in the vicinity of West Chester [in Chester County, Pennsylvania]. Tradition holds that he did not own the place on which he first lived. Subsequently he bought the farm now occupied [in 1877] by Mr. Frederick Bingaman, containing then 63 acres. On this place he built a two-story log house, the first story having one room and a kitchen, the second having two rooms. He was a weaver by occupation and carried on this business in the unpretentious ways of those times. As the family grew up the business was increased, until there were three shops with three looms in each shop. Tradition gives this recollection of Joseph Philips: He wore the small clothes of olden times, buckskin breeches with buckles. His native language was Welsh, which the four sons spoke to some effect. He was of medium height, portly in appearance. The four sons resembled him in this respect, being men of large size.”

Comment by Thomas Owen Philips: There is conflicting information in the family tradition as to whether Joseph, Jr., the fourth son of Joseph and Mary, was born before or after the voyage to North America.

Sources

Familysearch.org ID# LHVN-5CR