Biography

Thomas followed his sons John, Thomas, and Erasmus to the United States. He shared a business in Carmarthenshire, Wales with Theophilius Rees and, together, they sold the business and boarded the ship Amphion, (Capt. Williams), on 1 April, 1795/6. Many of their Welsh neighbors, through the kind generosity of Phillips and Rees, came as emigrants in the same ship with them. Many of them were unable to pay their passage but agreed to repay the money after their arrival.

After their arrival in October, most of this colony removed to Big Valley, a Welsh settlement in Chester county, Pennsylvania. From there, Philips and Rees moved to Bulah, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, where they formed a portion of a considerable Welsh settlement. In this community Mr. Phillips' son Thomas, who came over in 1787, died in 1801. The other son, Erasmus, John H. Phillips' brother, died in New York some years later.

In 1801, Thomas Phillips and Theophilus Rees purchased two thousand acres of land, situated in what is now the North-eastern Quarter of Granville township, from Sampson Davis, a Welshman of Philadelphia.

in 1806, Mr. Thomas Phillips and family arrived at the Welsh Hills Settlement. Thomas operated a hauling business and transported numerous goods back and forth from Ohio to Pennsylvania. His son, John H. taught school at Welsh Hills for a time then moved to Cincinnati where he died in 1832.

Thomas died on May 20, 1813.

Father of:

1. Thomas Philipps (1764–1801)
2. Esther Philipps Evans (1767–1833)
3. Martha Philipps White (1769–1842)
4. Samuel Joseph Philipps (1777–1854)
5. Erasmus Philipps (1779–1813)
6. Mary Philipps Berryhill (1782–1842)
7. Rachel Philipps Owens (1784–1841)

Sources

• Ohio History Central
• Find A Grave: Memorial #21149088