Joseph Phillips (abt. 1807 - aft. 1872)

Born about 1807 in Rensselaer County, New York

Husband of Rachel (Boucher) Phillips — married 2 May 1840 in Greenbush, New York

Died after 6 Mar 1872 after about age 65 in Cohoes, Albany County, New York, United States

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Biography

Joseph Phillips was born about 1807 in Rensselaer County, New York.

His first marriage was to Maria.

He married for the second time in 1840. The marriage of Rachel Boucher of Schodack (Rensselaer County, New York) and Joseph Phillips of Nassau (Rensselaer County, New York) was recorded at Greenbush, New York, on 2 May 1840.^[1] The Christian Intelligencer of the Reformed Dutch Church reported that Mr. Joseph Phillips and Miss Rachael Boucher of Shodack were married on that date at Castleton by the Rev. Edward T. Stinson.^[2]

The 1840 U.S. Census recorded Joseph Phillips in Nassau, Rensselaer County, New York. His household consisted of a man age 30 to 39 (Joseph) and a woman age 20 to 29 (Rachel). One person in the household (presumably Joseph) was employed in "Manufacture and Trade."^[3]

In 1850, the U.S. census recorded farmer Joseph Philips, age 43, in Nassau, Rensselaer County, New York, with Rachel Philips, age 36, Mary Philips, age 18, and Josephine Philips, age 16, all born in New York. The household also included laborer Alexander McConreghy(?), 18, born in Ireland. ^[4] In 1850, the U.S. Census agricultural schedule recorded Joseph Phillips of Nassau as the proprietor of a farm, with 50 acres of land (45 acres improved). The record lists 2 horses, 5 milch cows, 2 cattle other than milch cows or oxen, 7 swine. Crops grown in the previous year include rye, Indian corn, oats, Irish potatoes, and buckwheat.^[5]

By 1855 their family had removed to Albany County. The 1855 New York State Census recorded merchant Joseph Philips, age 47, and his 40-year-old wife Rachael Philips in the Town of Watervliet, New York, with children Mary Philips, 21, and Josephine Philips, 11. Joseph and Josephine were born in Rensselaer County, Rachael in Albany County, and Mary in Columbia County. The adjacent household was that of Ralph Buss and his wife Caroline (Rachael's sister).^[6]

The 1860 U.S. Census recorded 53-year-old merchant Jos. Phillips in Cohoes, Albany County, New York, with Rachael Phillips, 47, Mary Philps, 21, and Josephine Phillips, 15. Jos. Phillips had $2000 of real estate and $1000 personal estate.^[7]

At the 1870 U.S. Census, Joseph Phillips, age 64, was recorded in Cohoes, Albany County, New York, with family members Rachal, 56, and Mary, 36. Joseph's occupation was "Merchant, Grocer." The second household at the same premises was that of grocerer William McMillan, age 36 (or 30?), and Josephene McMillan, age 26. (Josephine was the daughter of Joseph and Rachel Phillips and William was their son-in-law and Joseph's business partner.) The McMillan household also included Susan, age 61 (William's mother?), and Lillia, age 5 (presumably the daughter of William and Josephene).^[8]

Joseph died in March 1872, after creating his will on 6 March and before the will was proved on 26 March.

Will

The last will and testament of Joseph Phillips of the city of Cohoes, Albany County, was written on 6 March 1872 and proved and recorded at Albany on 26 March 1872 as a will of personal estate.^[9][10] In the will, he provided that daughter Mary Phillips should receive all of the household goods "formerly belonging to my first wife Maria," her mother. He willed his clothing to his son-in-law, William McMillan. His undivided half interest in the stock of goods and the store fixtures of the store on the corner of Remsen and White Streets in Cohoes and other goods belonging to the firm of Philips and McMillan were to be sold, and the proceeds divided between wife Rachel and daughters Mary and Josephine. ^[10]

Research Notes

The census ages for Mary and Josephine are clearly unreliable. Based on the ages given, Mary was born between about 1832 and 1839 (all of these dates are before the marriage of Joseph and Rachel) and Josephine between about 1834 and 1845. Clearly Mary was born to Joseph's first marriage. From these dates alone it is possible that Josephine also was a child of the first marriage, but the wording of Joseph's will indicates that only Mary was born to the first marriage.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriages at the Greenbush Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 1788-1899. Rensselaer County GenWeb. Surnames Beginning With "B": Boucher, Rachel, Schodack; Joseph Phillips, Nassau. 2 May 1840.
2. ↑ Christian Intelligencer of the Reformed Dutch Church, Vol. X, No. 511, May 16, 1840. Ancestry.com. U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/50015/images/40699_2221301230_7207-00016
3. ↑ United States Census, 1840. Enumeration sheet for Nassau, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: 333; Page: 191; Family History Library Film: 0017204. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
4. ↑ United States Census, 1850. The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Nassau, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: 586; Page: 386b. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4203139_00569
5. ↑ United States Census, 1850. Agriculture Schedule for Nassau, Rensselaer, New York; Archive Collection Number: A6; Roll: 6; Page: 225; Line: 6; Schedule Type: Agriculture. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
6. ↑ New York State Census, 1855. Enumeration sheet for E·D· 4, Albany County, New York. Microfilm. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
7. ↑ United States Census, 1860. Enumeration sheet for Cohoes, Albany, New York; Roll: M653_721; Page: 827; Family History Library Film: 803721. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
8. ↑ United States Census, 1870. Enumeration sheet for Cohoes Ward 3, Albany, New York; Roll: M593_902; Page: 457B; Image: 350954; Family History Library Film: 552401. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
9. ↑ Orders Probate of Wills, Vol 002, 1870-1872, Wills, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, Etc., 1787-1902; Author: Albany County (New York). Surrogate's Office; Probate Place: Albany, New York. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1250148:8800
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Will of Joseph Phillips, 1872. In Wills, Vol 0022-0023, 1869-1873, in database Wills, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, Etc., 1787-1902. Albany County Surrogate's Office; Albany, New York. Accessed on Ancestry.com at https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8800/images/005114095_00368

See also:

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/234290151/joseph-phillips: accessed 26 November 2023), memorial page for Joseph Phillips (unknown–13 Mar 1872), Find a Grave Memorial ID 234290151, citing Waterford Rural Cemetery, Waterford, Saratoga County, New York, USA; Maintained by Rebecca C (contributor 48477861). [No gravestone, no sources cited.]