Introduction

Map of the world from the Phillips Family Bible started in 1734 by John Phillips. The Bible was given to him by Thomas Phillips at the time of his wedding in Boston to Anne Engs.
My name is Julie Moira Phillips Wood. In this blog I hope to tell the story of my ancestors reaching back from my place of birth , Auckland, New Zealand. It's a story I share with hundreds of descendants of the John and Anne Phillips (1710) family.

A family history is like a river with many tributaries, sources and deltas. The research and questioning is endless with so much of our ancestors real life stories lost forever. Information is gathered from old letters, news clippings, obituaries, the family bible, family lore, internet genealogical sites (ancestry.com etc), google books and interested family descendants research.

I will try to present what I have discovered and hope you might add your memories or family lore too. (Click on the individual pages listed at right for the story of each family.)
                                                                    
The exciting story for present day descendants of the John Phillips family is that our ancestors were strong resilient characters, who journeyed into the unknown, across huge oceans and vast tracts of lands to find a better life for their families. Some fought in the battles such as Culloden, that ended the 'Old Worlde' as they knew it, others in the great wars of North America that created the 'New World' as we know it. Others traveled further still, to settle the last country to be discovered on our earth, New Zealand!

We know little of John Phillips (1710) background but have more information about his wife Ann Engs family and where they came from. The ancestry of John Phillips in New England and earlier is my major current research project.

Anne Engs (Inge) ancestry (Engs, Beal, Adams and Haskins) takes us back to the village of Hingham, New England in 1638. This places our family in one of the more celebrated colonising histories of the modern world. Colonists in New England were mainly people who fled the religious, tax and class issues of seventeen century Great Britain.

Phillips men were with the British Military in Quebec, New France, when Wolfe took the city for England (John Phillips I and II). John I and his wife Anne settled in Quebec and stayed until their deaths.

Capt. John Phillips II fought in many of the famous battles in the late 1700's, first against the French, then against the Americans to secure Canada for Great Britain.  He married Rachel Levy late in his life. They had four children.

Capt John Phillips II and Rachel Levy's eldest son John III, moved his family south to Baton Rouge.

John II's second son William Phillips stayed in Quebec, married Henrietta Eleanor Stewart (daughter of Charles Grey Stewart and Eleanor McLean). William, a flour merchant, became Inspector of flour for the province amongst other interests. Many of the Phillips fifteen children married into local English and French families, some moving to Montreal as that city offered more opportunities. The youngest child, Bella, a spinster daughter died in Quebec in 1921.

Their son William Finlay Phillips II married Louise Langevin, niece of Sir Hector Louis Langevin who was a father of the Confederation of Canada, Secretary of State in the new government and Mayor of Quebec.

The building of the great trans-Canada railway (Sir Hector Langevin and Mr Rhodes) opened up the west to those wishing to make a new start. When the great move west began in the late 1800's Frank Finlay Phillips, son of William Finlay Phillips, took up the challenge and went west to the Dakota's (where he met Clara Plante) finally settling in St Paul, Minnesota.

California  (the Hendrickson and Carr Families) and Vancouver ( the Lake and Phillips families) were the next migration. Many branches of the family still flourish in all these areas of North America.

Frank Finlay Phillips and Clara Plante's second son, Wendell Alfred Langevin Phillips, my grandfather, ventured even further sailing to New Zealand in 1919 on the Niagara, beginning his own family legacy when he married Constance Jessica Craig and settled in Auckland, New Zealand.

The key names in the direct Phillips descent of the New Zealand family are as follow:

• Phillips (British)
• Engs (British)
• Levy (Jewish)
• Stewart (Scottish)
• Langevin ( French)
• Plante (French )
• Craig (Scottish)
• Fletcher (Scottish)
• Moore (English)
• Dunn (Scottish)

 Other names associated closely in North America and Great Britain are as follows:

• Adams
• Beal
• Hobart
• McLean
• McDonnell
• Cing Mars
• Campbell
• Messervy
• Gibbons
• Hendrickson
• Bethune
• La Belle
• Evans
• Price
• Sothern-Holland
• Kiernan
• Lake
• Cowan

My current area of research reaches backwards and forwards from John Phillips and Anne Engs married in Boston, Mass, in 1734

Below is a quick glance at the John Phillips Family descent throught the eldest surviving male line.  

1. John Phillips (1) m 1734 Anne Engs m
2. Capt John Phillips (2) m 1786 Rachel Levy
3. William Phillips (1) m 1821 Henrietta Eleanor Stewart (Quebec) ALSO John Phillips (3) m 1806 Susan Somers (Baton Rouge)
4. William Finlay Phillips (2)  m 1851 Louise Langevin
5. Frank Finlay Phillips m 1889 Clara Plante
6. Wendell Phillips (1)  m 1919 Constance Jessica Craig
7. Wendell Phillips (2)  m 1948 Isabella Fletcher
8. Wendell Phillips (3) m 1973 Margaret Burgess

I have recently found records of the John Phillips 3rd family, based in Baton Rouge, USA, descending from John Phillips (3), the elder son of Captain John Phillips(2) and his wife Rachel Levy. These records also show that Rachel Levy Phillips married for a second time, after Capt Johns death. I will devote a post to John Phillips(3) family but will concentrate first on the William Phillips descendants.

For the last century or so the Wendell A L Phillips Family  in New Zealand believed they were the sole surviving male descent line through Capt John and Rachel Phillips' second son William Phillips and his wife Henrietta Eleanor Stewart of Quebec, Canada.

As yet I have had no contact with the Baton Rouge family.

I will endeavour in the coming months to document each family. Displaying photos and family information under the name of the key member of that generation.

Find information about each generation in the pages listed at top of site. Click on name ie Frank and Clara for their family story.

Ann Engs

Portrait of Anne Engs

Anne’s paternal Great Grandfather Madet Engs, left Marlborough in 1635 with his wife Joan.

The image shown here is of Ann Engs who married John Phillips. It is not known whether this portrait is still held by Phillips family descendents in 2010. We received a photograph of this print from the Lake family of Vancouver. This photograph has been widely shared and I recently saw another copy in Montreal at the home of Ainsley Stephen, a descendant of John and Ann Phillips. The Moore family of Ann's daugher Grizey Moore had shared letters  (see page at right for John and Ann's children.) telling of the discovery of matching portraits of Ann and her sister Avis Engs by Anne Phillips Payson's family.

Anne’s maternal Great Grandparents Nathaniel Beal and wife Martha were born in England. (See separate page Ann Engs family and Ancestors) Nathaniel was the son of John and Nazarath Beal of Norfolk, England. John Beal and family arrived on the Diligent in 1638. (Click here to find a book about his father, John Beal.) Nathaniel's family is mentioned on page 3, where the marriage of daughter Mary is listed. Samuel Engs (Anne's grandfather) married Mary Beal of Hingham Massachusetts.

Anne Engs Pedigree (click on image to enlarge then ctrl click + to make even larger)

Samuel and Mary Engs son, William Engs married Anne Adams of Boston. William Engs and Anne Adams had six children, Anne (our ancestor), Jane, Avis,William,Samuel and Madet. The Engs continued the fashion of naming children after their parents and grandparents. Below is an image showing births in Boston in1715. Annes birth is listed above the red dotted line.

Birth Notice for Anne Inggs (engs)

Note the family name has been transposed here as Inggs. Our family in NZ had always referred to Anne as Anne Inge, others spelt the name Enge. It seems that spelling of the name has changed over the last 400 years and appears more commonly now as Engs.

Anne married John Phillips at Kings Chapel in Boston. (more about that in John Phillips post) She gave birth to 16 children  between 1735-1959. Click on image for larger view of chart.

John and Anne Phillips 15 Children born between 1735 -1759 

1. 
   
   John I: 1735 - 1736
2. 
   
   John II :1736 - 1794 married Rachel Levy (Our Ancestors)
3. 
   
   Daniel I: 1737
4. 
   
   Anne: 1739 marries Thomas Payson
5. 
   
   Avis: 1740 marries Jedediah Preble
6. 
   
   Daniel II: 1741
7. 
   
   Thomas: 1743
8. 
   
   Penelope: 1745 marries Jacob Rowe
9. 
   
   Elizabeth: 1747
10. 
    
    Sarah I: 1748 dies before 1757
11. 
    
    Grizey: 1749 marries Stephen Moore
12. 
    
    Mary: 1750 marries Hugh Finlay
13. 
    
    Jane: 1751 marries Thomas Scott
14. 
    
    Samuel: 1756
15. 
    
    Sarah II: 1758
16. 
    
    William: 1759 had a Command in Army in Canada 1776

In 2010 I contacted Ann's brother William Engs descendants who have a registered family tree at Ancestry.com. When I get a response I will bring you more of this family later.

Map of Plymouth Rock and Boston Area. Hingham is closer to Boston than Plymouth.

In 2008 my husband and I visited Hingham, where the Beals, Adams and Engs (Inggs) lived, just south of Boston down the coast and just north of Plymouth Rock. Hingham is a charming old  fishing village with wooden houses dating back to the 1700's like the red one pictured blow that housed the restaurant where we lunched on creamy New England chowder and local fish and chips!

Hingham village, Red house built in 1723

A visit to the recreated Pilgrim village and the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock makes us realise what these pioneers went through to get away from the taxes and religious strife in England of the 1600's. Cramped tiny ships brought these Pilgrim settlers to New England. The image below is of the reconstructed Mayflower at Plymouth Rock. Tough raw conditions met them after their journey from England. Privations for women must have been shocking after the relative comfort of 17th century England. Stories of Indian raids, families slain and women and children stolen by Indian raiding parties are common in these areas in the 1600's. We've all seen these times recreated in movies, but doing this research makes me realise that our own people lived through that kind of threat. The ocean is integral in this area of the east coast. Seafood is fabulous. Heavily wooded land, rocky bays, coves, and marshy inlets range along the coastline. Today lovely houses cluster along the coast line, many are holiday homes for wealthy Boston families and long time landowners.

Situations improved rapidly in the eighteenth century and well-to-do families in Boston would have enjoyed a comfortable life if it weren't for the constant threat of war. There is mention that wife Grizey Phillips had been quite a socialite so it seems the Phillips family went about in good society in Boston. Anne's portrait attests to a certain quality and refinement of status too.

The Mayflower replica.

John Phillips 1710 - 1773

Please lick on image to see full size ( you can also use command control + to increase size of page or images)

The John Phillips Family Bible

The early Phillips family story is documented in the Phillips family bible. Currently held by Wendell Fletcher Phillips 3rd, in Auckland, New Zealand.

John Phillips 1

At this time (Jan 2010)I have no verified information about John Phillips 1st parents.

It is likely John's fathers name was Thomas, John or Nicholas. Family legend tells that his father was a shipping agent in Suffolk county, Boston around 1700's. The colony of New England depended on goods from England and sugar, spice, cloth and tea from more exotic ports.

Inscription on first page from Thomas to John

We have records that Thomas Phillips, married to Rebecca Louisa, died in 1738 in Huntsmen, Massachusetts. The inscripton on the first page of the very handsome, leather bound family bible shows 'Thomas to John' or Jnr.(I believe the ink has faded at the top of the h and n) This inscriptions leads me to believe the bible was a gift from either his father or brother named Thomas, at the time of John's marriage to Anne.

Family legend tells that the bible was passed to John when his brother Thomas died. As there are no prior inscriptions before John's marriage to Anne this seems unlikely.

The bible lists the births of John's Children

John Phillips (1)  first notation is as follows. "I was married on September 29th 1734 on Sunday morning at Kings Chapel Boston by Commissary Roger Price. "

Kings Chapel in 1720 Boston

Kings Chapel, at the heart of historic Boston, was built in 1686 Boston as the centre of Anglican worship. Follow the link to find out more about Kings Chapel. When the old timber building burnt it was replaced with the current stone church in the late 1700's. Sadly all early records were lost in the fire. 

John Phillips was 24 when he married Anne Engs 19.

We lose track of John Phillips and his family until they reappear in Quebec after 1759. Anne and John have 16 children over a period of twenty years. We can only speculate on what business John was engaged in at this time.

Family legend tells us he was a Captain in the British Militia and fought with Wolfe in the famous battle on the Plains of Abraham which saw both General Wolfe, leading the British and General Montcalm, leading the French, lose their lives. The English won the battle by floating down the St Lawarence on the tide, then stealing up the steep cliffs to take the commanding position on flat fields belonging to Farmer Abraham. We believe his regiment was the 47th. This has not been substantiated by any official military records. I hope to find these soon.

Confusingly for researchers there are several families claiming Capt John Phillips at this war. There is also a Col John Phillips mentioned. There is even a Capt. John Phillips who was a privateer (Pirate) out of Boston. I have been unable to verify connection to any of the other researchers as wives names all differ. I have been unable to locate regimental muster lists which would confirm that our Capt John Phillips and his son John Phillips served which the 47th in the war against France to win Canada for the British.

The childrens births and deaths are listed in the bible.

John and Anns children married well in Quebec, some remaining there, others moving to Boston, North Carolina and further afield. (see more on the children in separate post.) One daughter Grizey married a General and is noted as being a socialite before her marriage. Families of officers in eighteenth century Quebec enjoyed such passtimes as ladies social lunches and teas, racing sleighs on the frozen St Lawrence river, rustic picnics in the country or by the frozen Montmorency Falls. Boat trips for pleasure to Levis or Isle Orleans. Regular regimental parades and social events were highlights for the English familes garrisoned there. Uniforms were gaudy and festooned with gilt or golden buttons, frogs and epaulets. Officers were very dashing and in winter work greatcoats trimmed with Canadian furs. Women's clothing was brightly colored, fabrics or stuff as it was called for dresses eagerly awaited for when boats arrived from Europe carrying these precious cargos along with hairpins and brushes, laces and ribbons, hats, boots and shoes and all the other necessities for an eighteenth century womans existence. Servants were often slaves, these might be black slaves from the south or more often First nation or even European children and women who had been captured in raiding scurmishes in New England. These children were often traded by the First nations as slaves for guns,supplies or hard cash. Some ended up in religious institutions or were adopted by local families, these were the luckier souls. Schools were run by Nuns, the one most often heard about is the Ursulines which still educates twentyfirst century students. There were many public drinking houses in Old Quebec town and drunkeness was common although servants were forbidden to be served in a public house.

Cick here for Timeline of events in Quebec from 1760 onwards.

The army barracks of the day were by Porte St Jean or Saint Johns Gate. These buildings withstood all the battering of canon fire and warring while the English battled first the French and then the Americans to defend and keep Quebec loyal to the Brisith Crown.

Map showing ancient fortifications of Quebec city. The red text 'You Are Here'is the site of the old Barracks at St Jean Gate.

 
To find out more about the history of the British in Quebec and the wars they fought follow this link. Follow this link for even more!
 
 

Drawing of the new barracks built in the late 1700's.

John dies in Quebec in 17th December 1773. Anglican Church burial notes record him as John Phillips, Tidewaiter of Customs. A Tidewaiter of Customs was a customs agent, called Tidewaiter because they had to wait at the docks for the tide to accept goods from incoming ships. There was also a custom that the Tidewaiter would only record a portion of the cargo allowing a percentage to be brought in duty free.

Ann writes that he was buried "in the suburb of St John", the area we know today as St Johns Gate, very near to the old military barracks and houses that remain well preserved to this day. The Anglican church nearby has some very old graves but I've not been able to find burial records here yet. It is believed that both John and Anne lie there. It is pure speculation that John and Anne lived in or nearby the Military Barracks inside the walled town of Quebec, however when Anne died just two years later she was interred in the powder magazine of the Barracks. I have not found records of any other burial place.

At the time of her death she was living with her son Samuel and one of her daughters in a house in St Famille street in the old town of Quebec. She appears to have been unwell for some time before she died in that final winter of her life. The climate in Quebec is harsh, brutally cold during the long winters and hot in the summer with cooler night temperatures than southern parts of Canada. One can only speculate of the trials and difficulties a woman bearing 16 children faced in these times. The family do seem to have been supported by two servants, Honest Sam and Sally, both mentioned in John Phillips letter to his mother written just before she died. Slavery was still practised in these times so it is probable that these two people were black slaves, possibly brought with them from Boston.  

John and Anne lived in uncertain times. They survived the emerging politics of the time, wars, loyalist evacuation from their country of birth, rebuilding of Quebec and the death of children. There own family was to be geographically split by the Revolutionary Wars which saw the British lose hold of America, several of the family living in Boston, New York and North Carolina, others in Canada. Ann's daughter Grizey Moore, living in North Carolina, did not hear of her mothers death for 10 months, until her husband visited Quebec on business.

                                    

Officers House at Barracks in Quebec

St Johns Gate 2009

John and Ann Phillips Children and Spouses

For fuller details of the families of the Children of John and Anne Phillips click here.

If you are descended from any of these children please email jphillip1710@gmail.com with you story and contact details.

Descendants of Captain John Phillips I listed in black text.


1-Captain John Phillips I b. 1710, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass, d. 14 Dec 1773


+Ann Eng b. 2 Oct 1715, Boston Mass, d. 18 Dec 1775


2-John Phillips Died b. 15 Sep 1735, d. Mar 1736


2-Captain John Phillips II b. 2 Oct 1736, Newport, Rhode Island, d. 16 Nov 1794, Home of Jacob Rowes, Boston+Rachel Levy b. 7 Mar 1768, New York, d. 13 Feb 1833, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
3-John Phillips b. 5 Sep 1787, Newport, Rhode Island, d. 28 Oct 1853, Baton Rouge
3-William Phillips I b. 7 Oct 1789, New York, d. 3 Apr 1849, Quebec
3-Anna Maria Phillips b. 25 Jun 1791
3-Susan Angelique Phillips b. 13 Nov 1793


2-Daniel Phillips I b. 12 Oct 1737


2-Anne Phillips b. 25 May 1739+Thomas Payson d. 1797, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass
3-Thomas Payson


2-Avis Phillips b. 17 Jun 1740 +Jedediah Preble


2-Daniel Phillips II b. 4 Mar 1741


2-Thomas Phillips b. 26 Jul 1743


2-Penelope Phillips b. 29 Oct 1743, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass, d. Apr 1817, Milton, Suffolk Cty, MA.+JACOB ROWE b. 23 Jan 1724, Exeter,Devon, England,, d. 28 Dec 1813, Milton, Suffolk Cty, MA.
3-John ROWE b. 1765


2-Elizabeth Phillips b. 1 Jan 1747


2-Sarah Phillips I b. 10 Mar 1748, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass


2-Grizey Phillips b. 18 Feb 1749, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass, d. 14 Jan 1822, Person County, North Carolina +Stephen Moore b. 30 Oct 1734, New York, New York


2-Mary Phillips b. 1 Jul 1750+Hugh Finlay b. 1730, Scotland, d. 1801, Quebec
3-Ann Finlay b. 1774


2-Jane Phillips b. 6 Aug 1751, d. 1807 +Thomas Scott


2-Samuel Phillips b. 29 Jul 1756, d. 6 Aug 1808, Quebec


2-William Phillips b. 3 Sep 1759


2-Sarah Phillips II b. 1 Nov 1758, Boston, Suffolk County, Mass, d. 25 May 1778, Quebec
................................................................................................................................................

Price Family Reunion

Follow this link to my blog post about the  Price Family Reunion 2010 in Quebec

Lunch in Quebec with 4th cousin Richard Price (whose Great Great Grandmother was Maria Mclean Phillips who married Stachan Bethune) in a little restaurant across from the canonball tree.