Genealogy Wylie » Joshua Phillips (± 1710-± 1791)

Personal data Joshua Phillips 

• He was born about 1710 in Smithfield, Providence, Rhode Island.
• (Moved ) in the year 1762 in From Rhode Island to Hubbardston w/ 7 children.
• He died about 1791 in Hubbardston, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• A child of James Phillips and Mary Mowry
• This information was last updated on March 26, 2023.

Household of Joshua Phillips

He has/had a relationship with Freelove Payne.

Child(ren):

1. Freelove Phillips  1749-1826
2. James Phillips  ± 1750-????
3. Joshua Phillips  ± 1750-????
4. Richard Phillips  1754-1834
5. Gideon Phillips  1763-1840 
6. Paine Phillips  1763-1844
7. Eseck Phillips  ± 1766-1776
8. Patience Phillips  ± 1768-1834

Notes about Joshua Phillips

Joshua & Freelove moved from Smithfield, Providence, RI to Rutland,Worcester, MA in 1764 as indicated by real estate transactions where hesold his last RI property (about 50 acres) to Johathon & Gideon Sayles(brothers) for 257 pounds 10 shillings in 1 Jun 1764 and purchasedproperty (100 acres) from Stephen Heald in MA for 183 pounds on 17 Dec1764.

They moved to Hubbardston (near Rutland) on 11 May 1766, according tocousin Beverly Marston, of Keene, NH. At that time they had 7 children(Eseck was born about 1766, but apparently before Hubbardston), theeighth, Patience, was born in Massachusetts.

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The following is copied from "The ancestry of Gideon Phillips", by RobertPhillips, unpublished:

Joshua is Gideon's Father.

[I.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Daniel Jenks, 9 Dec 1743

"- - - I, Joshua Phillips- - - sell- - - unto Daniel Jenks- - - A Certainpiece or Lott of Land Containing about ten Acres be it more or less andis the same piece of Land my Honoured Father James Phillips Gave me byDeed of Gift bearing Date August ye 19th: 1743. The said piece of Landis Scituate in the Township of Smithfield- - - and is part of the farm onwhich the Said James now dwells the said piece of land is one Quarterpart of the Said Homestead Farm on which the Said James now dwells- --and is to be taken off- - -from the North Side the full length of SaidFarm adjoyning to the South Side of John Sayles Land is boundedWestwardly on the Highway that goes by John Sayles Dwelling house.Northerly on sd Sayles Land and on the East with Said John Sayles Landand on the South with the said James Land the said Lott is to be taken aswide at an End as the Other End so as to be Equal- - - in witness and forconfirmation of what is above written I- - - Joshua Phillips havehereunto Set my Hand and Seal thie Nineth Day of December- - - 1743.

Joshua Phillips"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 2, p. 166]

[II.] Deed, Michael and Jeremiah Phillips to Joshua Phillips, 3 Oct 1745

"- - - We, Mikel Phillips of Smithfield and Jeremiah Phillips ofGloucester, Yeomen- - - for- - - Ninty Seven pounds and Seven Shillingsin Bills of Credit- - - paid by Joshua Phillips- - - grant- - - OneCertain Track of Land- - - Lying within- - - Smithfield- - - containingby Estimation Twelve Acres be it more or less Butted and Bounded asfolloweth on the north with the Land of John Sayles on the west with theLand of Bejamin Pain on the South with the Highway- - - this Third day ofOctober AD 1745.

Mikel Phillips
Jeremiah Phillips"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 2, p. 341]

[III.] Deed, Daniel Jenks to Joshua Phillips, 19 Dec 1745

"- - - I, Daniel Jenkes, Marchant- - - for Ninty pounds in Bills ofCredit old tenor- - - paid by Joshua Phillips- - - grant- - - about Tenacres of land Situate, Lying and being in Smithfield- - - and is part ofthe Land Whereupon James phillips- - - now dwells- - - it is the samepiece of Land I bought of sd Joshua phillips- - - witness my hand andseal this nineteenth day of December- - - 1745.

Daniel Jenkes"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 2, p. 343]

[IV.] Smithfield Town Meeting Records, 8 Jan 1746

"At a Town meeting at Smithfield ye 8th day of Jany AD 1745 [1746] beingcalled by a warrant from under the hand and seal of Wm Arnold EsqrBearing date Decbr AD 1745 voted that Joshua Phillips, Moses Man JohnComStock Junr and Cornelious Walling be accepted free men of this Town."

[Certificates of Deputies and Freemen, Rhode Island Archives 1732-1778]

[V.] Smithfield Town Meeting Records, 17 Apr 1751

"At a Town meeting held in Smithfield in the County of Providence yeThird Wednesday of April Ad 1751====
- - - Joshua Phillips: Jeremiah Phillips- - - appeared Before thismeeting & took the freemans affirmation against bribery & corruption."

[Certificates of Deputies and Freemen, Rhode Island Archives 1732-1778]

[VI.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Benjamin Paine, 11 Feb 1758

"I, Joshua Phillips- - - yeoman- - - for- - - Two hundred and fortypounds currant money of New England- - - paid by Benjamin Pain- - -grant- - - unto Sd Benjamin Pain- - - a small peace of Land containingThree acres Sittuated in Smithfield- - - In Witness whereof I hereby settmy hand and seal this Eleventh Day of February- - one Thousand sevenhundred and fifty Eight.

Joshua Phillip
The Mark of Freelove Phillips"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 4, p. 234]

[VII.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Jonathan Sayles, 23 Jul 1759

"I, Joshua Phillips- - - yeoman- - - for- - - five hundred and EightyEight pounds Currant money of new England- - - paid by Jonathan Sayles- -- grant unto him- - - a certain peace of Land Containing six acres andhalf and six rods- - - formerly called the head of the Lotts- - - InWitness whereof I- - - have hereunto sett my hand and seal with FreelovePhillips my now wife and acquitted her thirds therein this Twenty thirdDay of July- - - Anno Domini 1759.

Joshua Phillips
The mark of Freelove Phillips"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 4, p. 378]

[VIII.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Jonathan and Gideon Sayles, 1 Jun 1764

"- - - I, Joshua Phillips- - - Yeoman- - - for and in Considertaion ofthe Sum of Two hundred and fifty seven pounds and Ten Shillings LawfullMoney- - - paid by Jonathan Sayles, Esqr & Gideon Sayles Yeoman- - -Sell- - - unto them- - - a Certain Tract or parcel of Land Situate inSmithfield- - - Containing by Estimation fifty acres- - - and is theWhole of that farm Whereon I now dwell Butted and bounded as followeth onthe most northwesterly Corner with a heap of stones set adjoyning to theLand of John Sayles and rangeth from thence Easterly with the said JohnSayles land to a stake and heap of stones. Then to range Southerly withthe said John Sayles Land to a Stake and stones Set in the north Line ofLand now in the PoSseSsion of Daniel Phillips: Thence Still Westerly Tothe Corner of a Stone wall Where it Turneth and there the Westerlyhighway Cometh into the old highway untill it comes to the firstMentioned Corner- - - In Witness Whereof I, Joshua phillips- - - havehereunto Set my hand & Seal this first day of June- - - 1764 and Freelovephillips ye wife of ye Sd Joshua phillips doth by these presents freelywillingly Give Yield up and Surrender all her right of Dower and power ofthirds of in and unto the above demised premiSs- - - in Witness WhereuntoShe hath Set her hand & seal the day and year above written.

Joshua Phillips
The mark of Freelove phillips"

[Real Estate Records, Smithfield, 1731-1873, Book 6, p. 38]

[IX.] Joshua appears to have spent the Rhode Island phase of his life onSayles Hill nest tot he Sayleses and the Paines except possibly for theperiod between the time he disposed of the land his father gave him in1743 and late 1745 when he again became a landowner. There is noindication as to how he spent this interim- - - a final fling?accumulating cash? In any case late in 1745 he bought in quicksuccession 12 acres from two of his brothers (October), 30 acres from hisfather (November), and the 10 acres his father had given him earlierwhich he had sold (December). Thus at the end of 1745 he apparentlyowned a farm of some 52 acres with which he seems to have been contentfor some 13 years. Then in 1758 he sold three acres to his neighbor,Paine, and in 1759 6 1/2 acres to his other neighbor, Sayles. Finally,in 1764 after some 18 years on the same farm he sold all he owned inSmithfield (estimated at 50 acres) to two Sayles brothers and departed,as will be seen, for Massachusetts. He does not appear to haveregistered the births of any of his children during this period but othersources (Albert M. Phillips, Phillips Genealogies, Auburn, MA, 1885; theMassachusetts Systematic History Fund's Warnings 1737-1788; J. M. Stowe,History of the Town of Hubbardston, Hubbardston, MA, published by theCommittee; and Nelson and the Flag, Nelson Picnic Association, 1917)suggest that Joshua and Freelove had most of their family by 1764 asfollows:

Freelove, born in 1749
Joshua and James, born c. 1750
Richard, born 4 Sep 1754
Paine and Gideon, born 7 Nov 1763

The "Warnings" lists a Joanna and a Patience in the family in 1766 but isthe only source to do so. The Hubbardston history lists Esek as bornabout 1752 but his gravestone in Centre Cemetery near Rutland, MA, readsas follows:

In Memory of
Eseck Son of Mr.
Joshua & Mrs. Fre-
love Phillips was
Kild in a fraim
March ye 25th 1776
in ye 10th yr of his Age

Esek, then, was born (and died) in Massachusetts. And Joshua andFreelove went to Massachusetts with six children.

[X.] Deed, Stephen Heald to Joshua Phillips, 17 Dec 1764

"- - - I, Stephen Heald of Rutland in the County of Worcester andProvince of the MaSsachusetts Bay in New England Husbandman For- - - theSum of one hundred and Eighty three Pounds of money paid to me- - - byJoshua Phillips of Smithfield in the County of Providence in ye Colony ofRhode Island Husbandman- - - Have sold- - - him- - - A Certain Tract orParcel of Land Lying and being in the Northeast Quarter of the Townshipof Rutland, Containing one hundred Acres, being Lot No. 22 BoundedNortheasterly Partly on samuel Sewall's Land & Partly on William Satter'sLand. Northwesterly on the Ministry Lott Southwesterly Partly on SamuelWaldo's Land, and Partly on Isaac Winslow Esq's Land Southeasterly onSaid Samuel Waldo's, with a Dwelling HouSe and Barn Standing thereon.Also a County Road four Rods wide running through the same- - - InWitnessof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this Seventeenth Day ofDecember AD 1764- - - Stephen Heald"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 50, page 464]

[XI.] Deed, David Rice to Joshua Phillips, 17 Sep 1772

"- - - I, David Rice Yeoman- - - For- - - the Sum of One hundred andFifty four Pounds ??? ??? money- - - paid by Joshua Phillips ofHubbardston in the County and Province Aforesd Yeoman- - - HAVE- - -sold- - - unto him- - - Two home Lotts- - - being No forty four and Fortyfive- - - Number forty four- - - Contains One hundred and twenty Acres- -- No. 45- - - contains One hundred and Sixteen Acres- - - I Witnesswhereof I have here unto Set my hand and Seal this seventeenth day ofSeptember 1772- - - David Rice"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 68, p. 235]

[XII.] Death, Esek Phillips, 25 March 1776

"- - - Eseck, Son of Mr. Joshua & Mrs. Freelove phillips was Kild- - -March ye 25th 1776 in ye 10th yr of his Age"

[Gravestone, Centre Cemetery, Rutland, MA]

[XIII.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Joshua Phillips, Jr, 22 Mar 1731

"- - - I, Joshua Phillips of Rutland- - - Yeoman for- - - the Sum of onehundred Eighty pounds (in Specie) paid- - - by Joshua Phillips Junr ofRutland- - - Yeoman- - - sell unto Joshua Phillips Junr- - - a certainTract- - - of Land in Quantity and Quality undivided Lying- - - inRutlnad With the one halfe of the Buildings Standing thereon- - -containing in the Whole about one hundred acres by Estimation- - - inWitneSs Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this twenty Second dayof March AD one thousand Seven hundred & Eighty one- - - Also FreeloveWife of the Grantor- - - doth- - - Yield up- - - all her rights of Dower& power of thirds of in & unto the above demised premises- - - In Witnessof the Said Freelove has also hereunto Set her hand & seal the day & yearbefore Written.

Joshua Phillips
Freelove Phillips"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 88, pp. 400-402]

[XIV.] Deed, Gideon Phillips to Joshua Phillips, 30 Dec 1788

"- - - I, Gideon Phillips of Rutland- - - Yeoman- - - in consideration ofthe Sum of One hundred and thirty pounds lawful money- - - paid by JoshuaPhilips of Rutland- - - Yeoman- - - have - - - sold- - - unto him- - - aCertain Tract- - - of Land lying in Rutland- - - with the buildingsstanding thereon bounded as is set forth in a Deed bearing Date withthese presents to me the said Gideon Phillips from the aforesaid JoshuaPhillips reference thereto being had- - - Provided NevertheleSs [it] is -- - the true intent and meaning of Grantor and Grantee in these preSentsanything contained to the Contrary Notwithstanding that if the abovenamed Gideon Phillips, his Heirs Executors AdminStrators or Assigns dowell and truly provide for his Honoured Father and Mother viz theaforesaid Joshua Phillips and Freelove his Wife every thing neceSsary fortheir life and also at the deceaSe of the aforesaid Joshua Phillips andFreelove his Wife reSpectively to give them a decent burial then thisabove written Deed and every clauSe and article therein contained shallbe null and void and of none effect or elSe to abide in full force &virtue. In witness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and Seals thisthirtieth Day of December Anno Domini one thousand Seven hundred andeighty eight.

Gideon Phillips
Choe Phillips"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 110, pp. 195-7 (also includesthe following)]

[XV.] Deed, Joshua Phillips to Gideon Phillips, 30 Dec 1788

"- - - I, Joshua Phillips- - - for and in consideration of the Sum of onehundred and thirty pounds lawful money to me- - - paid by GideonPhillips- - - have given- - - unto him- - - a certain Tract or parcel ofland lying in Rutland- - - with the buildings standing thereon- - - InWitness whereof We have hereunto set our hands and seals this thirtiethDay of December- - - on thousand seven hundred and eighty eight.

Joshua Phillips
Freelove Phillips"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 110, pp. 195-7 (also includesthe preceding)]

[XVI.] First Census of the United States, 1790, Massachusetts, WorcesterCounty, Rutland Town.

Showing as Heads of Household:

Phillips, Joshua, 1 male 16+, 2 males 16-, 4 females
Phillips, Gideon, 2 males 16+, 1 male 16-, 3 females

[XVII.] Deed, Gideon Phillips to Joshua Phillips, Jr., 28 May 1794

"- - - I, Gideon Phillips of Rutland in the County of Worcester &Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yeoman, in consideration of two hundredPounds, Lawful money paid me by Joshua Phillips Jr of Rutland- - -yeoman- - - hereby- - - sell- - - unto- - - Joshua Phillips Jr a certainfarm I am PoSseSsed of in said Rutland, & buildings standing thereonincluding all the land which I have any legal title unto with saidRutland- - - In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal thetwenty sixth day of May AD on thousand seven hundred & ninety four.

Gideon Phillips
Chloe Phillips"

[Worcester District Registry of Deeds, Book 209, p. 61]
[Note: not sure whether 28 or 26 May, as this is the way Robert Phillipswrote the above dates]

[XVIII.] Joshua appears to have arrived in Rutland, MA, sometime betweenJune and December 1764, and, in the latter month, bought 100 acres inthat township. In 1767 Hubbardston was established as a district frompart of Rutland, and in 1772 Joshua, now of Hubbardston, bought 236 acresin that township. In 1781 he sold 100 acres in Rutland (possibly hisfirst purchase in Massachusetts) to Joshua, Jr., of Rutland. Joshua musthave been in his sixties, at least, by this time. In any case, he madeprovision for his old age in 1788 by buying from Gideon in Rutland for130 pounds the same land which Gideon bought from him in an immediatelyfollowing deed for the same sum. The transaction was to remain validonly if Gideon took care of Joshua and Freelove in their old age and gavethem "decent" burials. The U.S. Census of 1790 shows two males over andone under 16 in Gideon's household and three females. In that yearGideon, who had married Chloe Shattuck in 1786 had a daughter born in1787 and a son born in 1788 for a total of two females and one male under16. Joshua and Gideon probably account for the two males over 16 andFreelove for the third female in Gideon's household in 1790; Gideon thusappears to be living up to his bargain with Joshua. In 1794, however,Gideon sold all his land in Rutland to Joshua, Jr., and moved to NewHampshire (Revolutionary War records) leaving us to conclude that Joshuadied between 1790 and 1794. It is difficult to keep track of Joshua'sreal estate holdings. At one time, however, he appeared to be inpossession of a handsome 336 acres. Of his children, James married SarahNurse in 1767, Freelove married Nathan Stone in 1768, Esek, as noted,died in 1776, Richard married Olive Evans in 1779, Paine married SallyTwichel in 1786, and Gideon married Chloe Shattuck in 1786 (See Rutlandand Hubbardston Vital Records published by the Systematic History Fund in1905 and 1907 respectively). All Joshua's sons served in theRevolutionary War (except, of course, Esek). Joshua, then, appears tohave led a successful farming life. Like his father James, before him hearranged with one of his sons to care for him and his wife in their oldage, and the son, Gideon, appears to have been satisfied with thearrangement. Here endeth the tale of Gideon's ancestors in America forthe nonce.

[Ancestry of Gideon Phillips, by Robert Phillips]

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