Joseph Phillis I Chronology
This chronology is provided by Kim Davis.
Please forward further comments and sources!!
Numbered Sources follow the Chronology
1696 - Birth in England (2), Leeds, England(1) some education, spoke French (2) British Navy, served aboard a Man of War (2) left Navy and settled in Colonies near Leesburg, Loudoun Co., VA (2)
Jan 1738 - Convicted of stealing cloth etc. London, Middlesex Co., England (3)
June 1738 - Transported aboard ship FORWARD to MD or VA (3)
Library of VA’s Colonial Database available online lists multiple voyages of the ship "Forward" to VA between 1724 and 1744. Could not find exact date matching above with any certainty due to double dates.
1742 - Fairfax Co., VA created from Prince William Co., VA
? - married Nancy (LNU) b. ca 1700, 6 years younger than spouse. She was christened in the Episcopal Church; parents of Church of England (2)
9 Feb 1751 (or 1744) - birth of son Joseph, in Ireland (6)
5 Mar 1756 - birth of daughter, Rachel near Leesburg, Loudoun Co., VA (2) [sic, by dates provided in same source, Rachel’s mother is 56 at her birth!! ]
1757 - Loudoun Co., VA created from Fairfax Co., VA
10 Aug 1758 - Joseph Phillis - evidence for John Callihan, Loudoun Co., VA (11)
1760 - Cameron Parish, Loudoun Co., VA tithable list (4)
1760 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
1761 - Cameron Parish, Loudoun Co., VA tithable list (4)
1761 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
1762 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
1764 - Fee Book - Loudoun Co., VA - John Athell to pay for Joseph Phillis (4) (5)
31 Oct 1765 - bill of Sale to Ferdinando O’Neale both of Loudon Co., VA (4)(5)
1769 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
1770 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
1770 - Joseph Phillis - 6 squirrel scalps, Joseph Phillis, Jr. also listed, Loudoun Co., VA (10)
1771 - Joseph Fillis - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (9)
8 Nov 1773 - Joseph, witness to deed in Loudoun Co., VA (5)
1774 - moved to Western PA near Headwaters of Raccoon Creek, later Washington Co., PA [This could be son Joseph.] (2) (6)
10 May 1776 - land purchase by Joseph. 186 acres in Smith Twp. from Henry Houghland & Wm Crawford (8) [May be son Joseph, Jr.]
1783 - Tax list of Smith Twp, Washington Co., PA - 200 acres; 2 horses; 3 cows; 2 sheep; 0 slaves; 101 Value (only one Joseph Phillis) (7)
1784 - Tax list of Smith Twp, Washington Co., PA both a Joseph Phillis & Joseph Phillis, Sr. (7)
1790 - Census - Robinson Twp, Washington Co., PA "next door" to Joseph Phillis (7)
Joseph Phillis, Sr. 1 male > 16 ; 0 males < 16; 2 females; 0 slaves
1790 - Death of wife, Nancy (2) Joseph then reportedly moved in with Thomas & Rachel (Phillis) Moore who resided 3 miles southeast of Hookstown.
Nov 1801 - Death of Joseph Phillis, Sr. While residing with Rachel (Phillis) Moore. Reportedly buried at Mill Creek Church Cemetery. Thomas & Rachel (Phillis) Moore buried beside him. (2) (None of three have visible tombstones in the 1970’s and 1990’s according to several who have visited the site.
(1) History of Beaver Co., PA, by A. Warner & Co; Philadelphia/Chicago. 1888
(2) Family Record of David Franklin Kerr, written 1865. FDK
(3) Coldham, Peter Wilson. "English Convicts in Colonial America: Vol. 1, Middlesex, 1617-1775"
(4) Cameron Parish, Loudoun Co., VA Tithables, 1758-1799. FHL Film #167,3255 VERY difficult to read.
(5) Data from Edward Boots
(6) VA Genealogist Vol. 8, p. 104 "VA Land Grants in PA, Yohogania Co." Lists actual settlement date
(7) Washington Co., PA Tax lists for 1781, 1783, 1784, 1793; census for 1790 Compiled by Raymond M. Bell and Katherine K. Zinsser (no date) FHL bk
(9) Hopkins, Margaret L. "Index to the Tithables of Loudoun Co., VA and to Slaveholders and Slaves, 1758-1786" Gen Pub Co. (No date copied), FHL book.
(10) Tithables of Loudoun Co., VA (BK 975.528 FHL) Vol. 2 by Stephen Donaldsen. pg 518. per Juanita Huffaker.
(11) Court Records of Loudon Co., VA (BK 975.528 P25r) Vol. 1 (FHL) per Juanita Huffaker.
We don’t know that the Joseph who was convicted of stealing was indeed our Joseph Phillis. From the reference, it is possible to find out more in the English records; but we will have to hire someone to do the research in England.
We can not discover Joseph’s reported English Navy service without the name of his ship. Apparently England has rosters, but only recorded by name of ship. Each roster would have to be searched individually seeking his name…cost prohibitive.
If we accept the stated age for Nancy, wife of Joseph Phillis, then we have to believe that she was bearing children at the age of 56 (based on her stated age & DOB given for her daughter Rachel)….very unlikely. If you believe that Jacob Phillis was also a son, it makes Nancy in her early sixties at his birth). If she was 6 years younger than her husband, then his age is wrong. You have to understand that at this time period there were many reasons to overstate someone’s age.
Joseph’s children are commonly listed as: Nancy (who m. Robert or Joseph Alexander); Alice; Rebecca; Margaret; David; Joseph; James; Rachel (who m. Thomas Moore) and sometimes includes a Jacob. I have NEVER seen a reference for these children. Best I’ve ever heard is that the names came from the Moore bible. [This would seem odd as the Moore bible lists dates for Thomas & Rachel & their children, but none are provided for the Phillis family.] The Kerr Family history by FDK says that Joseph had 8 children, 3 sons and 5 daughters, but doesn’t name them. He further states that all these children grew up & had children.
Please note that Joseph Phillis' 8 children listed duplicate almost EXACTLY the names given for Robert & Nancy (Phillis) Alexander’s children in a biosketch. This almost looks like the 7 names were lifted from the sketch, added Rachel’s name & got "assigned" to Joseph & Nancy Phillis.
Due to the border dispute between VA and PA, there are many locations where records may be found for the Phillis family. PA records from Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver and surrounding areas. VA records from Ohio Co., VA; Yohogania; etc.
The early Phillis family were Presbyterians……Church records might be useful if sought & researched.