Joseph Phillis II Chronology
This chronology is provided by Kim Davis.
Please forward further comments and sources!!
Grave of Joseph & Elizabeth (Little) Phillis
Westminister Presbyterian Cemetery, Burgettstown, Washington County, PA
IN MEMORY OF JOSEPH PHILLIS, who departed this life 11th of April, 1831 in his 80th year.
IN MEMORY OF ELISABETH PHILLIS, who departed this life 12th Dec., 1825
in the 63rd year of her age.
Chronology
Numbered Sources follow the Chronology
(References in red are those that are possibly untrue.)
About 1744 - Birth in Ireland (1)
9 Feb 1744 - Birth (7)
Abt 1751 - Birth according to age on tombstone. (d. 11 Apr 1831 in 80th yr of age) (9)
9 Feb 1751 - Birth [source unknown, commonly "passed around" as his Date Of Birth]
1757 - Loudoun Co., VA created from Fairfax Co., VA
Circa 1760-1765 - Father Joseph Phillis I is known to be residing in Loudoun Co., VA (see his chronology)
1770 - Joseph Fillis, Jr. - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (14)
1770 - Joseph Phillis, Jr. - Loudoun Co., VA (15)
1771 - Joseph Fillis, Jr. - Shelburne Parish, Loudoun Co., VA (14)
? - Marriage in Ireland to Elizabeth Little (1)
1774 - Settlement on Racoon Creek headwaters, VA certificate (3)
1775 - In 1775 he came to America [from Ireland], locating in this county, ... (1)
10 May 1776 - 1st land purchase in Smith Twp., Washington Co., PA. Purchased 186 acres from William Crawford & Henry Houghland, located on Raccoon Creek. (1)
1777 - Moved to Washington Co., from KY opposite Cincinatti (2) grew first crop of Corn, etc. (2)
27 May 1778 - Animal Mark recorded in Yohogania Co., VA for Joseph Phillis. (Thomas Moore’s mark recorded the same day.) (4)
8 Feb 1780 - James Little & Joseph Phillis both of Yohogania Co., Va to James Lee Webster of Hartford Co., MD 1000 Acres on Kings Creek. (11) [James Little is reportedly the brother of Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Phillis II.]
1781 - Washington Co., PA created from Westmoreland Co. [This area of PA was part of the border dispute between VA & PA which was settled around this date. Records of settlers could be found in Yohogania Co. & Ohio Co., VA; Westmoreland Co., PA.]
?? - County militia during Revolutionary War (5)
1781 - 1783 - "Joseph Philis was enrolled sometime during the period 1781-83 as a Private, 4th Class, Captain Peter Kidd's 7th Company, 4th Battalion, Washington County Militia, according to the evidence of an undated Company Return." (13)
1783 - Tax list of Smith Township, Washington Co., PA 200 acres; 2 horses; 3 cows;2 sheep; 0 slaves; $101 value. (only one Joseph Phillis Listed) (7) (8)
23 Sep 1784 - Land adjacent to Joseph Phillis warranted to Abrah Scott (1)
1784 - Tax list of Smith Township, Washington Co., PA - Joseph & Joseph Sr. Listed (7)
10 Jan 1787 - "Green Castle" surveyed. Later Joseph Phillis obtained warrent & deed for this property. (6)
1790 - Census Washington Co., PA (p. 252) 1 male >16; 4 m < 16; 3 Females (children Elizabeth, Jane; Charles, John, James, Joseph)
1793 - No Joseph Phillis on tax list, Smith Twp does list a Joseph Phillips, perhaps the same? (8)
2 Nov 1794 - Oath of Allegiance Smith Township, Washington Co., PA Joseph Phillis (12)
About 1800 - Roll of Elders, Burgettstown United Presbyterian Church (1)
1800 - Census p. 879 4 males < 10; 2 m 10-16; 1 m 45+; 1 f < 10; 1 f 16-26; 2 f 26-45
1810 - Census p. 38 Smith Township, Washington Co., PA (FHL#167,4606)
5 Feb 1818 - Land Record Index - Joseph to Alexander Walker, Beaver Co., PA E, 240 (may be Joseph III FHL 863,644 Index to Land Records Beaver Co, PA
1820 - Census p. 218 Smith Township, Washington Co., PA (FHL#167,4624)
21 Feb 1821 - Warrant issued for "Green Castle" to Joseph Phillis (6)
21 Feb 1824 - Certificate of Patent issued to Joseph Phillis for "Green Castle" (6)
12 Dec 1825 - Wife Elizabeth Little died according to tombstone (9)
1827 - Wife Elizabeth Little died (1)
10 Feb 1830 - Will written by Joseph Phillis of Smith Township, Washington Co., PA (10)
1830 - Joseph Phillis died in 1830 (1)
11 Apr 1831 - Death of Joseph according to tombstone at Burgettstown United Presbyterian Church, PA (9)
26 Apr 1831 - Will proved Washington Co., PA (10)
(1) Commemorative Biographical Record, Washington Co., PA - Beers & Co; Chicago. 1893. (References in red above are those that are almost certainly untrue.)
(2) ‘History of Beaver Co., PA". A. Warner & Co; Philadelphia/Chicago. 1888
(3) VA Genealogist Vol 8, p. 104 "VA Land Records in PA, Yohogania Co. Lists actual settlement date.
(4) Crumrine, Boyd. "VA Court Records in SW PA: Records of the District of West Augusta & Ohio & Yohogania Co. VA 1775-1780. Gen Pub Co; Baltimore. 1981 p. 234
(5) PA Archives Series 5; Vol 26, p. 323 [FHL#167, 0126 pt 6 Rev War Militia Lists of PA O-Z]
(6) Horn, W. F. Horn Papers, Vol. III. H21-346 "Joseph Phillis-Green Castle" Survey 10 Jun 1787; Warrant dtd 21 Feb 1821; Certificate of Patent to Joseph Phillis 21 Feb 1824
(7) Bell, Raymond M. & Zinsser Katherine K. "Washington Co., PA Tax lists for 1781, 1783, 1784, 1793 & census for 1790. No publisher/pub date listed. Copy at FHL, Salt Lake City.
(8) Tax list of Washington Co., PA. DAR 1956 FHL 167,0657 (Smith Twsp. Only for 1784, 1793)
(9) Headstone of Joseph Phillis & Elizabeth Little Phillis in Westminister Presbyterian Cemetery, Burgettstown, Washington County, PA
(10) Will Book 4, p. 585 Washington Co., PA. Joseph Phillis Will probated 1831
(11) Deed Records 1782-5; Estate Records 1781-96. FHL#167,0647 This appears to have been a DAR book of extracts. No reference as to page numbers etc. in actual record.
(12) 1794 Oaths of Allegiance USWeb Project Washington Co., PA
(13) PA Historical & Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA. - Military Accounts (Militia), Records of the Comptroller General, at the Division of Archives & Manuscripts.
(14) 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.
(15) Tithables of Loudoun Co., VA (BK 975.528 FHL) Vol 2 by Stephen Donaldsen. pg 518. per Juanita Huffaker.
Joseph II is most likely not to have been born or even visited Ireland. Likely source is some confusion with his wife, Elizabeth Little, in later generations.
Some confusion exists between specific identities of Joseph I, Joseph II and Joseph III.
The above appearance of Joseph Jr. in source #14 (1770 & 1771 - Shelbourne Parish, Loudoun Co.) places in question his about 1751 date of birth. Only males over 21 appear on the tithable lists. It is also possible to appear when younger if one owned taxable property like land or slaves.