Phillips Family Cleanup

This is a project to clean up several Phillips families that have incorporated questionable information from online sources.

According to the Phillps yDNA Project, "Richard Ripley is a Canadian genealogist who claims most Canadian and American Phillips families descend from the aristocratic Philipps family of Picton Castle, Wales. He sells a CD containing that misinformation to anyone naïve enough to buy it. Our unbiased, scientific Phillips DNA project has now made it abundantly clear that all Canadian and American Phillips families are not related and do not all descend from a single Philipps family that lived in Wales."

Lines Affected

This project affects the ancestry of the following immigrants:

• Eleanor Phillips (1627-?)
• (Rev.) George Phillips (1593-1644), of Watertown
• Hannah (Phillips) (Morse) Boyden (1616-1676), of Dedham
• Henry Phillips (1614-1683), of Boston & Dedham
• John Phillips (1602-?), of Dedham
• John Phillips (c1605-1682), of Dorchester & Boston
• Mary (Phillips) Spooner (1594-1640), of Boston
• (Deacon) Nicholas Phillips (1611-1671/2), of Weymouth
• William Phillips (1588-1654), of Taunton

Summary of Problems

• Ripley has combined the lines of Phillips immigrants into a single family, descended from John Phillips, of Northam (Devon).
• Ripley has used original records, but combined families from Devon, Essex, Lincoln, London, and Sussex.
• The Phillips DNA Project has confirmed that Rev. George Phillips and William Phillips of Taunton were not brothers.
• Ripley traced the Phillips immigrants back to John of Northam (Devon), son of Simon, son of Sir Owen. There evidence does not support the theory the immigrants were all descendants of John. There is no proof John was the son of a Simon. And, this Simon was son of a different Owen. The Phillips DNA Newsletter says, "“The Roads Taken” and "verdego” both stated that this John Phillips, hypothetical progenitor of many Phillips who came to America, was born on 21 May 1539 in Northam, Devon, England and died in 1626 in Sussex, England. According to Mr. Ripley, John’s father was Simon Phillips born about 1520 in Llwyngwair, Pembroke, Wales. Also according to Mr. Ripley, Simon’s father was Sir Owen Philipps of Picton Castle. The only problem is Sir Owen (or Owain, to use the Welsh spelling) Philipps of Picton Castle never had a son named Simon."

Phillips Ancestry According to Richard Ripley (Unreliable)

1. Simon Phillips* b abt 1520 in Llwyngwair, Pembroke, Wales, d 1579 in Somersetshire, England, md (1) Mary Howe, 1538. She was b 1521 in Sussex, England. He md (2) Margaret Smith, 24 Jun 1549 in Barkway, Hertford, England. She was b abt 1529 in Hertford, England.
   1. John Phillips b 21 May 1539 in Northam, Devon, England, d 1626 in Sussex, England, md (1) Johann Waters. She was c 9 Jun 1549 in Dorking, Surrey, England, d 22 Mar 1565/1566 in Birchington, Kent, England. He md (2) Margaret Porter, 13 Jan 1568/1569 in Wraxall Near Bristol, Somerset, England, She was b 25 Sep 1546 in Kirkham, Lancashire, England, 30 Jul 1609 in Bolton, England. Ripley theorizes that John Phillips was a minister: "Given the number of clerical offspring in this family, and the extent of family involvement with serious religious concerns and settlement, it is very likely that John was a clergyman. I will post evidence of this as it becomes available." Margaret Porter's family later emigrated to America, when Roger Porter brought his family on the Confidence in 1638, to Boston.
      1. Nicholas Phillips b 11 Mar 1560/1561 in Perranzabuloe, Cornwall, England, md (1) Joan Wills, 16 Oct 1576 in Saint Mabyn, Cornwall, England. She was b 4 Jun 1560 in Gedney, Lincoln, England. He md (2) Joanne Wakham, 26 Sep 1580 in Stokenham, Devon, England. She was b 28 Nov 1562 in Totnes, Devon, England.
         1. Nicholas Phillips b: 30 Dec 1581 in Gwithian, Cornwall, England.
         2. Rev. John Phillips b: 1 Apr 1590 in Molland, Devon, England.
      2. Christopher Phillips b 17 Jun 1565 in Stoke In Teignhead, Devon, England, d 3 Feb 1620/1621 in West Rainham, St Martins, Norfolk, England, md (1) Agnes Abram, 26 Oct 1587 in Chichester, Sussex, England; Saint Peter The Great Or Subdeanery Of Chichester. She was b 17 May 1562 in Earls Colne, Essex, England, d 1613 in Bardney, Lincoln, England. He md (2) Agnes Rice, 9 Oct 1613 in Withycombe Raleigh, Devon, England. She was b 11 Jul 1591 in Barnstaple, Devon, England. Ripley says, "The family of Christopher Phillips is steeped in the lore of the founding of America. His son Thomas is found on the list of people who were to sail on the Mayflower in 1620. Thomas, for some reason, did not make the journey, and stayed the rest of his life in England. Two other sons, John and George, made the passage 10 years after the Mayflower, on ships of the Winthrop Fleet. Son William came to America, apparently not on the Winthrop ships, but by some other similar means, and raised his family, and died, in New England." However, DNA has shown that the descendants of George do not match the descendants of William.
         1. Thomas Phillips b 20 Aug 1587 in Bardney, Lincoln, England, d 1640 in Bath Abbey, Somerset, England, md Anne Allen, 17 Apr 1610 in Bourne, Lincoln, England. She was b 5 Jul 1587 in Long Bennington, Lincoln, England. Thomas and Ann were packed and ready to ship out for America with the Mayflower and her sister ships (1620-1623). They are recorded on the offfical passenger list, but changed their minds and did not depart.Thomas's grandson Edward did come to America later, as noted in this family tree.
            1. Edwarde Phillips b: 19 Feb 1627/1628 in Trusthorpe, Lincoln, England.
            2. Agnes Phillips b: 1 Nov 1636 in Brampton Ash, Northampton, England.
         2. William Phillips b 12 May 1588 in Kirton In Holland, Lincoln, England, d 13 Nov 1683 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, md (1) Elizabeth Phillips, 30 Jul 1612 in Bridstow, Hereford, England. She was b 7 Aug 1597 in Watton At Stone, Hereford, England. He md (2) Elizabeth Rose Parker, 12 Aug 1620 in Lanlivery Rural, Cornwall, England. She was b 27 Aug 1590 in Saint Benedict, Lincoln, Lincoln, England.
            1. Thomas Phillips b: 5 Sep 1613 in Chedgrave, Norfolk, England.
            2. John Phillips b: 30 Jun 1615 in Chedgrave, Norfolk, England.
            3. William Phillips b: 23 Jun 1616 in Cowbit, Lincoln, England.
            4. Elizabeth Phillips b: 18 Mar 1619/1620 in Market Deeping, Lincoln, England.
            5. James Phillips b: 12 Feb 1624/1625 in Polstead, Suffolk, England.
            6. Abigail Phillips b: 28 Jan 1625/1626 in Freston, Suffolk, England.
         3. Christopher Phillips b 13 Aug 1589 in Kirton In Holland, Lincoln, England, md Agnes, 9 Oct 1613 in Withycombe Raleigh, Devon, England. Duplicate of his father's 2nd marriage. While his namesake father is progenitor of many Phillips of early America, this Christopher appears to have remained in England for the rest of his life. His daughter, Eleanor, marries in America, and may have traveled there with other family members on the Lyon (1631-1634), captained by cousin, Master Michale Pierce.
            1. Henry Phillips b: 25 Apr 1613 in Bardney, Lincoln, England.
            2. Eleanor Phillips b: 18 Nov 1627 in Saint Martin In The Fields, Westminster, London, England.
         4. Rev. George Phillips b 13 Aug 1592 in Swineshead, Lincoln, England, d 1 Jul 1644 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, md (1) Elizabeth Sargeant, Feb 1617/1618 in England or Holland. "While there is much evidence of this marriage, there is no good source record of the actual place and date of the event at this time" (Ripley, April, 2001). From the close ties with the religious events of the colonies, the marriage may have occurred in Leyden, Holland. George's brother, Thomas (with his wife Anne) are known to have been in Leyden in this time frame, preparing to sail on the Mayflower (though they did not take this voyage, but returned to England). She was b: 3 Apr 1590 in Botus Fleming, Cornwall, England, 1630 in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. He md (2) Elizabeth Bond, 1631 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. She was b 6 Apr 1591 in Flixton By Bungay, Suffolk, England, d 27 Jun 1681 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts. George, his (first) wife, and two children (Samuel and Elizabeth), arrived in New England, at the Massachusetts Bay Colony (near Boston), aboard one of the eleven ships of the Winthrop Fleet. They departed from Yarmouth, Isle of Wight. The first five ships sailed on April 8, 1630; they arrived in Salem June 13 and days following.
            1. Samuel Thomas Phillips b: 22 Dec 1624 in St. Andrew, Plymouth, Devonshire, England.
            2. Elizabeth Phillips b: 16 Dec 1628 in Keston, Kent, England.
            3. Zarrubbabel Phillips b: 5 Apr 1632 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
            4. Jonathan Phillips b: 16 Nov 1633 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
            5. Theophilus Phillips b: 28 May 1636 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
            6. Annabel Phillips b: ABT Jan 1637.
            7. Ephraim Phillips b: Mar 1639/1640 in Watertown, Massachusetts.
            8. Obadiah Phillips.
            9. Abigail Phillips b: 1642/1648 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts.
         5. Mary Phillips c 2 Apr 1594 in Colcreak, Norfolk, England, d 2 Jul 1640 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, md Nicholas Spooner, 18 Apr 1610 in St. Michael Coslany, Norwich, Norfolk, England. He was b 30 Oct 1587 in Tamworth, Stafford, England.
         6. Elizabetha Phillips b: 16 Jun 1605 in Bardney, Lincoln, England, md John Barnard, 26 Jul 1632 in Folkingham, Lincoln, England. He was b 19 Nov 1603 in Scawby, Lincoln, England.
         7. John Phillips b 4 Jan 1605/1606 in St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London, England.
            1. Charles Phillips b 19 Apr 1636 in Saint Margaret, Westminster, London, England.
         8. Jacob Phillips b 12 Feb 1607/1608 in St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London, England.
         9. Hannah Phillips b 31 Mar 1616 in Buxted, Sussex, England (probably intended to be Boxted, Essex, England), d 3 Oct 1676 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, md (1) Joseph Morse, 1 Jul 1638 in Watertown, Middlesex, Massachusetts, md 2 Thomas Boyden, 3 Nov 1658 in Dedham, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
         10. Agnes Phillips b: 12 Jul 1618 in Withycombe Raleigh, Devon, England, md Nicholas Rise or Rice, 31 Aug 1630 in Saint Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England. He was b 19 Dec 1603 in Medstead, Hampshire, England.
         11. Ann Phillips b 5 Dec 1618 in Bardney, Lincoln, England.
      3. William Phillips 5 Jan 1573/1574 in Bideford, Devon, England, md (1) Amy Leeming, 25 Nov 1597 in Little Ponton, Lincoln, England. She was b abt 1579 in Gedling, Lincoln, England, He md (2) Johann Castell, 13 Oct 1606 in Modbury, Devon, England, She was b abt 1586 in Modbury, Devon, England. He md (3) Anne Rogers Pollexfen, 3 Feb 1613/1614 in Newton Ferrers, Devon, England. She was b abt 1584 in Newton Ferrers, Devon, England.
         1. Anthony Phillips b: 1598 in Billingborough, Lincoln, England.
         2. Michael Phillips b: 7 Oct 1599 in Truro, Cornwall, England.
         3. John Phillips b: 25 Mar 1602 in Threekingham (cum Stow Green), Lincoln, England.
         4. Simon Phillips b: 22 Dec 1616 in Crediton, Devon, England.
      4. Richard Phillips b 10 May 1583 in Northam, Devon, England, d 7 Aug 1648. He md (1) Mary Middleton, 1 Aug 1608 in Crediton, Devon, England . She was b 19 Jan 1578/1579 in Crediton, Devon, England. He md (2) Joan Ware, 16 Sep 1616 in Crediton, Devon, England. She was b 2 Oct 1587 in Shobrooke, Devon, England. He md (3) Alice Pugsley, 5 Feb 1625/1626 in Georgeham, Devon, England. She was b 18 Aug 1604 in Northam, Devon, England.
         1. Nicholas Phillips b: 22 Oct 1609 in Saint Dunstan, Stepney, London, England.
         2. Richard Phillips b: 11 Oct 1622 in Saint Ann Blackfriars, London, London, England.
         3. Hugh Phillips b: 11 Oct 1622 in Coffinswell, Devon, England.
         4. Richard Phillips b: 26 Oct 1617 in Crediton, Devon, England.
         5. George Phillips b: 9 Feb 1621/1622 in Crediton, Devon, England.
         6. Henry Phillips b: 12 Oct 1628 in Modbury, Devon, England.
         7. Jacob Phillips b: 10 Apr 1631 in Braunton, Devon, England.
         8. Andrew Phillips b: 23 Dec 1632 in Modbury, Devon, England.
      5. John Phillips, b 8 Mar 1588/1589 in Dean Prior, Devon, England, d 16 Dec 1682. He md (1) Joan Mary Dyer, 5 Aug 1611 in Thakeham, Sussex, England. She was b: 6 Jun 1592 in Ilfracombe, Devon, England. He md (2) Sarah Minor, Jan 1675/1676 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts. This is apparently a very confused version of John Phillips, of Dorchester & Boston, born about 1605, md (1) Joanna, by 1633, md (2) Sarah Maynard, by 1676.
         1. Nicholas Phillips b: 4 Jan 1610/1611 in Crediton, Devon, England.
         2. Roger Phillips b: 7 Mar 1611/1612 in Crowland, Lincoln, England.
         3. Walter Phillips b: 9 Apr 1614 in Barnstaple, Devon, England.
         4. Henry Phillips b: 19 Mar 1619/1620 in East Grinstead, Sussex, England.
         5. Elizabeth Mae Phillips b: 1 Oct 1626 in Petworth, Sussex, England.
         6. John Phillips b: 22 Apr 1635 in Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts.
      6. Margaret Phillips 26 Jan 1592/1593 in Thurlby Near Bourne, Lincoln, England. She md Richard Nix, 19 Aug 1624 in Thurlby Near Bourne, Lincoln, England. He was b 19 Dec 1593 in Burton Coggles, Lincoln, England.
      7. Nicholas Phillips, b 26 Dec 1595 in Swineshead, Lincoln, England.
   2. Rachel Phillips b 1541 in Devonshire, England.
   3. Sarah Phillips, b 1544.

• A line of his ancestry through a different Owen ap Philip is given in Pedigree Resource File. The first few generations of that line are on Geni, but there is much more information not entered.

Phillips Family Bardney (Lincoln)

TBA

Phillips Family at South Raynham (Norfolk)

--- Phillips

1. Christopher Phillips. Xtopher Phillips, buried 3 February 1621 at West Raynham.
   1. ? Nicholas Phillips. Nicholas Phillips married Martha Large, 1 September 1618 at West Raynham.
   2. Rev, George Phillips, b abt 1593 South Raynham.
   3. Mary Phillips. Mary Phillips, daughter of Christopher, baptized 2 April 1594 at Colcreak (now Colkirk).
   4. Katherine Phillips. Katherine Phillips, daughter of Christopher, 19 October 1595 at Colcreak (now Colkirk).
   5. Anne Phillips. Anne Phillips, daughter of Christopher, 20 November 1618 at West Raynham.
2. ? Alice Phillips married Walter Saunders, 8 April 1553 at West Raynham.
3. ? Christopher Phillips married Elizabeth Shyming, 4 November 1577 Wingfield (Suffolk).

Phillips Family at Stepney (London)

Christopher Phillips, of Stepney.

1. John Phillips chr 4 Jan 1605/1606 in St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London, England.
   1. per Ripley Charles Phillips b 19 Apr 1636 in Saint Margaret, Westminster, London, England.
2. Jacob Phillips chr 12 Feb 1607/1608 in St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, London, England.
3. Hannah Phillips. Hannah Phillips chr 31 Mar 1616 St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney, daughter of Christopher Phillips.

Phillips Family at Withycombe Raleigh (Devon)

John Phillips

1. Christopher Phillips. Christopher Philpe, chr 17 Jun 1565 Stoke in Teignhead, son of John Philpe. Christofar Phillapes md Agnes 09 Oct 1613 Withycombe Raleigh. Christopher Phillips md Marye Taylor 26 Oct 1633 Withycombe Raleigh (missing from Ripley).
   1. Mary Phillips. Mary Phyllepes, chr 18 Oct 1614 Withycombe Raleigh, daughter of Christofer Phyllepes. Missing from Ripley
   2. Agnes Phillips. Agnes Phyleps, chr 12 Jul 1618 Withycombe Raleigh, daughter of Christofer Phyleps.
   3. Katherine Phillips. Katherine Phillips, chr 26 Feb 1636 Withycombe Raleigh, daughter of Christoferi Phillips and Marie. Missing from Ripley
2. ? Robert Phillips.
   1. Christopher Phillips. Christofer Phillip, chr 04 Jan 1598 Northam, son of Robert Phillip.

Resources

• Meg Baker's Family Tree: George Phillips at Roosweb Worldconnect, accessed May 3, 2015. example of a tree that relies on Richard Ripley's erroneous data. Note the the comment, "Also, I have some serious concerns about the reliability of this database, particularly after it has returned to England. The family seems to have moved about quite frequently given the time period."
• Phillips DNA News, Volume 4, Issue 1 (January 2012).
• Richard Ripley, The Roads Taken: Records and Stories of Our Families (in Progress) (2003). unreliable