Benjamin Philipps, Dr.

Benjamin Philipps was probably baptized on February 23rd., 1772, in Henllan Independent Chapel, Henllan Amgoed, Carmarthenshire, Wales, U.K.. In 1790, he earned his Certificate of the Corporation of Surgeons. On April 30th., 1794, he was placed on the Muster Roll of the 2nd. European Infantry, Bombay, India. He was a Surgeon on February 15th., 1800 and was raised to Superintending Surgeon on July 29th., 1809. His name was spelt Philips in the Service Army Lists, Medical, Bombay, and in the Roll of Corporation of Surgeons. He served in the 4th Maisur War of 1799, in the 3rd Maratha or Pindari War 1817/8 and the capture of Puna. On January 7th., 1818 he became a Member of the Bombay Medical Board. Surgeon Major Benjamin Philipps retired on November 21st., 1825.

In the 1790s, location and date unknown, Benjamin married (1) a Catholic lady, who bore him two sons, Thomas Henry and Charles Joseph Philipps. On March 20th., 1802, in Bombay, Benjamin Philips <sic>, Surgeon of the 7th. Regiment of Native Infantry married (2) Miss Charlotte Ann Page; they had a daughter, Elvira (1803), who died young, and a son, Henry (1808). On February 1st., 1819, in Bombay, he married (3) Harriet(t) Draper, who had been born in Bombay about 1790; Benjamin and Harriet(t) had James Rees (1819), Elizabeth Henrietta (1821) and John Sutherland (c1823).

In November 1825, Benjamin, Mrs. Philipps and three children sailed to England and settled in 3 Berkeley Place, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. Thomas Henry Philipps and Charles Joseph Philipps, both Catholic, remained in Indian. Benjamin and his English family appear to have been Chapel community Christians. Benjamin Philipps died of "spasms" on March 13th., 1838, in 3 Berkeley Place, Cheltenham - I have his death certificate. He was buried in The Cheltenham Chapel Graveyard, St. George's Place, Cheltenham (grave marker # 154). That Chapel graveyard has since been re-developed. Harriett 68 died in 1858 and was interred in the Philipps vault, with Benjamin. Their gravestone read: "Sacred to the Memory of Benj'n Philipps, Esq. who died March 13th., 1838, aged 66 years. Also of Harriet, relict of the above, who died December 13th., 1858, aged 68 years." In Benjamin's will of April 27th., 1837, prepared in England, he used the spelling Philipps throughout. He mentioned, by name his wife and four English children, but not the two eldest sons in India. I have a copy of that will.

Peter D. Ferreira March 2013.