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Note: a Grace (Phillips) Colby, who corresponded with Youngstown, NY, relatives in the 1920s; these are the primary "old family notes" referenced for the John Phillips family.
Other information on this family is from the files of local historian Vee Housman (d. 2005), which she left with the Town of Porter Historical Society in Youngstown, New York. I cite her information as (VH).
The probate record of Elihu L. Phillips (1800-1884) shows that Thomas Phillips and L. H. Phillips were nephews. As these two were sons of John & Dorthea (Wood) Phillips, this proves that John Phillips and Elihu L. Phillips were brothers.
****
From an original index of Niagara County Surrogates Court records (on microfilm at the FHL), the earliest entry under Phillips was for a John Phillips, Box 11--no date or other information was given in the index. This could be for John Phillips (d. 1849).
Old family notes give John Phillips' death date as 26 March 1849. However, from information compiled by Vee Housman, it appears that he died 26 March 1847, and was buried 27 March 1847. (Only the year is different, and it is easily understood how old handwriting might have led someone to confuse 1847 for 1849.) There is apparently a death record at the Town of Porter. Moreover, two original record books at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lewiston show that John Phillips "of Youngstown" was buried there March 27, 1847.
Old family notes indicate that Dorothy (Wood) Phillips, died 6 Oct.1820. However, records of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lewiston show that "Mrs. Doratha Philips" was buried 19 April 1840. Since these records are authentic, the earlier date is somewhat of a mystery. Did John Phillips marry twice, and both wives were named Dorothea/Dorothy? This seems highly unlikely. Or it could be that the 6 Oct. 1820 date refers to a different event--perhaps the birth of their son, Thomas, who was born abt. 1820.
****
Per a 1843 deed, John Phillips' middle initial was thought to have been G. (which likely stood for Gates). However, this deed referred to John G. Phillips, Undersheriff, who was actually the son of John Phillips (1779-1847).
In an e-mail dated 21 April 2000, Vee Housman wrote: "... John Aaron Phillips and his wife Dorothy Moore (or Wood), from Clarkson, Monroe Co., NY. ... Manlius, Onondaga Co., played an even more important role in their family. John A. ... and Dorothy ... both died in this [Youngstown] area in the 1840s." (She apparently confused the middle name, Aaron, with that of John's son, Thomas.)
A 1927 letter from Grace (Phillips) Colby, passed down in the Rollin Phillips family, gives John's middle name as Thomas, said to have been taken from the family Bible.
John Phillips may have had two daughters (per census records), but I haven't found names. He may have had a son named George Phillips, who was enumerated in 1840 next to his son Thomas Phillips.
****
John Phillips married Dorothy / Dorthea Wood, daughter of Aaron and Amanda Wood. Aaron Wood was a partner with Elijah Phillips, Sr. in a mill at Edwards Falls in Manlius as early as 1794.
In the 1800 census, these three households were enumerated next to one another in Manlius, Onondaga Co., NY: Elijah Phillips, John Phillips, Aaron Wood. (See census notes under Elijah Phillips, Sr.) There can be little doubt that this John Phillips was the son of Elijah Phillips, Sr., and son-in-law of Aaron Wood. As such, it would appear that John and Dorothy were married by 1799, and had a young son born by 1800 (the fact that he is still under 10 in 1810 suggests he was an infant).
1800 US Census (M32, Roll 24, p. 172)
Town of Manlius, Onondaga Co., NY
John Phillips
1 male under 10 1 male 16-25 1 female 16-25 There is only one "John Philips" enumerated in Manlius in 1810. (It would appear that a couple young women who were not daughters were living in the household.)
1810 US Census (M252, Roll 34, p. 39)
John Philips
3 males under 10 1 male 26-44 1 female under 10 2 females 16-25 1 female 26-44 John and Dorothy Phillips are named in the will of Aaron Wood, Sr., dated 8 October 1811, proven 9 February 1814 (Onondaga Co., NY, Will Book B, p. 102):
"... [to] daughter, Dorothy Phillips, wife of John Phillips, the sum of eighty dollars and my executors are to release John Phillips from the payment of the sum of three hundred and twelve dollars, received by him of Thaddeus M. Wood [Dorothy’s brother] on my order, the same being then intended as a gift to my said daughter, Dorothy Phillips ..."
Aaron Wood and John Phillips were active in the early establishment of Christ Church, Manlius, Onondaga Co., NY. John Phillips served as a vestryman in 1811-1812.
"In a January 2, 1815 meeting [of Christ Church, Manlius] at Azariah Smith's store, the vestry considered a fifty-acre glebe. A committee of Rev. William A. Clark and Azariah Smith was appointed to investigate the propriety of purchasing the land owned by John Phillips. On April 1816 another committee consisting of Joseph Farr, John Clark and Nehemiah White was chosen to contract for the real estate. Shortly after the Abidjah Yelverton, Jr. farm was purchased at $27.50 per acre." (THE EARLY HISTORY OF CHRIST CHURCH, MANLIUS, by Al Vedder and Kathy Crowell, 1995)
John Phillips appears in the following deed records in Onondaga Co., NY (* is probably a deed for John Phillips, son of Elijah):
•Deborah E. & Henry Phillips sold land (lot 10 in Pompey) to J. Philips in 1808 (Onondaga Co. Deed book G, p. 405)
•*Ebenezer Butler, Jr., et al., sold land (lot 10 in Pompey) to J. Phillips, et al., in 1811 (Onondaga Co. Deed book L, p. 438)
•*Elijah Phillips, Jr., et al., sold land (lot 10 in Pompey) to J. Phillips, et al., 1811 (Onondaga Co. Deed Book L, p. 438)
•*John Phillips sold land (lot 10 in Pompey), by Shff., to J. O. Wattles in 1811 (Onondaga Co., Deed book L, p. 514)
•*John and Dorothy Phillips sold land (lot 87 in Manlius) to O.J. Wattles in 1811 (Onondaga Co. Deed Book X, p. 132)
•*John Phillips, et ano., sold land (lot 97 in Manlius) to J. Vroman in 1811 (Onondaga Co. Deed Book X, p. 114)
•*Dorothy and John Phillips sold land (lot 10 in Pompey) to N. P. Randall 1817 (Onondaga Co. Deed Book T, p. 509)
(NOTE: Part of the land where Christ Church and Christ Church Cemetery are situated in Manlius had been owned by J.O. Wattles, and might have been the same land conveyed to Wattles by John Phillips in 1811.)
John & Dorothy Phillips moved to Clarkson, Genesee (now Monroe) Co., New York between about 1817 (when they sold land in Pompey, Onondaga Co.) and 1820 (when they were enumerated at Clarkson in the U.S. Census).
A biographical sketch of John's younger brother, Lyman H. Phillips, (Portrait and Biographical Album of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (Chicago, 1889), pp. 239-240) states that Lyman lived with his older brothers until he was twenty-one years old, at which time he moved to Clarkson, Monroe Co., NY--this would have been prior to 1820.
Also, an old family letter states that John Phillips's wife, Dorothy Wood, was "of Clarkson, NY." History of Niagara County (p. 339) states that former Sheriff (John) Phillips and his son Thomas came from Monroe Co. And the 1887 death record for Thomas Phillips states that he was born (abt. 1820) in Clarkson, NY.
1820 US Census (Roll 72, p. 47)
Clarkson, Genesee (now Monroe) Co., NY
John Phillips
two males 0-9 two males 10-15 one male 16-25 one male 26-44 [b. 1776-1794] one female 16-25 one female 26-44 (two people engaged in agriculture) (I believe that this would be the family John Phillips, son of Elijah & Susannah (Gates) Phillips. Clarkson Twp. was created from Murray Twp. (now Orleans Co.) in 1819, and is in present-day Monroe Co. (created out of Genesee Co. in 1821). John's brother, Lyman H. Phillips, was married in Clarkson in 1824, and Thurza Phillips (b.1790), widow of their brother Elias, was enumerated in Clarkson in 1830. John's brother, Ezra Phillips, and their sister, Susan (Phillips) Washburn lived in nearby Parma Twp., Genesee (now Monroe) Co. in 1820. There was also an Ira Phillips--perhaps their brother--who settled in nearby Murray Twp., Orleans Co.)
***
Three different men named John Phillips were enumerated in Onondaga Co., NY in 1820. I do not believe any of them would have been the son of Elijah & Susannah (Gates) Phillips.
1820 US Census (Roll 67, p. 225)
Onondaga, Onondaga Co., NY
John Phillips
three males 16-25 one male 26-44 [b. 1776-1794] three females 0-9 one female 10-15 one female 16-25 (three people engaged in agriculture) 1820 US Census (Roll 67, p. 197)
Cicero, Onondaga Co., NY
John N. Phillips
two males 0-9 one male 16-25 [b. 1794-1804] one female 0-9 one female 16-25 (one person engaged in agriculture) (Nicholas Phillips and Henry Phillips were enumerated two and three lines before this John.)
1820 US Census (Roll 67, p. 198)
Cicero, Onondaga Co., NY
John Phillips
three males 16-25 one male 26-44 [b. 1776-1794] one male 45+ [b. bef. 1776] one female 45+ (four people engaged in agriculture) One of these other men named John Phillips is probably the man who removed to Washington Twp., Lucas Co., OH in 1825:
"Another settler who came to this Township in 1825, was John Phillips from Onondaga County, New York, with a family of two sons and five daughters. He settled on West half of Southwest quarter of Section 22, now part of Woodlawn Cemetery, and West half of Northwest quarter of Section 27, in 1830. This tract was transferred to the oldest son (Phillip I. Phillips), and the father, with the second son, Captain Henry Phillips, purchased of Thaddeus R. Austin the Northwest quarter of Section 23, and there settled with his family, one daughter (the eldest), Miss Catharine, having previously married Cyrus Fisher from Otsego County, N. Y. Captain Henry Phillips in 1837 was married with Miss House, of Lockport, N. Y. He died in the Fall of 1838, leaving his widow and one child. Captain Phillips was a young man of a good deal of promise. He was Chairman of the first meeting called to agitate the boundary question. After his death his brother, Phillip I., became the owner of his property and settled upon and improved it. In 1854 he (P. I. Phillips) laid off and platted the farm into 8 and 10 acre lots, which was afterwards recognized is the "Phillips Farm," now West Toledo. Mr. Phillips was most unfortunate in the loss of his wife and four children grown to man's and woman's estate. He married a second wife, by whom he had three children, a daughter and two sons, who, with the widow, are still living. Mr. Phillips died in 1879, aged 78. The father, John Phillips, died at his son-in-law's in Indiana in 1849, while on a visit there ; his widow, residing with her son, died some ten years later.
"This once large family, like that of Major Whitney, have all passed away with the exception of the youngest, Mrs. Rebecca Bronson, residing at Lansing, Michigan, in her 74th year.
"With Mr. Phillips as a member of his family, came Charles B. Phillips, a nephew, then a small boy, who grew up to manhood, and to be one of the most prominent business men of Toledo, while occupying positions of usefulness in other relations. He was long identified with the mercantile and manufacturing interests, and in enterprises of various kinds. Early taking an active part in military affairs, he became prominent in the same, and during the war of the Rebellion commanded the One Hundred and Thirtieth Ohio Infantry. He Dow (18S8), resides at Ann Arbor Michigan."
(History of the City of Toledo and Lucas County, Ohio, by Clark Waggoner (1888), p. 900)
***
Several April 1823 issues of the New York Spectator (New York City) advertize the steamboat Ontario, which was to run regularly, starting in May 1823, between Rochester and Buffalo, with stops at Genesee River, Youngstown and Lewiston and elsewhere. John Phillips was the shipping agent at Youngstown.
In 1827, John Phillips was a co-builder (and presumably operator) of a horse ferry boat used to cross the Niagara River between Youngstown, New York, and Niagara, Ontario. New-York Spectator (New York City), Friday, 7 Sept. 1827, p. 2, col 1-2:
“From the Black Rock Gazette. … We now learn with satisfaction, that another Horse Ferry Boat has recently been put in operation at Youngstown, plying between that place and Niagara, U. C. [Upper Canada.] This boat was built by John Phillips and Andrew Heron, and is said to perform admirably well; and there is not the least doubt but this boat will be of great utility, and ensure public confidence by its certainty, speed and safety. …”
***
A man named John D. Phillips was head of a family of eight, living in Clarkson, Monroe Co., NY in 1830.
***
Two people named John Phillips were enumerated in Niagara Co., NY in 1830:
1830 US Census
Lockport (Ward 1), Niagara Co., NY
John Phillips
1 male 5-10 1 male 10-20 1 male 20-30 1 male 30-40 1 male 40-50 [b. 1780-1790] 1 female 10-15 1 female 20-30 1 female 30-40 1 female 40-50 (This is probably the John Phillips, b. 1779.)
1830 US Census
Lockport (Ward 2), Niagara Co., NY
John Phillips, Jr.
1 male 5-10 1 male 15-20 17 males 20-30 [b. 1800-1810] 1 male 30-40 [b. 1790-1800] 3 males 40-50 2 females 5-10 2 females 15-20 2 females 20-30 2 females 30-40 (They apparently had boarders, since more than twenty men were enumerated)
(This is probably the son, b. say 1808, of John Phillips, b. 1781. He apparently ran a hotel or boarding house)
There was only one John Phillips in Niagara Co. in 1840 who was the right age to have been born in 1779, and he was in Portert where we would expect him to be:
1840 US Census (Roll 311, p. 107)
Porter Twp., Niagara Co., NY
John Phillips
1 male 0-5 1 male 10-15 1 male 20-30 1 male 60-70 [b. 1770-1780] 1 female 0-5 1 female 20-30 (apparently one person engaged in agriculture) (A son with wife and children may have been living with him at this time.)
***
Albany Evening Journal (Albany, NY), 9 Jan. 1836:
"Legislature of New York ... In Assembly, Resolutions Presented and Referred ...
"of John Phillips, of Youngstown, for renewal of his grant for a Ferry across the Niagara River."
Albany Evening Journal (Albany, NY), 18 Jan. 1836:
"Legislature of New York ... Assembly, Resolutions Presented and Referred ...
"Reports ... By Mr. Parker--From a majority of the committee on roads and bridges, by bill, allowing John Phillips to continue a ferry over Niagara River, at Youngstown, for five years from the last day of January next.
"By Mr. Graves, from the minority of the committee on roads and bridges, adverse to the above report, and in favor of granting to John Beach the right to establish a ferry at Youngstown."
***
John Phillips was a moderator for School Dist. 3, Town of Porter, Niagara Co., NY. (VH)
p. 21, Oct. 1835
p. 22, Oct. 1836
p. 23, Oct. 1837
Vee Houseman noted some numbers next to names of this family. I am not sure what they refer to... perhaps one of them is a Town of Porter death record number:
John Phillips, #79, 708, 4534
Dorothy Phillips, 4535
Town of Porter death records (708 ?) show that John Phillips died 26 March 1847, of consumption, and was buried 27 March 1847. (VH)
Grace (Phillips) Colby noted that she obtained John Phillips' death record from W.R. Barry of Ransomville, Clerk of the Town of Porter, stating that John Phillips was a farmer and died of Tuburculosis, Mar. 26, 1849 [sic--he died in 1847], and "is buried in Presbyterian Cemetery back of Presbyterian Church in Youngstown." [I have inquired, and there does not seem to be a grave stone for him there.--NMS]
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Lewiston (VH):
Mrs. Dorthea Phillips, buried 19 April 1840 (p. 100)
John Phillips, buried 27 March 1847 ("of Youngstown")
Shawn at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Lewiston was kind enough to confirmed these dates and provide photocopies from the original record books:
Mrs. Dortha Phillips, an adult, was buried April 19, 1840. (p. 152) John Phillips of Youngstown, buried March 27, 1847, by the Rev. A.C. Treadwell (p. 157).
John Phillips, an adult, was buried at Youngstown, March 27, 1847 (funerals by A.C. Treadway)
Old Town of Porter records (VH)
All RE: Road work, Dist. 2 [Village of Youngstown]:
p. 33, 1821, John Phillips, 4 days
p. 34, 1822, John Phillips, 10 days
p. 34, Harry Phillips, 2 days
p. 37, John Phillips, 10 days
p. 37, Harry Phillips, 2 days
***
Land or Deed ? records (VH):
945 Main -- 13 Sept. 1832, to John Phillips
960 (same) -- 2 Feb. 1837, John & Dorothy Phillips to ----
970 (same) " " " "
990 (same) " " " "
125 Church -- 25 March 1837, to John Phillips
605 Second (same) -- 19 Oct. 1839, Sheriff's sale
600 Main -- 9 Jan. 1838, John Young vs.? John Phillips, et al.
333 Main -- 1 May 1843 John G. Phillips, Undersheriff
***
Land records of Niagara Co., NY (from microfilm at the FHL), show many transactions (I only examined the earliest couple deed, and the rest are from an original index). Most of these for "John Phillips" are probably for the son of Elijah & Susannah (Gates) Phillips. The records for "John G. Phillips" refer to the son of John & Dorothy (Wood) Phillips. Later, there was a John R. Phillips and a John V. Phillips (relationships unknown).
(all to "John Phillips" unless noted otherwise)
Niagara Co., NY
(year) Deed Book, page
GRANTEE
(1829) 5, 56 --100 ac. from P. Tower
(1831) 5, 593 -- property in Youngstown from the Ontario Bank
(1837) 17, 574 --155 ac. from S. G. Williams
(1837) 19, 400 -- lot: "Market" (?) from S. P. Germain (to John G. Phillips)
(1837) 20, 81 -- lot: "Waterman el" from S. Pound (to John G. Phillips)
(1837) 20, 80 -- lot: "Pine el" from L. N. Spalding (to John G. Phillips)
(1839) 22, 262 --174 ac. from W. Willink
(1840) 26, 435 -- lot 24 "Cottage" from C. S. Mack (to John G. Phillips)
(1850) 47, 593 -- from J. Jackson (to John R. Phillips)
(1854) 51, 413 -- 20 ac. from N. Wolcott (to John R. & Sarah S. Phillips)
(1855) 65, 316 -- from S. Grovsenor (to John V. Phillips)
(1863) 96, 62 -- from P. A. Porter (to John Phillips)
(1864) 99, 441 -- from L. H. Nichols (to John R. Phillips)
GRANTOR
(some of the earlier deeds are for John Phillips as Sheriff)
(1830-1837)
5, 410
5, 118
5, 413 (?)
6, 34
7, 65
7, 566
10, 509
17, 570
26, 438
7, 549
5, 396
(1834) 9, 153 -- to O. Smith
(1837) 18, 366 -- to Otis P. Starkey
(1838) 20, 512 -- to John H. Hyde
(1843) 30, 448 -- to Thomas Phillips (presumably his son)
(1849) 41, 435 -- to Myrom L. Burnll (?) (from John G. Phillips)
(several later deeds from John V. Phillips and John R. Phillips)
Niagara Co., NY
(year) Mortgage Book, page
MORTGAGER (purchaser/borrower)
(1831) 3, 217 -- property in Youngstown from the Ontario Bank
(1832) 3, 484 -- 100 ac. from J. H. Hyde
(1832) 9, 374 -- 100 ac. from B. Cook
(1837) 14, 590 -- "Pine St." from L. H. Spalding (to John G. Phillips)
(1838) 16, 165 -- "Main St." from Niagara Co. Mutual Insurance Co.
(1840) 20, 687 -- "Cottage St." from C. S. Meek (to John G. Phillips)
(several deeds in and after 1850 for John R. Phillips)
MORTGAGEE (seller/lender)
(1835) 8, 380 -- property in Youngstown to O. Smith
I only abstracted two full deeds I examined from original books on microfilm:
John Phillips, of Lockport, Niagara Co., New York, purchased property from Peter Tower, or Town of Porter, Niagara Co., New York. 100 ac., north part of Lot 24, Twp. 15, R. 9. Consideration: $1,000. Deed dated and recorded 13 Nov. 1829. (Niagara Co., NY, Deed book 5, p. 56)
John Phillips, of Youngstown, Niagara Co., New York, purchased land from the Ontario Bank. 44 2/17 rods, Lot 14 of the Village of Youngstown, bordered on the east by Main St. and on the north by the Public Square. Consideration: $800. Deed dated 1 Jan. 1831 and recorded 17 Feb. 1831. (Niagara Co., NY, Deed Book 5, p. 593)
***
History of Niagara County, New York (1878), p. 339:
“Another of the well-remembered early residents of Youngstown was ex-Sheriff Phillips, who, with his son, came to the village from Monroe county. Mr. Phillips became the first anti-masonic sheriff of Niagara county. He was at one time proprietor of the Ontario House. His son, Thomas Phillips, afterwards purchased a portion of lot No. 31 and became a resident of the town of Porter.”
***
Old family notes indicate that John Phillips served as Sheriff of Niagara County.
I found one records of him as sheriff in an original index of Niagra Co., NY, "Misc. Records" (FHL Microfilm 0878319):
Sheriff John Phillips, of the County of Niagara, appointed henry K. Hopkins, of Youngstown, a Deputy Sheriff. Signed 11 Sept. 1830 and recorded 14 Sept. 1830. (Niagara Co., NY, Misc. Records Book 1, p. 195)
John Phillips also appears in deed records as Sheriff, selling land, presumably by Sheriff's deed.
John Phillips was the first anti-Masonic Sheriff in Niagara County. (History of Niagara County, NY, p. 339) (VH)
John Phillips was Sheriff of Niagara Co. Sheriffs in 1827, according to Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Niagara County, by Wiley & Garner (1892), and also Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, by William Pool (1897), p. 384.
John Phillips served as the twelfth Niagara County Sheriff from 1827 to 1830 (no undersheriff listed), according to the Niagara County Sheriff's Office website.
"John G. Phillips" was Undersheriff in 1843. (see: land/deed record "333 Main -- 1 May 1843" -- for the Town of Porter or Youngstown?)
Protecting Niagara, A History of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, by Chief Deputy Christopher J. Carlin, p. 49-50:
“John G. Phillips, [served as Sheriff] 1827-1830 “Governor DeWitt Clinton appointed John G. Phillips sheriff in October 1827. Phillips replaced Eli Bruce, whom Clinton had removed from office because of his involvement in the Morgan Affair.
“Phillips, the first of the anti-Masonic candidates to hold the office of sheriff, came to this area from Monroe County. Little information can be found on John Phillips’ early life. Sheriff john Phillips appointed James bacon as his undersheriff.
“Sheriff Phillips faced several problems with some members of the county board of supervisors over the cost of maintaining prisoners at the jail. One supervisor in particular, Morris H. Tucker, questioned Phillips’ claim of 15 cents a week for the care of each prisoner. Tucker felt the county should pay no more than 14 cents per prisoner. This penny-pinching backfired on the Whig supervisor when local newspapers criticized his questioning of the sheriff. The controversy hurt Tucker the following year when he lost his seat in the general election to an Anti-Masonic candidate.
[The book gives an account of an alleged 1829 murder on Tonawanda Creek, without describing Sheriff Phillips’ role.]
“Upon completion of his term, John Phillips became a constable in the Town of Lockport. After serving as undersheriff for Sheriff Theodore Stone from 1840-1842, Phillips moved to Buffalo and operated the Sheldon House, a hotel for travelers. Phillips’ son Thomas remained in the Town of Porter to operate the Ontario House, which still stands on Main Street in Youngstown.
“John Phillips contracted typhoid fever and died on July 8, 1852.” (NOTE: The middle initial “G.” probably comes from an 1843 deed executed by Undersheriff John G. Phillips; this is probably not the John Phillips who served as sheriff from 1827 to 1830. Instead, it is probably Sheriff Phillips’ son, John Phillips, who later served as Undersheriff and as a constable in Lockport. The John Phillips who operated the Sheldon House and died in 1852 was certainly not John Phillips (1779-1845), but may have been his son, John, who is said to have operated hotels in Lockport and Buffalo.)
(NOTE: In correspondence with Deputy Carlin, he indicated that some of his sources were not accurate, and that some of the information may have been confused. He also stated that he recalled that a man in Youngstown was in possession of a shotgun that had belonged to Sheriff Phillips, and John Phillips’ name was carved into the butt. He indicated that he had a file on each sheriff and expressed a willingness to compare notes.)
A Syracuse-area newspaper titled "Onondaga Sherriffs, Elihu L. Phillips Elected through Dissensions Among the Democrats, Radicals and Conservatives at War" also mentions Niagara County Sheriff John Phillips. (Citation not given, but it probably dates to about 1882 to 1884. It was noted as "Contributed by a Veteran Syracusian," and states "Hamilton" at the end, perhaps referencing the contributor) and newspaper clipping. I obtained a copy from the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) "flat files", but the edge not full photocopied.) This article describes the political wrangling of the 1830s between the Democrats and the newly-formed Whigs, giving some details about the term of Sheriff Elihu L. Phillips (who was elected in 1837), mentioning:
"Elihu L. Phillips was born and reared in this [Onondaga] county. Elijah and Elisha Phillips, well [known] here, were his brothers. He also [had a] brother John, who was Sheriff of [Niagara] county during the culminating [ ... ] of the anti-Masonic craze, when the [office?] was one of great responsibility [and] importance. ..."
The later remarks about the "anti-Masonic craze" provided a lead for some interesting details:
The man John Phillips replaced as Sheriff was Eli Bruce, who had been removed as Sheriff of Niagara County by Governor DeWitt Clinton on Sept. 26, 1827, was found guilty in August 1828 of aiding in William Morgan's abduction, and was sentenced to serve for two years and four months in the jail at Canandaigua. (The Morgan Affair, by Bros. Erik McKinley Erikson and J. Hugo Tatsch, The Builder Magazine, September 1926, Volume XII, Number 9)
A number of others were tried and convicted of kidnapping or aiding the kidnapping of Capt. William Morgan (who was drowned in the Niagara River, allegedly in retaliation for him revealing, or saying he might reveal, some Masonic secrets)--among these men was Elisha Adams, who had been in charge of Morgan while he was confined to the magazine at Ft. Niagara. John Phillips was named in a letter, dated 18 Nov. 1830, from Victory Birdseye, of Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY, to Thurlow Weed in Albany, mentioning that Elisha Adams had confessed to John Phillips and others. (Papers of Vicory Birdsey, AR 1993.16, Folder 16, General Archives Collection, Livingston Masonic Library, New York)
Thurlow Weed (who lived in Manlius, Onondaga Co., NY in the 1820s, and then in Rochester, Monroe Co., NY in 1827), was an influential newspaper man and political magnate in New York in the 1800s. In his autobiography, Weed mentioned John Phillips' brother, Elijah Phillips (who operated a hotel in Manlius in 1824), stating that Elijah Phillips was one of six brothers (in the 1870 publications), or one of nine brothers (in the 1883 publication), who were all "men of note."
An account "On the Abduction of Captain Wm. Morgan" (dated, sworn and attested 28 September 1882 at New York City) written by Thurlow Weed, states: "It is pleasant also to contemplate the character of those with whom I was then associated judicially and politically." He listed a couple dozen prominent men of New York State, including, "John Phillips ... of Niagara" County, and concluded, "... an equal number of truly good and eminent men cannot be found."
***
Landmarks of Niagara County, New York, by William Pool (1897), p. 260, states that the first tavern in the Village of Youngstown, New York (in the 1820s, when there were only about a dozen frame houses in the area) was at the north end of Main Street, and was kept by Phillips and Williams.
Similarly, Vee Housman, citing History of Niagara County, noted:
“1823 -- Tavern owned by Phillips and Williams, north end of Main St. [Youngstown].”
This may have been the tavern that was rebuilt and became Ontario House. It may be assumed that the tavern keeper was John Phillips, but it should be mentioned that is also could have been John's brother, Ezra Phillips, who also lived in the area by the 1820s.
****
Old family notes indicate that John Phillips was at one time Lock Commissioner at Lockport, New York. He was enumerated in Lockport in 1830, according to the U.S. Census.
He settled in the Town of Porter where he was enumerated in the 1840 US Census. According to old family letters, his farm was called "The Willows" and was a couple miles out of Youngstown.
Grandchildren, Josephine Merinda Phillips, Elihu J. Phillips, and Rollin Thomas Phillips (children of Thomas Phillips) lived about a mile from "The Willows" near Youngstown. (This information passed down by Grace (phillips) Colby who apparently corresponded with Josephine Phillips of Youngstown.)
****
Attached to the 1927 letter from Grace (Phillips) Colby, is a note written by Rollin Park Phillips (1892-1973), which mentions a family story about an ox sled from Oswego to Youngstown via an Indian trail. (This seems to refer to the method of transportation by which John Phillips moved his family west.) He also mentions something about (John or Thomas Phillips) operating a store about 1844, after which the 50 acre farm on East Avenue was purchased from the "Fischer Interests", Low & High Fischer, who had purchased the property from the Holland Land Company.
Rollin C. "Chuck" Phillips of Rochester, shares, "I know nothing more about the trip from Oswego to Youngstown other then what my grandfather [Rollin Park Phillips] wrote. He did keep the ox yokes in the small barn behind the house, and told me only they were the original yokes used by the family in their Oswego trip. They were destroyed when the small barn burnt down." Chuck recalled that the barn burned down in the late 1950s or early 1960s, sometime after indoor plumbing was installed in the house, as the privy have been attached to the barn.
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There is one Phillips in Eagle Harbor Cemetery, on Kenyonville, Rd., Town of Gaines, Orleans Co., NY:
PHILLIPS, ELEANOR M. b. MAY 3, 1813 d. SEP 2, 1900 at GAINES, NY, DAU OF JOHN PHILLIPS
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I don't know where to put the following, so this is as good a place as any. There was a different man named J. Phillips (b. abt. 1792) in Niagara Co., NY in 1860. Other people named Phillips also show up in Royalton Twp. Curiously, this J. Phillips appears to have had a son named Lyman, suggesting a possible connection.
1860 US Census (Roll 822, p. 496)
Royalton, Niagara Co., NY
J. Phillips, 68, M, Farmer, real estate $9,500, personal property $6,000, b. NY
(? Semo -- difficult to read), 60, F, b. NY (? Jno. Wm.), 36, M, b. NY Mary J., 24, F, b. NY Lyman F., 19, M, b. NY Herman Hood, 23, M, Farm Lab., b. Germany
Note: Some of the information on the John Phillips family was passed along vi
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