(4) Arthur Philips

Arthur Philips is a brother of the Joseph Philips, Sr who was born 6 Nov 1726 and died about 1790.

Born:           abt 1720 in Surry County VA

Died:           4 Feb 1789 in Edgecombe Count NC

Married:       in 1743 Elizabeth Braswell
                                  born 1722 in Edgecomb Co. NC
                                  died 1770 in Edgecomb Co. NC

According to the book, Southside Virginia Families, By John Bennett Boddie, Pages 350-356, Arthur moved to Edgecombe County NC where he purchased land on Fishing Creek in 1751. (Halifax D. B. 4-131)

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Descendants of Arthur PHILIPS

I am uncertain of the following information about their children.

Arthur PHILIPS and Elizabeth had the following children:

i. Sarah PHILIPS (?-?)

ii. Etheldred PHILIPS (1755-?)

iii. Martha PHILIPS (1743-1790)

iv. Mary PHILIPS (1745-?)

v. Patience PHILIPS (1749-1820)

vi. Lucy PHILIPS (1751-1790)

vii. Henry PHILIPS (?-?)

The other Etheldred Philips alive in the area at that time was this Ehteldred's cousin, the son of Joseph Philips, who is almost the same age as him.

Arthur Philips will was written on 10 Feb 1789 and filed in Edgecombe County NC in the November 1790 court. In this will his name is spelled with two "L"s at the top of the will and at the bottom.

It's hard to understand how this will would spell his name with two 'L's while all of the other records spell it with one "L", including the federal census taken at the time of his death. However, because the spelling with two "L"s is the most common spelling for "Phillips", from time to time we find records listing the name spelled with two "L"s even though the family spelled it with one "L".

I have an a photograph of the original will , an abstract of the will and a full copy of the will, both of which appear below along with copies of the signatures that appear on the will.

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ABSTRACTS OF THE WILLS OF EDGECOMBE COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA 1733-1856 By Ruth Smith Williams and Margarette Glenn Griffin
Published by DIXIE LETTER SERVICE, Rocky Mount, North Carolina
1956, page 255

PHILLIPS, ARTHUR

Feb. 4, 1789, Now, Ct., 1790.

Wife: ELIZABETH, lend all Iand and planation whereon I live. 3 negroes, 3 beds and furniture, farming utensils, brandy still, all stock; at her death to be divided thus: perishable estate divided between: MARTHA PHILLIPS, MARY HARRIS, SARAH PHILLIPS, PATIENCE MANNING and PLEASANT PHILLIPS.

Dau: SARAH, all land W side Whiteoak, 4 negroes;

JOHN ADKINS, plantation whereon he lives;

dau: LEWSEY (LUCY) ADKINS, 20 S;

daus: MARY HARRIS, 1 negro;

MARTHA PHILLIPS 2 negroes;

PATIENCE MANNING, 1 negro;

PLEASANT PHILLIPS, 3 negroes, 1 likely horse or mair (her choice).

Remaining land sold, money divided between MARTHA, MARY HARRIS, PATIENCE MANNING, SARAH PLEASANT.

Exrs: WILLIAM COTTON, RANDOLPH HAND (?), JOHN NICHOLSON, HOHN GOODMAN.

Wit: BARNABY EXUM, MOODY PORTER, MARY GOODMAN.

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In the name of God amen I Arthur Phillips of the County of edgecomb and state of North Carolina, being weak in body but of a sound mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament for my body to the earth from whence it came and my soul to God that gave it and all my worldy goods that the almighty God has blessed me with I give and diminish forthwith.

Item: I lend to my well beloved wife Elizabeth Phillips the plantation and all the land where on I now live. I also lend her the following articles Nig. Dick Guy and Moses, Three feather beds and furniture and my brandy still and all my plantation utensils and a third part of my stock of every kind all which I lend her during her natural life and after her death, I desire the following articles to be equaly devided between Martha Phillips, Mary Harris, Sarah Phillips, Patience Manning, and Pleasant Phillips which articles is in my perishable estate and not the land nor negros.

Item: I give to my daughter Sarah Phillips all the land on the west side of White Oaks belonging to me with one negro woman called Ginie and one boy called Moses and one called Amous and one girl called Lida to she and her heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give to John Adkins all the land and plantations where on the P. Adkins sons live to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my daughter Lonesey Adkins twenty shillings.

Item: I give to my daughter Mary Harris one negro called Jack to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give to my daughter Martha Phillips one negro man named Dick after my wife deceases and one boy called Ben which she is to receive at my dath to she and her heirs forever.

Item: I give to my daughter Patience Manning one negro woman called Bet and her increase and one boy called Ellick and one girl called Hannah with one likely horse or mare as she may choose to she and her heirs forever.

All my land which I have not given away it is my will and desire that the same may be sold at the discretion of my executors here after named and the money arising from that or such sale to be devided equally between Martha Phillips, Mary Phillips, Patience Manning, Sarah Phillips, and Pleasant Phillips after my just debts are paid.

Lastly I do nominate and appoint my friends William Cotton, Randolph Hancock, John Nicholson and John Goodman my executors to this my last will and testament making null and void all and every other will or wills by me made or kept by myself or any other person for me. In witness where I have here unto set my hand and first my seal this thenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and eighty nine.

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of my test

                his                                            his

Barneby   B   Exum                    Arthur A Phillips                   Seal

              mark                                        mark

Mary Goodman

Edgecombe County November Court 1790 the within will was duly proved in open court by the oath of Moody Portes and Mary Goodman and the will ordered to be recorded.

                                                                Test Edw'd Hauce

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FROM: Estate Records of Edgecomb Co., NC 1730-1820 by Joseph W.Watson

PHILIPS, ARTHUR, inventory taken, no date, Nov Ct. 1790. Account of sale by Jno. Nicholson, exr., Nov 17, 1790. Sarah Philips, Martha Philips, Pleasant Philips, and Eliza Philips were buyers and Martha Philips bought the 300 acres of land, Aug. Ct. 1791. Additional inventory taken by the exrs., Aug Ct. 1791. Account current with Jno. Nicholson and Randolph Handcock, exrs., Aug Ct. 1791.

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All of the below records show that Arthur Philips spelled his name with one "L".

Edgecombe County Deeds:

DB C-375 Arthur (A) Philips of Edgecombe Co. to WILLIAM KINCHEN of same, Oct. 26, 1765, for 10 pounds Virginia currency a tract of 150 acres on the south bank of White Oak Swamp adjoining David Smith, Jas. Spear, and Thos. Watkins, which land was granted to Arthur Philips by a deed bearing date Dec. 12, 1760. Wit: Eth'd Exum, Samuel Drewry.

Deed Book 1 page 448 Arthur PHILIPS of Edgcombe Co to Kadar Coleman of same. 9 Dec 1762. 10 pounds VA. 447 acres which was a deed to Arthur Phillips 3 Nov 1761, between the Maple Swamp & Moors Swamp, joining Thomas Jones. Wit: Ethd EXUM, Stephen Coleman. Jan Ct 1763. Jas Hall CC

Edge. Co. Db C, page 70, deed date 22 Apr 1763, recorded Oct Ct 1763,
John Pitmane, Edge. Co to Robert Armstrong for 43 pds VA or proc money, a tract containing 210 acres being the plantation where the said Robert Armstrong now lives beginning at the mouth of (tan Tross) Branch on the north side of White Oak Swamp then up the said branch to a white oak on the side of the branch then an agreed line to a large pine a (head) line then to a black then on the said line center of two pines then north 10 east 153 poles to a red oak then north 80 poles to the White Oak Swamp then down the said swamp to the said ( ) begun, signed John Pitman (X), wit Arthur Philips (X), (Drury Maclanar) (X). NOTE: FILM
HARD TO READ. Abstracted 8-20-05, NCA film C.037.40002, CTC.

1765 8 Oct. WILLIAM (x) PITMAN of Edgecombe Co. to Nathan Harriss of same, for 46/13/4 current money a tract of 210 acres on the north bank of Whie Oak Swamp in two patents: (1) 150 acres granted to Joseph Wall; (2) 60 acres granted to Wright McLemore by a patent deed dated June 28, 1760. Wit: Eth'd Exum, Arthur Philips, Mark Mason. DB C, p. 360.

DB C-375 Arthur (A) Philips of Edgecombe Co. to WILLIAM KINCHEN of same, Oct. 26, 1765, for 10 pounds Virginia currency a tract of 150 acres on the south bank of White Oak Swamp adjoining David Smith, Jas. Spear, and Thos. Watkins, which land was granted to Arthur Philips by a deed bearing date Dec. 12, 1760. Wit: Eth'd Exum, Samuel Drewry.

Edge. Co. Db C, page 375, deed date 26 Oct 1765, recorded Jan Ct 1766, Arthur Philips, Edge. Co to William Kinchen, county aforesaid for 10 pds VA currency, a tract on the south side of White Oak Swamp it being 150 acres of land granted to said Arthur Philips by deed dated 12 Dec 1760, beginning at a gum in White Oak Swamp Arthur Philips line then up the said line west to a pine then along the agreed line between the said Philips and David Smith to a pine then north to Jas Spears line, a corner pine then by said line north 15 east 32 poles to a (and) oak Thos Watkins corner then by said Watkins line north 75 east 100 poles to a white ash in the White Oak Swamp then down the runs of said swamp south 40 east 140 poles to the beginning, signed Arthur A Philips (not clear if A is initial or mark), wit Ethld Exum, Samuel Drewry. Abstracted 10-8-05, NCA film C.037.40002, CTC.
Deed Book C page 409, Arthur PHILIPS of Edgcombe Co to Randolph Hancock. 7 Oct 1766. 20 pounds VA. 400 acres on the North side of Moores Swamp, joining Water Branch, sd Arthur Phillips, Cadar Coleman. Wit: Jno. Spell, Nathl Harris, Oct Ct 1766 Jas Hall CC
DB D-29 WILLIAM KINCHEN of Edgecombe Co. to Joseph Ing of same, Aug. 6, 1768, for 26 / 13 / 4 Proc. money a tract of 175 acres on the south bank of White Oak Swamp adjoining Arthur Philips and James Speir. This tract was conveyed by Arthur Philips and James Speir to David Smith, who sold it to said WILLIAM KINCHEN. Wit: Etheldred Exum, John House.
DB D-29 WILLIAM KINCHEN of Edgecombe Co. to Joseph Ing of same, Aug. 6, 1768, for 26 / 13 / 4 Proc. money a tract of 175 acres on the south bank of White Oak Swamp adjoining Arthur Philips and James Speir. This tract was conveyed by Arthur Philips and James Speir to David Smith, who shold it to said WILLIAM KINCHEN. Wit: Etheldred Exum, John House.
1770 22 May. Etheldred Exum and wife, Rachel (X) Exum, of Edgecombe Co. to John Spell of same, for £17 a tract of 118 acres on the north bank of white Oak swamp at the mouth of Tantrough Branch adjoining Drury McLamore and WILLIAM PITMAN, it being a Granville grant to Wright McLamore bearing date June 28, 1760. Wit: Arthur Phillips, John Exum, Junr. DB D, p. 241.

Souce of the below 1790 Federal Census record.

It's easy to see that the original Federal Census record reflects the spelling of Arthur's last name as Philips, with one "L".

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The below information about Etheldred Philips from the bible record apparently applies to the son of Joseph Philips, Sr.. That Etheldred was born about the same time period as his cousin Etheldred who is the son of Arthur's Philips.

JESSE POWELL BIBLE
(John McGwigan)

Bible now in possession of Mrs. Hulday Branch Herman and was discovered among the effects of her cousin, Blanche Beavars Whitaker, widow of Stanley Whitaker, Enfield, N. C. 27823

Bible inscribed "To Jesse Powell with the affectionate regards of his grandson, John T. Watson April 1847." Published by Jesper Harding, 57 South Third Street, Philadelphia, 1845

“Nancy, wife of Jesse Powell and daughter of Etheldred Philips and his wife Jinny, was born 31 October 1785”

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The below deed probably relates to Sarah, daughter of Arthur Philips, selling her inheritence to her brother Henry Philips.

Edge. Co. Db 6, page 407, deed date 28 Oct 1791, recorded Feb Ct 1792, Sarah Philips, Edge. Co to Henry Philips, same county for (45) pounds, a tract of land on the north side of Swift Creek beginning at a red oak Jacob Proctor's corner then north along a line of marked trees to a pine in the said Proctor's line then west along a line of marked trees to a maple the said Sarah Philips corner then south along a line of marked trees to a black jack on the said Jacob Proctor's line then along a line of marked trees to the beginning, signed Sarah Philips (X) wit Absalom Savedge. Abstracted 1-10-05, NCA film C.037.40007, CTC.