Benjamin Phillips (b ca 1658) of Marshfield, Mass., and His Wife Sarah Thomas (born 1662)

Benjamin Phillips was baptized 15 August 1658 in Scituate, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, the son of John and Grace Phillips. [American Ancestors, “Massachusetts Vital Records 1621-1850,” online database] Although he was baptized in Scituate, his family lived in Marshfield. I wrote about John and Grace Phillips here.He is my 7th great-grandfather on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

He may be the Benjamin Phillips who served in King Philip’s War under Capt. John Holbrook, paid 1 pound, 10 shillings, 10 pence on 23 September 1676.  [NEHGS Register, “Soldiers In King Philip’s War,” 42:99 (1888)]  His brother Joseph did serve, dying in the fight at Rehoboth in 1676. 

Benjamin and his family experienced a great deal of sorrow. When he was a baby, his half-brother John Phillips died when struck by lightning inside a home where he took refuge while he was out haying when a storm hit. Eight years later, in 1666, the family home was struck by lightning and his mother Grace, his half-brother Jeremiah, and a neighbor staying with the family were killed. In 1677 his only full-sibling, Joseph, died violently during King Philips War. I wrote more on these losses in a sketch about his parents. 

Benjamin’s life turned out much differently than his ill-fated family members. He grew up nd married Sarah Thomas on 12 January 1681[?/82] in Marshfield. [MD 3:43/Marshfield VR 1:16] Sarah was born Marshfield in September1662, the daughter of John and Sarah (Pitney) Thomas.

Sarah and Benjamin had a large family of at least ten children, all born Marshfield [my research on the children is work in progress]:

i.John Phillips born 13 December 1682 [MD 2:251]; married Patience Stevens; died Marshfield 25 Feb 1738 at age 56

ii.Joseph Phillips born 29 March 1685 [Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, Ancestry database]; married Mercy Eames; died Marshfield 13 June 1767 at age 82

iii.Benjamin Phillips born 20 May 1687 [MD 3:187]; married  1) Eleanor Baker, 2) Desire Sherman; died Marshfield 10 May 1750 at age 62

iv.Sarah Phillips born 29 June 1689 [MD 3:187]; married 1) Thomas Doggett 2) Joseph Ford; I’ve seen her death year as 1750 but without a source; if that is accurate she would have been about age 60

v.Thomas Phillips born 17 Jan 1691 [Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, Ancestry database]; married Mary Eames; died Bridgewater August 1781 at age 89

vi.Hannah Phillips born 25 December 1693 [MD 5:234]; married Josiah Eames; died 10 January 1767 at age 73

vii.Jeremiah Phillips born 19 Aug 1697 [MD 5:187]

viii.Abigail Phillips born 29 October 1699  [MD 6:18]; married John Washburn; died Plymouth 24 Sept 1782 at age 82

ix.Isaac Phillips, born 5 March 1702 [Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, Ancestry database]; married Sarah White; died Marshfield 18 Sep 1787 at age 84

x.Bethiah Phillips, born 27 Feb 1704 [Massachusetts Vital and Town Records, Ancestry database]; married Ichabod Washburn; died 25 Jan 1789 at age 84 in Norton, Mass.

I’ve also seen a son James given to this couple, but need to find a source. I descend from Abigail whom I wrote about here.

On 22 Oct 1727 Benjamin Phillips was baptized as an adult in Marshfield with his three sons Jeremiah, Benjamin and John. [Entry by Rev James Gardner published in The Mayflower Descendant, "Records of the First Church in Marshfield,” 31:167 (1933)]

I have come across a few mundane records pertaining to Benjamin, but they show where he was living, that he was a trusted member of the community, and that he was a land owner.

Benjamin Freeman is on the list of townsmen of Marshfield in 1684. [Ancestry, “Massachusetts Town and Vital Records 1620-1988]

The estate of William Sherman, Jr., of Marshfield who died in 1685 was indebted 3 shillings to Benjamine Phillips. [MD 4:173]

The will of Edward Stephens of Marshfield, dated 2 November 1689, proved third Tuesday of March 1689/90, was witnessed by Benjamin Phillips, John Sherman and John Barker. [Genealogical Advertiser, “Plymouth County Probate Records,” 1:114]

Land of Benjamin Phillips is mentioned in the settlement of the estate of Isaac Little of Marshfield in 1700. Son Isaac Little was to have land at Marshfield: “that tract of land lying between ye lands of Benjamin Phillips & ye lands sold by Thomas Little to John Jones and Gilbert Winslow.” [MD 24:1]

Benjamin Phillips served on a petit jury in 1699 [Plymouth Court of Common Pleas, 6:156-7, began 19 December 1699]

At the Plymouth Court of Common Pleas held the first Tuesday in March 1703/04, Nathaniel Thomas Esq, Joseph Waterman, Benjamin Phillips, and Peter Indian (all of Marshfield) v Daniel Mory (Boston Wharfinger) Case on account. Deft pleaded in bar “that the Test of the Writs was not According to law,” the second JP added to the writ and the first left out Continued to June court, where defts did not appear. Costs taxed at 29s 6 p. I wish I knew what this is referring to. There are other court records for Benjamin Phillips Jr., husbandman, likely his son.

Plymouth Court General Sessions 9:35-36, begun the third Tuesday of December 1731: James Colman (Scituate) breach of peace viz for striking one Robert Barker in the summer last past. Witnesses: John Phillips and Benjamin Phillips.

Benjamin was mentioned in the 1691 will of his father John Phillips of Marshfield. He was to receive all of his father’s houses and land at Marshfield and elsewhere and the rest of his goods, but was to provide care for his sister Mary Phillips who had a weakness of reason and understanding and was incapable of providing for herself. Benjamin was named executor. Benjamin’s son John was to receive his grandfather’s gun or fowling piece. The rest of Benjamin’s children, unnamed, were to receive 5 shillings each. Son Benjamin presented the inventory at court on 16 May 1692. I do hope he followed his father’s wishes and provided care for his sister.

I have not found Benjamin or Sarah’s death records. I expect they are buried in Marshfield but without a surviving gravestone. Benjamin died before 4 September 1751 when his son is appointed administrator of his estate. A standardized form with details added by hand, Bond of Administration on Benjamin Phillips Estate, probate file no. 15842, 1750: Benjamin Phillips is appointed administrator on the estate of his father Benjamin Phillips of Marshfield, deceased. He is to exhibit the inventory by the 4th of September 1751. Witnessed by Edward Winslow and Uriah Samson. Signed by Benjamin Phillips, Isaac Phillips and Kenelm Baker. [Ancestry, “Massachusetts Wills and Probate Records 1635-1991”]

Note: Multiple trees on Ancestry and Findagrave (Memorial ID 21658843) have him erroneously dying Boston 27 April 1746 and buried Granary Burying Ground, but that Benjamin is a 6 year-old child.

Sources Not Included Above:

Harriet W. Hodge, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Volume Five, Edward Winslow and John Billington, published by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1997

Genealogical Advertiser, “Plymouth County Probate Records,” 3:28

Axel Ames, The Family and Vicissitudes of John Phillips Senior of Duxbury and Marshfield, 1903