"A Phillips crossed the water with John Winthrop, and from him descended a long line of ministers, judges, governors and councillors. A sterling race, temperate, just and high minded." (A writer in Harpers.) Families and individuals of this name began to emigrate from the old world to America as early as 1630 and some a little earlier. The name is of ancient and classical origin, being derived from the Greek Philos-hippos, or horse lover. In Wales and Great Britain its use as a surname has continued for a long period, evidently for five centuries and per haps much longer. It is said that Phillipse is Welsh and that Phillips is from Worcestershire, England. Authorities state that the Watertown family (from whom the Philips of Mercer county, New Jersey, descend) were of the "Philips" of Worcestershire. Some authorities are positive that all of the English families of this name had their origin in Wales and subsequently spread over Great Britain. Several different ways are employed in spelling: as Phillips, Philips, Phillipse, Philipps, and others, some of them so peculiar as hardly to be recognized as having a common origin. The patriarch of the Phillips family of Lawrence township, Mercer county, New Jersey, was Philip Phillips, born December 27, 1678. He was a son or grandson of Rev. George Phillips, of county Norfolk, England, graduate A. B., from Gonville and Cawes College, Cambridge, 1613, and received the degree of M. A., 1617.
Suffering from the storm of persecution then threatening the very existence of the non-conformists of England, he determined to leave the mother country and cast his lot with the Puritans. He embarked for America, April 12, 1630, in the "Arabella" with his wife and two children, fellow passengers with Governor Winthrop and Sir Richard Saltonstall, arriving at Salem, June 12. Here his wife soon died and was buried by the side of Lady Arabella Johnson, both evidently being unable to to endure the hardships and exposure. Before the final embarkation from England, which had been considerably delayed, Governor Winthrop wrote to his son John: "From aboard the Arabella, riding before Yarmouth, April 5, 1630": "Yesterday we kept a fast aboard our ship and in the Talbot. Mr. Phillips exercised with us the whole day, and gave very good content to all the company, as he doth in all his exercises, so we have much cause to bless God for him." His piety, talent and learning especially in theology marked him for the ministry and he was soon settled over the church at Watertown, which was called together in July, 1630. His salary was settled by the court of assistants, August 23, when it was "ordered, that Mr. Phillips shall have allowed him 3 hogsheads of meale, 1 hogshead of malte, 4 bushells of Indian corn, 1 bushell of oat meale, halfe an hundred of salte fish." Another statement from the same source says: "Mr. Phillips hath 30 acres of land graunted him opp. Charles River on the South side." His first residence was burned before the close of the year. There is a tradition in the family that his later residence is still standing "opposite the ancient burial ground back from the road." The history of Middlesex county, Massachusetts, says: "This old house whose solid oaken frame is said to have been brought from England by Sir R. Saltonstall, has a projecting second story partly concealed by a modern piazza, and stands well back from the street. Externally there is nothing to indicate great age, but its interior retains many marks of antiquity."
He continued pastor over the Watertown church, greatly respected and beloved, till his death, fourteen years after his arrival, dying at the age of fifty-one years. "He was the earliest advocate of the Congregational Order and discipline." His views were for a time regarded as novel, suspicious and extreme, and he with his ruling elder, Richard Brown, stood almost unaided and alone, until the arrival of John Cotton, maintaining what was and still is the Congregationalism of New England. It is not now easy to estimate the extent and importance of the influence of Rev. Phillips in giving form and character to the civil and ecclesiastical institutions of New England. His estate inventoried 550 pounds. His library was valued at 71 pounds. This would indicate that he had other property and sources of revenue other than his salary of "malte and salte fish." By his two wives he had ten children.
Theophilus, either a son or grandson, was one of the grantees of Newtown, Long Island, under the new charter granted in 1686 by Governor Dongan, of New York. His name also appears in the records of Newtown in 1676. He was thrice married, his first wife being Ann, daughter of Ralph Hunt, of Newtown, one of the company of Englishmen who came to Long Island, New York, in 1652, and planted the settlement at Newtown. One of Theophilus Phillips' sons was Philip, see forward.
Philip Phillips was born in December, 1678, and with his elder brother, Theophilus, removed to Lawrence township, New Jersey, as early as 1698, as their names are among the grantees of a tract of land for a church. Philip Phillips married Elizabeth Hunt and they had twelve children, six of whom, with his wife Elizabeth, survived him and are named in his will dated August 22, 1740.
Joseph Phillips, a descendant of Philip Phillips, was the historical Colonel Joseph Phillips mentioned by "Stryker" in New Jersey in the revolution as Major Joseph Phillips of the New Jersey Battalion. This was the first military organization of New Jersey and was commanded at the battle of Long Island by Colonel Philip Johnson, who was killed in that battle. Major Joseph Phillips was then promoted to be lieutenant-colonel and afterward colonel of the regiment. Later he was colonel of the First Regiment of Hunterdon county and participated with his regiment in the battles of Trenton, Assanpink, Princeton, Germantown, Springfield and Monmouth. Colonel Joseph Phillips died in the stone house in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The remains of the old patriot rest in an unmarked grave (1883), although he has a numerous posterity. Many others of the name of Phillips served in the revolution, from Lawrenceville and vicinity. Many noted physicians have gone forth on their errands of healing from the Lawrenceville branch,, namely: Dr. Joseph Phillips, Dr. Theophilus Phillips (perhaps one of the most eminent of the family), Dr. William W. L. Phillips, of Trenton, Dr. John H. Phillips, of Pennington and Beverly, New Jersey, medical director of the United States hospitals at Nashville and Chattanooga during the civil war, and many others. The family were also large land owners and held many fine estates in the township of Lawrence and county of Mercer.
Henry Phillips, of the seventh generation in America, was born in Lawrenceville, Mercer county, New Jersey, 1796, died 1873. He was well educated, inherited his father's estate and passed his life as a landed proprietor. He retained the lands entrusted to him, managing them with skill and profit. He was a man of high character, whose influence was always exerted for the good of his community. He resided on one of the three farms included in his estate until two years before his death, when he retired to a home in Lawrenceville. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and politically a Whig and later a Republican. He was twice married, having by his first marriage seven children. One of his sons, John, is the father of Professor Alexander Phillips, of Princeton University, and Professor Warren Phillips, of Reno, Nevada. Other sons of Henry Phillips are: Reszo, of California; Theodore, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania. His three daughters are all deceased, two of them leaving issue. Henry Phillips married (second) Mary Anna Barney (see Barney VIII), born in Milton, Saratoga county, New York, August 18, 1824, daughter of Dr. Zadoc and Eliza (Swain) Barney, of Minaville, Montgomery county, New York. There was no issue by second marriage.
(The Barney Line)
The Barney family is of English descent. The founder of the family to which Mrs. Henry Phillips (Mary Anna Barney) belongs was Jacob Barney, born in England, came to America in 1634, and became an influential man of affairs. He was made a freeman of Salem, Massachusetts, May 14, 1634; was representative from Salem to the general court, 1635-38-47-53. He died in 1673, aged seventy-two years. He had sons: John, baptized December 15, 1639, and Jacob, see forward.
(II) Jacob (2), son of Jacob (1) Barney, the founder, it is thought was born in England. He was one of the founders of the First Baptist Society of Boston in 1668. He married (first) August 18, 1657, Hannah Johnson, who died June 5, 1659. Married (second) May 26, 1660, Ann, daughter of Jonathan Witt. Children: Hannah, born March 2, 1661, died young; Sarah, Abijah, John, Jacob, Ruth, Dorcas, Joseph, see forward, Israel, Jonathan, Samuel, Hannah, born February 6, 1681, married John Cromwell.
(III) Joseph, son of Jacob (2) Barney, was born March 9, 1673, in Salem, Massachusetts. He married and had issue.
(IV) Daniel, son of Joseph Barney, was born 1697. He removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, which town he represented in the general court. He was a man of marked intellectuality, brilliant in debate, a learned man of great renown. He married and had four sons: Daniel, David, Benijah and Constant. Daniel was representative to the general assembly at Exeter, 1778, and delegate to the convention that framed the constitution of New Hampshire, 1782.
(V) Constant, son of Daniel Barney, was born 1729, died August 4, 1819. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Richmond, New Hampshire, where he was active in town affairs. He was out with the militia during the revolutionary war. He married, December 13, 1753, Hannah Carpenter, born 1732, died March 28, 1814. They left Richmond about 1785 and settled in Vermont. Children:
- Anna, born August 1, 1754.
- Molly, born August 2, 1756; married Captain Hicks.
- Urania, born August 2, 1758.
- Jeffrey, born August 3, 1760; served in the revolution from Richmond, New Hampshire; married Filie, daughter of Captain Abner Aldrich.
- Constant, born August 1, 1762.
- Hannah, born August 29, 1764.
- Daniel, born June, 1766, died in Central New York.
- Reuben, see forward.
- Dr. Asa, born September, 1770; settled and practiced his profession in Greenfield, New York.
- Dr. Job, born February, 1773; removed to the state of Georgia where he practiced medicine until his death; married, but left no issue.
(VI) Reuben, son of Constant and Hannah (Carpenter) Barney, was born in Richmond, New Hampshire, June 14, 1768. He removed to Arlington, Vermont, where he died. He married Molly Hard. Children:
- Alma Johnson, married Dr. Dennis.
- Lyman, died unmarried.
- Sally, married Jacob Bachelder.
- Job, died in Savannah, Georgia.
- Dr. Zadoc, see forward.
- Reuben, died in Arlington, unmarried.
- Chloe, died unmarried.
- Mary A., married Morris Graves.
- Mortimer, died in Missouri, unmarried.
- Nathan, married Fanny Canfield.
- Nathan Phinney, married and had two sons.
- Lucy, married Eliot Shepardson, of Rochester, New York.
(VII) Dr. Zadoc, fifth child of Reuben and Molly (Hard) Barney, was born in Arlington, Vermont, May 25, 1795, died in Montgomery county, New York. He graduated M. D. from the medical department of Columbia University, New York City, and practiced for a time at Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, later settling at Minaville, Montgomery county, New York, where he remained in active practice until his death. He was vice-president of the Montgomery County Medical Association in 1836, and was a well-informed and skillful physician. He was highly regarded by his brethren in his profession, and has hosts of warm friends among the many families wherein his skill was called into service. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and acted with the Republican party.
He married, April, 1821, Eliza Swain, daughter of Dr. John Howland and Susan (Simmons) Swain. She is a descendant of Richard Swain, whose son John's name is ninth in the list of the nine purchasers of the island of Nantucket, the deed being given in July, 1659, by Thomas Mayhew. Richard Swain, of Nantucket, came in the "Truelove" in 1635, aged thirty-four, and settled at Hampton, Massachusetts; in 1658 he married Jane Godfrey Bunker, widow of George Bunker, of Ipswich. They later settled on Nantucket. John Swain, son of Richard Swain, was one of the nine original purchasers of the island of Nantucket. He was a member of the Society of Friends, and left a record in his house which was known as the oldest house on the island, standing in 1901, though much out of repair. His wife, Mary Weare or Wier, was of the Scotch family of that name. The Swains are still to be found on Nantucket, and at one time they were numerous there. The parents of Eliza Swain came to New York in 1806. Children of Dr. Zadoc and Eliza (Swain) Barney:
- Howland Swain, born in Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, March 23, 1822, died in Schenectady, New York, November 14, 1904. When he was five years of age his parents removed to Minaville, Montgomery county, New York, where he was educated in the public and private schools. In 1836 he came to Schenectady and entered the employ of Sidney B. Potter, engaged in the dry goods business. In 1841 he severed his connection with Mr. Potter and in 1848 associated with John Ohlen & Company as one of the partners in the same line of trade. In 1855 he secured an interest in the dry goods business of Barringer & Company by purchasing the interest of one of the Barringer Brothers. In 1858 he bought out his partners and became sole owner of the business, which he conducted with great success as H. S. Barney & Company until 1903, when the business was incorporated under the name of The H. S. Barney Company with H. S. Barney as president of the corporation. He was possessed of the necessary traits to handle and conduct a great business. He was a good buyer and had great executive ability. He was a good judge of men and chose his subordinates with rare judgment, rarely making a mistake in his choice of men for certain positions. He rose from the bottom to the topmost rounds of the ladder and each round was gained by active and earnest effort. He was courteous and dignified in manner, somewhat after the style of the olden school. His benevolences were many and were bestowed without ostentation. His acquaintance was very large and he was sincerely honored. His other interests were large. He was a director in the Mohawk National Bank and other corporations. His religious belief was Episcopalian. His membership in St. George's Church covered a period of half a century, twenty of which he was a member of the vestry. He was Republican in political sympathy, but could never be induced to accept public office. During his latter years his eyesight failed him, but otherwise his faculties were unimpaired. He married in October, 1852, Sarah Horsfall, born in Schenectady, New York, died January 31, 1900. Children:
- Earl S., born July 6, 1854, died 1880; married Harriet Passage; child, Bessie.
- Nelly, born June 26, 1856, died September 10, 1895; married, June 4, 1879, Bartlett Whitlock, of English parentage, died 1897. Their daughter, Marguerite Barney Whitlock, was born September 28, 1880. She was educated in private schools; she is the only living descendant of her honored grandfather, Howland Swain Barney, and resides in the home he built in Schenectady. She married, June 7, 1905, Raymond Curtis Donnan, born in Troy, New York, June 7, 1881; was graduated at Union University, 1903, and at Princeton Theological Seminary. He was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian church and was appointed pastor of the church at Chestertown, New York, and is now (1910) a student at Albany Law School. They have a daughter, Marguerite Swain Donnan, born March 4, 1906.
- Mary Anna, born in 1824, was educated in private schools. She married (first) Cyrus Canfield, of Arlington, Vermont, born in 1823, died in California, 1853. He was a lawyer, just beginning a career full of the brightest promise when he died. She married (second) Henry Phillips, who died in 1873 (see Phillips). Mrs. Phillips survives her husband and resides in her beautiful home in Schenectady, New York, where she is surrounded by all the evidences of wealth and culture. Now in her eighty-sixth year and deprived of her sight, she is cheerful and contented, enjoying a quiet life with a devoted companion and trusted agent. She is active, strong and alert in mind and body, liberal and charitable; a member of St. George's Episcopal Church and interested in all good causes. She maintains a lively interest in current events and is beloved of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She has no children.
- Earl S., born December 3, 1826. In 1849 he joined the rush of gold seekers who went to California. He was one of the successful ones and is one of the influential wealthy men of that state. His home is in Drytown, where he has large mining and other interests. He is unmarried.
- Reuben, born March 18, 1829, died unmarried.
- Sarah Cady, born October 15, 1837, died 1869; she married William McAuley, of Vermont, and left two children: Zadoc B. and Anna E.