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PHILLIPS AND CALLAHAN FAMILY LINES IN ARKANSAS, TEXAS & OKLAHOMA

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OUR PHILLIPS FAMILY

 

I grew up believing that our Phillips family line came to America from Wales. It was a classical "three brothers tale". In the old stories I remember hearing, several Phillips brothers came to America from Wales in the 1700's, settling first in Pennsylvania. One of the brothers established a Methodist Church in Pennsylvania and remained there. The other brothers moved on to wilderness regions in the south. 

Based on what I've learned from the research done by others in the family, it now seems probable that our Phillips family ancestors came to America from Ireland - not Wales. A sketch of the Phillips family history appears below, with this new family history information. (The information for the first four generations came from research done by others and I can not verify its accuracy.)

 

 

FIRST GENERATION

John Phillips, born about 1679 in Ireland. Married Ann Edwards about 1715. Ann Edwards was born about 1680 in Wales.

Children:

Gabriel Phillips, b. about 1720

 

 

 

SECOND GENERATION

Gabriel Phillips, born about 1720 in Ireland. Married Johannah Cook before 1759. Gabriel Phillips died in Newberry District, South Carolina in 1803. As far as I can tell all of the children of Gabriel and Johannah Phillips were born in Ireland. It appears that Gabriel and Johannah Phillips moved their family to America after 1768. I can only speculate, but I believe they were early Methodists - followers of John Wesley. John Wesley died in England around 1790. The Methodist movement created quite a stir in the United Kingdom. There was a great deal of resentment against John Wesley and his followers, The Church of England was the principal religion throughout the United Kingdom at the time, and the Methodists were considered to be troublemakers. Still, John Wesley and his early ministers attracted a large number of people in the United Kingdom to the new Methodist faith. Many of the early Methodists migrated to America, where their religion could be practiced without so much hostility from the population in general. America was also "ripe pickings" for the early Methodists, who set out to bring Christianity to the Indians and save other non-believers living in the primitive  wilderness lands.

 

Children:

Edward Phillips, born about 1759

Susannah Phillips, born about 1761

Peter Phillips, born about 1762

Gabriel Phillips, born about 1764

Hannah Phillips, born about 1766

John Phillips, born about 1768

 

 

FOURTH GENERATION

Gabriel Phillips, born about 1786 in Spartenburg District, South Carolina. Married Abbey Rainwater about 1825. Abbey Rainwater was a daughter of James and Nancy Ann (Miles) Rainwater. Gabriel Phillips was a clergyman, probably a Methodist Minister.

 

Children:

Calvin Phillips, born between 1820 and 1830

Edmond Phillips, born about 1828

 Gabriel Phillips, born about 1834

H. Phillips, born about 1839

 

 

FIFTH GENERATION

Calvin Phillips, born between 1820 and 1830 (best guess is 1823) in South Carolina. Married Rachael Reddick in 1849 in Benton County, Arkansas. Rachel Reddick was a daughter of Shadrach and Nelly (Smith) Reddick. She was born around 1830 in Illinois. Calvin Phillips was a farmer and blacksmith. To the best of my knowledge, all of the children of Calvin and Rachel Phillips were born in Benton County, Arkansas. They appear in Arkansas census records in 1850, 1860 and 1870.They moved to Texas before 1880. They appear in census records living in Cook County, Texas in 1880. We lose track of Calvin and Rachel Phillips after 1880 but it is believed they moved to the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory before 1890.

Children:

James S. Phillips, born October 20, 1850

Millie Phillips, born January 5, 1853

George Washington Phillips, born March 25, 1856

William T. Phillips, born October 2, 1858

Alcy Phillips, born August 10, 1860

Jefferson Davis Phillips, born February 14, 1864

John Wesley Phillips, born February 20, 1868

Joseph Phillips, born about 1871

 

 

Source Information:

1850 Washington County, Arkansas census records: Calvin and Rachel Phillips, married within the year. No children.

1860 Benton County, Arkansas census records: Calvin and Rachel Phillips, children James, age 9, Millie, age 8, and George, age 6. (No record of William).

1870 Benton County, Arkansas census records: Calvin and Rachel Phillips, children James, age 19, Millie, age 17, George, age 15, William, age 13, Alcy, age 9, Jefferson Davis, age 5, and John Wesley, age 2.

1880 Cook County, Texas census records: Calvin and Rachel Phillips, children William, age 23, Alcy, age 18, Jefferson Davis, age 15, John Wesley, age 13, Joseph, age 9, and niece, Elizabeth Johnson, age 19.

 

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