Vespasian Phillips1

#1974, (5 March 1748/49 - before 18 May 1822)
Relationship3rd great-grandfather of William David Lewis
Father*Richard Phillips2 (1728 - )
Mother*Ruth Pitts2 (c 1728 - )

Family

Abilene Belding b. c 1755, d. c 1854
Children 1.Vespasion Phillips Jr+16 (c 1773 - )
 2.Samuel Phillips+17 (c 1773 - )
 3.Ebenezer Phillips+18 (bt 1773 - 1795 - )
 4.Pitts Phillips16 (bt 1773 - 1795 - )
 5.Deliah Phillips16 (bt 1773 - 1795 - )
 6.Abilena Phillips+16 (1776 - 1854)
 7.Ruth Phillips+19 (1779 - 1842)
 8.Elisha Phillips+16 (1786 - 1845)
Birth*5 March 1748/49He was born on 5 March 1748/49 at Dighton, Bristol Co., MassachusettsG.2 
1772He appeared on the census of 1772 at Ashfield, Franklin Co., MassachusettsG; (also Thos. Phillips Jr., Abner Phillips.)3 
Marriage*7 May 1772He married Abilene Belding, daughter of Ebenezer Belding and Hannah Nash, on 7 May 1772 at Franklin Co., MassachusettsG.1 
1790He and Abilene Belding appeared on the census of 1790 at Ashfield, Hampshire Co., MassachusettsG; (unk. m <16; neis. Richard Phillips, Spencer Phillips, Thomas Phillips, Samuel Anabel; Smith, Yeoman, Alden, Gay, Whittemore, Wait.)4
DeathFebruary 1793He witnessed the death of Ebenezer Belding in February 1793 at Ashfield, Hampshire (now Franklin) Co., MassachusettsG.5 
Administration5 April 1793He was named Administrator of Ebenezer Belding's Estate.6 
1 October 1798He appeared on the census of 1 October 1798 at Hampshire (now Franklin) Co., MassachusettsG.7 
between 1799 and 1805He participated in the early settlement of Sempronius (later also Niles), New York between 1799 and 1805; the early settlement of Sempronius (later also Niles), New York.8 
1800He and Abilene Belding appeared on the census of 1800 at Sempronius, Cayuga Co., New YorkG; (poss. report for Vespasian Jr. based on ages of children); neis. Chase, Atkins, Crippin, Tupper; Asahel Phillips p. 672, ln. 20; John Ellis Jr. and Abilena p. 672, ln. 25.9 
27 May 1803He appeared on the census of 27 May 1803 at Sempronius, Cayuga Co., New YorkG; (Tax Roll.)10 
5 June 1804Vespasian Phillips acquired 100 acres from Samuel Sharp and Mary Sharp, at Cayuga Co., New YorkG, on 5 June 1804, adjoining and to the west of lands of Barnabas Annable in Lot 44.11
22 March 1805He sold 50 acres of land to Samuel Phillips at Cayuga Co., New YorkG, on 22 March 1805, being the east half of that 100 acres of land bought by Vespasian Phillips of Samual Sharp off of Lot no. forty-four in the Town of Sempronius.12 
1810He appeared on the census of 1810 at Sempronius, Cayuga Co., New YorkG; (neis. Samuel Phillips, Rufus and Ruth (Phillips) Johnson, Bartlett, Doolittle; Jonathan Ellis (26-45), img. 8; Vespasian 2nd and Isaac, img. 5/14 (12/21); Irad Phillips, img. 13 (20) following Owasco town.)13
Death*before 18 May 1822He died before 18 May 1822 at Niles, Cayuga Co., New YorkG.14 
No primary sources for the children of Vespasian and Abilene have been found so far. Biographical Sketches of Richard Ellis is the only secondary source naming them, on pages 111 and 383, as the parents of Abilena, who married John Ellis, Jr. From that book, on page 156, we also learn that Elisha (and by inference, Ebenezer) were Abilena's brothers, in the accounts of their journey from New York State to Indiana. In addition, we can be certain that Ruth is the sister of Abilena, Elisha and Ebenezer, as she and her husband, Rufus Johnson, followed these three to Posey County, Indiana. Next, in 1805, Vespasian conveyed one-half of a 100 acre parcel in Sempronius NY to Samuel Phillips, from which we can deduce that they were father and son. Finally, the 1810 U. S. census in Sempronius has both "Vespatian Phillips," age over 45, and "Vespatian Phillips 2nd," age 26 to 44. While "2nd" may also mean "the younger" e.g., a nephew) as well as "junior" in early census reports, it is likely that this younger Vespasian is the son of Vespasian and Abilene. This still leaves Pitts and Delilah unaccounted for.15 
ChartsAncestors of William D. Lewis

Citations

  1. [S726] New England Historic Genealogical Society, compiler, Vital Records of Ashfield Massachusetts to the Year 1850 (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1942), Marriages:190. Vespasian Phillips and Abilene Belding, both of A., intentions not recorded, marr. 7 May 1772.
  2. [S266] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 (Holbrook). Original data Holbrook Research Institute (Jay and Delene Holbrook).
  3. [S732] Frederick G. Howes, History of the Town of Ashfield Franklin County, Massachusetts from its Settlement in 1742 to 1910 (Ashfield, Mass.: Town of Ashfield, 1910), pp. 96-97, names added to those of 1766 in the Valuation List.
  4. [S268] 1790 U.S. Federal Census, image viewed online Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.com. Vespatian (16+); 2 m (16+) [Vespasian and Samuel or Vespasian Jr], 3 m <16 [Elisha and Vespasian Jr or Samuel, ____]; 3 f [Ruth, Abilena and Deliah].
  5. [S520] VWH, Debts related to his last sickness, reported by Vespasian Phillips 19 Feb 1793, including funeral charges and digging grave.
  6. [S1884] Hampshire County Probate Records, 1660-1858/1889; (Salt Lake City, Utah: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1971, 1988-1989), online AmericanAncestors.org. Hampshire Box 13, Case No. 13-5, 8 imgs. Ebenezer Belding of Ashfield, deceased.
    Adminstrator bond of £50 by Vespation [sic] Phillips, Ebenezer Belden and Samuel Bardwell, all of Ashfield, Hampshire Co., Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 5 Apr 1793, to Hon. Eleazar Porter, Judge of the Probate of Will, and Administration granted to Vespation Phillips. Signed by the guarantors, witn. Seth Wait and Frances Ranney.
    Inventory ordered 19 Mar 1793 by Philip Phillips, J.P. Taken by Thomas Phillips, Nathan Chapin and Henry Alding (signed as Alden). Inventory reported 22 Mar 1793, £3 80, principally clothing, tools and bedding.
    Debts related to his last sickness, reported 19 Feb 1793. Nursing, firewood, candles and watcher; funeral charges and digging grave; total £6 1s; costs owed Administrator.
  7. [S1480] Direct Tax List of 1798 for Massachusetts and Maine, image viewed online American Ancestors.org, 1. Vol. 18, sh.567, img. 567/946, General List of Dwelling Houses which, with the Out-Houses appurtenant thereto, and the Lots, on which the same are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any Case, were owned, possessed or occupied on the 1st day of October 1798, Dist. 10, Eighth Division. Vespasian Phillips, Town of Ashfield, 1 dwelling house subject to and included in the Valuation, 80 perches of land; valuation by assessors $130, rate of 125%, valuation as revised and equalized by the Commissioners $162.50.
    2. Vol. 18, sh.615, img. 615/946, General List of Lands, Lots, Buildings and Wharves, owned, possessed or occupied on the 1st day of October 1798, excepting only such Dwelling Houses as, with the Out-Houses appurtenant thereto, and the Lots on which the same are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any Case, are above the value of one hundred Dollars, Dist. 10, Eighth Division. Vespasian Phillips, Town of Ashfield, 50 acres subject to and included in the Valuation; 50 acres of land, valuation by the Assessor $220, rate of 125%, valuation as revised and equalized by the Commissioners $275.
  8. [S957] Elliot G. Storke, History of Cayuga County, New York (Syracuse, N. Y.: D. Mason & Co., 1879), 443–45:
    Niles was formed from Sempronius March 20th, 1833....The first settlements were made in 1792....The Conovers settled about a half mile west of Niles, on the David Pratt farm....
    Edward and John Ellis, brothers, came in from Ashfield, Mass., in the winter of 1795, with an ox-sled....
    Settlements were made in 1802, by David Johnson, Hugh McDowell, John Rooks and Joseph Carr. Johnson, who was five years a Revolutionary soldier, being present at the surrender of Burgoyne and the evacuation of New York by the British, came in from Buckland county, Massachusetts, and settled near West Niles or Pennyville, on the farm now occupied by James Duryee. About 1817 he removed to Twelve Corners, to the place now occupied by his son Roswell, where he died June 22d, 1840. He married Prudence Coburn, who was born in Boston, November 13th, 1765, and died February 12th, 1849, by whom he had nine children, only two of whom are living, viz : Clara, wife of Abraham Van Etten, and Roswell, both in Niles, the latter on the homestead at Twelve Corners.
  9. [S269] 1800 U.S. Federal Census. Vespatian (26-44); F (26-44) [Abilene]; m (<10); 3 f (<10).
  10. [S1732] New York Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799–1804, index and images, Albany, New York, Cayuga Co., 1803, Sempronius, img. 7/18. Assessment Roll made 27 May 1803. Vespasian Phillips, $0 real estate, $30 personal estate, tax $0.10; New York State Archives, Series B0950 (26 reels), online Ancestry.com.
  11. [S1248] Cayuga County, New York, Deed Records, 1794-1901, manuscript/manuscript on film, Cayuga County Courthouse, Auburn, New York, Deeds 1804-1807, volume F, p. 240, FHC film 0851932, img. 78/596. Samuel Sharp and Mary Sharp to Vespasian Phillips, 100 acres in the Town of Sempronius, adjoining and west of land of Barnabas Annable. Dated 5 Jun 1804, recorded 6 Jun 1804, by Seth Phelps, first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cayuga.
  12. [S1248] Cayuga County, New York, Deed Records, 1794-1901, manuscript/manuscript on film, Cayuga County Courthouse, Auburn, New York, Deeds 1822-1823, volume Y, pages 239–240, FHC film 0851941, imgs. 143,144/596. Vespasian Phillips to Samuel Phillips, his son, 50 acres of Lot 44, Sempronius, consideration of "one hundred and fifty Dollars lawful money of the State of New York." This was the east half of the 100 acre parcel purchased by Vepasian from Samual Sharp in Jun 1804, adjoining and west of land owned by Barnabas Annable. Deed dated 22 Mar 1805, witness Samuel Lincoln, recorded 1 Apr 1805, by Jacob T. C. DeWitt, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cayuga.
  13. [S238] 1810 U.S. Federal Census. Vespatian (45+); F (45+) [Abilena]; 2m (16-25) [Elisha, poss. Ebenezer and Pitts], m (10-15) [____].
  14. [S1248] Cayuga County, New York, Deed Records, 1794-1901, manuscript/manuscript on film, Cayuga County Courthouse, Auburn, New York, Deeds 1822-1823, volume Y, p. 240, FHC film 0851941, img. 144/596. Abilene Phillips, widow of Vespasian Phillips "the within named grantor," quit claim of dower rights, to Samuel Phillips, consideration of "one hundred dollars lawful money of the State of New York." Dated 18 May 1822, recorded 21 May 1822, by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Cayuga.
  15. [S520] VWH.
  16. [S571] Nicholas Phillips and Elizabeth Jepson, online http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…, "Sixth Generation: 134. Vespasian Phillips was born on 5 March 1749 in Dighton, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He died before 10 May 1822 in Sempronious, Cayuga Co., New York.

    Vespasian Phillips and Abilene Belding were married on 7 May 1772 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Vespasian and Abilene (Belding) Phillips had eight children: Abilena, Vespasian Jr., Ebenezer, Pitts, Ruth, Samuel, Elisha, and Deliah. Abilene Belding was born about 1751 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts."

    source: http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…
  17. [S571] Nicholas Phillips and Elizabeth Jepson, online http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…, "Sixth Generation: 134. Vespasian Phillips was born on 5 March 1749 in Dighton, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He died before 10 May 1822 in Sempronious, Cayuga Co., New York.
    "Vespasian Phillips and Abilene Belding were married on 7 May 1772 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Vespasian and Abilene (Belding) Phillips had eight children: Abilena, Vespasian Jr., Ebenezer, Pitts, Ruth, Samuel, Elisha, and Deliah. Abilene Belding was born about 1751 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts."

    source: http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…
  18. [S571] Nicholas Phillips and Elizabeth Jepson, online http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…, "Sixth Generation: 134. Vespasian Phillips and Abilene Belding were married on 7 May 1772 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts. Vespasian and Abilene (Belding) Phillips had eight children: Abilena, Vespasian Jr., Ebenezer, Pitts, Ruth, Samuel, Elisha, and Deliah. Abilene Belding was born about 1751 in Ashfield, Franklin Co., Massachusetts."
    source: http://www.peculiarpress.com/genealogy/soule/…
  19. [S263] Ruth Phillips Genealogy, online boards.ancestry.com, 1. VESPASIAN8 PHILLIPS (RICHARD7, JOSHUA6, JOSHUA5, RICHARD4, NICHOLAS3, NICHOLAS2, NICHOLAS1) was born March 05, 1749 in Dighton, Ma., and died 1848 in Niles Cayuga N.Y.. He married ABILENE BELDING May 07, 1772 in Ashfield, Ma., daughter of EBENEZER BELDING and HANNAH NASH. She was born Abt. 1750 in Dighton, Ma., and died 1854 in Niles Cayuga N.Y..