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Taken about 1834
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Born: 19
April 1804, Nashville, TN
Died:
15 Jun 1879, Nashville, TN
Buried:
Sylvan Hall Cemetery, Nashville, TN
Married First: Susan Payne Clark on 27 Oct 1825
born 9 Aug 1805
died 7 Nov 1826
Married Second: Elizabeth Dwyer on
3 Jun 1828
born 3 Aug 1801
died 10 May 1871
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William Duncan PHILIPS
and Elizabeth DWYRE had the
following children:
1. SARAH PHILIPS
was born in Jan 1823
in Davidson Co TN. She died in Jul 1823 in Davidson Co TN.
2. MARY L. PHILIPS was born on 31 May 1837 in Davidson Co
TN. She died in Sep 1919in Buried at Philips Cemetery on Wharton Lot. She
married JOHN FELIX DEMOVILLE on 21 Nov 1854. He was born about 1837.
3. MILBRY CATHERINE PHILIPS was born on 08 Feb 1833 in
Davidson Co TN. She died on11 Sep 1863 in Sylvan Hall, Nashville, Davidson Co
TN. She married WILLIAM PERKINS HARDING on 05 May 1853 in Nashville, Davidson Co
TN, son of Thomas Jefferson HARDING and Elizabeth Waller Bosley. He was born on
18 Sep 1822 in Nashville, Davidson Co TN. He died on 16 Sep 1903 in Sylvan
Hall, Nashville, Davidson Co TN.
4. CAPT. JOSEPH PHILIPS was born on 11 Nov 1838 in
Davidson Co TN. He died on Mar 1920 in Davidson Co TN. He married ANNE
COZART on 13 Jul 1864, daughter of William Mangum and Sarah Murray. She
was born in Columbus, MS. She died in 1882.
5. DANIEL DWYER PHILIPS was born on 29 Dec 1840 in Davidson
Co TN. He died on 01 Aug1911 in Nashville, Davidson Co TN. He married MARY
ELIZABETH FINN on 10 Nov 1868, daughter of Lawrence FINN and Elizabeth Clay
DUVAL. She was born about 1844 in KY. She
died on 17 Jan 1915 in Nashville, Davidson Co TN.
6.
MARGARET PHILIPS was born on
11 Sep 1842 in Nashville, Davidson Co TN. She diedon 18 Nov 1909 in Nashville,
Davidson Co TN. She married RUFUS KING POLK on 28 Apr 1881 in Near
Nashville, TN, son of George Washington POLK and Sally Louisa HILLIARD.He was
born on 31 Oct 1843 in Maury, Tennessee, USA. He died on 27 Aug 1902 in Nashville,
Davidson, Tennessee, USA.
7.
WILLIAM DUNCAN PHILIPS was
born on 03 Sep 1846 in Davidson Co TN. He died on 3 Jul 1862 in Davidson Co TN at the age of 15.
William Duncan Philips Descendant Report
The Philips' home place is shown on this 1871 map by Wilbur F. Foster.
Source: History of Davidson,
County, Tennessee, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers
(Clayton, 1971), p. 413. William D. Philips was born on the 10th of' June,1804, and died on the 15th of June, 1879, at his farm and
residence, six miles north of Nashville, Davidson Co., Tenn. where he was born, raised, lived, and died on the well-known
farm on which his father lived and died,—the" Philips" place. His father, Joseph Philips, was an early settler, and
migrated in 1791, with his wife, Milbry Philips, from Edgecombe Co., N. C., to Tennessee. His ancestry for several 'generations,
both paternal and maternal, were natives of Edgecombe province under the Colonial government.
Joseph Philips served as guide for the Continental forces, and participated
in the battle of King's Mountain. Matthew Philips, brother of Joseph Philips, was colonel commanding a regiment of troops,
and died preceding the battle of King's Mountain, from an over draught of water. (My note:
I have not been about to verify anything in this paragraph.)
William D. Philips was respected and esteemed for his solid and many
virtues by all who knew him. His life was wholly a private life; he never held or sought office, but gave his time, mind,
and life to the occupation of farming and agriculture. He inherited from his father about one thousand acres of land and several
families of slaves. He was not of age when he came into his possessions and government and control of his farm. His education
was as good and liberal as the times allowed; for a time a pupil of the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead. He was not a man of letters
or literary taste, but of active life and deeds his film and its laborers were well governed and conducted; he gave it his
care, skill, and judgment, and it was his pride and pleasure to the day of his death.
William D. Philips married early in life, as soon as of age, Susan
P. Clark, daughter of Thomas A. Clark, of South West Point, East Tennessee, a sister of James P. Clark, of Nashville, which
led to a close, intimate friendship between these persons, which was that of brothers, and lasted as long as life, and continued
to exist between their families after the death of Mrs. Philips, whose married life was of short duration, and died without
issue.
Elizabeth Dwyer Philips
about 1834
"In 1828, he [William D. Philips] married Eliza Dwyer, daughter of
Daniel Dwyer, a merchant of Franklin, Tenn., a genial Irish gentleman, she herself being a native of Ireland, and a type of
the most beautiful Irish lady, cheerful, warm, and cheering all brought within her circle, always kind, cordial, and gentle.
She became a model farmer's wife, serving and in person directing the household and its affairs in-doors. All went well
under her gentle but firm control and management. She was happy herself, and always cordial to her husband's relatives,--a
large connection and frequent visitors. William D. Philips was not a
common, but an uncommon,man in his person and character. He had a good physique,was in stature six feet high, well formed,
and developed in
his person by 'active life in the open air. He was a practical
man wholly, dark hazel eyes, auburn hair, impulsive, quick
in his movements, and without impulsive temperament, yet
self-controlled in a high degree. He went to bed early, rose
before the sun, and regular in his habits, a very moderate
eater at all of his meals for his active life and habits. He was
very industrious and diligent in the management of his farm,
and "All over it his foot-tracks were to be found and the
effects of his eyes were to be seen." He was always glad to
have his relatives, friends, and other persons to visit him,
and made them welcome at an abundant old Virginia or
North Carolina table spread with the best. He
was not an avaricious or ambitious man, had high self respect and pride of character, had plenty, determined always to have
plenty and to spare, and gave with unstinted generosity when real charity was demanded. Never sought to be popular in a popular
sense, but placed a high value on character; had great pride of character; desired to possess the good will and respect of
his fellow-citizens, but never sought it directly. There
was not a trace of guile or deceit or meanness in his nature or character; in fact, lie despised all deceit, hypocrisy,
and sham so much that probably it sent him in the other direction. It made him seem abrupt, harsh, arid short in his speech
and manners. He repulsed in manner, but always gave when a case was presented. He always gave, but there as not seemingly
grace in his manner; perhaps there was an imperiousness of slavery and master in his manner of which he was not conscious,
and which is in the spirit of the institution itself, and from which no large slave-owner was exempt, not even Washington
himself. Notwithstanding this manner outside, there was in his heart much real, genuine, warm, kind feeling and humanity.
Many anecdotes are told to illustrate this kindness of his nature and seeming unkindness of manner. His good wife understood him, and his sterling qualities were known to
her. She respected and loved him, and, though different in manners, they lived a long life of entire harmony. He knew his
wife, and fully appreciated and loved her gentle, winning ways and character. When she died, as she did some years before
his death, her death brought home upon and within him a deep, inconsolable grief, which went with him to his grave. This man, the product of our times and society, was at the core of hint
a sound man, a real, genuine man, no sham or hollow man wearing the mask of goodness to cover up a false and selfish nature.
On Monday evening, June 16, 1879, his mortal remains
were deposited in the family burial-place on his farm, and now sleeps with his father, his mother, and his beloved wife,
mother of his children, and two children, on the farm upon which he was born, raised, lived, and died, and which he loved
so well. He was the father of seven children by his wife Eliza Dwyer, of whom two sons and two daughters survive him.
His sister, Mrs. Martha Martin, the last of a large family of brothers and sisters, still lives, at the age of eighty-nine
years, beloved by all who know her.
The 1840 U.S. Census lists Peter Bashaw in the 19th District. The Davidson County Deed Book
I, 419: The deed of Peter Bashaw's 78 acres sets his western boundry in line with the eastern boundary of the hext householder
listed, Wilson White. His west boundary appears to have been in the middle of the Louisville Branch Turnpike (now
Dickerson Pike), although the deed does not so specify. His neighbor to the west was W. D. Philips, a resident
of the 20th Civil District.
Clayton, Davidson County, biological sketch on page 413, mentions that William D. Philips was
for a time a pupil of the Rev. Thomas B. Craighead who became President of The Academy of Davidson County (later
moved down town as Davidson College) which was opened in 1786.
The below will of William Duncan Philips was obtained from Ancestry.com
microfilm records of Davidson County Court files.
In the will, William instructed his executor (son Joseph Philips) to enlarge the present grave-yard on his place
and remove the existing enclosure and replace it with a "concrete" wall, enlarging the grave-yard to an area of 1/2 acre
with dimensions of 65 feet long and 45 feet wide.
Today the cemetery is enclosed in a rock wall with dimensions of 58 feet in length and 49 feet in width on the outside
of the wall. If William meant inside dimensions, then one would have to compare the current dimensions as 54 feet in
length and 45 feet wide. The width would agree with his request, but the length would be 11 feet short.
However, the area of the cemetery inside the wall is only 2730
square feet, or 1/16 of an acre and not the 1/2 acre requested by William in his will.
Without more information about the makeup of the original enclosure,
it is difficult to speculate whether Joseph complied with his request to enlarge the cemetery or not. The
wall is not "cement", but it is built from large limestone rocks, the same material used in cement.
A History of Tennessee and Tennesseans
by William T. Hale, published 1913
Volume VII Page 2024
CAPTAIN
JOSEPH PHILIPS. An able and much respected representative of the agricultural
and horticultural interests of Davidson county, Captain Joseph Philips is the owner of a good farm lying on Brick Church pike,
not many miles from Nashville. He was born November 11, 1838, on this same farm,
and here also occurred the birth of his father, William Duncan Philips, on June 10, 1804, thirteen years after the land had
been secured from the Government by Joseph Philips, the Captain’s grandfather.
He is of Welsh ancestry,, his paternal great-great-grandfather, Joseph Philips, having emigrated from Wales to this
country in colonial days, settling in North Carolina, where he purchased a tract of land that had been granted by the
Crown to Earl Grey, his name having been spelled “Phillips.”
Joseph Philips, grandfather
of Captain Joseph Philips, was born in 1763, in Edgecombe county, North Carolina, where his parents were life-long residents. He was a rebel, and during the Revolutionary War fought for independence. Another family named Phillips fought in the same war for the Crown, being tories, and this so incensed
Joseph Philips that he dropped one of the “l’s” from his name, changing it to its present form, not
wishing anyone to suspect that he might possibly be a kinsman of the tory Phillips.
Shortly after his marriage,
in 1791, Joseph Philips started with his wife for the wilds of Tennessee. They made an overland journey with teams, following
a blazed trail a large part of the way, bringing with them their household goods, and all of their stock and slaves. He located
in Davidson county, which he had previously visited, and which was then very thinly populated. He bought a tract of land lying
six miles north of Nashville, and began the establishment of a home, his first step in that direction being the erection of
a log cabin which he and his family occupied until 1804, when it was burned, the fire occurring in March of that year.
He then burned a kiln of brick, and erected a substantial house, in commodious colonial style, using whip-sawed timbers in
its construction. This was the first brick house built in Davidson county, and is still standing in good condition, and
a part of the original log barn, built in 1791, is also standing. When he located there Nashville was but a hamlet, and for
more than half a century afterward there were no railroads in the state. He improved a fine homestead, and with the help
of his slaves was there engaged in general farming until his death in 1818. A part of this farm is now owned by his grandson,
Captain Joseph Philips, of whom we write.
Joseph Philips married
in about 1784, in North Carolina, Milberry Horn, who was born in Edgecombe county, that state, where her parents were pioneer
settlers. She died on the home farm, in Davidson county, Tennessee, in 1849. They reared seven children, as follows: William
Duncan, Henry, Sarah, Margaret, Charlotte, Martha, and Mary. Henry died at the
age of seventeen years. Sarah married William Williams, and Margaret married
his brother, Joseph Williams. Charlotte was drowned when a girl in the Cumberland
river. Martha married Thomas Martin, and Mary became the wife of Jesse Wharton.
William Duncan Philips
spent his entire life of seventy-five years on the old homestead, which became his by inheritance, and during his active career
carried on farming with the assistance of slaves. He was a stanch adherent of
the Democratic party, sustaining its principles by voice and vote. He married
Eliza Dwyer, who was born in Roscrea, County Tipperary, Ireland, and came with her parents to America when a child. Her father, Daniel Dwyer, a native of the Emerald Isle, immigrated to this country, bringing with
him his wife and twelve children, and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Cantwell. After
living for a time in Nashville, Tennessee, Mr. Dwyer moved to Franklin, where for a few years he was engaged in mercantile
business. From there he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and was there a resident
until his death. Mrs. Eliza (Dwyer) Philips died at the age of seventy-five years.
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| Daniel Philips |
To her and her husband seven children were born, namely: Milberry, who married William P. Harding; Mary became the wife of John
Felix Dc Moville, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Joseph married
Annie Cozart; Margaret married Rufus K. Polk; Daniel
married Mary E. Finn; and William and Sarah died when young. Daniel Philips, the fifth
child, who settled in Nashville, enlisted at the age of sixteen years for service in the Civil war, being commissioned lieutenant
in a company of heavy artillery. He was twice captured, first at Island 10, the
last time at Fort Hudson, and each time imprisoned on Johnson’s Island, where he was confined as a prisoner until the
close of the conflict. His picture at the left was taken about 1861 when he was assigned to the 1st Tennessee Artillery.
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William Duncan Philips, born about 1862 was the grandson of the William Duncan Philips above and his namesake.
I obtained this picture of him from his grandson Chalmers Omberg in 2010. Below is a tree showing some of the ancestors
of this William Duncan Philips.
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The below document was obtained from Helen Philips Omberg's son Chalmers Omberg in 2010 and is an
excellent source for information about the ancestors of Joseph Philips' wife Milberry Horn.
Helen Philips Omberg by Larry Feldhaus
The following excerpt from the book "It is a Goodly Land" contains information about William Duncan
Philips, his father Joseph Philips, and his aunt's husband, Josiah Frederick Williams. The book is a history of Goodlettsville TN and the surrounding area.
It is a Goodly Land Book
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