Phillips Family

William R Phillips

The average American can trace their family back four generations. I traced yours back six, beginning with your great-great-great-grandfather, Isaac Phillips. He is the father of William R Phillips. document. 

According to his headstone, William R Phillips was born June 27, 1840. He died March 5, 1896. 

There are several Phillips family located in Tennessee in the middle 1800s. Too many, in fact, to positively identify this Phillips family prior to 1870. However, there is another record for William R Phillips before 1870. He served in Co. B of the 6th Tennessee Cavalry, on the Union side of the Civil War. On August 6, 1890, he filed a pension with the United States as an invalid. Then again on October 9, 1896, Sarah L filed a pension claiming widow’s benefits [¹]. 

Co. B of the 6th Tennessee Cavalry was commanded by Fielding Hurst and William Jay Smith. 

“It was also known as 1st West Tennessee Cavalry. Fielding Hurst, a staunch southern Unionist during the Civil War, led the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (USA) and proved to be one of the war’s most polarizing figures. Hurst remained committed to the Union throughout the secession crisis despite the intimidation and violence directed at Unionists by pro-secessionist forces. He courageously advocated his Unionist sentiments in a strongly worded speech before the voters. Hurst was quickly arrested and imprisoned at the state penitentiary in Nashville with other vocal Union sympathizers from across the state. The Federal occupation of Nashville eventually liberated Fielding from his confinement, and he returned home to McNairy County. 

“Perhaps seeking vengeance for his arduous imprisonment, Hurst, at age fifty-one, formed a unit of mounted scouts from the “Hurst Nation” to serve with the Union Army. The Hurst scouts, although at times derided for their unsoldierly appearance by Federal officers, provided a better degree of mobility and garnered invaluable intelligence about the surrounding countryside to the Union Army as they patrolled for bands of guerillas, bushwhackers, and thieves along the Federal logistical routes. Because of their unofficial status as soldiers, it proved nearly impossible for the Union Army to properly pay or equip Hurst’s men and similar units across the state. Tennessee’s military governor, Andrew Johnson, throughout the spring of 1862 ignored frequent requests to organize these local Unionist bands formally as state regiments. A frustrated Fielding Hurst traveled to Nashville, personally confronted Johnson, and demanded a commission. Soon thereafter, Johnson named Hurst head of the First West Tennessee Cavalry (USA). With the bureaucratic logjam cleared, Hurst and other Tennessee Unionists immediately began organizing regiments, too. Confidence ran high that these local Unionists working in conjunction with Federal regiments would bring peace and order back to Tennessee.

“But for months after receiving his commission, Fielding Hurst and his new regiment languished in camp awaiting arms, rations, and other supplies from the Federal Army. More importantly, they failed to be paid for their service. Hurst’s men had to use their own money and equipment to stay in camp and risk being away from their families, who were constantly under the threat of guerilla attack. Fielding complained that the ill treatment he had received from Federal authorities had impaired his effectiveness and his recruitment of more men. Without Federal support, Hurst took matters in his own hands and began operating on his own without the sanction of the area’s commanders. He quickly earned the ire of many high-ranking officers, such as Major General Stephen Hurlbut and Major General U. S. Grant, who threatened to court-martial Hurst or disband his unit if he continued to operate independent of Federal authority.

“Hurst’s soldiers, however, were becoming extremely valuable to the Union effort in West Tennessee due to the rising guerilla attacks and Federal manpower shortage plaguing the advance on Vicksburg. Efforts were made to acquiesce to Hurst’s demands, and by November 1862, his newly designated Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (USA) scoured the vicinity of Bolivar for guerillas with notable success. Hurst’s “hard war” tactics utilized in these victories increased the level of animosity between the region’s Unionists and secessionists. For example, Hurst raided his hometown of Purdy in April 1863 and reportedly ordered the burning of the courthouse, church, and several homes. Federal officials briefly arrested Hurst for his acts at Purdy, further straining the relationship between the West Tennessee Unionists and Federal commanders.

“In July 1863, Hurst’s regiment accompanied Federal units into Jackson, Tennessee, to break up pockets of Confederate troops returning to the area. After a brief but intense battle, portions of the city lay almost completely in ruins. Criticized for their actions, the Federal units involved shifted the blame for the destruction to Hurst’s men. Fielding futilely protested the charges, and Federal commanders fined the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (USA) over five thousand dollars from its payroll to reimburse the citizens of Jackson, many of whom were avowed secessionists.

“Hurst swore to get even with the town before the war’s end. Confederates responded by personally targeting Hurst and his family for alleged depredations against civilians and soldiers, and he once barely escaped capture by Confederate forces. Confederate guerillas tortured and executed one of Hurst’s nephews and injured Fielding’s aged sister during a night raid on her home. Hurst retaliated by capturing those believed responsible and executed five prisoners, burying them as mile markers along the Old Stage Road leading to Purdy. Such acts drew the attention of the Confederate government to Hurst’s actions in West Tennessee, and Confederate Brigadier General Nathan Bedford Forrest swore revenge on what he considered the renegade Hurst’s wartime atrocities.

“As conditions in West Tennessee deteriorated with the amplified internecine warfare, Hurst battled not only with Forrest and other guerillas but with Federal commanders who threatened to court-martial him for a growing number of complaints about his regiment’s conduct while conducting counterinsurgency operations. Nevertheless, they ordered Hurst to “grub up” West Tennessee and destroy Forrest who had returned in late 1863 to disrupt Union supply lines. As promised, Hurst subsequently returned to Jackson, set it ablaze, and proceeded to Brownsville, where he burned a sizeable number of suspected Confederate sympathizers’ homes and businesses. Forrest pursued Hurst throughout the spring of 1864 and forced the Sixth Tennessee Cavalry (USA) ignominiously back into Memphis.

“In the aftermath of Forrest’s Second West Tennessee Raid, Federal officials used Hurst and his regiment as a scapegoat for their failure to eliminate the guerilla threat and restore order in the region. Hurst, in turn, railed against the ineptitude and corruption of Federal officers, whose prejudices against Hurst’s men had impeded their effectiveness. In a stinging rebuke of his treatment by Federal authorities, Hurst told federal commander Alvin C. Gillem on June 29, 1864: “No favors have been Shown to us and no encouragement whatsoever has been extended towards us, all the Success we [have] had being attributable alone to the genuine patriotism and Self Sacrifice of the [Sixth Tennessee Cavalry]. [W]e are placed here [e]xclusively under Yankee Officers, who have no Sympathy, for a loyal Tennessean.”

“Hurst’s regiment was transferred to Middle Tennessee. On December 10, 1864, just outside of Nashville, Hurst resigned his command due to poor health. He served briefly in the Tennessee General Assembly after the war, became a circuit court judge in the Brownlow administration, and served as the local Grand Army of the Republic post.

“After the war, Hurst and his men remained a target for his mostly Confederate neighbors. Legends and stories of the Sixth Tennessee’s alleged atrocities against West Tennesseans grew over the decades, and Hurst’s name in particular was associated with nearly anything derogatory or evil. Hurst died destitute in 1882 and without any heirs, save his wife, Melocky. Even after his death, Hurst was not immune to the scorn of his detractors. They often rode over his grave on horseback and spat upon it [¹⁵].”

What I find most interesting, is that even though this Phillips family is from Southwestern Tennessee, most known for it’s Confederate sympathies, William R Phillips fought for the Union side. He’s the first Union soldier I’ve run across in at least 20 families. 

In the 1870 United States census, William R Phillips can be found in Lexington, Henderson County, Tennessee [²]. 

His family is enumerated as follows: 

Phillips, William 31 M W Farmer Tennessee

Sarah L 26 F W Keeping House Tennessee

Sarah E 2 F W Tennessee

Isaac 75 M W North Carolina

William Phillips’ value of real estate is $500 and his personal estate is valued at $300. This census also lists whether citizens are able to read and write; William, Sarah L and Isaac can all read and write [³]. 

In 1880, the family is in the same location. 

They are enumerated as follows: 

Phillips William R W M 37 Farmer Tennessee

Sarah L W F 35 wife Keeps House Tennessee

Sarah E W F 11 daughter Tennessee

Martha J W F 9 daughter Tennessee

Cintha E W F 6 daughter Tennessee

William A W M 4 son Tennessee

Walter L W M 2 son Tennessee

John J W M 28 nephew work on farm Tennessee

Isaac W M 75 father boarder North Carolina

I believe the Isaac enumerated in both the 1870 census and 1880 census is the same person, and the father of William R Phillips, even though Isaac Phillips’ age stays the same after ten years. Interestingly, there is another William R Phillips enumerated just below your William R Phillips family. Both Williams are close in age, born in Tennessee, and both sets of parents are born in North Carolina. Most likely they are cousins and the bottom William R Phillips is a brother to John J Phillips. 

In 1890 the family was in Texas. William R Phillips filed his invalid status pension application from there. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, Taylor County, Texas [⁴]. 

Sarah L Phillips is found in the 1900 United States census in Jones County, Texas [⁵]. 

Enumerated in the household are: 

Phillips S. L. head W F Nov 1843 56 Wd Tennessee

1. A. son W M July 1876 23 S Tennessee
2. L. son W M Apr  1879 21 S Tennessee

1. S. grandson W M Nov 1894 5 S Texas

Sarah L Phillips is listed as the mother of 6 children, 6 living. She is engaged in farming. 

In 1910, Sarah L Phillips is still living in Jones County, Texas [⁶]. 

Enumerated are the following:

Phillips, Sarah L head F W 68 W Tennessee

Walter L son M W 30 W Tennessee

Vera granddaughter F W 8 S Texas

Anna L granddaughter F W 6 S Texas

Georgia granddaughter F W 4 S Texas

Sinclair grandson M W 15 S Texas

Sarah L Phillips is listed as the mother of 6 children, 6 living. She is a farmer on a general farm. 

In the 1920 census, Sarah L Phillips is living alone, but next door to her daughter, Cyntha Ellen Phillips Winter [⁷]. 

Again in 1930, Sarah L Phillips is enumerated alone as head of household. She is living next door to son, Walter L. Phillips, and he next door to his daughter, Anna L Phillips Truitt [⁸]. 

Sarah L Phillips’ home is valued at $5,000. She was 17 at her first marriage. This means she married William R Phillips in 1860. 

Even though alive in 1940, I can not find her in the census records. The next record I find for Sarah is her death certificate. 

Sarah L Phillips is buried next to William R Phillips in Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkel, Taylor County, Texas. 

According to the death certificate of her daughter, Cyntha Ellen Winter, Sarah’s full name was Sarah Lou Viteto Phillips [⁹]. 

The death certificate of Sarah L Phillips’ son, William Atlas Phillips, also backs up the maiden name of Viteto [¹⁰]. 

Unknown Father of Charles Sinclair Phillips

missing generation

Charles Sinclair Phillips

Charles Sinclair Phillips was born November 28, 1894 in Texas. He died on November 26, 1977. He first appears in the United States census in 1900, enumerated in the household of his grandmother, Sarah L Phillips ^[5]. 

Also, in the 1910 census, Charles Sinclair Phillips is enumerated with his grandmother [⁶]. 

Charles Sinclair Phillips is the grandson of William R and Sarah L Phillips. I can find no record of who his parents were. The 1890 census would probably provide this information, but almost of of the 1890 census returns burned in a fire in 1921. I am inclined to believe that they died young, since Charles Sinclair Phillips is found living with his grandmother beginning at least when he was 6 years old. 

Charles Sinclair Phillips registered for the WW I draft [¹³]. 

By the 1920, Charles Sinclair Phillips has started his own family, in Jones County, Texas [¹¹]. 

Enumerated are: 

Phillips, Charles S head M W 25 M Texas

Rachel B wife F W 25 M Arkansas

William H son M W 6/12 S Texas

Charles Sinclair Phillips’ occupation is listed at farmer on a general farm. (Notice the last name of the family living next door; Howell.)

The 1930 census has Charles Sinclair and family living in Big Lake, Reagan County, Texas [¹²]. 

Listed in the household are the following: 

Phillips, Charley head M W 35 M Texas

Rachel wife F W 35 M Arkansas

W H son M W 14 S Texas

Wilma daughter F W 10 S Texas

Iva Lou daughter F W 1 11/12 S Texas

Charles Sinclair Phillips owns his own home, valued at $2,100. He was age 18 when first married. His occupation is meat cutter in a meat market. 

I can not find Charles Sinclair Phillips and family in the 1940 census. The next record I found was his World War II draft card [14]. 

Charles Sinclair Phillips died on November 26, 1977. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery, Merkle, Taylor County, Texas. 

Rachel B Phillips died on August 24, 1990. She shares a headstone with her husband. 

I can’t find ANYTHING on William Howell Phillips other than his census enumeration with his parents. Not even a death record. 

¹ General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. T288, 546 rolls.

² "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDD7-GTF : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah E Phillips in household of William Phillips, Tennessee, United States; citing p. 20, family 123, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 553036.

³ "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MD7F-D1S : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Wm. R. Phillips, District 11, Henderson, Tennessee, United States; citing sheet 404C, family 0, NARA microfilm publication T9-1262

⁴ Findagrave.com

⁵ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3P3-GHD : accessed 24 Oct 2013), S L Phillips, ED 101 Justice Precincts 4 -5, Jones, Texas, United States; citing sheet 6B, family 101, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241650.

⁶ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M23G-8J9 : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah L Phillips, Justice Precinct 4, Jones, Texas, United States; citing sheet , family 361, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375582.

⁷ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC9D-BHL : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah G Phillips, Justice Precinct 4, Jones, Texas, United States; citing sheet , family 96, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821824.

⁸ "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/CSCL-M3Z : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah L Phillips, Precinct 4, Jones, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0011, sheet , family 272, NARA microfilm publication .

⁹ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K379-F3F : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah Lori Veteto in entry for Synthe Ellen Winter, 23 Feb 1956; citing certificate number 10362, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2114628.

¹⁰ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K34C-RHC : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Sarah Lou Veteto in entry for William Atlas Phillips, 18 Mar 1959; citing certificate number 17577, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2115909.

¹¹ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC96-B9L : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Charles S Phillips, Justice Precinct 4, Jones, Texas, United States; citing sheet , family 79, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821824.

¹² "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HJM7-PW2 : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Rachel Phillips in household of Charley Phillips, Big Lake, Reagan, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0002, sheet , family 135, NARA microfilm publication .

¹³ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZXV-3XD : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Charley Sinclair Phillips, 1917-1918; citing Jones County, Texas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 1983267.

¹⁴ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XPP7-KJW : accessed 24 Oct 2013), Charles Sinclair Phillips, 1942.

¹⁵ Frisby, Derek W. "Fielding Hurst (1810-1882)." Fielding Hurst. Middle Tennessee State University, 04 Jan. 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2013. <http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entry.php?rec=1616>.