Phillips, Nicholas

He had probably moved to Dedham (then known as Contentment) within theyear as he was not listed as an attendee of the first town meeting, heldSeptember 1, 1635, but was for subsequent ones. The 12 acres he wasgranted bordered the Charles River and, interestingly enough, the land ofEzekiel Holliman, who is possibly an ancestor in the Westcott line.Ezekiel moved to Providence by 1637 and joined in founding the firstBaptist Church in America. In November of 1637 Nicholas and three otherswere commissioned to fell trees for a meeting house.[Dedham TownRecords/3:39] He was also chosen on August 28, 1638 to mow, gather up,and bring in thatch for the meeting house.[Dedham Town Records/3:48]

On August 1, 1639 Nicholas sold his Dedham land and no longer attendedtown meetings after that date. This is probably about the time he removedto the nearby town of Weymouth. By Feb. 8, 1660 Nicholas Phillips hadbecome a deacon in the First Congregational Church in Weymouth. The factthat he was such an active and respected member in the church suggeststhat he may have come to this country for religious freedom. It may alsogive the reason he left Dedham. It is known that Ezekiel Holliman leftMassachusetts because of its religious intolerance. Dedham may not havebeen to Nicholas'' liking. Martin Phillips had also moved from Dedham toWeymouth and was a neighbor to Nicholas in the latter town. Martin mayhave been a brother to Nicholas as was Henry Phillips who remained inDedham.[The History of Weymouth] Nicholas promised part of his lot toMartin,[Dedham Town Records/3:33] which is a very good indication of afamily relationship. Nicholas sold some of his land to HenryPhillips.[Dedham Town Records/3:84]

The name of Nicholas'' wife was Elizabeth. This fact is established from arecord in which Elizabeth Phillips, the wife of Nicholas Phillips ofWeymouth, acknowledges before the commissioners appointed to end smallcauses her consent to her husband''s sale of a house and several parcelsof land to Francis Smyth of Hingham. Dated "11th day of the Sixth month1651 in the presence of John Whitman, Thomas Dyer, Willm TorreyCommissioners". She signed with E P as a mark.[New England HistoricGenealogical Register/63:298] This appears to be the only existant recordin which she is mentioned.

It is not known from where in England the immigrant ancestor NicholasPhillips came, but in his will Nicholas mentioned his loving friend JonasHumphrey. Jonas was the son of another ancestor, Jonas Humphrey, who camefrom Wendover. The evidence, other than names, linking Nicholas ofWendover with Nicholas of Massachusetts is therefore very weak. Inaddition, Nicholas and Elizabeth of Wendover had a daughter Elizabethborn in 1633, but Nicholas of Dedham did not have a daughter of thisname. She may have died young however. The births of several Phillipschildren were recorded in Wendover in the early 1600s, the time frame forNicholas'' birth. However neither Nicholas'' nor his brother''s name isamong them. In fact, Sarah Phillips was baptised in 1611, the year thatNicholas is presumed to have been born. Further research needs to be donein this area as Nicholas and his brothers might be found in a nearby townwhich would solidify the connection.