George Phillips

Background

He was born probably in 1593 at South Rainham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom. His father was Christopher Phillips.

Education

He matriculated at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, in April 1610; received the degree of B. A. in 1613, and that of M. A. in 1617.

Career

After studies he took orders in the Church of England, and served for some years as vicar at Boxted, Essex, though the length of his incumbency is uncertain, owing to the loss of the parish registers.

On November 4, 1629, John Maidstone (Phillips' parishioner) wrote Winthrop stating that Phillips was resolved to go to Massachusetts, and highly commending him. Phillips sailed on the Arbella in April 1630, and there are frequent references to him in Winthrop's Journal. He was one of the seven signers of The Humble Request, which is dated April 7, on the eve of sailing, and which was printed that same year. This noble statement has been attributed to Rev. John White of Dorchester, but there seems to be much better ground for believing that Phillips drafted it.

Phillips went with Winthrop to Charlestown, and thence with Sir Richard Saltonstall to Watertown, where a settlement was begun in the fall of 1630. He presumably drafted the covenant of the Watertown Church, of which he remained minister until his death.

In 1632 he was one of the leaders in the protest made by Watertown against the action of the governor and assistants in arbitrarily levying a tax on the town. He and Richard Brown were summoned to Boston, where the matter was debated. The tax was not remitted, but within three months an election of representatives to the General Court was agreed upon, with the understanding that in future no taxes should be levied without the consent of the Court. To this Watertown protest is rightly traced the beginning of representative government in Massachusetts. Phillips also had a hand in drafting the compilation of laws published in 1641.

He published nothing in his lifetime, but soon after his death a pamphlet by him was printed with a title page beginning A Reply to a Confutation of Some Grounds for Infants Baptisme (1645).

Achievements

• George Phillips was the first minister of the Massachusetts Bay Colony to put into practice the congregational form of church polity. It is claimed that Phillips was the author of the Watertown Covenant signed by the founders of the town, which not only served as an organizing document but also as a declaration of a bill of rights. He also served on the committee of the Massachusetts General Court in the formulation of what became called the Body of Liberties issues in 1641.

Religion

While Phillips was a Puritan, he expressed a greater tolerance and acceptance for differing Protestant thought. While critical of the Church of England, he was not an advocate of full separation. He was a supporter of Infant baptism and was tolerant of Baptist religious views.

Personality

He was a man of learning, and brought an excellent library to Watertown. Although a sturdy independent he was not aggressive, but was notably modest and courteous.

Connections

Phillips married daughter of Richard Sergeant, they had two children. His wife died a few weeks after landing at Salem.

Soon after settling at Watertown he married Elizabeth, probably widow of Capt. Robert Welden, by whom he had seven children. His eldest son, Samuel, became an eminent minister at Rowley, Massachussets, and was the progenitor of Samuel and John Phillips, the founders of the academies at Andover, Massachussets, and Exeter, and of Wendell Phillips.

Father:

Christopher Phillips

Spouse:

Elizabeth Welden

descendant:

Samuel Phillips

descendant:

John Phillips

Son:

Samuel Phillips