Phillips Family Papers

To the South Parish, in Andover, Convend this ~ 21st – day of May anno Dom, 1771

My Dear Brethren, I am informd by your Committee that you have this day Voted to pay me the Sum of Four Hundred & Ten pounds Sevon Shill: & 10% – as Arrears in full of my Salary due to me in the former, years of Ministry among you, I thank you for this Fresh Instance of your Regard to me and to Justice; And as a Token, of this my Gratitude, I Consent that the Sum of One Hundred pounds Lawfl money be Abated of said Sum, to be Improvd for offiring of preaching (however, Short my Life may be). Since the providence of God has taken, me off from my Publick Labours among you. And now Heartily Intreating your Prayers for me I remain your afflicted Friend & Servant. Samuel Phillips.

tho' repeatedly waited on my Uncle, missed of seeing him, and was obliged to come out of town, without my Uncle's seeing the Indenture if not the letter; - they are left for his perusal: - my Father things it best to defer concluding on the first meeting, till his determ'n is known; and if he should decline joining in the [?] is full in sentiment of the expediency of his being one of the Trust: - consequently the meeting cannot be next week; - Tho' it is hardly possible to describe my Solicitude to see the Seminary open'd yet the same reason which prevents the meeting next week, makes it impossible to say with certainty when it will be; till my Uncle gives his answer, which I depend on very speedily, as Mr French proposes to go down on Monday, and in that care, will wait upon him. - I have said nothing of my being one of the honoured nine; because the prospect of its being my Uncle is so great I think it needless. IF my being out of that number would prevent my exerting my small powers to their utmost, for it's welfare I should be mortified; but I conclude it will not: - and to have more than three of the Family (and I could by no means be content to have it tho't I [devine?] a vacancy initiated for so) might be a disadvantae in the view of the World; it is now constructed on an open disinterested Man.. - such an one a, I think must silence the tongue of malice itself; and tho' in hardly any

of Mr S. so fully & fairly & contracts it with that of Mr G's so justly, that it must have a very powerful effect on every candid & unprejudiced reader.

I have been informed, by undoubted authority, that the omission of Mr Gerry's signature, was not owing to his absence, but to his disapprobation of the Constitution. I hope sir that you will favor us with another communication on this subject before election, as your knowledge of the principles & merits of the two Candidates, gives you peculiar advantages in a discusssion of this king.

Please to present my grateful & affectionate regards to Mrs Phillips & believe me to be with high respect & esteem Your obdt sevt J Phillips

This was John Phillips son of Samuel [Illegible]

Dear Madam Nov. 1763 I received a Letter from Betty the 23 instent where in she informs me that Capt Phillips ask’d her whether she had no mony at home, and told her if i pleased it has better be laid out in a Cloke and that you would be so good as to assist her in making it. I have sent her cloke which I suppose is come to her hands before now, if you think that will do with the alteration of a larger Head and trimming I should be glad, as to a winter gown I leave it to you as the chief of her mony is the product of Capt. Phillips, his Bounty, I am senseable there is great oddes between living in town and country and that she is expos’d much more to company, and therefore submit it to your wisdom and prudence. So according to her desire I have sent all her mony and doubt not of your goodness in laying it out most for her advantage I seem well satisfied with her being

under your Care and Example, I am quite obblidged to you both for your kindness to her, I hope she will be agreeable Company for you I desier you would put her upon anything and everything that you would your own. She is capable and I hope willing,

Wishing you the best of Blessings I conclude with my Kindest Regards to yourSelf And Spouse your Affectinate Freind and Humble Servant [Meh] Foxcroft

To Mrs. Phillips

Andover Apl 22 1790 Honoured Sir,

Mr Lakeman has just hinted that my opinion was desired, whether the settlement of a rigid Hopkintonian as a successor to Mr Rogers & his being concerned in the instruction of the Academy, would promote its usefulness? — I wish for more hours than I can now have minutes to write on the subject—but have no hesitation in saying, I should be exceeding slow to say or do any thing that might be construed to favor the affirmative of the question under present views.

Those people who run into extremes in doctrinal points & are exceedingly sanguine in their opinions, unless in cases where our Divine Teacher has removed all grounds of doubt (& in such cases there can be no extremes) do not appear to me calculated to do the most good: our blessed Saviour, when he condescended to

to be an instructor of men, instead of insisting chiefly on those doctrines which his hearers could hardly understand, dwelt on those Duties which are the best evidence of that Love to God & Love to Man, which, it was the great business of his life and death to produce & advance. Can his ministers or any human instructors have a better example? In some instances, the effect of a zealous propagation of the sentiments in question have been truly melancholy. At present, I should greatly fear the consequences to the Academy.

My Father with difficulty rode here today—his strength is failing & flesh wasting. May gracious Heaven prepare us for the event.

Mrs Philips & the children join in most respectful addresses with

your very dutiful Nephew S. Phillips jr.

H. Col Nov 11. 1791

Hon’d Papa,

I received your good Letter, this evening with a pair of fellows and a bundle, where I found a prize – Mama’s letter. From the advice of both those letters may I be enabled to practice. If I am not good, Industrious, & certainly the fault will be mine – for I have had had line upon line, & precept upon precept to which has been added Example. — This is an important consideration, that to whom much is given, of him will much be required. May this sink deep, & make a lasting impression. We do not know how to value our blessings ‘till they are fled.

I enquired for, at Larkins & Hurd’s for Dogs, & they had none & likewise at Mr.Torrey’s – he had none; & aunt Phillips advised me not to purchase any ‘till you came down & she lent me a pair. Tomorrow PM I expect to go to Boston. Perhaps I may find the promise of a horse or if not, perhaps an invitation for next Thursday. Uncle and aunt & captain White & his family are gone to Plimouth & I believe will spend Thanksgiving there. I delivered that money immediately after I arrived in Cambridge to Mr.Pearson. He had not returned. —I dined with Mr.Pearson on Sabath day by his desire & I think I spent my time usefully hearing a very good Sermon.–

Wood is about 22 pr cord & 24— I send a bundle of dirty cloathes with this. In the morning I will go to Mr.Moore’s fir & enquire particularly about the Harness–

Please to give my duty to Mama, & book to Samuel.— My Chum offers his respects he is abed & I am very sleepy, I must go to bed, too, relying on my Gardian GOD to preserve me through the night.

I am Sir, with sentiments of Esteem

& Love — your dutiful Son

John Phillips

Hon. Samuel Phillips

P.S. I have enquired, Sir, of Mr. Moore concerning the Harness & he informs me that that there was no [illegible] there beside yours & Mr. John Heard’s of Ipswich who lives about an half of a Mile from the Court house.

He is distiller— Perhaps, Sir, Mr. Smith when he is going that way can carry it in ye Wagn & exchange—it was owing to the carefulness of Mr. More’s Negro—the harnesses were both taken and put in to a place together.

The bell now sings for Mr. Webber’s Lecture.