Pettus Phillips 1762-1821 My 4th Great Grandfather on my Father's Side

A tobacco field near Baskerville
where I belive Pettus Phillips lived

Like his father-in-law Cluverius Coleman, Pettus Phillip’s name combines his mother’s maiden name
with his father’s surname. Pettus was the son of Martin Phillips and Anne Pettus. He was born in Caroline County, Virginia on October 8, 1762. This date was recorded in his son’s family bible. Caroline County is in Eastern Virginia bounded by the Rappahannock River. The county was formed from portions of Essex, King and Queen, and King William Counties in 1728 – long before the American Revolution.

Pettus was the fifth child born to Martin and Anne. He had three older sisters Mary, Nancy and Sarah and one younger sister, Elizabeth. Plus one older brother Dabney and a younger brother William. I don’t yet have exact birth dates for Phillip’s siblings but believe they were all born between 1752 and 1768.

In 1765, when Pettus was three, his father acquired 200 acres in Mecklenburg County and moved the family south where he continued to expand his holding with several more land purchases.

At nineteen Pettus was appointed to serve as a juror in Mecklenburg during the fourth quarter of 1782. At twenty he was one of the delegates supporting Samuel Goode to represent Mecklenburg County. He was also a delegate for Col. Lewis Burwell. Given his young age, I suspect his elevated stature in the community was based in part on his father’s status.

Marriage document for Pettus and Rebecca

On September 4, 1784, Pettus was a witness to a land transaction executed by Cluverius Coleman. Less than four years later Pettus married Coleman’s daughter Rebecca. Their marriage bonds were dated March 6, 1788, so they would have married a few days after that in Mecklenburg. None of the records I have found so far include clues about where in Mecklenburg Pettus and Rebecca lived. His father owned land along the Reedy Branch – a stream that runs between Baskerville and Antler. It is very likely that Pettus lived in the same vicinity, east of Boydton.

Pettus and Rebecca had at least three children who were named in his will. They were Sally Coleman Phillips, my third great grandmother, John Cluverius Phillips and Nancy Pettus Phillips. In his will Pettus left half of his property to his wife Rebecca and the other half to his son John. Upon Rebecca’s death, John was to receive her half of the land. Pettus also stipulated that Rebecca should receive eleven Negroes, and as much furniture, livestock, and utensils she would need to operate the plantation. The word “plantation” indicates that he owned more than 1000 acres at the time of his death. Given that he was in Mecklenburg and that he owned several slaves, it is reasonable to assume that he grew tobacco.

The red highlight shows the location of
Caroline County where Pettus was born

His daughter Sally received one Negro and $400 and daughter Nancy received the same amount. Everything he left to Rebecca and the rest of his estate were to be equally divided among his three children when she died. Pettus’s will was witnessed by Edward Delany, Wright King and a Pettus Phillips, Jr. His son John Phillips was his executor. Pettus Phillips, Jr. was probably a nephew though I have yet to pin down this relationship.

Pettus signed his will on April 15, 1821, and it was recorded on May 21^st of the same year so Pettus probably died between those two dates.

This is the first part of the will of Pettus Phillips

Sources for this Post: Marriage document, the Will and another probate document, The Land Family by Samuel B. Land researched by Katherine B. Elliott, Mecklenburg deeds, Revolutionary War Records by K. Elliott, Mecklenburg County Deeds by TCL Genealogy, Marriage Records of Mecklenburg by K. Elliott, Early Settlers of Mecklenburg by K. Elliott, Will Book 9 for Mecklenburg, Melba Crosse's Pattillo book, Rootsweb, FamilySerach, and Ancestry.com