Richard Phillips

HAIRSTON.org ID#7195, b. about 1727
Birth*Richard Phillips was born about 1727. 
County Name1744 - Albemarle County from Goochland. 
Survey*On October 27,1749, Richard Phillips obtains a survey of 400 acres on both sides of Possum Creek of the Fluvanna river in Albemarle County. - Albemarle Plat Book 1, Part 2, page 100. FSL #008152047 image 58. (Note: Capt. Charles Lynch has 350 acres surveyed on 28 October 1749 that is adjacent to Richard Phillip's land).1
Court RecordIn the September 1752 Goochland County court records, the court request that a complaint relating to the Last Will & Testament of Nicholas Meriwether be elevated to a higher court. Nicholas Meriwether was the father of Elizabeth Meriwether, wife of Col. Robert Lewis. Capt. Robert Lewis owned land next to Peter Hairston and Richard Philips is listed in this complaint. - Goochland County Court Records, Order Book 7, page 172. FSL #007898187 image 108. 
Court Record*On 9 October 1752, Richard Phillips witnessed Charles Lynch signing his will. (Capt. Charles Lynch was a neighbor of Richard Phillips on Possum Creek. His will was filed in court 10 May 1753.) - Albemarle Will Book 2, page 8. FSL #7643846 image 16. 
County Name1753 - Bedford County from Albemarle. 
Court RecordOn 14 February 1754, Richard Phillips, Chales Cafery and Samuel Hairston submitted an estate inventory to the Albemarle Court. (it appears those pages are missing from the will book). - Will Book 2 1798-1809, pages 13 - 13a. FSL #7643846, images 232 - 233. 
SurveyOn November 2, 1754, Richard Phillips has 59 acres surveyed on both sides of Possom Creek in Albemarle County, Virginia. This is land next to his own land. On the same day, Richard Phillips has 172 acres on the North Branch of Possom Creek surveyed. This land is adjacent his own land and that of Charles Caffery. - Albemarle Plat Book 1, Part 1, page 294. FSL #8151807 image 85.1
Court Record*On 26 November 1754, Bedford County November Court, "The letter of Rich Phillips for a road granted according to letter of Samuel Harstone is approved. Surveyor from where Callaway bounds leave to the Blackwater Road below the Long Mountain and all the persons from John Cantler down Black Water including ? Bollings & John Harvy's hands to north on the same under the said Harstone and John Beard is approved. Overseer from the Conter Springs to the extent of the County downwards and the Hands convenient thereto to work on the same." - Bedford Court Order Book 1a, page 37. FSL #8141117 image 9. - Also on 26 November 1754, Bedford County November Court, Richard Phillips petitions to have a road clear from Bedford Courthouse into Blackwater Road. Samuel Hairston, Gent. is appointed surveyor for this road. - Bedford Court Order Book 1a, page 37. FSL #008141117 image 25.2
NOTE*On 10 September 1755, Samuel Hairston and John Caffery obtain land on Beaver Creek in Albemarle County. On 16 August 1756, Charles Caffery obtains 400 acres on Beaver and Possum Creeks. Richard Phillips acquires 59 and 172 acres on Possom Creek in 1764.3 
Grant On 10 September 1755, Richard Phillips obtained a grant for 400 acres on both sides of Possum Creek, a branch of the Fluvanna river in Albemarle County, Virginia. On the same day, Robert Hairston obtained a patent for 300 acres in Albemarle. - Virginia Patent Book 31, page 583. FSL #8140675 image 585.4
DeedOn 22 November 1756, Richard Phillips purchases from Thomas Cooper 50 acres on both sides of Possum Creek begining at Cooper's corner on North side of creek for 5 pounds. This property was later sold on November 23, 1778. - Bedford County Deed Book 1, Page 99. FSL #008190021 image 63. Note: This deed is mentioned in the 29 June 1785 deed between William Williamson and Higgson Cox. - Campbell County Deed Boob2, page 79. FSL #8141162, image 51.5 
Court RecordOn 23 may 1757, Rich. Phillips is selected for a jury in Bedford county. Samuel Hairston is a presiding justice. - Bedford Order Book 1B, page 75. FSL #008141117, image 43. 
Military*1758 Bedford, Virginia, - Richard Phillips is in the Bedford County Militia during the French & Indian War. Also listed from Bedford are Samuel Hairston, Robert Hairston and Andrew Hairston.6,7 
Court RecordOn 28 November 1759, Christian Irvine is appointed survery in the room of Richard Phillips. "In the room" means that Irvine is replacing Phillips as the surveyor.- Bedford Order Book 3, page 582. 
Court RecordOn 25 & 26 May 1762, Rich. Phillips is listed on a jury in Bedford county. - Bedford Order Book 2, page 36 & 44. FSL #008141117, image 23 & 27. 
Marriage*He married Eleanor Hairston, daughter of Peter Hairston "The Immigrant" and Agnes (surname unknown), before 1763.8 
DeedOn 26 July 1763, Robert Hairston records a deed for 300 acres of land from Thomas Cooper on Possum Creek. This land is adjacent (Richard) Phillip's land. Witnesses are Samuel Hairston, Andrew Hairston and Elizabeth Hairston. - Bedford County Deed Book B-2, pages 397-399. FSL #007846222 image 339 or 342 & #008190021, image 208-209.9
Grant On 1 August 1764, Richar Phillips received a grant for 114 acres. This was gathered from deed when he sold the land on 1 May 1778 - Bedford County Deed Book 6, page 114. FSL #7842541 image 75. 
Patent/Warrant On 15 August 1764, Richard Phillips obtains a Patent for 172 acres on the branches of Possum Creek in Bedford County on 15 Aug 1764. This land is adjacent his own land and that of Charles Caffery. - Patent Book 36, page 650. FSL #008570223 image 114. (Note: another adjacent land owner is William Ferrall.)10
NOTEWilliam Ferrall obtains a patent for 485 acres adjacent to Richard Phillips and Charles Caffry on Beaver Creek in Bedford County on 15 August 1764. Patent Book 36, page 615.10 
Patent/Warrant On 15 August 1764, Richard Phillips obtains a grant for 59 acres on Possom Creek in Bedford County. - Virginia Land Patents #36, page 649. FSL #8570223 image 113. 
Court RecordOn 24 May 1768, Richard Phillips is appointed surveyor of the road in the room of Robert Russel. Richard Phillips replaced Russel as surveyor. - Bedford Order Book 3, page 428. FSL #008141117, image 232. 
Court RecordOn 16 July 1768, Richard Phillips, Samuel Hairston, Robert Hairston and Hugh Hairston witness the signing of a deed between Thomas Morris and Robert Harper. - Bedford Deed Book 3, page 250. FSL #008358458 image 136.
DeedOn 25 July 1773, George Stovall Jr., and his wife Mary, sells 400 acres on Possum Creek, adjacent to Richard Phillips land, to William James for 200 pounds. - Bedford Deed Book 5, page 105-106. FSL #007842541, image 83. 
DeedOn 25 July 1773, George Stovall Jr. sold land to William James in Bedford county. This land was listed as adjacent Richard Phiilips and Possom Creek. - Bedford County Deed Book 5, page 105. FSL #007842541 image 83. 
DeedOn 25 March 1776, John Forbes buys from William and Margaret James, a tract of land on Possum Creek adjacent Richard Phillips. The deed is witnessed by Samuel Hairston. - Bedford Deed Book 5, page 387. FSL #007842541, image 226. 
DeedOn 1 May 1778, Richard Phillips sells to Alexander Butler, 114 acresand 50 acres in Bedford County. The 114 acres was originally granted to Richard Phillips on 1 August 1764 and he purchased the 50 acres in 1756 from Thomas Cooper. - Bedford County Deed Book 6, page 114. FSL #007842541 image 75.
DeedOn 23 November 1778 in Bedford County, Richard Phillips and his wife Eleanor sell 395 acres of land on Possum Creek to William Williamson for 395 pounds. Both Richard and his wife Eleanor sign the deed. - Bedford County Deed Book 6 page 164. FSL #007842541 image 415 or 100. 
DeedOn 25 January 1779 in Bedford County, Richard Phillips sells 172 acres of land on Possum Creek to Peter Williamson. However, his wife Eleanor is not mentioned in this deed and she does not sign the deed. - Bedford County Deed Book 6 page 166-167. FSL #007842541 image 101 or 416.
SurveyOn May 19, 1780, Richard Phillips has a survey made of 185 acres adjoining the south side of the Rivanna river in Albemarle County. This land is adjacent Thomas Carr, Martin Hawkins and James Burnet. - Albemarle Surveyors Plat Book 1, Part 2, page 130. FSL #008152047 image 417.11
County Name*1781 - Campbell County from Bedfrod. 
Grant On 1 May 1781, Richard Phillips receives a grant for 185 acres in Albemarle County on the South side of the Rivanna river adjoining lands of Thomas Carr, Martin Hawkins and Joseph Burnett. - Virginia Grant Book C, page. 511.11
Tax RollsRichard Phillips was listed on the 1783 Albemarle County tax rolls - 1 free male and 5 head of cattle. - FSL #7846292 image 44. 
Court RecordOn 4 September 1783, In the case of Alexander Boteler vs. William Williamson. "This day came the parties by their Attorneys and on the Motion of the Deft by his Attorney leave is granted to take the Deposition of Richard Phillips living in the State of Georgia giving the Plaintiff: Agal - Notice of the time and place of taking such Deposition.". The next item on the court document was "An Indenture of Bargain and Sale Between Elizabeth Hairston Admin. & executor of Andrew Hairston dec'd., Alexander Forbes and Jenny his wife, Matthew Amos and Catharine his wife, Samuel Amos and Elanor his wife, Prisscilla Hairston, Margaret Hairston and Susanna Hairston legatees of the said Andrew Hairston Dec'd. of the one part and James Shearer of the other Part, together with the receit thereon indorsed were acknowledged by Elizabeth Hairston, Jenny Forbes, Matthew Amos, Priscilla Hairston and Margaret Hairston." - Campbell County Court Order Book 1, 1782-1785, pages 226-227. FSL #8249512, image 138. 
Tax RollsRichard Phillips was listed on the 1784 Albemarle County tax rolls - 1 free male, 6 head of cattle and 1 mare, colt or mule. This is the last time Richard Phillips appears in Albemarle tax rolls. - FSL #7846292 image 59. 
DeedOn October 13, 1785, Richard Phillips sold about 100 acres in Albemarle County to James Epperson. Witnessed by Richard Robinson, Edward Butler, and William Adcock. - Albemarle Deed Book 9, pages 148. FSL #007893701, image 82.
Residence*Richard Phillips appears to have moved from Virginia to Georgia to be with his son and daughter. 
SurveyOn 4 July 1787, 300 acres in Franklin county are surveyed for Richard Phillips. - Georgia, Franklin Co. Headrights. FSL #4725694 image 145.
Grant Richard Phillips obtains Grant #572 for 300 acres in Franklin county from the State of Georgia on 29 October 1789. Land is bounding " North Westwardly by Howards and vacant land and on all other sides by vacant lands". Samuel Phillips obtains Grant #573 on the same day. - Georgia, Headright and Bounty Land Records. FSL #8152484 image 520. 
DeedOn 15 June 1790, Richard Phillips of Wither County, Georgia, sells 300 acres of land in Franklin County to Isaiah Harbour. The deed is witnessed by Samuel Phillips, his mark. The deed was recorded on 3 December 1791. _ Franklin Deed Book C, page 231. FSL #007834372 image 138-139.
SurveyAn 1801 survey for Joseph Goodman refers to old records as follows, " This is a plat of 15 1/2 acres of land lying in Albemarle on the south side of the North river being part of Richard Phillips's tract of land sold for the payment of taxes by the Sheriff of Albemarle to Charles Goodman who asigned his title to Joseph Goodman for whom it is now surveyed March 13th, 1801 Wm. Woods". - FSL #8151807 image 160.1
NOTE*GENEALOGY NOTES & THOUGHTS: In trying to determine the parents of Samuel and Jane Phillips, listed in Samuel Hairston's 1782 will, I found a Richard Phillips that lived close to the Hairstons in Albemarle County, Virginia. Richard Phillips, Samuel Hairston, Robert Hairston and Hugh Hairston were witnesses to a deed in Bedford County on February 28, 1769. Richard Phillip's wife was named Eleanor and she signed a November 23, 1778 deed with her husband. However, two months later she did not sign a January 26, 1779 deed, only Richard Phillips signed it. Richard Phillips and wife Eleanor, Robert Hairston and wife Ruth Stovall, George Stovall Jr., John Forbes all had land on Possum Creek.

Samuel and Jane Phillips, Samuel Hairston's nephew and niece, moved to Franklin County, Georgia sometime between 1777 and 1784.

Is it possible that Eleanor, the wife of Richard Phillips, was a sister of the brothers Andrew, Samuel and Robert Hairston? Samuel Hairston did not list a sister in his 1782 will, he only mentioned his Niece Jane Phillips and Nephew Samuel Phillips. This leads me to believe that his sister, the mother of Jane and Samuel, had died before his 1782 will. Eleanor Phillips did not sign the 1779 deed and may have already died. Sometimes wives signed a seperate document cocerning dower that was not recorded by the court clerk.

This is possible, but it is NOT PROOF.

On 15 June 1790, a Richard Phillips, of Wilkes County Georgia, sells 300 acres in Franklin Co., Georgia to Isaiah Harbour. A Samuel Phillips is a witness to this deed. Franklin County Deed 1786-94 page31. FSL #7834372 image 138. 
NOTEGENEALOGY NOTES:

1. The 1782 will of Samuel Hairston mentions a nephew Samuel Phillips and a niece Jane Phillips. It appears that Samuel Hairston never married, so he did not have nieces and nephews by a wife. Therefore, Jane and Samuel Phillips would have been children of a sister who married a Mr. Phillips.

2. The wills of Samuel Hairston's brothers, Andrew and Robert, do not mention Jane Phillips. However, Andrew and Robert each named a daughter Jane and it appears their newly discovered sister did the same.

3. The Samuel Hairston's probate records mention that his niece Jane Phillips married Jonathan Jackson Hays. Jonathan, his wife Jane and her brother Samuel are found in Franklin Co., Georgia in 1784.

4. A Richard Phillips lived near Robert Hairston and Samuel Hairston in Virginia. Richard Phillips was in the Bedford Militia with Samuel, Robert and Andrew. In 1754 Richard Phillips requested that a road be cleared, and Samuel Hairston was appointed the surveyor. On 10 September 1755, Richard Phillips and Robert Hairston purchased Virginia Patents in Albemarle. In 1769, Samuel Hairston, Robert Hairston, and Richard Phillips witnessed the same deed.

5. The wife of Richard Phillips was named Eleanor. Richard and Eleanor Phillips sold their Virginia properties between 1778 and 1785. Richard appears in Franklin, Georgia in 1789.

6. Samuel and sister Jane, listed in Samuel Hairston's will, were buying land in Franklin, Georgia starting in 1784. In 1789, Richard Phillips and Samuel Phillips obtained Georgia Land Grants #572 and #573 on the same day. In 1790, Richard Phillips bought land in Franklin, Georgia and Samuel Phillips was a witness to the deed.

More information is required, as this is not absolute proof that Eleanor Phillips, wife of Richard Phillips, is the mother of Samuel and Jane Phillips.12,8,13,14 

Family

Eleanor Hairston
Children
ChartsDescendant Chart
Descendant Chart Box

Sources (www.HAIRSTON.org)

  1. [S3094] Grundset, Eric. Land Lying in the County of Albemarle: Albemarle County, Virginia Surveyor's Plat Books, Volumes 1, Part Land 2, and Volume 2, 1744-1853, [and 1892]. Fairfax, Va: E.G. Grundset, 1998. Print., Library of Virginia.
  2. [S3089] Bedford County, Virginia Order Book 1, 1754-1761. Miami Beach, FL: T.L.C. Genealogy, 2000. Print., Library of Virginia.
  3. [S3122] Hudgins, Denis R. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants : Volume Five, 1741-1749. Richmond, Va: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1994. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
  4. [S3736] Grundset, Eric G., & Grundset, Paula Hollis, Central Virginia Land Patents from #The County Abstracts" for Goochland, Albemarle, Cumberland, Buckingham, and Amherst Counties in the Virginia Land Office 1735-1774, 1999, Fairfax, Va., Library of Virginia.
  5. [S3090] Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Va Deed Book A-1, 1754-1762. Signal Mountain, TN (P.O. Box 400, Signal Mountain 37377: Mountain Press, 1987. Print., Library of Virginia.
  6. [S3450] Hening, William Waller - The Statutes at Large; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature in the year 1619. Richmond, 1810-1823. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hxh5u8, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  7. [S3404] Historical Sketch of Bedford County, Virginia: 1753. 1907. Lynchburg, Va.: J. P. Bell co., inc., printers, 1907. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/loc.ark:/13960/t42r4938j, Hathi Trust Digital Library.
  8. [S101] Will & Probate of Samuel Hairston - 1782, Campbell County Will Book #1, page 6, Library of Virginia.
  9. [S3092] Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia Deed Book B-2, 1761-1766. Signal Mountain, TN (P.O. Box 400, Signal Mountain 37377: Mountain Press, 1992. Print., Library of Virginia.
  10. [S3124] Hudgins, Dennis R. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants : Volume Seven, 1762-1776. Richmond, Va: Virginia Genealogical Society, 1999. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
  11. [S3125] Hudgins, Dennis R. Cavaliers and Pioneers: Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents and Grants : Volume Eight, 1779-1782. Richmond, Va: Virginia Genealogical Society, 2005. Print., Personal Collection - printed book.
  12. [S3108] Chilton, Ann. Bedford County, Virginia Deed Book C-3, Signal Mountain, TN (P.O. Box 400, Signal Mountain 37377: Mountain Press, 1992. Print., Library of Virginia.
  13. [S121] Will of Robert Hairston 26 May 1790, Franklin County, Virginia Will Book #1, pages 70-71. FSL #7644994, images 69-70. Inventory & Appraisel record February 1793. Will Book #1, pages 85-87, 1786-1812. FSL #7644994, images 77-78. Family Search Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.
  14. [S122] Will Andrew Hairston dated 8 Aug 1777, was proved in Campbell County Will Book #1, page 4-6, 6 June 1782. Inventory & Apprasial recorded 6 Mar. 1783, Will Book 1, pages 23-24 (Reel 19), Library of Virginia.
Last Edited19 Dec 2025