OBITUARY.
Phillips.—George S. Phillips, of Smithtown, L. I., a descendant in the seventh generation from the Rev. George, the early settler of Watertown, Mass., and in the fifth generation from the Rev. George, of Brookhaven, L. I., died at the old paternal homestead, at the head of the Nipequogue River, on the seventeenth day of January last, at a very advanced age. The early development of the family in America appears in much detail in Bond's "History of Watertown," with only a partial sketch of this Long Island branch, which is more fully given in Thompson's " History of Long Island," Vol. II., p. 459. The recent splendid genealogy of the Whitney Family gives a convenient chart at its No. 1589, and sketches many descendants of this branch. But this Mr. Phillips has left no descendants, and had neither brother nor sister. He showed his appreciation of genealogy by being a constant reader of our Record, and filled his place and duty as a country gentleman by constant and careful attention to the various duties which his neighbors and friends were free to impose upon him. We are in danger of being tedious by attempting to recite them. In 1819 he was appointed postmaster, as his father had been before him, and he held this nineteen years. He was first an inspector, and afterward a commissioner of schools. In 1827 he was chosen a justice of the peace, and this office he held twelve years. In 1828 he was supervisor, and he held the office, with intermissions, about twenty-three years. In 1831 or 1835 he was a member of Assembly, an office long previously held by his father. In 1837 he was chosen county clerk for three years. These various positions and others he faithfully filled.
The use of careful genealogical accounts of a family is made patent to the lawyers' by the legal forms required to prove his will. All his heirs are entitled to notice. One sister of his father had eight children who left descendants. Several of these had large families, which are scattered all over the country. It is found no light task to enumerate and name them, with their residences, and say which are under age. His aged widow, who has seen very few of them, finds this difficulty in the way of enjoying his provision for her comfort. We mention it to caution others.
-M.
Source: The New York Genealogical And Biographical Record, by New York Genealogical Society, Volume XII, April, 1881; Pg. 100
