PHILLIPS, Major James, Boston, 31 March, ae. 85 yrs., 10 mos., 17 ds. He was of the old puritan stock, a descendant, of the sixth generation, from Peregrine White, the first born of the Plymouth colony. He was emphatically a Bostonian, having never resided out of Boston, except when the family were driven away for a time during the revolutionary war, and for a short period when at school at Andover. He was nevermore than forty miles from Boston, and never out of his native state.
His father, a respectable shipmaster was lost at sea when he was a youth, and he became apprentice to a mechanic. Unlike apprentices of the present day, he served a full term, and was master of his business. This he pursued successfully for about thirty years, in the mean time being often called upon to perform public duties. In 1819 or 1820, he was appointed master of the alms house in Leverett street, which he superintended with great kindness and acceptance, until the establishment was given up in 1825. Soon after he accepted the situation of clerk to the overseers of the Poor, in which service he has continued until within a few weeks, when prevented by the infirmities of age. For more than a quarter of a century he has been one of the earliest city officials found at the post of duty, and with exact habits might daily be seen crossing the common at one o'clock on his way to dinner. He was the last original member of the Mass. Charitable Fire Society. A. S.
Source: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register and Antiquarian Journal, Volume VII, by The New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1853; Pg. 294
