My four great grandfather was Evan Phillips who was born in Wales about 1760. Evan married
Jane Unknown about 1782 and died in Belmont County, Ohio by January 1824. Based upon the
name of one of their daughters I suspect Jane’s maiden name was Latimer as this daughter
was named Jane Latimer Phillips.
Evan is shown on the 1785/6, 1790/91 and 1795 Property Tax Lists of Ohio County, Virginia
(currently West Virginia) as well as 1802, 1803 and 1805 Belmont County Tax List with 160
acres in Richland Township. Evan purchased his Belmont County land the sixth day of May,
1799. The transaction and deed were executed in Jefferson County, Ohio. This deed states
that Evan was from the County of Ohio and State of Virginia. Also it states that he paid
five hundred and sixty dollars in cash for the property, which was a large sum of money
for that time.
According to a History of Belmont County Evan, Enoch and John Phillips were early settlers
of Belmont County, Ohio. Evan had sons by these names, but they would have been too young
to be the persons referred to in this History so these men were probably related to Evan
in some way. I have never been able to make any connections. In 1817 a David Phillips
from Loudoun County, Virginia also moved to Belmont County, Ohio. He is possibly another
brother since I feel he is the David Phillips who was a witness for Jane Phillips’ Will..
At the time of his death Evan still owned the 160 acres of land in Richland Township,
Belmont County, Ohio. His son Enoch who had moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, preceded him
in death.
Evan’s wife, Jane was born between 1775 and 1794 based upon the 1820 Belmont, Ohio census.
She died before June 1825 in Belmont County, Ohio.
I have a great deal of information on my Phillips ancestors posted on the Belmont and
Guernsey County, Ohio GENWEB sites if more information is desired.
I would love to communicate with any descendants of these two people and would especially
like to know who their ancestors were.