The bulk of this information is from private research of Snyder E. Roberts, a descendant. I have added a few misc. dates and children from other sources. I urge you to confirm and document for yourself with public records.
There are a lot of loose ends still to be researched--particularly the death dates of Clemmons and his wives. There are also conflicting opinions on the birth dates of some of the children and where born.
Please, please. Do your own research and share your findings if different to what is shown here. I cannot possibly study this entire family. PatMc
Generation No. 1
1. Clemmons Phillips was born 18 Feb 1763 in Dobbs Co. NC, and died in Morgan TN. He married (1) Agnes Turner 11 Jul 1787 in Greene Co, NC/TN. He married (2) Drusilla Prewitt 16 Jul 1811 in Roane Co, TN John W. Bowers sec. Death date for either wife not known, nor have any other marriage/divorce records been found to date.
Clemmons died sometime after 1840, probably in Morgan County, TN. He appears on the 1830 and 1840 Morgan County, TN census with wife and some children. Place of burial unknown.
Notes for Clemmons Phillips
East TN Surveys, 1807-1812
CLEMMONS PHILLIPS s#149 4-13-1808 #268 3-21-1808 20 acres on west side of Little Emerys River. SCC: James Dearman, Reuben Phillips. Recorded 6-15-1808. Lifted by said Phillips 2-9-1809
REUBEN PHILLIPS S#595 6-19-1812 E#353 11-29-1808 20 acres on east side of Little Emery River. SCC: John W. Bower, James Bower. Recorded 8-25-1812. Transferred to Wm. Bower and lifted by him 3-31-1814.
(From 1991 research papers of Snyder E. Roberts, a descendant)
On the October 10, 1832 session of the Morgan County, TN Court of Pleas and Quarter Session with John M. Davis presiding, Clemmons Phillips presented a declaration in application for a Revolutionary War pension. In the declaration Clemmons states that he was born in Dobbs County, NC on Feb 18, 1763 and this date was copied from his father's record. He was living in Ansel County, NC in 1779. He volunteered for military service between Dec 15, 1779 and January of 1780, and re-enlisted for a second tour of duty in November 1780. In one place he was listed as "Private" and another place as, "Ranger." His officers were Capt. PATRICK BOGAN, Major JOHN JACKSON, and Col. THOMAS WAYDE.
On Jan 1, 1781, he was verbally discharged by his Captain Bogan as the second tour of duty had expired. After his military service, he made several moves which are mentioned in the declaration. In October 1781, he moved from NC to Greene County, NC (later TN), and lived there 9 years before moving to Jefferson County, TN where he lived for 8 years. He then moved to Roane County, TN, where he lived for 14 years before moving to the state of MO where he lived for 18 months. He then returned to Roane County, TN where he lived for 3 years before moving to Morgan County, TN. His declaration ends with affidavit by JAMES ROBINSON and DANIEL LAVENDER, residents of Morgan County. On the front of the declaration is a printed form, filled in with the number 13995, and says "Recorded on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of $20 per C, March 4, 1834."
It appears that Clemmons Phillips and family came to Roane County about 1798 or 1799. His name does not appear on the ineffectual 1799 petition to form Roane County, but is listed on the effectual petition of 1801. In 1802 he is listed in Capt. GRAY SIMS' Militia Company.
In 1806, Roane County Deed Book B, page 200, it shows he bought 50 acres of land on Little Emory River from WILLIE BLOUNT of Montgomery County, TN. Willie Blount was a half-brother to former Governor William Blount who died about 1800, and this tract was probably a part of a 5000 acre grant once owned by Gov. William Blount, and most of which was later owned by his half-brother, Willie Blount.
In 1807, Clemmons was one of the purchasers at the sale of deceased State Senator George McPherson's estate. His name appears on Roane records for next several years, and then in 1821 he bought land in Morgan County. Morgan County Deed Book C, p 69. He is on 1830 Morgan County census, with wife, 4 daughters, and one son. Same census shows his son, Thrower Phillips.
There is some confusion as to his marriages, and "sets" of children. He married AGNES TURNER on July 11, 1787 in Greene County. He would have been 24. There were at least six children by this marriage, and very likely a seventh child. This seventh child named Joseph Phillips is definitely the son of Clemmons, but by which wife is a source of controversy. Possibly first wife died at his birth.
Two possible children of Clemmons Phillips, Sr. by the first wife are: REBECCAH PHILLIPS who married Robert Hewitt in Roane County 3-3-1810. ELIZABETH PHILLIPS who married William Bowers 6-7-1814 in Roane County .
Druscilla Prewitt Phillips married WILLIAM MAYBERRY in 15 Feb 1843, Meigs County. No further research on this couple. Prewitt/Pruitt family researchers say she was daughter of Charles, a Rev. War soldier, and was born 1791 Roane.
There has long been a "rumor" that Clemmons Phillips had a third wife, Martha Moore. Supposedly married between 1815 and 1823, but no records have been found. Letter from a researcher to S. E. Roberts: "A granddaughter of Clemmons always said that Clemmons had married a Martha Moore. Well, a little later and research for quite a few years, we found out that she had her grandpa's mixed up. Her grandpa Simmons had married Martha Moore in Orange County, NC, so we are back to the two marriages."
Possible brothers of Clemmons Phillips: "Anson County, NC court records show a Reubin Phillips died in 1776, and left these children-John, Benjamin, James, Reubin, Thomas, Lewis, Solomon and Clemment." We have not researched this further, but it provides a clue as to the family of the Roane County TN Clemmons.
Children of Clemmons Phillips and Agnes Turner are:
[There is conflicting information on the year of birth for Joseph and Isaiah, which might make a difference in mother--but both are children of Clemmons]
Children of Clemmon Phillips and Drusilla Prewitt are:
Generation No. 2
2. Reubin2 Phillips (Clemmon1) was born Abt. 1788. He married (1) Kitty Weems Bowers 1810. He married (2) Anne Sutton Fike 22 Nov 1835 in Rhea Co, TN by Rev. M. H. Sellers.
Children of Reubin Phillips and Kitty Bowers are:
Children of Reubin Phillips and Anne Fike are:
3. Throaer2 Phillips (Clemmon1) was born Abt. 1790. D. 1843. He married Rosannah.
This guy's first name gets spelled several ways in Roane Records. A descendant informs me his name was THOMAS THROAR PHILLIPS
Children of Thrower Phillips and Rosannah are:
The 1850 Roane Census, hh#1518, depicts Rosannah Phillips 55 NC, John 25 TN, Emaline (Davis) 22, Linsey (male) 19.
6. Jacob2 Phillips (Clemmon1) was born 28 Oct 1804, and died 14 Feb 1876. He married Jane Miller 25 Jul 1827 in Roane County, TN. descendant: Coleen JSull95666@aol.com
Children of Jacob Phillips and Jane Miller are:
Susan Mueller susanmueller@uniserve.com contributed information on Emaline:
Emeline (Emaline) Phillips married John Still Curl 4 March 1859 In Cedar Co., Missouri by JP Thomas Holman. Marriage registered in Cedar Co Mo. Children of John Still Curl and Emeline Phillips;
William Alexander Curl b 1860
Lucinda F Curl b 1862
Malinda A Curl b 1865
The Children were born in Madison, Twp, Cedar Co., Missouri
John Still Curl died in 1868
Emeline Phillips married 2nd Dr. William Wilkerson 10 Nov 1869 by JP Thomas Baker.
Information from Marriage records in Cedar and Polk Co MO. 1850 1860 Census Cedar Co Mo....John Still Curl Probate..Cedar Co Mo.
Nancy A Phillips , Daughter of Jacob Phillips and Jane Miller.
Nancy Phillips married George Washington Curl 15 Feb 1855 in Cedar Co., Missouri. Nancy died 9 Oct 1857 in Cedar Co., Missouri. She is buried at Lindy Prairie Cemetery. George Washington Curl and Nancy A Phillips had three children. Mary A. born 15 Nov 1855, Noah b. 16 Dec 1856 died 19 June 1857 John Williams b.1857.
Question. I have a Mary Phillips married to James Frank Galyan. Parents to LeNora E Galyan, who married William Henry Curl. I do not know if this is the same family or not?
11. Isaiah2 Phillips , Sr. (Clemmon1) was born 16 May 1812, and died 04 Jul 1893. He married (1) Martha Solomon Abt. 1833 probably in Morgan Co. TN. He married (2) Mahala Henderson.
Civil War papers description: Five feet nine inches tall, dark complexion, dark hair, blue eyes. Isaiah Phillips 37 TN, Martha and all these children except youngest, appear in 1850 Roane census, hh#1570
Children of Isaiah Phillips and Martha Solomon are:
15. Mariah2 Phillips (Clemmon1) was born 9 Mar 1825. She married (1) Reason Ballew in April 10, 1844 Roane. She married (2) . Morris Adkins in May 10, 1851 Roane.
In 1850 Roane, hh#1564, James Russell 38 and Peggy Russell (McKnight) 30, have several children and MARIAH PHILLIPS 26. This certainly looks like our Mariah, but we have no explanation for what happened to first husband, or the relationship--if any--of Russells.
In hh#1566 is Morris Adkisson 45 VA, Charles 16 TN, Rebecca 67 VA, Jane 33 VA. Further research might show this man to be Mariah's second husband, called ADKINS in 1860.
In hh#1563 and #1567 are PRUETT families--Drucilla's brother Elisha Pruett, and his son, Micajah Pruett. In hh#1570 is Mariah's brother, Isaiah Phillips 37 TN and family.
It appears that Morris Adkins was a Civil War casualty in 1866. No explanation for little Drucilla's date of birth.
1860 Roane, 16th District, #1905-1763 shows Morris Adkins 30 TN, Mariah 28 TN, Alx. 5, Henry H. 2, Rebecca J. 1, and Jane 30 next door to James Russell. Age does not match the 1850 Morris Adkisson, so this needs much more digging.
1870 Roane, 17th District, #151-149, Mariah Adkins 60, Henry H. 16, Alex 14, Clemons 5, Drucilla 6/12 (b. November)
Children of Mariah Phillips and Morris Adkins are:(per census records)
Marriage records show that a Clemmons Adkins married Furbie Braden in 1899 Anderson Co. TN, and a Drucilla Adkins married Richard Laramore in 1888 Roane. No further research to date. Those unusual names are surely the children of Mariah. Other Adkins marriages are shown for people with the given names of the older children, but no proof yet.
16. Leanna2 Phillips (Clemmon1) was born 26 Nov 1827. She married John Matney.
Children of Leanna Phillips and John Matney are:
Email from descendant, Dianna Milby, February 22, 2003, smmarcum@qx.net (She has additional information.)
The information that my mother and I have on Leanna Phillips Matney came from her father, Leanna's Great Grandson, and he was my Grandfather. Though he was a small boy he had some of the dates and things written in a family Bible, we believe. This is the information that we have, and you may post it on the site as you wish.
LeAnna Phillips was born 26 Nov. 1827 in Morgan Co. Tenn and she married John Walter Matney sometime in the year 1848 in Tenn. We believe she was either his second or third wife, but are unable to figure out which.
John Walter Matney was born April 9, 1818 in Tenn or Alabama. To this union was born eight children. They go as follows:
(1) Margaret Matney was born in either 1849 or 1850 and she married a Price, but we don't know a date or first name of the marriage.
(2) John Thomas Matney born in 1852 and on 6 Jan 1876 married a Mandy Russell Parnell. John Thomas died 20 Feb 1931.
(3) George Washington Matney (My direct line) was born in 1854. He married Mary Coffey on the 8 Dec 1872. He died on Oct 21st 1938. We have a picture of George Washington and his wife. There is also an interesting story about him that I will attach at the end of this.
(4) Leanna Clementine Matney was born in 1860 and all we know about her is that she married a Rogers.
(5) Robert Elexander Matney was born the 28th of June 1865 and married a Sarah Norris.Later on Robert married a Zadie Young. (No dates available.) Robert died Nov 27th 1938
(6) Mandy Ellen Matney was born 11 aug 1867, and married George Moss. She died 1 Dec. 1924
(7) Moses Porterfield "Porter" Matney was born April 1868 or 1870. He never married and died on 24 Jan 1925.
(8) William Albert "Billy" Matney was born 14 Feb 1869, and married Katherine Rodgers. He died 3 Nov. 1940.
The first three children were born in Roane CO. Tenn, and the last five were born in Adair Co. KY.
Leanna Phillips Matney is buried in Adair Co. KY at the MacKeltner Cemetery. She died Nov 25th 1926. An interesting story about Leanna Phillips Matney that has been passed down in our family goes like this. She traveled to Kentucky in a covered wagon pulled by oxen. At the tender age of seven she started chewing tobacco. Then when she was only twelve years old she got married and had her first child when she was thirteen. In later years when her Grandchildren were around she'd tell them that she was a witch to scare them into leaving her alone. She was reported buried on her ninety-ninth birthday.
That story came from my Grandfather, who said he could remember his Great Grandmother when he was a little boy, and that he remembered going to her funeral. He also said that she scared him to death.
Information on George Washington Matney, son of John Walter and Leanna Phillips Matney.
George "Geo" Washington Matney was born 1853 or 54 in Tenn. He married Mary Coffey Dec 8, 1872 in Adair Co. KY. He died Oct 31st, 1938 and was buried in the Exie Lee Cemetery in Green CO. Ky.
Mary Coffey was born in 1857 to Marshall and Jenny Silky Coffey of Adair County. She died 14 Feb 1917 and was buried in the Lee Cemetery in Green Co. KY.
They had five children:
1) Willie in 1874 who married Mattie Rock. Willie died 18 Dec 1941. Willie married a second time to Pearl Garmant
2.) Lewis Maynard was born 14 July 1877 and married Dorinda Neagle on 11 May 1904. Lewis Died on Oct 14, 1938. Eight children.
3.) Leonor no dates on her birth or death, but she married a Haskell Ward.
4.) Kitty who married a Alford King (Dates unknown)
5.) Mary E. who was born in 1878
George's second marriage was to Nettie Pearl England on 14 Nov. 1918. From this marriage came five children. Who were later adopted out. (story below.) Names by children in ( ) is their adopted family name.
James Albert (Bloyd), Josephine (Gray) , Jessie (Johnson), Louvenia (Hyatt) ,Mattie Jane (Jenkins) ,Nettie died 28 Oct 1987.
Now about George Washington Matney, (MY Great-Great Grandfather). George Washington married a women by the name of Nettie Pearl England after his first wife died. Adding to the five children that George Washington had by his first wife, Mary Coffee, George and Nettie had five more.
1.) James Albert 2.) Josephine 3.) Jessie 4.) Louvenia 5.) Mattie Jane.
Well George and Nettie separated and George came to live with his son from his first marriage, Lewis Matney, and his family. At the time Lewis and Dorinda, Lewis's wife, still had three of four children of their own at home. They were unable to care for all the extra children that George brought with him. For George and Nettie had five small children at the time of their separation. So it was decided that George's children would go to the orphanage.
Lewis and Gracie, his daughter, took the children by wagon into Greensburt where they were taken and placed in an orphan's home in Louisville. They were all adopted out from there at some point in time. George lived the rest of his life with Lewis and Lewis's family. He died seventeen days after his son Lewis sitting at the breakfast table.
When George's adopted children were older they came to Greensburg and contacted George's niece. Some of the family met their lost relatives for one time only. As far as we know none of the children ever came back to Green County to see their blood relatives again.
Generation No. 3
18. Smith3 Phillips
(Reubin2, Clemmon1) was born 1811, and died 1875 in Roane Co. TN.
+Francis COFER b: Abt. 1808 m: 1832 Father: George Cofer Mother: Julian
Smith Phillips, wife, and above children appear in the 1850 Roane census--hh#1575. Next door to George Cofer 67 and wife.
53. Sarah"Sally"3 Phillips (Isaiah2, Clemmon1) was born 09 May 1847, and died 09 Jun 1881. She married Charles Goodman Webster 20 Apr 1869 in Roane Co, TN, son of John Webster and Elizabeth Anderson.
Notes for Charles Goodman Webster:
Military records show that Charles Goodman Webster was born 1 Aug 1839 in NC. He enrolled 18 Dec 1861 at Somerset, KY as a private in Capt. Louis M. Wester's Co. G, 1st TN Reg of Mounted Inf of the Union Army. He was honorably discharged at Knoxville, TN in Dec 1864. At the time of his enlistment he was 5 ft 10 in tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, light hair, and his occupation was farmer.
After his discharge, he returned to Roane County where he resided on his farm until 1905. He then "went west" and lived in the state of Washington until about 1912. He then returned to East TN where he lived for a period of time in the Old Soldiers Home at Johnson City, TN.
He applied for a pension in 1912. He died at Harriman, TN, 20 March 1914. He is buried in the Dyllis Cemetery in Roane County, TN.
He had 6 children by each of his two wives.
Children of Sarah "Sally" Phillips and Charles Webster are:
54. Rev. Isaiah3 Phillips ,Jr. (Isaiah2, Clemmon1) was born 09 Jan 1841, and died 1907 in Dyllis, Roane Co. TN. He married Martha McGill.
Children of Rev. Phillips and Martha McGill are:
55. Elias3 Phillips (Isaiah2, Clemmon1) was born 07 Jan 1843 in Roane County, TN, and died 09 Oct 1941. He married Malinda Davis 17 Feb 1870.
Children of Elias Phillips and Malinda Davis are:
[Additional information contributed by
pjmounce@hsonline.net
]
Elias fought with the Union Army, lived at Dyllis, TN, had 9 children. In addition
to the above,
Julia A., Noah L. 1874.(unmarried), John W. 1879 unmarried, Mary, Minnie Ellen
Julia A. Phillips b 9 Feb. 1871 married Maynard Rose (who was half brother to John Harrison Rose). They had 4 children: Lucy Rose McNabb, Bill Rose, Lewis Rose and Eli Rose
Louvernia Adeal Phillips b 3 Apr 1877, d 1970 married 23 Aug 1896, John Harrison Rose. They had 12 children, which is pjmounce's direct ancestor.
Mary Susannah Clementine b 22 Jan 1885 died 1 year, 6 months of age
Minnie Ellen Phillips b. 3 Oct 1890, d 10 Nov 1958, m. John M. Letsinger. This was his second marriage and he was 23 years older than Minnie. He was also the father of Leta Lillian Letsinger (Sisson), wife of Essie Lee Rose--son of Louvernia and John Harrison Rose.
Generation No. 4
64. Patsy (Martha Kessiah)4 Webster (Sarah"Sally"3 Phillips, Isaiah2, Clemmon1) was born 19 Jun 1869, and died 10 Dec 1943. She married Samuel Henry Roberts 17 Jul 1887, son of William Roberts and Nancy Silvey.
Children of Patsy Webster and Samuel Roberts are: