DEACON NICHOLAS PHILLIPS first appears in New England as an inhabitant of Dedham with Henry Phillips, Martin Phillips, Abraham Shaw and over 120 others. He was an inhabitant of Contentment (Dedham) before 18 Aug. 1636 (Dedham Town Records, 1:20), and on that day had twelve acres granted to him there. He laid "downe a p'cell of ground for a buriall place" at Dedham, 6 Apr. 1638. He was chosen "to mowe," gather up and bring home thatch for ye Meeting house," 28 Aug. 1638. He purchased a lot of Philemon Dalton and sold the same to Henry Phillips before 1 Mar. 1641. (Dedham Town Records, 1:84.) He is last mentioned on the Town Records of Dedham, under date 23 Feb. 1650 (page 178). He was made a freeman of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, 13 May, 1640. (Register 3:187.)
"Deacon Phillips" received thirteen acres in the First Division and thirty-nine acres in the Second Division in Weymouth, 14 Dec. 1663. (Weymouth Land Grants, 282, 283.) His lands were adjoining the lands of Martin Phillips (Ibid. 272). He was one of the appraisers of the estate of William Brandon of Weymouth, 23 Nov. 1646 (Register, 7:35), and of Dorothy King's estate, 18 Oct. 1652. He was called Deacon Phillips, 8 Feb. 1660.
He must be distinguished from Nicholas Phillips of Boston, who died, 15 Mar. 1669-70. Dea. Nicolas Phillips of Weymouth was born near 1611, and died at Weymouth between 2 June, 1671, and 7 Sept. 1672.
Nicholas Phillips of Weymouth, "age Sixty Yeares or thereabouts having a very weake body," made his will 2 June, 1671; proved 3 Oct. 1672. To eldest son Richard Phillips the marsh which is now in his possession. To his three sons Richard, Joshua Phillips and Benjamin Phillips his wearing apparell. To second son Joshua Phillips £6. To third son Benjamin £6. To eldest daughter Alice Shaw £10. to my six younger children, viz., Joshua Phillips, Benjamin Phillips, Alice Shaw, Experience King, Hannah White, and Abigail Phillips, the rest of his estate to be equally divided. Overseers: sons Richard, Joshua and Benjamin Phillips. Son Richard Phillips, executor. "My loving brother Henry Phillips and my loving friends Thomas Dyer and Jonas Humphrey" mentioned. Witnesses Elizabeth Shaw and Thomas Dyer, Jr. (Suffolk Probate Records 7:248.) Inventory taken 7 Sept. 1672, by William Torrey, Thomas Dyer and Jonas Humphrey. Among the items mentioned were "bookes in leather and 7 pamphlets," £2 02s., total £257 11s. 6d., presented by Richard Phillips as the estate of his late father Nicholas Phillips, 3 Oct. 1672. (Ibid. 250.)
