Person:Philip Bill (3)

Philip Bill
m. Bef 1616
  1. James Bill1615 -
  2. Philip Bill1620 - 1689
  3. John Bill1622 -
  4. Mary Bill1624 -
  5. Thomas Bill1626/27 - 1696
m. 8 Jul 1689
  1. Philip Bill1658 - 1739
  2. Mary BillAbt 1661 -
  3. Margaret BillAbt 1663 - 1689
  4. Samuel BillAbt 1665 - Bef 1729/30
  5. John BillAbt 1667 -
  6. Elizabeth BillBet 1667 & 1670 -
  7. Jonathan BillAbt 1671 - Aft 1708
  8. Joshua Bill1675 - 1735
Facts and Events
Name[1][2][3][4] Philip Bill
Gender Male
Birth[5][6] 1620 London, England
Christening[6] 7 Apr 1629 Ringstead, Northamptonshire, England
Residence? Abt 1660 Boston, Suffolk, MassachusettsPulling Point
Residence? Bef 1668 Ipswich, Suffolk, England????
Residence? Abt Nov 1668 New London, Connecticut
Residence[5] Aft 1668 Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Marriage 8 Jul 1689 Groton, New London, Connecticutto Hannah Waite
Alt Marriage Groton, New London County, Connecticut, United Statesto Hannah Waite
Residence[5] New London, Connecticut, United States
Death[5] 8 Jul 1689 New London, New London, Connecticut
Cause of Death? Throat Distemper

From History of the Bill Family p 55-59


Philip Bill, as stated in the preceding pages, is believed to be a son of John and Dorothy Bill and brother of James and Thomas of Boston. He was born in England about 1620, and is a supposed grandson of the King's Printer mentioned in the last portion of the chapter on our English ancestors. There is no record at the Rolls Office in Chancery Lane, London, of his departure in any of the vessels bound to America, nor do we find there, either, any record of the emigration of his father and mother, or of James and Thomas; yet all these persons were born in England, and did emigrate to New England, as their names and the names of their descendants are found all along the pages of municipal and legislative history of those early years, forming no small portion of the honorable record of that population which had been driven by persecution and stress of circumstances to buffet "The wild waste of waters," and seek a home in this then wilderness, of stern and desolate character, where naught but great physical energy and endurance could fight off famine, and unceasing watchfulness protect them from midnight assassination and slaughter at the hands of those brutal and treacherous red men, who were ever flitting along the outskirts of the opening forest, waiting and watching their opportunity. These privations and hardships were his, and he was taught them in the impressive period of his youth - for though he was born in England, yet he was but a lad at the time of his arrival in America, and we can truly claim him as one having been educated in this country, and moulded to encounter the trials attendant on a pioneer life, and such a pioneer life too as we, who now bear a part on the stage of action, have little conception of.

But to return: we first find Philip at Pulling Point, then forming a portion of Boston, though it is more than likely he for the first few years was with his mother Dorothy in Boston proper; and he must have been referred to when Richard Tuttle (his presumed uncle) became responsible to the town for the widow Dorothy, and "for any thing about her." After his brother James, who was several years his senior, and a man grown, made his first purchase of land at Pulling Point, and settled there, Philip must have followed, for we find him in 1660 a debtor to the estate of William Burnell of that place, a friend and neighbor of James, and probably of Philip. He must have removed to Ipswich soon after, for we have from the Court files of that place ample evidence in the succeeding documents appended below.

1663. May 11. Philip Fowler, Sen., of Ipswich, puts into the hands of Philip Bill two young heifers for sevens years. Philip Bill is ******* and at he end of the time he is to deliver up to Fowler one-half the profit of the calves. He is to be as careful of said heifers and of their increase as if they were his own. If through God's providence any accident happen to said heifers or their increase, he is to deliver half the stock alive. (signed) By the mark of Philip Bill Present- Will White Deborah Jackson

After a resident of a few years in Ipswich he must have for some reason become dissatisfied, as he left there about the last of the year 1667 or early in 1668. Miss Caulkins, in her history of New London, places him among the arrivals in that town "about 1668." The next document we append would, from its date, indicate the time of his departure from Ipswich.

Mr. Fowler, who had placed cattle in his keeping, learning of his proposed removal to Connecticut, and feeling insecure, had this attachment issued, a true copy of which is here given:

To the Marshall of Ipswich or his Deputy. You are required in his maiestyes name to attach the goods or body of Philip Bill and take bond of him to the value of twenty pounds with sufficient suretyes for his appearance the next court to be holden at Salem the last tuesday of this month then and there to answer the complaint of Phillip Fowler Sen. in an action of the case of security of a pcell of cattell he hath of his in his hands. (he being goeing out of this jurisdiction) that they may be delivered unto the sayd Fowler according to contract and soe make a true return thereof under your hand. Dated the 3 of November 1668. Robert Lord, By the Courtmarshall

Philip Bill meanwhile left Ipswich with his family, and went to Pulling Point, where he remained some months, visiting his brother James, and making needful arrangements before leaving for New London. This fact is ascertained from a paper dated November 3, 1668, in the Court Files, which paper is a power of attorney from Philip Fowler to his "Grandchild Phillip Fowler" of Pulling Point, empowering him to effect a settlement with Philip Bill, who was, as we have said, sojourning there at about this date.

John Winthrop, the younger, a resident of Ipswich, who had had a grant of land confirmed to him in the Pequot country (New London) of several miles in extent, removed thence and made it his home. This land was granted him with the view and hope that a settlement might be established there under his auspices, and trade opened up along that portion of the coast; having this in view, he made several visits to Ipswich and Boston, and was undoubtedly instrumental in the removal of Philip Bill and his family to "Pequot, on the Little Fresh River." They certainly were well acquainted, as they had been neighbors at Ipswich.

Philip Bill settled on the east side of the Thames River, in that portion of the township of New London that in 1705 was incorporated as the town of Groton. This name had been previously given by Winthrop, in honor of his birthplace in England, to his tract or "plantation" - lying east of the Thames, and between it and the Poqunnoc River - extending from the seashore back about three miles northward, being all included in the present town of Groton.

Miss Caulkins says: Philip Bill settled near Robert Allyn and George Geer, which is believed by the writer to have been at or near Allyn's Point, the present terminus of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad. It is presumed that Robert Allyn's house was not far distant, and that this point of land on the Thames formed a portion of his farm, hence its name.

At the May session of the State Legislature, in 1836, the town of Groton, so called, was, after a somewhat protracted contest, divided, the South half retaining the old name, while the North half received the name of Ledyard, in perpetuation of the name of Col. William Ledyard, who made so gallant a defense at Fort Griswold, on Groton Heights, and who, after having been overpowered by superior forces and surrendered, was brutally murdered, with other of his command, on the 6th September, 1781. These forces of Great Britain were under the supervisory command of the traitor Arnold.

Philip Bill became possessed of considerable real estate, prior to his decease. This we learn from an agreement of boundaries, dated July 14, 1676. (New London Deeds, 4:64.)

1677. Oct 20, he sells to Richard Lord 100 acres of land. (Ibid., 5:32.) He also, by will, devised landed property to his children, as we learn from a mortagage given by his son, Joshua, in 1707.

A large portion of the old records of New London was burnt, with the town, by Arnold, in 1781. But for this, we should undoubtedly be able to greatly enlarge this interesting period in the family history.

No will of Philip has been found, though diligent searches have been made by the writer and others. He died July 8, 1689, of a fatal throat distemper, which prevailed that summer. His daughter, Margaret, died the same day, of the same disease. His widow, Hannah, afterwards married Samuel Buchnall or Buckland, of New London, and died in 1709.

The children of Philip and Hannah Bill were:

Born in Massachusetts:

Philip, b near 1658, m. (1) Elizabeth Lester; (2) Mary ---. Mary b. abt 1661. In the Mass. Hist. Coll., published in 1865, a memorandum of Gov. John Winthrop, of Conn., is published as having been made by him in 1676 while in Boston, on the back of a letter, as follows: "Mary Bill, 14y. at red lyon, 4 gs. ddd." Mr. Vinton says this must mean she was 14 years old, and that Winthorp had delivered her four guineas and two guineas, with which to buy goods or pay expenses, and gives this solution, that this girl, Mary Bill, was his neighbor, Philip Bill's daughter, of Groton. We might add that this money was undoubtedly delivered at the request of her father, and not unlikely he sent the money for her, per the hands of Gov. Winthrop. Margaret, b abt 1663, d in July 8, 1689. Samuel b abt 1665, m (1) Mercy Haughton (2) Elizabeth ---. John b abt 1667, m (1) Mercy Fowler (2) Hannah Rist (Hurst). Elizabeth admitted to the church on New London in 1694, and may have m James Avery.

Born in New London:

Jonathan bap Nov. 5, 1671 was living in 1708. Joshua b Oct 16, 1675 bap March 29, 1675 m (1) Joanna Potts (2) Hannah Swodel.

References
  1. Ledyard Bill. History of the Bill Family. (75 Fulton Street, New York 1867).
  2. Researcher.

    Tim Dowling

  3. William Richard Cutter, A.M. New England Families Genealogical and Memorial Series. (Clearfield Company, NY, 1913; reprinted Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1996, 1997)
    Vol III.
  4. National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 J W S Chappelle, Canadian Branch of Chappell and Kindred Families (1954)
    p.45.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Rootsweb Message Boards
    Darlene Brady, viewed 10 Jan 2005.