My great grandparents, Thomas and Agnes Phillips, lived on a farm on the Ellerslie Road. Agnes died in 1920 at age 66 and Thomas four years later, aged 72. Their youngest son, my grandfather Alvin, married my grandmother, Gladys, in 1912, and I assume they lived with Thomas and Agnes as Alvin eventually took ownership of the farm.
On September 30, 1925, all nine of Thomas and Agnes’ children returned to Ellerslie for a reunion. The rapidly growing clan would meet regularly over the following decades, into my lifetime. The last Phillips picnic I can remember was held at the West Point Lighthouse, 10 years or more ago.
My father knew most of his 38 Phillips first cousins quite well, though I could never keep them straight. Using a genealogy app (the reliable and powerful Reunion) for the past twenty years has definitely helped me with the “who’s yer father” game.
Those who met that September night are long gone, the last, Penzie (Martha Penrose “Penzie” Millar), in 1975. Their children are all gone now as well, the latest to die probably being my father’s brother, Sterling, in 2022, the youngest son of the youngest son.
FAMILY REUNION
On the evening of September 30th the family of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Phillips of Ellerslie assembled together with their husbands and wives at the old home. The family were all present namely: Mrs. Joshua Millar and Mrs. E. S. Burleigh, Ellerslie, Mrs. Leslie MacLean, Arlington, Lot 14, Mrs. Russell MacArthur, Enmore, Willard of Summerside, Sanford, Sargent and Forrest of O’Leary and Alvin on the homestead. After partaking of goose and other delicacies all gathered in the living room where the evening was pleasantly spent in games, music and singing till after midnight when all joined heartily in singing “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” after which all departed for their homes, hoping to meet again on many such occasions in one unbroken family circle.
From the Charlottetown Guardian October 7, 1925, p6.
Hello, my name is Robert Emmett Foley and I reside in Maine. A little something about my heritage as it pertains to the “Phillips” name; (Phillips Academy in Andover, MA; founder Samuel Phillips represents the family in the 6th generation & Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H., founder John Phillips). A long history of Phillips that began during the Early 17th century with Rev. George Phillips leaving England on board the Arbella in 1630, landing in Salem, MA and eventually settling down in Watertown, MA where George practiced his Ministry as the 1st Congregational Rev., in the New England states. Then there was Martha Watkins Phillips, 1st cousin to Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman. JUMPING forward a couple hundred years; early 20th century my Great Grandfather Chester Phillips; Illustrator in Boston and Great Grandmother Carrie Phillips, their son Herbert Phillips who married Marjorie Selfridge and having two daughters; Nancy and Polly Phillips. Polly was my Mother who had “Me” when she was but 15years old in the year 1955.
Also with interesting merit on my Fathers side, also Robert Foley son of William Francis Foley; Cork, IR who Married Mabel Cecelia Connick of Charlottetown, P.E.I., Daughter of James E. Connick and Mother, Annie Flood. My Grandmother Mabel Cecelia Connick was Born March, 12th, 1902 and Married in 1923 to William Francis Foley.
I am presently seeking Canadian Citizenship and hope to Visit Charlottetown, P.E.I. this Summer/Fall 2026. Perhaps I may find some Family connections and that would be quite Special!