Simon Phillips (1847 - 1942)

Born 1847 in Hale County, Alabama, United States

Husband of Ella (Johnson) Phillips — married 9 Feb 1919 in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States

Died 17 Dec 1942 at about age 95 in Alabama, United States

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Biography

Simon Phillips is a part of US Black heritage.

Simon Phillips does not mention any children during his interview. His enslaver was Bryant Watkins, of Greensboro, Alabama, and son John Edward Watkins with whom Simon served in the Civil War.

Simon Phillips was interviewed in Birmingham, Alabama on 6/25/1937 about his life and his time as an enslaved person.

His interviewer reported that Mr. Phillips has been president of the union of ex-slaves for the past twenty-three years. The group has 1500 members throughout Alabama, and he is the only one of the Birmingham organizers of the society living today. [1937]

Simon Phillips was one of 300 Negroes belonging to Bryant Watkins, of Greensboro, Alabama. The plantation was seven miles long and three miles wide.

During the War between the States, Simon served as body guard for John Edward Watkins, son of the plantation owner. Simon entered the war at the age of fourteen in Joe Wheeler's 51st cavalry.

Simon married after the war was over.

"I was the youngest of a family of sixteen and I has one sister still livin' on the old plantation. I'm going down to see her next week, 'cause I can never tell when the Great Master is goin' to call."

Interview: Simon Phillips was interviewed in Birmingham, Alabama by J Morgan Smith as part of the Federal Writer's Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The results are made available by the Library of Congress. ^[1]

Note that the death record cited below represents a certificate that cannot be viewed online at this time. The original should be examined to determine if it is appropriate for this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Library of Congress - WPA - Slave Narrative - Simon Phillips - Vol. 1, Alabama, page 312-315, image 318-321 of 442.

• "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FQ4W-NMD : 13 February 2020), Simon Phillips, 1919.

• "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX86-TWC : 31 January 2021), Simon Phillips in entry for Ella Phillips, 1920.

• "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:32JP-MMM : accessed 2 April 2022), Simon Philips, Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 25, sheet , line , family , NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll ; FHL microfilm .

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V15P-3YC : 5 January 2021), Simon Phillips, Election Precinct 21, Jefferson, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 68-95, sheet 11A, line 37, family 277, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 93.

• "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD18-2W5 : 11 January 2021), Simon Phillips, 1942.

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8864376/simon-phillips : accessed 23 May 2022), memorial page for Pvt Simon Phillips (1847–17 Dec 1942), Find a Grave Memorial ID 8864376, citing New Grace Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama, USA ; Maintained by Black_Pelham (contributor 46599570) .