Rev. George Washington Philips

Awarded the compensation for Stone Fort on St Kitts.

1. George Washington (Edward) Philips, son of Charles of South Carolina, matriculated Pembroke Oxford 22/11/1811 aged 27, vicar of Wendy, died 24/10/1865.  

2. Will of Rev. George Washington Philips late of Wendy in Cambridgeshire who died at the Pier Hotel, Brighton 24/10/1865 proved 28/11/1865, effects under £12,000.

3. Apparently resident in Brighton, at least for periods. His daughter Georgina was baptised there 03/11/1841. In 1851 however he was living at Wendy, 'Mar.', aged 60 born America, with two servants.

4. Philips' son was the novelist Francis Charles Philips (b. 1849), author of 'As in a Looking Glass'. In F.C. Philips' memoir, he recorded his father as follows: 'Speaking of his experiences in the West Indies with regard to slavery, my father says : '' I satisfactorily demonstrated that a mild and equitable treatment is incalculably beneficial to the master, no less than to the servant. After entirely abolishing all harsh measures and having recourse to rewards for the encouragement of industry and subordination, I succeeded in procuring the largest return that had been obtained for several years ; in establishing an unprecedented degree of discipline and orderly conduct ; and lastly, in increasing a healthy population. And so much satisfied were the negroes with their situation that when I informed them it was possible I should be obliged to sell the property because the debts had accumulated they offered to forego the usual allowance, that it might be appropriated to the payment of these, provided I would remain with them."' F.C. Philips went on to say: 'When my father left St. Kitts, giving up the estate to a younger brother, he went to Oxford, and shortly afterwards took Holy Orders.'

St Kitts no. 440.

1. Ancestry.com, Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886 [database online]; CCEd [database online] Person ID 109371, appointed Vicar Wendy with Shingay 20/03/1827.

2. National Probate Calendar 1865.

3. Ancestry.com, England and Wales Christening Records, 1530-1906 [database online]; 1851 census online.

4. Helen C. Black, Pen, pencil, baton and mask: biographical sketches (London, Spotiswoode, 1896) pp. 128-9 F.C. Philips. 'A discrepancy of nearly seventy years existed between father and son.' 'He [George Washington Philips'] was a godson of George Washington.' Black quotes from F.C. Philips, My Varied Life (London, 1914): 'My father owned large estates at St Kitts, but when the British government emancipated their slaves the family was practically ruined. He was an intimate friend of William Wilberforce, and as he possessed much practical information concerning the slavery question, he was able to be of considerable service to the statesman when the Emancipation Bill came in, though he was a great sufferer thereby. My father was distinguished as a most humane slave-owner, and was a clever and highly gifted man, but unfortunately or perhaps fortunately he lacked ambition...He subsequently came home, went to Oxford, took Holy Orders...he was offered a bishopric by Lord Derby, but declined it.'