Samuel Phillips (minister)
Samuel Phillips (February 17, 1690 – June 5, 1771) was an American Congregational minister and the first pastor of the South Church in Andover, Massachusetts. His son, John Phillips, was the founder of Phillips Exeter Academy, and his grandson, Samuel Phillips Jr., was the founder of Phillips Academy Andover and briefly the lieutenant governor of Massachusetts. Early life. Samuel Phillips was born in Salem, Massachusetts on February 17, 1690. Phillips was the second eldest child and eldest son of Samuel Phillips and Mary Emerson and one of eight siblings, including one half-sister: Child with second wife Sarah  Mayfield, married April 27, 1704: His grandfather was Rev. Samuel Phillips of Rowley and his great-grandfather George Phillips of Watertown, one of the first to settle in Watertown and founder of its First Congregational Church. Phillips was admitted to Harvard College in July 1704 and graduated in 1708. After about a year of teaching in Chebacco (formerly a parish of Ipswich and currently Essex), Massachusetts, he became more focused on preparing for the ministry. Ministry. Phillips preached in Norton for a short period of time. He had the respect of the parish and was asked to relocate and begin  preaching with its new church. He was not ordained however: "The influence of the minister of the old Parish of Taunton was unfavorable." In 1710 Phillips came to Andover to serve as the pastor of the newly founded South Church. He began preaching on April 30th of that year. On December 12th the Parish voted unanimously in his favor. He declined, however, to officially take on the role immediately after his approval due to his young age. On October 17, 1711, the day of the official organization of the church and at the age of 22, Phillips was ordained as  the first pastor of the South Church. He "preached the [first] Sermon himself, from Ezek. 3:17." While pastor he published a number of works, many of which were written for members of the parish to take as guidance. He preached an Artillery Sermon, an Election Sermon, and a Convention Sermon, suggesting he was highly esteemed. Reverend John Webb, in the preface of "Advice to A Child", writes of Phillips: "The discourses he has published heretofore, have given him this testimony in the consciences of all good Christians who have read them. That he is a well-qualified and faithful minister  of Jesus Christ." Phillips had at least two African American servants, Salem and Rama. After Phillips died, they became servants of Rev. Jonathan French, the next pastor. They had a child named Cyrus (baptized December 23, 1770) and another Titus (b. November 24, 1774). Phillips remained pastor of the church until his death on June 5, 1771, serving nearly sixty years. Jonathan French succeeded him as second pastor. Marriage and children. Phillips married Hannah White (1691 – January 7, 1773) of Haverhill, daughter of John White of Haverhill and Lydia Gilman on January 17, 1712. Together they had five children: Hannah  died on January 7, 1773 at the age of 82. Death and legacy. Phillips died on June 5, 1771. Over the course of his ministry, he baptised 2143 people including 30 adults and witnessed the parish grow from 35 in 1711 to 573. He is the longest-serving pastor of the church to date. He is buried in the South Church Cemetery, Andover, Massachusetts along with other members of the Phillips family. Publications. Phillips wrote a number of publications over his lifetime covering a variety of subjects. The following is a complete list of his works: Samuel Phillips (minister) Samuel