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Submitted: 2/13/15 • Approved: 2/14/15 • Last Updated: 2/17/15 • R1061989-G0-S3
Reuben William Phillips is said to have been buried in a grave covered with large flat rocks. I cannot say for certain that this is his grave because there is no inscription on it, however the probability of this being Reuben's grave is large due to the fact that this grave is next to the grave of Reuben's Infant Son who died 22 months prior to Reuben's death.
Reuben William Phillips was the Son of Drury/Drewery & Martha 'Patsy' MOORE Phillips
And he was the husband of Mary Elizabeth CARLOCK Phillips whom he married 27 August 1861, by Rev. Robert Lee
Reuben & Mary were the parents of two children: the infant who is buried in this cemetery who died at 1 day of age, and a son, John Lee Phillips who was born in 1864 and died in 1934.
The following are excerpts from a hand-written story recorded from family stories passed down in the John Lee Phillips' (Reuben W. Phillips' son) family:
"Reuben W. Phillips was shot and killed by ‘bush-wackers' or Confederate soldiers on August 23, 1864 near Whorton Creek. Reuben was a big man – approximately 6 ft. 3 in. tall. He was known as ‘Big Boy' and ‘Big Brother'. Reuben being large in statute, was the man the community looked up to for help when needed. … Liza Harwood's horse had been stolen. Supposingly it had been located at a residence on Jackson Creek. Reuben ‘Big Brother' Phillips had been asked to assist in retrieving the horse. Jim Harwood, Liza Harwood, Caroline ‘Cal' Stroud, ‘Big Brother', and some others set out. On the way they were ambushed in the vicinity of today's Lower Whorton community. When they started the men were riding horses and the women were walking. The women couldn't keep up with the horses so they were riding behind the men when the ambush occurred.
Caroline ‘Cal' Stroud was riding with Reuben ‘Big Brother', leading the group. A rifle shot was fired from along side the trail. The bullet struck ‘Big Brother' in the chest and exited near his backbone striking Caroline and tearing her dress, but she wasn't wounded. ‘Big Brother' fell dead to the ground. The other horsemen fled into the woods leaving Caroline and ‘Big Brother'. The treatment Caroline ‘Cal' Stroud received from the ‘bush-wackers' was never talked about. It is know that she never fully recovered from the effects of the trama. It was months after the incident before she overcame what the neighbors referred to as an insane condition.
Mary Elizabeth (Carlock) Phillips, being very much in love with ‘Big Brother' Phillips, never remarried. Being a widow at 32 years of age and having a young son of two months was not an easy task for a lady in 1864. She was very fortunate to have a formal education to teach school and provide the son with education, opportunities, food and clothing."
Contributed on 2/13/15 by jrussell44
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Record #: 1061989