Loyalist John Phillips UE - for United Empire Loyalists

was first resettled to Parrtown, Nova Scotia, (later New Brunswick). His name is found
on the “Post War Settlement; 2nd Battalion New Jersey Volunteers [List of names of
officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers, who received grants of
land in King’s County, New Brunswick. Dated 14 July 1784.] 3
John filed a petition for land at Woodhouse, Norfolk County, Ontario, in 1801, as
follows:
“12 Feb 1801: John Phillips, Woodhouse – was in his Majesty's service during the whole
of the Revolution in America in the capacity of a Corporal in the 2nd Battalion, New
Jersey Volunteers commanded by Colonel Isaac Allen; discharged at St. John, New
Brunswick; now in the Province with an extensive family of a wife & 7 children &
without any land to support them; requested a grant; OC – Recommended for 200 acres.”
4
Although John states that he served under Lt. Col. Isaac Allen, the commanding officer
for all of the NJV, his immediate field commander was Robert Drummond. Robert
Drummond had returned to England by this date, after humiliating capture and defeat,
and was not likely a good person for John Phillips to reference in his land petition. Lt.
Col. Isaac Allen, though, is referenced for support many times in Loyalist petitions in
Loyalists in the American Revolution, 5 and his name would have drawn, and did draw,
immediate recognition from the land councils.
John Phillips UE in the American Revolution
Phillips, at age 25 or 26 6 , had first enrolled in the West Jersey Volunteers. This unit was
raised earlier in 1777 while the British Army was in Philadelphia. These men came from
Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland Counties. John Phillips was first transferred to the
First Battalion, New Jersey Volunteers, under Lt. Col. Joseph Barton. After August 1778,
he was promoted to Corporal, and moved to the Second Battalion, New Jersey
Volunteers, commanded by Robert Drummond.
“Drummond was a wealthy merchant and ship-owner at Acquakanonk Landing, New
Jersey. When trouble between this country and England first became apparent, his
thoughts and counsel were with the American cause; he was a member of the Provincial
Congress and its speaker for two terms, but when war broke out he tendered his services
to his king and organized the Second Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers and was
commissioned its major. He enlisted about two hundred men, principally from the Bergen
county side of the river. He saw service in the South, where most of his men fell victims to
disease consequent upon the climate. He was later promoted to Major. After the war,
Drummond removed to England, where he died in 1789.” 7
The New Jersey Volunteers received their uniforms in April of 1776. The uniforms were
green and white. Thereafter, their enemies often referred to them as “The Greens”. 8
For more detailed information on the New Jersey Volunteers, see the online history from
the Loyalist Institute, at http://www.royalprovincial.com/military/rhist/njv/3njvhist.htm.