Posted By:Virginia Phillips-Smith
Subject:Search for Descendants of Phillips Immigrants
Post Date:August 01, 2006 at 08:33:01
Message URL:
Forum:Henry County, VA Genealogy Forum
Forum URL:

Dear Board,

My name is Virginia Phillips-Smith, and I am involved in a Phillips DNA project which is located at this link: We are attempting to find documented male descendants of all the original male Phillips immigrants to the New World and encourage them to join the Phillips Worldwide DNA project.

DNA genealogical studies work very successfully on straight line male descendants, so their DNA is a precious commodity. The DNA test is painless and only involves swabbing the inside of the cheek with a special brush or scraper. The lab mails a kit to the participant and then the participant mails the kit back to the lab. The kit is assigned a number, and the name of the participant is never published, thereby assuring privacy and confidentiality. Also, the lab only looks at certain markers on the male Y-chromosome, so this test does not identify any medical problems or other sensitive information. The DNA test is not free, but the participant gets a break with regard to the cost of the test if he participates in the Phillips Worldwide DNA project. In addition, financial aid may be available if the candidate belongs to an especially representative or large Phillips line and he has excellent documentation.

The following Phillips men appear on the 1790 reconstructed census and early land records for Henry County, Virginia: James Phillips, John Phillips, Rhodham Phillips, and Thomas Phillips. If you are a straight line male Phillips descendant of one of these men, and you are willing to join the DNA project, or if you know someone who is a straight line male descendant of one of these men, please contact me at or Shannon Phillips at PHILLIPSDNAPROJ@AOL.COM. Shannon is the volunteer project administrator for the Phillips Worldwide DNA project. By the way, this project is run by Phillips descendants who are volunteers and are not being paid to pursue this project.

Thank you for taking the time to read this message and we look forward to hearing from you. I hope and believe this new scientific tool will solve many genealogy puzzles and tear down many brick walls.


Virginia Phillips-Smith