St. Maarten Private Eye

Some weeks ago there were several interesting letters in the Daily Herald where writers were debating the history of the spoken english language and the reasons
for the West India Companie. Right after the Emilio Wilson birthday tribute, a letter was written by a certain Mr. Hellebrand who stated that Philipsburg namesake John Philips was not Sint Maarten's first Governor as is often noted in tourist brochures, but that John Philips was a Commander.

I asked a few people to research this matter and Mr. M. Voges, a board member of the Emilio Wilson Historical and Cultural park made a report which you will find below. Mr. Hellebrand was correct and from this day forward, the Emilio Wilson Estate foundation (EWEF) will correctly state that Commander John Philips house is located on the Emilio Wilson Estate, formerly known as Plantation Industry. We thank Mr. Hellebrand for bringing this very important detail to our attention.

Jadira Veen
Emilio Wilson Estate Foundation (EWEF)

Click here to Read More
____________________________________________________________

The history about John Philips

John Philips was born in 1691 in Aberbrothock, Scotland, as the son of James Philip 111 and Jean Corbit owners of a big mansion with gardens and orchards.

John Philips most probably made a voyage to the Caribbean in 1718, because in that year he married Rachel Hartman from St. Thomas.

While living in Scotland their daughter, Susanna Philips, was born. There he sold his factory and bought a ship the Providence.

From his brother James, who had no children, he inherited the rural estate Almryclose and became the laird (no nobility) of Almryclose’

In 1729 he was a merchant living in Dutch St. Martin and was sent by the Dutch on a mission to Martinique and Guadeloupe to negotiate with the French about their debt to the West India Company. He didn’t succeed to get back any money from the French. Nevertheless the W.I.C. found that they had to show their gratitude and promissed Philips to appoint him commander of the island in the near future. In the meantime he became the captain of the Burghers. (burgerkapitein)

After the death of the vice-commander Martinus Meyers in June 1733, Johannes Heyliger the commander in St. Eustatius decided to appoint Jacobus Barry as vice-commander of Dutch St. Martin. John Philips became very upset that he was by passed and did everything in his power to make Barry’s life miserable by blaming him for different wrong doings. He also started a campaign in Dutch St. Martin for more autonomy for the island (separate from Statia). All was in vain and he left for Holland to look for justice.

February 16, 1735, Philips returned from Europe via Scotland and was appointed the 1st Commander of the Island by the W.I.C. He attracted in 1736 199 planters with their slaves to the island by promising them a piece of land. Some of these planters also established themselves in French St. Martin.

He was also the owner of the Centry Hill plantation. Later named plantation Industry.

Due to his difficult personality he often got in conflict with planters and government officials on the island and after implementing head tax the burghers under the leadership of Captain/Lieutenant Pieter Hassell revolted. On Sunday the 17th of July, 1736 Pieter Hassell accused John Philips of different kinds of wrong doings. He was put on a schooner to St. Thomas.

Via St. Thomas and Statia Philips went to Holland to complain by the “Heren Tien”. (consisted of 9 members of the W.I.C. and one member of the States General)

In the meantime Dutch St. Martin again became a subordinate of Statia. The provisional commander of Statia could not avoid that the Burghers of Dutch St. Martin took revenge on Philips by destroying his house, stealing his books and money, killing his animals and slaves and destroying his plantations and warehouses. His wife Rachel Philips-Hartman shortly afterwards died of grief.

July 22, 1737 he was reinstated as commander of Dutch St. Martin by the “Heren Tien”. He had the Fort Amsterdam reconstructed and completed the plan of former Vice Commander Martinus Meyers namely the construction of a new capital named Philipsburg.

On three occasions (1736, 1743 and 1745) Philips advised the W.I.C. to buy the French side of the island. He found that the soil there was better for the growing of sugarcane. Each time the Dutch didn’t react to his proposal.

His daughter Susanna had a hard time marrying Alexander Wilson, a merchant in Dutch St. Martin. Philips was totally against the wedding. He even had Wilson put in prison. After a legal battle their marriage banns were published in Statia in February 1743.

Commander John Philips, already ill, threatened by the English, disliked by his people, asked the W.I.C. for his resignation in August 1746.

Before his request was answered by Holland, he died on the 16th of December, 1746 between 11 and 12 in the evening. He was buried in the Little Bay church yard. He became 55 years old, not 58 as is engraved on his tomb.

Sources:

Geschiedenis van de Bovenwindse Eilanden in de 18e eeuw - by Prof. Dr. L. Knappert 1932

De Bovenwindse Eilanden St. Maarten, Saba en St. Eustatius - by Dr. Joh. Hartog 1964

History of St. Maarten and Saint Martin - by Dr. J. Hartog 1981

Jaarlijksch Verslag van het geschied-, taal-, land-, en volken - by Hogeschool van de N.A. 1985

Kundig Genootschap deel VII Antilliaanse Reeks

De Geschiedenis van de W.I.C. - by Henk den Hijer 1994

Lots more to be found in the Emilio Wilson Estate Thread

Local Hero's blog | add new comment