Those who have devoted much time to the history of families among the early settlers of New England, must have noticed how many families were for generations distinguished by peculiar traits of character. The early Philbricks were no exception to this rule.

Thomas¹, the emigrant, was said to have been a shipmaster in the old country. His children settled near the ocean and not a few of them were drowned in it, passing by water into the future state. A natural affection for the sea, appeared among his descendants for generations. The young men took to the water as young ducks take to the stream, and seemed never more happy than in their "Home on the rolling wave." In the course of time numbers of them bought farms, and retired to quiet homes, but they often chose their homes near to some body of water. Others were unable to quit the sea till age or infirmity compelled them.

I find many in the later generations who have been mariners and masters of vessels. The title "Captain" prefixed in this volume to many a name indicates more frequently a sea captain.

Though this family in early days furnished a large number of earnest, intelligent, Christian men, it is remarkable that no more of them acquired a liberal education. I find few of their names upon our college catalogues, or among the lists of professional men. More of them probably entered the ministry than engaged in the practice of law or medicine. They were usually prosperous in business, had the confidence of their fellow citizens, and their full share in town and county offices; but they did not often enlist in the strife for high official stations. I find few merchants in the older families. They disliked trade and chose to live a more quiet, retired life where they could enjoy their love of independence, and communion with nature. Many of them became skillful mechanics. I was surprised to find so many who were blacksmiths, gunsmiths, &c., some of whom were very ingenious and able workmen, whose skill in working metals they could not bequeathe to their heirs.

Tradition says that John, the father of Jonathan of Tamworth was a famous hunter. So was Eliphalet, one of the first settlers of Wakefield, and probably his father, Benjamin. When the work on the farm did not demand their attention, they plunged into the forests and hunted. They studied the peculiar habits of wild animals, perhaps taking lessons from the Indians, and so acquired such a knowledge of the habits of wolves, foxes &c. as enabled them to become successful hunters when many others failed in that business. I remember when I was a child hearing the traditional instructions they left for the generations following, but the wolves, bears, beaver and otter had mostly disappeared, and the foxes’ skins becoming cheap, scarcely paid for the time it took to hunt them.

Joshua Philbrook of Bath, Me., in a sketch of the life and labors of his grandfather, Joshua⁵, son of Jonathan⁴ who removed from Greenland to Maine, about the year 1728, gives some interesting facts, which I am glad to copy from the Bath Times, 16 December, 1882. He says, ""in the spring of the year 1757, he was up in the wilderness, as was his custom, two months at a time. He took with him traps, a bag of meal, some salt, a gun and ammunition, a blanket strapped on a very light hunter’s sled, a pair of snowshoes, a bible in his pocket and a compass, two very important guides. He never set his traps on Saturday, and he was very strict in keeping the Sabbath. As the spring advanced, he made preparations for returning home, by falling a birch tree for a canoe. These leisure months of spring were so spent in the last years of "the seven years war." At this season they came in contact with no Indians. It was a dangerous but profitable business. By the use of his traps and the sale of his pelts he paid for his farm. Once a year Mr. Philbrook and wife would go to Boston in one of their sloops, and with their pelt buy whatever they needed for the next year, having some years an overplus of a stocking full of silver dollars. Since the hose worn in those days, with breeches, were long, the amount was very convenient, as they became due, to cancel the notes given for the land.

The first kind of lumber shipped to Boston was white oak staves which were sent to wine growing countries to be made into wine puncheons. The next articles sent from the settlements of Long Reach were rift shingles and clapboards, as the time for mills to saw them had not yet come. It is said that the descendants of this early family in Maine "were characterized by dark hair, dark eyes, generally clear complexion, and that they were sober, upright, earnest people."

As an illustration of the dangers attending the hunter in his lonely life, I may relate an anecdote concerning one of this family. He had removed the snow from a small spot of ground and built a sort of shed, enclosed on three sides, and covered with bark and brush to shelter him in the night from falling snow and rain, and he used to build his fire in the open air on the side of his camp not enclosed. Returning one evening from his toilsome trip of hunting the game, he kindled his fire, prepared his frugal meal, and then retired, with his feet toward the fire, to rest upon a primitive bed of evergreen branches, and soon fell asleep. About midnight he waked, and looking at the fire which had now burned down low, he saw two fiery eyeballs and a ferocious beast glaring at him from the opposite side of the glowing embers. There was no more sleep for him when it seemed that the wild beast intended to make an early breakfast upon human flesh. He gently drew his gun to his face, and aimed it at the animal, so that if it crouched to leap upon him he could shoot. He did not dare commence the battle, lest he should fail to kill the creature, and be wounded himself, or perhaps killed, in the conflict. So they watched each other till just before daybreak, when the wild beast gently walked away and was seen no more. He never knew what the animal was, but supposed it must have been a catamount or American panther, which, when wounded by the hunter proves a very dangerous foe. It was a wide range, being found, it is said, from Canada in the North to Patagonia in the South.

In 1861, Samuel S. Philbrick of Andover, great grandson of Jedediah⁴ of Kingston, says, "Not one of the Philbricks within the circle of my knowledge has been low and reckless; but generally they have been smart, industrious and intelligent."

Of John M. Philbrook, born at Ossipee in 1807, who died a humble Christian in 1861, it was said, "he was noted for his truthfulness, honesty and industry, so that he was called ‘Honest John.’" It is said that when one of his sons who had been to college, and studied law in opposition to the advice of his mother, she remarked, "If all the world were as upright as the Philbrooks there would be no use for lawyers."

Quite a large number of the family have been teachers in common schools and other higher institutions, of whom the late John D. Philbrick, L.L.D., was the most widely known, having been for near twenty years Superintendent of Public Schools in Boston.

Ezekiel Philbrook, brother of Elisha, was long famous as a teacher of common schools, taught more than eighty different terms, some quite long. At a venerable old age he has now retired to his farm in Freeport, Me., and in his last days is gladdened by the knowledge that so many of his numerous offspring have appreciated the value of the instructions he used to give in the school and in the family.

Edwin Philbrook, a graduate of the Illinois Normal School, has taught many years, being professor in the High School at Decatur, Ills., and many others of both sexes have been useful in this occupation.

In 1885, Rev. Charles E. Philbrook, son of Joshua of Bath, the writer of the above, was a home missionary in Sierraville, Cal., with a parish some 30 miles long, and his sister is now the faithful helpmate of a city missionary.


Transcribed from

"A Genealogy of the Philbrick and Philbrook Families, descended from the emigrant, Thomas Philbrick, 1583-1667" by Rev. Jacob Chapman of Exeter, N.H. 1886