Philips, John, 1838-1913

John Philips Sr., son of John Philips was born August 26, 1838 in Port Glasgow, Scotland. While Port Glasgow is written on his tombstone, his legal documents claim he was born in Aberdeen. John was apprenticed as a carpenter and moved his way up in Walter Hood and Company (Shipbuilders) of Aberdeen for seven years. He completed his apprenticeship September 30, 1861, where he became the carpenter for the "Dunrobin Castle", for which he received discharge papers October 9, 1862. Following his service on a naval vessel "Sillistria', he signed onto the crew "of "Rubens" on March 4, 1865 for a voyage to the far east. This ship wrecked on the southern tip of Africa, where he was discharged in Cape Town on May 13, 1865. From October 1869 to May 1871, John sailed to Glasgow-Montreal on the "Lake Superior". Here, John Philips’ mariner papers show the addition of an "s" forming the official family name of "Philips". The master of the Lake Superior was Alexander Ritchie, whose niece was Elizabeth Ritchie (August 29th, 1847- Oct 20, 1922). John Philips married Elizabeth Ritchie in Montreal, 1870 and settled in Montreal. From 1872-1883 John was the superintendent of the Montreal Boy's Home. John and Elizabeth's house at 343 Lansdowne Ave. in Westmount was built in 1893, and the home was occupied continuously by his family from 1895 until May 1970. John died at home on September 8, 1913, aged 75 and is buried at Mount Royal. He was a member of the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.