Thomas Phillips was one of the ten children of Edward and Elizabeth Phillips of Fillongley. He was born in 1746 and baptised at Shustoke on 22 November 1746. He was married to
Mary on 3 January 1786 at Stoneleigh, and their son Thomas was baptised here in April 1787. The register describes Thomas and Mary as "of Lord Leigh."
Later, daughter
Sarah was baptised here on 10 May 1789. Between the time of his marriage and 1811 there are records of his wages as an employee of the Leigh family at Stoneleigh Abbey.
His large box tomb records that he was for "42 years gardener at Stoneleigh Abbey" and that he "departed this life April 5th 1819 in the 75th year of his age." Having worked at the abbey since 1777, he was buried at Stoneleigh on 9 April. The impressive lettering proclaims "Mr Thomas Phillips".
Thomas was one of the many Phillips family commemorated at Stoneleigh, and his brother William and family are at
D.16.7
Mary died before her husband, on 18 January 1814, and the burial register for 31 January describes her as "Mary the wife of Thomas Phillips, gardener at Stoneleigh Abbey". She was in her 60th year. Sadly, later that year, in November, their daughter Sarah died aged only 26, and was buried on 13 November. All three are named on the box tomb.
