Barrister at law. Involved in the reviving of the Society of Cymmrodorion in 1873. Advertised in The Welshman in 1875. Appointed first stipendiary magistrate at the West Ham court house in 1881.
In addition to the information contained on his Wikipedia page, our colleague Andrew Behan states that John Roland Phillips was born on 18 June 1844 in Kilgerran (now Cilgerran), Pembrokeshire, Wales, the youngest child of David Phillips (b. circa 1812) and Margaret Phillips (b. circa 1802)
In the 1851 census he is shown as aged 7 years and a scholar living at home in Kilgerran with his parents and his two sisters, Margaret Phillips (b. circa 1840) and Hannah Phillips (1842-1910). His father was listed as a blacksmith.
When the 1861 census was undertaken he was described as aged 16 years and a pupil teacher in a national school, residing at Fordye Fawr, Kilgerran, Pembrokeshire, with his parents and his sister, Hannah Phillips who was shown as a dressmaker. His father's occupation was again listed as a blacksmith.
He was shown as aged 26 years and a barrister-at-law in the 1871 census, living in Castle Street, Kilgerran, Pembrokeshire, with his parents and his by now married sister, Hannah Thomas and her three children. His father was described as a smith.
He married Mary Elizabeth Hargreaves (b.1849) in the 1st quarter of 1873 in the Strand Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London).
In the 1881 census he is shown as aged 36 years and a barrister-at-law (in actual practice) and residing at 367 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith, London, with his wife and their four children: John Roland Philipps, aged 7 years; Mary Gwendolen Phillips, aged 5 years; Daisy Gwladys Phillips, aged 3 years and Gerald Alan Walter Phillips, aged 1 year.
He died, aged 42 years, following a long illness on 3 June 1887 at 13 Winchester Road, St John's Wood, Marylebone and his death was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1887 in the Hampstead Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London). His body was buried on 6 June 1887 in Plot C, Grave 258, in the West of London and Westminster Cemetery (now called Brompton Cemetery), Fulham Road, London, SW10 9UG.
He is shown as 'J. ROLAND PHILLIPS,ESQRE' on the West Ham court house memorial at West Ham Lane, London, E15. He is also commemorated on a memorial in St Llawddog's Church, Church Street, Cilgerran, Cardigan, SA43 2SU.
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