Philip Winfrey went on two tours of duty in the Revolutionary War in 1780 and 1781 as a substitute for his father, John Winfrey, a drafted militia man. Philip stated in his application for pension, that he was born in Powhatan county Virginia in 1764. He was living in Buckingham county Virginia in 1780 when he first served in the Virginia Continental Line at age 16 and remained there until 1795 when he and his wife Martha moved to Lincoln County, Kentucky and then on to Green County, Kentucky in 1799 where Philip acquired 100 acres of land. The land was located in that part of Green County that became part of Adair County when it was organized in 1801. (James Clifton Winfrey, "The Winfrey Family", Valient Printing, Littleton, CO, 1982, page 32, edited.)
After Philip and Martha’s arrival in Kentucky they are first found in the 1810 Adair County, Kentucky census with the following family: 3 males under 10 (Philip, Jr. b: 1807, Reuben S. b: 1802 and Archer b: 1797/1800), 1 male 10-15 (Simeon b: 1795), 1 male 16-25 (Elisha b: 1785), 1 male 45+ (Philip, Sr. b: 1764), 1 female under 10 (Martha b: 1805), 1 female 10-15 (Mary b: 1792), 1 female 16-25 (Julia Anne b: 1790), and 1 female 45+ (Martha b: 1765). The only child missing was Elizabeth (b: 1788) who married Thomas Jones in 1808.
In the 1820 Adair County, Kentucky census Philip’s family consisted of the following: 1 male 10-15 (Philip, Jr. b: 1807), 3 males 16-25 (Reuben S. b: 1802, Simeon b: 1795, and an unidentified male), 1 female 16-25 (Martha b: 1805), 1 female 45+ (Martha b: 1765). Philip, Sr. does not appear in this census because there is no male 45+ listed, however it is assumed that the census taker made an error and included Philip in the 16-25 age group. The unidentified male could not have been Elisha or Archer because Elisha had already died and Archer was listed in his own household.
In the 1830 Adair County, Kentucky census Philip’s family consisted of the following: 2 males 20-30 (Philip, Jr. b: 1807 and Reuben S. b: 1802), 1 male 60-70 (Philip, Sr. b: 1764) and 1 female 60-70 (Martha b: 1765).
Philip Winfrey, Declaration 15588. Military No. S-31486. Philip Winfrey was granted a pension of $20.00 per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831." (James Clifton Winfrey, "The Winfrey Family", Valient Printing, Littleton, CO, 1982, pages 15 and 16.)
Philip and Martha are found living with their son Reuben S. Winfrey in the 1840 census in Adair County, Kentucky. Phillip is listed as age 76.
The marriage date for Philip Winfrey and Martha Northcutt of ca 1784 is only an estimate and is based solely on the birth date of Philip and Martha’s first child Elisha T. Winfrey (b: 27 Aug 1785).
"The descendants of Israel Winfrey Jr., who married Philip's daughter, Martha "Patsy", say Patsy's middle name was Northcutt, and they thought that was her mother's maiden name, however we have no proof of that." (James Clifton Winfrey, "The Winfrey Family", Valient Printing, Littleton, CO, 1982, page 32.)
Further supporting the position that “Northcutt” was Philip Winfrey, Sr’s wife’s maiden name is the fact that in the family bible of Philip Winfrey, Jr., Philip Jr.’s sister Martha is listed as “Martha Winfrey Junior” thus indicating she was named after her mother. Therefore if Martha’s middle name was “Northcutt” then that no doubt was her mother’s maiden name.
