Phillis is mentioned in an 1885 Marblehead Messenger article: "In the large three-storied house nearly opposite the church was born one of the four men of Massachsuetts who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to stand by the Declaration of Independence which says 'all men are created equal' [likely referring to Elbridge Gerry and his house across from Old North Church, Marblehead]. If our memory serves us rightly, it was in the same old mansion when slavery was not exclusively a southern institution, that a negro slave named Phyllis lived. A pathetic tale comes down to us from her lips. The writer had it when a child from one who lived next neighbor to the house at the time. She used to say to the children about her, 'Little dears, allus mind your modders. If I'd mine'd my mudder I shouldn't be yere, but I didn't mine her. She tole me "don't go in the gyarden, the white man will cotch you." The white man held out some pretty beads an' when I went to get 'em he stole me and brought me over the sea, and I nebber see my mudder any more.' It were, at least, a pleasant coincidence that the wail of the bondwoman and that of the child patriot who was to take the initial step towards the freedom of her race should go up from the same house. At the time of which we write the widow of Capt. William Blackler and her daughter Lucia were living in the house...Subsequently the house was purchased by Dr. Gile who had it raised and otherwise altered."
The Phyllis of this article is most likely Phillis Batchelder Gerry. Phillis is probably the "negro Girl" listed in Capt. George Batchelder's 1770 probate inventory. She married Cato Gerry, listed in Thomas Gerry's 1775 probate inventory. On March 23, 1773, the Rev. Isaac Story officiates their marriage at the Second Congregational Church, the Rev. Isaac Story officiating.
Cato Gerry and "wife" appear on the 1788 "List of negros." The list includes and entry for 2 children. The baptismal records confirm this. On February 25, 1799, the couple brought their two daughters, 10-year-old Flora and 17-year-old Peggy, to be baptised at the Second Congregational Church. On March 3, 1799, Phillis appears in the Church records again on March 3 for becoming "convenanted" with the congregations. Cato Gerry appears in the 1790 and 1800 United State's census records for Marblehead, in households of 6 and 2 respectively. No record of Phillis' death exists.
Bibliography:
1790 United States Federal Census of Marblehead.
1800 United States Federal Census of Marblehead.
"About Some Houses, Persons, Etc. Not Found in the Guide Book," Marblehead Messenger, September 11, 1885, p. 2.
Capt. George Batchelder Probate Records, Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (From records supplied by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives.) https://app.americanancestors.org/DB515/i/13745/2065-co13/30054044, 2065.
"Marblehead April 22, 1788 A List of Negros residing in this Town," Marblehead Historical Commission, 2009-100-1os517."
Marblehead, Early Vital Records of Massachusetts: From 1600 to 1850, https://ma-vitalrecords.org/.
Records of the Second Congregational Church of Marblehead, Marblehead Museum.
Phillis Gerry, 1799 covenant, 2nd Cong Church records
Peggy and Flora baptism 1799, 2nd Cong Church records
Capt. George Batchelder probate inventory 1770 with negro girl likely Phillis
Cato Gerry and Phillis Batchelder marriage, 2nd Cong Church records
Marblehead Messenger, 9.11.1885, page 2