Paul Phy was our first verifiable ancestor of our PHY relatives. Paul worked for the George family of Philadelphia, and raised his family at 39th and Elm Streets. His youngest son, Jesse George Phy, was my gggrandfather. He was a Philadelphia Police Officer, apppointed to his post in 1858, and later, one of the Original Fairmount Park Guards.

Lore has it that Paul Phy was born on board the ship that brought he and his parents to America in 1785. We know that the family was from Germany, and other relatives have said that he was always referred to as 'the German', evidently never learning very much English. He and his wife Mary (possibly Marland from Welsh immigrants to New Jersey) raised a large family in Philadelphia.

He and Mary were among the first 100 people buried at Laurel Hill Cemetary in Philadelphia.

Naturalization Papers