Phillip was born in Germany about 1720. He left Wartenburg, Germany with his two sons and possibly a wife sailing from Rotterdam or Cowes on October 3, 1753 on the ship "Louisa". (Note: In another list of the passengers, there was also a Philip Wax on board who was 24 years old. Could this be Johann changing his name for the New World?) They arrived at Philadelphia and settled on Maiden Creek Township near Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He was granted 190 acres of land on March 17, 1757 (Deed Book 15, Page 390, Reading in Berks County, Pennsylvania).