In 1868, while working at Rugby School, James Surtees Phillpotts married Marian Hadfield Cordery, daughter of John Cordery of Weatherall House, Hampstead. She was a sister of Henrietta, wife of Phillpotts' then colleague at Rugby, T.W. Jex-Blake. The couple had seven children, the eldest of whom died in early infancy. Among the remaining six the most notable was Dame Bertha Surtees Phillpotts, the Icelandic scholar. His youngest daughter, Marjory Surtees Phillpotts captained the England Ladies Hockey TeamProminent Lady Hockey Players and Officials, in The Sporting Mail, Dublin, 22 February 1930 and married William Sealy Gosset.A Phillpotts Scrapbook, Roger Gwynn (editor), 2018 Owen Surtees Phillpotts O.B.E. had a distinguished career in the diplomatic service. Lieutenant Colonel Brian Surtees Phillpotts D.S.O., R.E. died a hero's death in the First World War.
