John Ellis (abt. 1661 - abt. 1728)

Born about 1661 in Tuckahoe, Henrico, Virginia

Descendants

Died about 1728 at about age 67 in Henrico, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Anonymous Biggs [send private message]

MYTH's BUSTED

The will commonly listed as the will of John Ellis, the father of John Ellis 1661-1728 belongs to a John Ellis who died in Port Royal Jamaica. He WAS NOT the father of John Ellis 1661-1728 of Henrico Co., VA. Thomasine as the wife of John Ellis of Henrico Co., VA. is also FALSE as she being his wife is based upon the Port Royal, Jamaica will which has links to the Inventory of his wife's estate. This site includes historical maps of Port Royal, Jamaica clearly showing it was Port Royal, Jamaica, not Port Royal, Old Rappahannoch, VA. While commerce and migration did occur between the West Indies, there is no paper trail linking John Ellis 1661-1728's father to John Ellis 1630-1686/6 at Port Royal, Old Rappahannoch Co., VA., let alone Port Royal, Jamaica.

Secondly, neither the 'Index of Records of Old Rappahannock 1654-1692' (FamilySearch) or the Essex Co., VA General Index to Wills and Deeds 1656-1692 (FamilySearch) show a listing for a John Ellis 1786/6 will. The first John Elles does not appear in Essex Co. VA indices until Oct 1697 (FamilySearch) where he is named to appraise the estate of William Creamer Junr. deceased. There's no 1785/86 will for John Ellis of Old Rappahannoch / Essex Co. VA.

Biography

John Ellis, of Tuckahoe in the county of Henrico, and State of Virginia was born about 1661. The tradition in the family, is that he was of Welsh descent. By a deposition, of record in the Clerk's Office of Henrico County Court, sworn to in Court, February 1st, 1691, it appears that he was born about the year 1661 his appearance is noted as a witness in that Court, October 1st, 1683.

His father was also named John. John Ellis, his father was from Jamestown, James, state of Virginia and his wife was named Thomasine Jenkins of Henrico.

John Ellis' paternal grandparents were David Ellis and Margaret Ann his maternal grandparents were Thomas Daniel Jenkins and Elizabeth Stevenson. John Ellis' wife was named Susannah together they had 7 sons and 1 daughter and a total of 8 children.

The children where named: John, William, Henry, Thomas, James, Joseph, Charles and Mary.

There seems to be a few different John Ellis' during that time period one located in Maryland named (John "Clarn" Ellis 1628 - 1669 of Maryland) and not to be confused with the other John Ellis' of Virginia named (John Ellis 1685-1762 of Virginia) who is the son of (John Ellis 1661–1728 of Virginia) and his father (John Ellis 1630–1669 of Virginia). This John Ellis line is in Virginia and is well attested through land and court documents, including land deals in 1725. NO HISTORICAL DOCUMENT from the 1600-1700's has the Henrico Co., VA John Ellis with a middle name.

An indenture, made the 31st day of the eleventh month, "commonly called January, 1697-98. between John Ellis, of the county of Henrico. Planter, and John Pleasants, senior, of the same county, conveying 240 acres of land situated in the said county, is acknowledged in open Court, by John Ellis, February 1st, 1697. In an account of goods sold, belonging unto Mr. Tertulian Sehut, deceased, and Williain Cocke, Coroner, also of record in the said office, there is the entry, "14th August, 1701. To bay mare, at £4.00 sold John Ellis."

At a Court held at Varina, for the county of Henrico, the first Monday in December, being the fifth day of the month, Annoque Domini, 1715 John Ellis appeared personally and acknowledged one deed dated the 3rd day of December, 1715, from himself to Robert Napier to be his act and deed, and the same was there upon admitted to record. Then Susanna, the wife of the said John Ellis being first privately examined, relinquished her right of dower in the land by the said deed conveyed, which relinquishment was also admitted to record.

A Patent, from George the 1st, witnessed by His well beloved Alexander Spotswood, Lieutenant Governor, &c., &c.. sealed with the seal of the colony, at Williamsburg, December 16th, 1714 grants unto John Ellis one certain tract or parcel of land containing five hundred acres lying and being in the county of Henrico and on the eastern branch of Tuckahoe Creek, for and in consideration of the sum of fifty shillings of good and lawful money paid to the Receiver General of His Majesty's Revenues in His Majesty's Colony and Dominion of Virginia.

Also, one other Patent, witnessed by Henry Drysdalc, Governor, bearing date the 24th of March, 1725, grants unto John Ellis, of Henrico county, for the consideration of 40 shillings, 400 acres of land lying and being in the same county. Both of which said patents are of record in the Virginia Land Office.

John Ellis passed away in the year about 1728 in Henrico, state of Virginia.

Sources

• pp 460-463, By William Meade, originally published 1861 by J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia, PA; reprinted 2009, Applewood Books., https://books.google.com/books?id=ic3BT0ZizV8C
• Much detail about John Ellis of Tuckahoe and descendants, https://search.ancestry.com/collections/9289/records/10087349
• https://search.ancestry.com/collections/7249/records/109012245
• https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/85822-a-memorandum-of-the-ellis-family?offset=1
• Source number: 1242.050; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1, https://search.ancestry.com/collections/7836/records/381946
• Alabama Department of Archives and History; Montgomery, AL; Alabama Surname Files; Box or Film Number: M84-4542, https://search.ancestry.com/collections/61266/records/191339
• http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=mdmarriages_ga&h=69298&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
• Source number: 8910.206; Source type: Family group sheet, FGSE, listed as parents; Number of Pages: 1, http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=try&h=381945&db=WorldMarr_ga