John Ellis Jr. (1733 - 1834)

Born 9 Mar 1733 in Frederick, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Mar 1834 at age 101 in Jonesboro, Union, Illinois, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Ellis Name Study.

• COMMENTARY -- Sloan - Reichart Family Ties

"Jonathan wrote his will in April of 1766 [probated August] naming his son John to care for the younger children with his mother Elizabeth. As Owen Ellis was raised by a John and Elizabeth, it seems likely they were his brother & mother, although some believe John was his father. Records seem to indicate that John married in 1787 a year before Elizabeth is said to have died and as such I don't believe they were married! We also find this line recorded in The Jameson and Related Families by Robert Hurd Jameson.

John went into the Greenbriar at the request of Col. Andrew Lewis as a scout and spy, and remained there for over 20 years. He served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. John Ellis Jr. while living at Mossy Creek, was well known for his knowledge of the backwoods. He was an excellent hunter, and spent his time in the wilderness traveling as far as the Allegheny Mountains, and beyond into the Greenbrier. Besides John Ellis Jr., living in this remote frontier, were the families of John Madison, John Lewis-his sons; General Andrew Lewis, a well-known backwoodsman, Thomas Lewis, Colonel William Lewis, and Colonel Charles Lewis.

• MILITARY SERVICE - He enlisted in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, serving as an Indian scout & spy from 1773 to 1783; was appointed by Gen. Andrew Lewis and served at Ellis' Fort under Capt. John Cook. He served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. While living at Mossy Creek, he was well known for his knowledge of the backwoods. He was an excellent hunter, and spent his time in the wilderness traveling as far as the Allegheny Mountains and beyond into the Greenbriar.

• LAND RECORD - On 17 March 1780 in Goochland, Virginia, he purchased 25 acres on branches of Tuckahoe Creek from Matthew & Elizabeth Woodson. He was shown as living in Henrico, VA. Rec. 20 Mar 1780 (Vol. 13, p. 31).

• COURT RECORD - On 23 Jan 1790 in Woodford, Kentucky, he served as executor of John Proctor's will, along with Proctor's wife.

• PENSION RECORD - States that he was born in Frederick County Virginia on March 9, 1733. In 1773 by appointment from General Andrew Lewis he was made an Indian Scout and Spy. He performed his duties until the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. From 1776 till 1783 he performed his duties again and served all 12 months of each year from 1776 to 1782 and 10 months in 1783. He states that he was in several skirmishes with Shawnee Indians. Also said that one point during the war he saw General George Washington and Colonel Daniel Morgan. After the war, he moved to west Tennessee then to Kentucky and finally moved to Illinois. His son in law George Hunsaker signed an affidavit regarding the pension application. ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ US Revolutionary War Pension & Bounty-Land Warrants

• Ancestry.com site: Pruden-Ellis File
• Valentine Papers, Vol. III, Woodson Family, Albemarle County Records, p. 1904
• Kentucky Probate & Church Records, Vol. II, p. 98
• Sloan - Reichart Family Ties - https://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ksloan110&id=I29862