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Gerard Robert Ellyson, I was born about 1656/57. His mother Elizabeth was still going by the name 'Elizabeth Gerard' in 1654 when she witnessed the will of Cuthbert Fenwick in St. Mary's Co. MD. Fenwick was brother-in-law to Jane Eltonhead who was a sister to Elizabeth Gerard. Eltonhead being an apparent son-in-law to Dr. Thomas Gerard(see book, "Cheseldine and Gerard Families of Maryland", by Beitzell). Dr. Robert Ellyson had earlier lived in St. Mary's Co. MD. In 1672 Gerard Robert Ellyson was listed as a minor and orphan of Major Ellyson in James City Co. VA. His guardian was one Thomas Viccars, therefore, both his parents seem to have died before 1672. His father Dr. Robert Ellyson did leave a will in James City Co. VA., however, it was lost during the later Civil War. We know the will once existed because it was briefly mentioned in a court record in Elizabeth City Co. VA.(see book, "Elizabeth City County, Virginia", by Neal, p. 71). The father had two known homes, one in Middletowne (now Williamsburg, VA.) before 1664, and one in nearby York Co. VA. when he acquired the Dr. Henry Waldron house in 1657 on what is today the Coast Guard Base. In May 1664 "Thomas Ballard and Robert Ellison of Middletowne...Gent." aided the estate of a Mary Temple. (see, "York County, Virginia Records 1665-1672", by Weisiger & "Virginia Colonial Abstracts Series 2, vol. 5, York County Virginia Wills, Deeds, Orders 1657-1659", by Duvall). On Apr. 20, 1680 Gerrard Robert Ellyson repatented his father's 577 ac. (Its also listed as 377 ac. ?) in New Kent Co. VA. at the narrows of York River (today near Holly Forks, VA.) and 200 ac. in James City Co. VA. on the N.E. side of a branch of Burchen Swamp (today Barnes Swamp) & Ware Creek (both near Holly Forks). The patent reads granted originally to "Capt. Robt. Ellyson...& due him(due GR)as sonn & heire" ("Cavaliers and Pioneers" 1666-1695, by Nugent). Gerard Robert Ellyson apparently made the 577 ac. tract in New Kent Co. VA. (now Holly Fork) his new home plantation because he and his family were members of St. Peter's Anglican (now Episcopal) Church in New Kent Co. The church is in what is now the Talleysville area. The present brick structure dates from 1703 so the church one visits today is the church they knew. In June 1698 "Jarrat Robert Ellison" and others were directed by St. Peter's Parish to help clear roads in his area. There is no evidence his father, Dr. Ellyson, ever lived in this area but had the property as an investment which later went to his son. The last known record for Gerard Robert Ellison is May 24, 1721 when two negro children belonging to him were born, Tamar & Turner. He was dead by June 1727 when his wife Anne (Myhill) Ellyson made her will and not mentioning him. The will names their children as John Ellyson, Gerrard Ellyson, and Thomas Ellyson. In 1658 Gerard Robert's mother Elizabeth Ellison witnessed the baptism of baby Wm. Randolph in James City Co. VA. Davis concluded in "Tidewater Virginia Families" that she was Dr. Ellyson's wife as, "...there seems to have been no other Ellyson in James Citty at that time." She goes on to speculate that perhaps Dr. Ellyson had married a sister of Dr. Thomas Gerard. This is not likely because that would make her 10-15 years older than her husband. Plus, no sister of Dr. Gerard named Elizabeth has been found at the time of this writing. Dr. Thomas Gerard was apparently married 3 times ("Evolution of Patriotic Ancestry Series II...By Maryland Society of Colonial Dames"). He had two daughters named Elizabeth by two different wives. This is virtually proven by two bible entries: The Robert Slye Bible and the Ervin Bible. One daughter Elizabeth married Dr. Robert Ellyson, another younger daughter Elizabeth married a Blakiston. Robert Slye was a son-in-law of Dr. Gerard. The Ervin Bible belonged to Ellison descendant Elizabeth (Ellison) Ervin in 1783. For details regarding these two bible records see the Wikitree profile for John Allison--6155 (Ervin Bible) & Elizabeth (Gerard) Ellyson--1379 (Slye Bible). In the Ervin Bible it names Gerard Robert Ellyson's mother as Hannah Gerard. This appears to be a misnomer as Hannah was the name of his sister who married Armistead. Dr. Ellyson and wife Elizabeth both died before Dr. Gerard, therefore, they do not appear in his will, plus Gerard had about 15 grandchildren that were not mentioned in his will. I do not know where the first Gerard Robert Ellyson is buried. His church was a bit far from his home so he may have been buried on his Holly Forks Plantation after 1721. The above written by Dennis Stewart(16676).
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E > Ellyson > Gerard Robert Ellyson I
Categories: Virginia, Ellison Name Study | Henrico Monthly Meeting, Sandston, Virginia | Needs Merge Cleanup | Long Profiles in Need of Cleanup | Virginia Colonists | US Southern Colonies Project Needs Style Review
edited by Michelle (Gerard) Hartley
Any chance we can give him the AKA name Gerard Robert Ellyson II to help avoid more confusion? Just a thought. Thanks, Jen
And if we do that, can we AKA his father as Gerard Robert Ellyson I? I know he went by Robert.
I know the Ellysons are our possible link to many Magna Carta Surety Barons, English Aristocracy, and Charlemagne; be nice to clear it up.
Anne Myhill's mother, Mary (Lockey) Myhill, was born 1650 (see Anne's profile). So her daughter (who married Ellyson) could not possibly have been born in 1647.
She has been detached as wife/mother of Elliston-307.
Can you provide some documentation proving which Sara Spence would have married Gerrard Robert Ellyson, SR.?