Walter Ellis Synopsis  
 
 
 

WALTER ELLIS

A synopsis by Evylene Canup

Our Ellis family begins with our Revolutionary War Soldier, Walter Ellis.  I have not been able to document the parents of Walter Ellis.  Our first known date on the Ellis Family is when Walter Ellis married Mary ____ on May 8, 1776, which is found in the application papers when Mary applied for a Revolutionary Widows Pension.
 Walter is first found in Caswell County, NC as listed in the Tax Records of 1777.  Their first child, Elisabeth Ellis, was born in Caswell County, October 3, 1778.
 In December 1779 Walter Ellis enlisted in the Revolutionary War and served a tour of three months under Captain William Harding in General Lillington's North Carolina Brigade and was discharged March 22, 1780.  He served a second tour, length not stated, under Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Owen in General Butler's Brigade and was discharged November 16, 1781.
 In the Caswell County, North Carolina Will Book A, I found this document:
                 July the 14th 1782
  Sir Thomas Cole I desire you to take care of my Things till I return
  home again and you will much oblige your Humble Servant. Stephen
  Hamblin and my mother.  Take Care of my Chattles if she Please and
  if I should not return I leave my Mother the Hogs & Cattle that is there
  and the rest Solo and Eaqually Divided amonged my Brothers Hereafter.
       Walter Ellis
  Caswell County
  Septem Court 1782
   The Execution of the above Will was proved in Open Court
  by the Oath Walter Ellis a Subsending Witnes thereso and on motion
  ordered to be recorded.
      Test A.C. Mappay, CC

 (The wording of this Will indicates Walter had 3 or more brothers. Possibly Elijah, James Calvin,
 and Stephen because all 3 are connected by data at one point or another. This is my  hypothesis
 and I would love to find their parents and a listing of Children. Added by Lynda Gibbs)

 Walter and Mary Ellis did not leave Caswell County in 1782, Stephen, their first son was born there August 27, 1783.  In the Deed Books, it states on October 13, 1783, Moses Parker owns 200 acres adj. to Walter Ellis in Caswell County.  Walter is listed in the Tax Papers of Caswell in 1784 and the last listing in Caswell County, when on February 13, 1786, Mary Ellis their daughter is born there.
 Several families from Caswell County, North Carolina left in wagons in 1788 and came to Green County, Georgia. Walter Ellis and his family were among these families.  He first shows up on the Tax List of Green County in 1789.  My 3rd Great Grandfather, James E. Ellis was born there in 1791.  On November 21, 1791, Walter purchased 500 acres on Nat Creek in Green County and he is listed on Tax List there in 1793-97.
 Moses Parker of Green County sells his 200 acres in Caswell County, NC on October 7, 1795.  And by 1798, Moses Parker died there, then on November 8, 1800, Walter Ellis is appointed guardian of Mary Parker, 15 year old daughter of Moses Parker. (Surely Walter Ellis and Moses Parker was of some relation, could Walter's wife, Mary been a Parker, and Moses her brother).
 Walter and Mary's last two children, Isaac and Elijah were born in Green County and the Ellis family moved to Jackson County, Georgia, where Walter purchased 506 acres there February 12, 1801.
 Walter Ellis appeared in the 1805 Jackson County lottery list, and in 1820 as a Revolutionary veteran he drew land in Early County granted February 4, 1837.  In the Georgia Census of 1820, Walter, along with his son, Isaac was enumerated in Hall County.
 The last record we find on Walter Ellis is on July 4, 1817 when he applied for letter of Administration to the Estate of Bennett Ivy, Jackson County.
 Walter Ellis died November 13, 1821 in Jackson County, Mary, his widow was listed in 1827 living in Miller's District of Jackson County.  I find no other record of Mary Ellis until 1840 when she is living in the household of her son, Elijah Ellis, in Gilmer County, Georgia.  In March of 1840, Mary Ellis applied for  Revolutionary War Pension; after much correspondence and sending the old Ellis Bible to Department of Interior this pension was reviewed and approved:  Mary Ellis, widow of Walter Ellis, Certificate No. 3346, issued June 6, 1840, rate $20 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of July 4, 1836, Georgia Agency.
 Rev. William Ellis, son of James Ellis, grandson of Walter Ellis, in 1878 contacted the Department of Interior and requested the return of the Ellis Bible.  The Bible was returned to him August 14, 1878, no one is sure what happened to this Bible.  Rev. William A. Ellis was married three times and did not have children by his third wife, who was living at his death.
 I assume Mary Ellis died in Gilmer County, Georgia.

 (Revolutionary War Records; Mary Ellises, Revolutionary War Pension Claim W.4431;
 Will, Caswell County, NC Will Book A; Caswell County, North Carolina Deed Books 1777-
 1817, pg 50, 167; Deed Books Green and Jackson County Georgia; 1805 and 1820 Revol-
 utionary veterans Land Lottery.)
 
 
 

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