ELLIS Wright, Sr.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Christening: 15 Nov 1772

Notes:

From The Ellis Line From Surry-Sussex, Virginia (1978) by Dixie Lm, page 169: Wright Ellis, Sr. was named in the will of his father, William to receive the home place, 200 acres on the death or remarriage of his mother, Elizabeth Wright Ellis. "The property left to Wright, with a 'mansion house' which apparently was built by Wright,remained in the hands of descendants, a part of it until the 1880's" From above source also, page 170, Ms. McCrary states that Wright Ellis served as Deputy Clerk of Sussex County for two or more years and that Ellis served a justice of the County Court in 1802. Ms. McCrary quotes from the Asbury Journal (Bishop Francis Asbury)stating that on Saturday, February 3, 1810, the Bishop had come to William Birdsong's in Suffolk and his entry for February 4th was: "I preached at my host's and at Wright Ellis's. Here were great times thirty years ago; many are fallen asleep, and the children forget God." Ms. McCrary states that Wright died in circa 1819 leaving no will.

Christening:
November 15, 1772, Godparents: Thomas Smith, Benjamin Ellis, Patricia Blow.

Wright married ANDREWS Sally in 1795 in Sussex County, VA. Sally and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. ELLIS Wright, Jr. was born in 1803; and died.

Notes:

The children listed as William Ellis, I were obtained from The Ellis LineFrom Surry-Sussex, Virginia (1978) by Dixie L. McCrary and she states hersource as the Albemarle Parish Register records. This William Ellis became the guardian of Elizabeth Wright, daughter ofEdward Wright. Edward Wright was William I wife's Elizabeth's brother. From The Ellis Line From Surry-Sussex, Virginia (1978) by Dixie L.McCrary, pages 160-61: Concerning Methodism: "It is obvious from the Albemarle Parish Register that William andElizabeth were active members of Albemarle Parish (Established Church) aslate as 1772. They became actively associated with the Methodistmovement, the beginning of which in Southside Virginia dates from thecoming of the first Methodist preachers into that area in the early1770's. As early as 9 Dec. 1775, as recorded in his Journal, BishopAsbury was at 'Mr. Ellis's' in Sussex Co.; this 'Mr. Ellis' no doubt wasWilliam Ellis I. The visit is an indication that William and Elizabethwere by that time well recognized as members of the Methodist Society.They may have continued as members of the Established Church for someyears, as practically all of those belonging to the Society did, manyuntil the formal establishment of the 'Methodist Episcopal Church inAmerica' in 1784. 'Ellis Preaching House' (probably the seventh meeting house of theMethodists in Virginia, as stated by John Lednum in his 'History of theRise of Methodism in America, ') was on the land of William Ellis I, andmay have been in existence at the time of the Bishop's first visit. Theyear it was built is not of record, but it is evident that it have beenin use for some time when in May, 1783 (Deed Bk. F, p. 182), WilliamEllis made formal deed for the land on which it stood (1 acre, 26 poles)to a group of Trustees representing the Methodist Society. The trusteeswere William Nicholson, Caleb Ellis, Emanuel James, Stephen Andrews,David Rogers, Stephen Pepper, Isaac Ellis, Benjamin Ellis and WilliamEllis, Jr. The Caleb Ellis listed as one of the trustees was Caleb II, son of CalebI of Surry; Isaac Ellis was the son of Richard, brother of Caleb II;Benjamin Ellis and William Ellis, Jr., were sons of the William who gavethe land. the Stephen Andrews probably was Stephen (b. 1743), son ofJohn and Sarah (Ellis) Andrews (Sarah, a sister of the William who gavethe land). The deed was emphatic in restricting the property to the use of the'Society called Methodists' and the preaching of the doctrines of johnWesley." Concerning slaves: "By deed of 19 Dec. 1787, (Deed Bk. G, p. 124), William Ellis emancipatedhis slaves: Thomas, aged 26 years.... names 11 with ages.... heincluded the provision that as several of the slaves were 'yet in theirnonage it is my request and desire to have the care and instruction ofthem till they arrive at full age..." Concerning his will: "His will, made 24 Mar. 1795, pr. 4 June 1795 (Will Bk. E, p. 345), leftthe home plantation to his wife, Elizabeth, for her widowhood, and to hisson, Wright, at her marriage or death; and to his son, Benjamin, land andplantation 'where he now lives... 150 acres.' Bequests were made to thefollowing children, also: sons, William and John, and daughters, SusannaKinnebrough, Mary Evans, Catherine Ellis and Sally Hargrove." From The Ellis Line From Surry-Sussex, Virginia (1978) by Dixie L.McCrary, page page 133: "His will [Benjamin Ellis I] made 3 Dec. 1758,pr. 19 Jan. 1759 (Sussex Will Bk. A, p. 112), leaves to his "Dear andLoving Wife," (name not given), the plantation for her natural life, andnames his sons: William, Jonathan, Jeremiah, Benjamin and Joseph (seeSummary on each), and daughters, Mary Proctor, Priscilla Blow, SarahAndrews, Susanna Andrews and Elizabeth Moreing."

Wright married WRIGHT Elizabeth. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wife was possibly Elizabeth Rogers, although this hasn't been proved.

From The Ellis Line From Surry-Sussex, Virginia (1978) by Dixie McCrary, page 132: "He was either a son, or grandson, of Jeremaih Ellis I; possibly a grandson, son of Jeremiah II, if born as late as 1690 (when Jeremiah II would have been 19 years of age). His name does not appear on any extant tithe list, the latest available being 1703. He may have reached tithable age in 1704, with year of birth, 1688: Court records, Surry Co.(1691-1713), p. 362, show his appointment, 18 Apr 1711, with Thos.Bentley and Thos. Beddingfield, to value and appraise estate of John Lile; for such a responsibility he must have reached age of 18 years,possibly 21. Indications are that his first child was born 1711. "Surry Deeds, Etc., No. 7, pp. 356-7, show deed of 17 June 1721, of Jeremiah Ellis (not shown whether Sr. or Jr.), for the nominal sum of 5 shillings, to Benjamin Ellis of 150 acres of land on s. side of Blackwater Swamp, apparently the same tract received by Jeremiah I by Va .Land Grant of 16 June 1774. Here again, the title "Sr." or "Jr." was not used; absence of the title suggest the elder Jeremiah." Also from source above, page 132-3: "Benjamin Rogers, who d. 28 May 1744 (Albemarle Parish Register), was named as a son in will of William Rogers (b.c. 1657, d. c. 1727) (will made 28 Jan. 1725, pr. 17 May 1727, Bk. 7, p. 706); that will named as a daughter, Elizabeth Ellis b. c. 1687, according to best computation that can be made from available evidence. The Ellis to who she was married has not been identified, but evidently was someone closely related to Caleb and Benjamin Ellis, possible Jeremiah II, whose wife was Elizabeth. If the wife of Jeremiah II, she may have been the mother of Caleb (if he was b. 1702), but she could not have been the mother of Benjamin. She may have been Benjamin's wife; no record has been found ofthe name of his wife." Page 133: "His will [Benjamin Ellis I] made 3 Dec. 1758, pr. 19 Jan.1759 (Sussex Will Bk. A, p. 112), leaves to his "Dear and Loving Wife,"(name not given), the plantation for her natural life, and names his sons: William, Jonathan, Jeremiah, Benjamin and Joseph (see Summary on each), and daughters, Mary Proctor, Priscilla Blow, Sarah Andrews,Susanna Andrews and Elizabeth Moreing."

Died:
from 3 December 1758 to 19 January 1759, Sussex County, Virginia

Siurces:
Ellis Line From Surry-Sussex in Virginia, The , 132
Calvin Dorris