“April 2,1857

The name of Ellis appears at an early day in connection with the Colony of Virginia.  David Ellis came out in the second supply of emigrants from England, and was one of the men sent by Captain Smith to build a house for King Powhatan at his favourite seat, Werowocomico, on the York River.  John Ellis was one of the grantees in the second charter of the Virginia Colony.

My immediate family is of Welsh extraction, and my descent traced to John Ellis, who settled on Peter’s Creek, a branch of Tuckahoe Creek, in Henrico county.  He was born in the year 1661 and he appears at Varina, the county seat of Henrico, October 1, 1683.  His wife was named Susannah, and their children were John, William, Thomas, Henry, James, Joseph, Mary, and Charles.

John, the eldest son married Elizabeth Ware, a relation of Baldwin and Ware Rockett, seafaring men, who owned the property in the city of Richmond, since called ‘Rocketts.’  He was a magistrate and sheriff of Henrico.  His eldest son, who was also named John, inherited the family residence, and lived in it during his life.  It still belongs to the family of one of his grand-daughters, who married John Bowles, of Louisa county.”

Reference Data:

Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia, Vol. 2, by Bishop Meade, 1891, pages 460-1