RICHARD ELLIS [#46], b. Dublin, Ireland 16 Aug 1704, d. Ashfield, MA 7 Oct 1797, m(1) 1728 JANE PHILLIPS (dau. of John Phillips and Elizabeth Drake), b. 1 Jul 1709, d. abt. 1760, m(2) 1772 Mary Henry.
According to his own account, Richard Ellis was born on August 16, 1704 in Dublin, Ireland. His mother was Irish and his father was from Wales and was in one of the British armed forces. Richard spent his youth in Dublin but seems to have traveled in other parts of Ireland. When he was 13, his father being dead, his mother decided to send him to Virginia where he had an uncle with whom he could find a home. She therefore paid his passage to this country, but the ship's captain landed in the Massachusetts Bay and sold the boy into servitude until he came of age. Richard said he became a member of the family of a miller who was often very harsh to his own family but showed Richard his utmost consideration and kindness. He always spoke highly of his mistress, especially her efforts for his mental and moral improvement. He had had some education in Dublin but said nothing of this so his teacher would give him more attention. On several occasions he excited her surprise by pronouncing difficult words in advance of her instructions.[1/910]
After Richard obtained his majority, he went to Easton, MA where he married Jane Phillips in 1728. They moved about 1740 to Deerfield, MA. Richard's father-in-law, Capt. John Phillips of Easton, was one of the soldiers in the expedition against Quebec in 1690 and consequently was among those who became entitled to rights of land which is what probably led Richard and his family to settle in Ashfield, MA in 1745 (then called Huntstown). Richard's son John, born in 1742, said his father removed to Ashfield when he was three years of age. Ashfield was at that time just a wilderness of which Richard Ellis was the first settler.[1/10] Richard was a loyal subject of the King of England in 1754 when war broke out between England and France and spread to this country as one of the French and Indian Wars. He was for about three years an officer in the commissary department of the English or Colonial service in New England and New York.[1/13]
It was said that he was a man of strong will and remarkable memory. His physical vigor and mental powers were retained to a high degree up to the last years of his life.[1/13] At 80 years of age he could jump upon a horse from the ground as easily as a boy (pg.16). About the year 1764 Richard Ellis kept a country store in Colerain, a town about 15 miles northeast from Ashfield. According to his books, the largest part of pay for his goods were ashes, which he converted to pot and pearlash in his ashery. Richard was also engaged in the milling business in partnership with Chileab Smith, Sr. This mill, located on Bear River, was the first one built in that section. About 1760 Richard's wife died, and 12 years later he married Mary, the widow of John Henry of Deerfield. He was at this time of Colerain but around the time of the revolution returned to Ashfield where he spent the rest of his days.[1/1314] It's said that Richard Ellis was an ardent Protestant. The first minister in Ashfield married Remember, second daughter of Richard Ellis, in 1756. Richard died at the home of his grandson Richard on Oct. 7, 1797 in his 94th year.[1/15]
REF: [1] Richard Ellis and his Descendants - E. R. Ellis, 1888
[2] Data from Edward Lee Hansen via e-mail
Children:
1. Reuben, b. 5 Nov 1728, d. Ashfield, MA 21 Apr 1786, m. 4 Jun 1749 Mehitable Scott, b. Sunderland, MA 3 May 1722, d. Ashfield 2 Dec 1804 Chil.:[2] 1) Richard, b. 20 Dec 1760, d. 14 May 1841, m(1) 1780 Chloe Chilson, b. 1762, d. 9 Aug 1819, m(2) 1822 widow Stanton, d. 1830, m(3) 1831 widow Seeley; 2) Martha, b. 1750, d. 1832; 3) Benjamin, b. 7 May 1751, d. 1835, m(1) 15 Mar 1774 Ruth Pike, b. 1753, d. 1784, m(2) Zilpha Mills; 4) Reuben, b. 7 Feb 1752, d. 1832; 5) Jonathan, b. 25 Aug 1754, d. 1812, m. 1799 Lois Allis, b. 1776, d. 1840; 6) Submit, b. 28 Oct 1756, d. 1834; 7) David, b. 30 Dec 1763, d. 1843, m. 8 Jul 1784 Sarah Washburn, b. 1764, d. 1848 2. Benjamin, b. 26 Sep 1730, d. 17 Nov 1730 3. Mary, b. 28 Mar 1732 4. Remember, b. 1 May 1735, d. Ashfield 15 Sep 1795, m. 1 Jul 1756 Ebenezer Smith, b. South Hadley, MA 4 Oct 1734, d. Stockton, NY 6 Jul 1824 Chil. (surname Smith):[2] 1) Ebenezer, b. a Apr 1766, d. 24 May 1855, m. 17 May 1792 Keziah Elmore, b. 12 Apr 1775, d. 17 Mar 1870; 2) Irene, b. 4 Jul 1757, d. 16 Nar 1834, m. 18 May 1780 Isaac Alden; 3) Preserved, b. 25 Jun 1759, d. 15 Aug 1834, m. Jan 1790 Eunice Wells; 4) Jemima, b. 18 Mar 1761, d. 13 Feb 1835, m. 24 Nov 1782 Edward Annable; 5) Rhoda, b. 29 May 1762, d. 21 Feb 1837, m. 21 Feb 1790 Jesse Merrill; 6) Obed, b. 6 Apr 1770, d. 17 Oct 1828, m. 29 Aug 1793 Rhoda Sears; 7) Richard, b. 20 Jun 1774, d. 8 May 1800 5. Jane, b. Easton, MA 11 Nov 1737, d. Marlborough, Vt. 1 Jul 1832, m. John Phillips, b. Easton 21 May 1734, d. 14 Feb 1805 6. Matthew, b. 19 Dec 1739, d. 1800, m. 1760 Hannah Clark, b. 1740 7. John, b. Deerfield, MA 23 Jan 1742, d. Ashfield 17 Aug 1827, m. 19 Jul 1763 Mary Dimick, b. Barnstable, MA 6 Dec 1738, d. Ashfield 8 Sep 1827 8. Hannah, b. 13 Oct 1750, d. Guilford, Vt. 1839, m. 1772 James Fulton, b. 24 May 1749, d. Colerain, MA 20 Mar 1834 9. Caleb, b. 16 Aug 1754, d. Ellisburg, NY March 1813, m. abt. 1779 Mary Crouch, b. 4 Aug 1757, d. Ellisburg, NY Apr 1813
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