Person:John Ellis (108)

MYTH's BUSTED:

The below will, listed as the will of John Ellis, the father of John Ellis 1661-1728 belongs to a John Ellis who died in Port Royal Jamaica. The below will matches the Port Royal, Jamaica will word for word for over 95% of the Port Royal, Jamaica will making it a certainty that the will belongs to the John Ellis who died in 1785 Port Royal, Jamaica! He WAS NOT the father of John Ellis 1661-1728 of Henrico Co., VA. Thomasine as the wife of John Ellis of Henrico Co., VA. is also FALSE as she being his wife is based upon the Port Royal, Jamaica will which has links to the Inventory of his wife's estate was based upon the will belonging to a John Ellis who died in Virginia. This site includes historical maps of Port Royal, Jamaica clearly showing it was Port Royal, Jamaica, not Port Royal, Old Rappahannoch, VA. While commerce and migration did occur between the West Indies, there is no paper trail linking John Ellis 1661-1728's father to John Ellis 1630-1686/6 at Port Royal, Old Rappahannoch Co., VA., let alone Port Royal, Jamaica.

Secondly, neither the 'Index of Records of Old Rappahannock 1654-1692' (FamilySearch) or the Essex Co., VA General Index to Wills and Deeds 1656-1692 (FamilySearch) show a listing for a John Ellis 1786/6 will. The first John Ellis does not appear in Essex Co. VA indices until Oct 1697 (FamilySearch) where he is named to appraise the estate of William Creamer Junr. deceased. There's no 1785/86 will for John Ellis of Old Rappahannoch / Essex Co. VA.

Burgess in 1661, grantee of the second charter of Virginia (Virkus)

Will of John Ellis of Port Royal, Jamaica (NOT Port Royal, Caroline Co., VA.)

In the Name of God amen I John Ellis of Port Royall in the Island aforesaid freeholder being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory praised be almighty God doe make ordain publish and declare that my last Will and Testament revoaking and absolutely disavoulling all former Wills, Testaments and Codicills by one heretofore made ____ I comitt my soul to almighty God in hope of salvation through the _______ and medaicon of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body to be decently buryed according to the descrecion of my Exrx hereinafter named and attaching what worldy substance God hath been pleased to bless me withall, I give devise bequeath and dispose as followeth (vizt) I the said John Ellis my just debts and funeral expenses being first satisfied and paid doe give and bequeath unto my daughter One Negro Woman Old Black Bless

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grand Child one indian girle called Hanorah,

Item I give & bequeath unto my son John Ellis Ten pounds Currant Money of this island to be paid unto him by my Exrx herein after named towards his setting up in his trade,

Item I give and bequeath unto my other son Twenty pounds Currant Money to be paid to him his Exnt, or assignes at the discrecon of my Exrx as aforesaid and I doe hereby Will desire and bequeath unto my said son John Ellis One parcell of land, containing by estimation foure hundred & ninety acres situate and being in the parish of St. Marget in the island aforesaid bordering northerly and westerly on unpossessed wood land southerly on Francis Leaf and John ______ and easterly on Rio Nora with the _______ Patents Evidences ______ and _____ thereto belonging to have and to hold the said parcell of land and premises with appurtences unto my said son John Ellis his right heirs and assignes to his and their proper use and behoofe forever and I ______ ______ and Bequeath unto my loving wife Tomasin Ellis one parcell of land situate in Queen Street in the parish of Port Royal in the island aforesaid and all houses edifices structures and buildings thereon erected and built, To have and to hold the said last mencioned land and premises with appurtences unto my said wife Tomasin for and during her natural life and after her decease I give desire and bequeath all the income of the said last menconed parcell of land and premises to my said three children including John, and to my grandchild dureing their natural lives in Joynt Tenancy and in case of Survivorship to the Survivors and Survivor of them without impeachment of _____ after their deceases to my right heirs for ever, and all the rest _____ and r_____ of all and singular my estate of what kinde _______ __________ _ be I give bequeath & desire to my said loveing wife Tomasin to hold to here and here Admers and Assignes forever and lastly I make constitute and apport my said loveing wife Thomasin Ellis my sole Exex of this my last Will and Testament ______ whereof I the said John Ellis ____ have hereunto set my hand & seale the Thirteth day of June in the first year of the reigne of Our Soverigne Lord James the second of England Scotland France and Ireland king and of Jamaica Lord defender of the faith &c and in the Year of Our Lord 1685.

(signed) John Ellis

Signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and Testament of John Ellis in the presence of witnesses.

Memorandum the 24th February 1685/6, appeared. and made Oath that they were present and saw John Ellis sign and seale this Written Will and publish and declare the same to be his last Will & Testament at the time of the said publicacon the said.

1.   Jackson Sterett Moorman. Ancestors of Mary Burr Moorman (Harpole), et al. (Louisville, KY, Nov. 15, 1945)
   p. 5, 30 Jul 2006.
2. ↑ International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).