Captain Nathan Ellis

A Patriot of the American Revolution for PENNSYLVANIA with the rank of CAPTAIN. DAR Ancestor # A037798

Dispelling A Legend: Where was Nathan Ellis (1749-1819) Born?

When I first started my quest to prove I was related to a person who served in the Revolutionary War, I fumbled, couldn't find references, found confusing or conflicting information, etc. None was more consistently conflicting than where my Patriot was born. Some 'historical experts' claimed he was born in Wales and migrated with his father and mother, James and Mary Veatch Ellis. Yet others claimed he was born in Frederick County, Maryland. I set out to prove, at least to my satisfaction, where he was actually born. A friend reminded me of the archives of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) had in Washington, D.C. I decided that might be a good place to look as I was tired of the months I had spent searching online.

My first hit was a DAR application by a Lulu Ellis Kirschner of West Union, Ohio. Her application (DAR File 148594) was sworn on 11 Apr 1919. In that application she stated that Nathan Ellis was born in Wales. She also referenced an earlier submission by Margaret Ellis Johnson of the same town. She was sworn to her application (DAR File 137691) 26 Sep 1917, and also stated that Nathan Ellis was born in Wales. My belief is that two ladies were sisters and possibly related directly to Nathan. As it turns out, at least Ms. Johnson was a grand-daughter of Nathan! If she didn't know the truth about Nathan's birthplace, then I didn't know who would!

There were a couple popular researchers who have stated that My Patriot was born in Wales. I attempted to get a copy of "Ellis Ancestors: Some Immigrants, Colonists and Pioneers" by Harold W. Boles and David B. Boles. I located the book in the Wisconsin Historical Society Library in Madison, Wisconsin. While visiting relatives in Madison, I found the book though I could not remove it from the library.

Boles stated that Bell did not know what he was talking about in reporting that Nathan Ellis was born in Wales. Rather, this thought was born from legend, and apparently believed by close descendants of Nathan. Further, the Boles book put me onto the fact that Nathan's father was born in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The authors specifically refer to his birth (James) recorded in the records of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church. Having lived myself in Prince Georges County in the early 1970's I was familiar with the name of the church as still existing, at least in the 1970's. I decided to try to locate and communicate with the church.

Low and behold, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church still exists. They provided me with the following directory of births going back to 1697. Among them, the following Ellises were listed:

    Agniss, b. 31 Aug 1697 to Christopher 1 and Mary Ellis

Christopher, b. 29 Jun 1698 to Christopher 1 and Mary Ellis
Elizabeth, b. 15 Jun 1689 to Christopher 1 and Mary Ellis
James, b. 11 Jan 1723/24 to Christopher 2 and Elizabeth
John, b. 24 Mar 1726 to Christopher 2 and Elizabeth
JAMES is Nathan Ellis' father. Christopher born 1698 was Nathan's grandfather!

Clearly, Nathan could not have been born in Wales when his father, mother, grandfather and grandmother (and quite possibly another generation before, were in Maryland. Author Bell didn't know what he was talking about, and the two DAR applications clearly are reflecting legend as authors Boles have stated.

These facts also give credence to Nathan's birth in Maryland, albeit Frederick County. Posted 19 Dec 2008 (Rev. Jan 09)