Ellis Family
Maryland to Georgia

Levin Ellis

I am researching the family of Levin Ellis. Levin was born about 1750 in Somerset County, Maryland. He was the son of Joseph Ellis. He was married to Isabel Ellis, daughter of Josias and Rachel Ellis. She was born about 1750 in Somerset, Maryland, and died in 1838 in Hancock County, Georgia. Levin Ellis moved to Hancock County, Georgia around 1786 and died there about 1831.

Levin Ellis is buried in Old Ellis Cemetery in Hancock County, Georgia. His tombstone (see photo and inscription at Friends of Hancock County, Georgia Cemeteries) inscription reads "Levin Ellis, GA Troops, Rev. War." Levin Ellis drew land as a Revolutionary War Veteran in the 1827 Georgia Land Lottery. Levin probably served in a unit from Delaware or Maryland rather than Georgia. Records indicate that Levin did not move to Georgia until after 1785. He is listed on the 1785 Tax List for Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. There is a deed dated 07 Mar 1786 recorded in Sussex County, Delaware records for 45 acres sold by Isaac McDowell and wife Naomi McDowell to Levin Ellis. The record refers to two earlier deeds when the land was in Maryland but states it is now in Sussex County, Delaware.

One deed recorded in the Hancock County, Georgia deed books indicates that Levin Ellis purchased land from William McClelland on 02 February 1786 but did not record the deed until 06 Feb 1794. The land purchased from William McClelland was sold to Joshua Culver on 06 February 1794.

Depositions dated 15 July 1796 given by James Waller and Isabella Ellis are found in Hancock County, Georgia records. These depositions state that Levin & Isabella Ellis and other passengers were on a ship from the State of Delaware to the State of Georgia when the ship became stranded on a sand bar for thirty-six hours. The passengers were finally taken ashore in Norfolk, Virginia. The depositions do not give the dates of passage from Delaware to Georgia.

Levin Ellis is listed on the 1830 census as being 80-90 years of age. There is one female in the household aged 80 to 90 years.

Levin's will is recorded in Hancock County Will Book N. He names his daughters Elizabeth Waller, Eliza and Nancy Culver, Rachel Middlebrooks, Polly Alford, Phillis Miller in his will. He also names the heirs of his son Isaac, and grandsons Hardy Ellis, Isaac and Levin E. Culver.

The 1836 Membership roll of Smyrna Methodist Church in Hancock County includes several members of the Ellis family: (See Link Below)

Children of Levin & Isabel Ellis:

	Eliza Ellis, born about 1770, Somerset County, Maryland. Died after 1850 in Hancock County, Georgia. Married George Culver, Jr., born about 1760, Somerset County, Maryland. Died 14 Nov 1830, Hancock County, Georgia.
	Elizabeth Ellis, Born 07 May 1772, Died 06 Feb 1845. Married James Waller about 1798. James was born 15 Dec 1768, Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware. Died 09 Jan 1817, Hancock County, Georgia.
	Nancy Ellis, Born about 1773, died after 1842, Hancock County, Georgia. Married Joshua Joseph Culver, born about 1762 in Delaware, died after 1850, Hancock County, Georgia.
	Isaac Ellis, born about 1775, died before 1831, Hancock County, Georgia. Married Jane Alford.
	Rachel Ellis, Born about 1780, died 1831, Hancock County, Georgia. Married Micajah Middlebrooks before 1805, probably in Hancock County, GA. He was born about 1758 and died 1830 in Hancock County, GA. Rachel Ellis is buried in the Coleman-Middlebrooks Family Cemetery, Hancock County, Georgia.
	Mary "Polly" Ellis, born about 1782. Married (1) James Figs, 21 February 1812, Hancock County, GA; Married (2) (Unknown) Alford before 1838.
	Phillis Ellis, Born about 1784; Married William Miller 09 October 1806, Hancock County, GA.

Census, Land, and Tax Records:

	1785 - Tax List, Little Creek Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware
	02 Feb 1786 - Deed from McClelland to Levin Ellis, Hancock County, GA (Recorded in Hancock County Deed book in 06 Feb 1794)
	07 Mar 1786, Deed from Isaac and Naomi McDowell to Levin Ellis, Sussex County, Delaware
	1794 - Tax Digest, Greene County, GA
	31 Jan 1801 - Sold land to Joshua Culver, Hancock County, GA
	08 Jul 1801 - Deed from Joshua Culver to Levin Ellis
	26 Aug 1801 - Deed from Joshua Culver to Levin Ellis
	1827 - Drew lot in Georgia Land Lottery
	1820 Hancock County, Georgia, Captain Mason's District - Levin Ellis
	1830 - Hancock County, Georgia, page 152. Levin Ellis (1 Male age 80 to 90; 1 Female age 80 to 90)

Links:

	Smyrna Methodist Church Cemetery Survey (Friends of Hancock County Cemeteries)
	Membership Roll of Smyrna Methodist Church, 1836 (US GenWeb Archives)

Sources:

Mason, Elaine Hasting and F. Edwward Wright. Land Records of Sussex County, Delaware, 1782-1789, Deed Book N, No. 13.
Westminster, MD: Family Line Publications, 1990.

Marsh, Tim, and Helen Marsh. Land Deed Genealogy of Hancock County, Georgia. Washington, GA: Wilkes Publishing
Company, 1974.

Scharf, Thomas J. History of Delaware, 1609 - 1988. Philadelphia: L. J. Richards & Co., 1888.