Joel Ellis

Of Plymouth at his marriage in 1710 and when his first sons were born, then of Middleborough by 1722, when he bought a 20-acre house lot in the Twenty-six Men’s Purchase from his father-in-law “John Churchell of the Town of Plymouth.” In 1717 he was one of the grantees of John Soule’s deed of about two acres “near the land I formerly gave for a training Green,” for a Middleborough burying ground; the first burial there was Lydia Thomas, in July 1717 (Weston p. 312). It was probably the Cemetery at the Green, where his wife lies (the research’s inference). In the town’s list of loans of 10 Mar 1729/30 toward the cost of its agents at the Court of Great Britain: “Joel Ellis 1 pound” (Weston). “Gent.” by 1747 and “Capt.” in 1758; Plympton records call him “Capt. Joel of Middleborough.”

In 1744 “We Joel Ellis & Elizabeth Ellis his Wife of the Town of Middleborough,” for “Love and good affection,” gave their son Joel of Plympton about 100 acres there, bounded by the Winnetuxet River, Whetstone Vineyard Brook and Nathan Weston’s land. In 1747 John Murdock of Plymouth sued “Joel Ellis of Middleborough Gent” and Timothy Morton of Plymouth, cooper, on their bond of 20 Feb 1743/4 for £352. The defendants, “being three times called made default,” and judgment went against them for £186 18s 2d old tenor; Ellis appealed to the Superior Court.

His father’s will (1744) left him “the two Half Lotts in the woods that were formerly my son Johns,” half his apparel, his cutlass, belt and cane, and £20 old tenor within a year after his mother’s death. On 3 April, probably 1750, “I Joel Ellis of Middleborough … Gent and one of the Children of Mathias Ellis Late of Sandwich” acknowledged receiving from his brother Malachi £20 old tenor, “also the one half of the deceased his wearing apparel also his Cutlash his Belt,” in full of his legacy (machine reading). Stephen Churchill of Plymouth signed the same receipt for himself and his wife Experience, and as attorney for Mercy Morton and Mehitable Merrick.

His wife Elizabeth died on 3 Apr 1753. On 27 Mar 1758 “Capt Joel Ellis & Jemima Bennet both of Middleb[orough]” were married by Rev. Sylvanus Conant.

On 21 May 1759 he gave his sons Charles and Thomas “all that my Homestead lands Whereon [I] Lately Dwelt … whereon my said son Thomas Ellis now Dwells,” with the buildings, meadows and cedar swamp, “Reserving unto my self the whole use and Improvement … During my natural life”; “Jemima Ellis the wife of the said Joel” signed away her dower (recorded 1765). The same month he gave his son Matthias 52 acres and half his eight-acre meadow lot “for … the Love good will and affection which I have and Bear towards my Loving son,” acknowledged at Middleborough on 22 May 1759 (image checked).

Not the Joel Ellis of Rochester, cordwainer (estate inventoried 1732), nor Joel Ellis of Plympton (d. 13 June 1803 aged 64).

Open questions

• His death date (21 June 1763) is compiled; no record of it has been seen.