Alfred Jackson ELLIS (1818-1893)

Birth and Early Life

Alfred Jackson Ellis was born on 16 December 1818 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina to Elisha C. Ellis Jr. and Temperance Batting (Batts). His father, Elisha, was a farmer in an area of Edgecombe County that later became Wilson County.

Not much is known of his early life. We do know that his father died in 1843, but by that time Alfred was 24 years old.

Marriage and Family

First Marriage

In 1846, at the age of 28, Alfred married Abselliah Minshew, age 22, the daughter of James Minshew and Martha Edwards. They had a daughter, Drucilla F. Ellis, on 18 November 1847. Abselliah died on 3 May 1849, cause unknown, though it may have been childbirth.

Second Marriage

On 28 May 1850, Alfred married his second wife, Martha Ann Edwards, also known as "Patsy". She was the daughter of Cullen Edwards and Sarah P. Speight.

In the 1850 U. S. Census, Alfred is living in rural Edgecombe County with his wife Martha and his daughter Drucilla, now 3 years old.

In addition to Drucilla, Alfred and Martha had 9 children: Almirah (born 1851), Viola (born 1853), Falcanor (born 1856), Harley E. (born 1858), Augusta (born 1860), Fannie (born 1862), Ira James (born 1865), Martha Jackson (born 1869), and Elisha Cullen (born 1872).

In the 1860 U. S. Census, Alfred and his family were living in the Saratoga area of Wilson County, North Carolina. Wilson County was formed in 1855 from Edgecombe County (among other counties), so it is very likely that Alfred was still living on the same farm. Two men by the names of Jackson Stallings and Caswell Pitman were also living with Alfred and his family. They were both wheel wrights by trade. They may have been apprentices under Alfred, because in the 1870 U. S. Census, Alfred is listed as a wheel wright (as opposed to a farmer in previous censuses).

On 15 October 1872, Alfred's wife Martha died from complications due to the birth of their son, Elisha Cullen Ellis. The infant survived 23 days and died on 7 November 1872.

Alfred appears again in the 1880 U. S. Census, with four of his remaining children.

Third Marriage

On 17 October 1880, Alfred married for the third and final time a Polly Ann Ward. While she was only 34 (he was 61) at the time of the marriage, she and Alfred had no children together.

Military Service

Alfred enlisted on 24 July 1863 and served as a Confederate Soldier during the Civil War in Captain Croom's Company, North Carolina Local Defense, Kinston Guards, and Kinston Provost Guards. He rose to the rank of a Sergeant and was reported present through 31 August 1864.

Freemasonry

Alfred was a "Master" of the Joseph Warren Lodge, #92, of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, located in Stantonsburg. This is the oldest lodge in Wilson County.

Death and Burial

Alfred Jackson Ellis died on 16 March 1893 in Saratoga, Wilson County, North Carolina. He is buried in what is now known as the Rodgers-Mercer Cemetery just outside of Saratoga, on land that may once have belonged to his father, Elisha Ellis.

Rodgers-Mercer Cemetery, Saratoga, NC

Alfred Jackson Ellis (1818-1893)