A brick wall in the lower left of the photo marks the boundary of the cemetery. |
Periwinkle and native trees have invaded the cemetery. |
This family cemetery is on land first purchased by Willis Ellis
in then Rowan county, North Carolina, in 1758. John W. Ellis, one
of his grandsons, was born on this land (November 23, 1820) and was
the Governor of North Carolina when the state seceded from the Union.
He died in office on July 7, 1861. Ellis Street in Salisbury bears
his name, and his sister's home, which he shared, has been preserved.
He is now buried in the Old English Cemetery in Salisbury, but according
to the notes of local historian William D. Kizziah, he was moved there
from the original burial place in the family cemetery. Indeed, a
footstone bearing his initials still lies in the old cemetery. The
cemetery is on a tranquil wooded knoll overlooking the Yadkin River.
It is almost impossible to access except by boat. Like many other
historic cemeteries, it is in need of restoration.
|
A brick wall in the lower left of the photo marks the boundary of the cemetery. |
Periwinkle and native trees have invaded the cemetery. |
Anderson Ellis (1780-1832) Father of Gov. John W. Ellis |
Tombstone Inscriptions in the Ellis Family
Cemetery
Jersey Settlement, Davidson county, NC -- Transcribed by William D. Kizziah, 1943
Sacred to the Memory of Sarah Ann Daughter of Anderson & Judith Ellis Who was born June 23, A.D. 1823 and departed this life April 15, A.D. 1845 In Memory of JUDITH BAILEY Wife of Anderson Ellis Born Jan, 12, 1789 Died June 26, 1868 Until the Lord come In Memory of Anderson Ellis Who was born October 18th 1780, died Oct. 3rd 1832 Aged 53 years In Memory of MARY ELLIS wife of George B. Douglass Who was born July 3rd 1825 died April 4th 1845 Aged 20 years In Memory of MARY ELLIS Who was born November 25, 1814 Died Sept. 30th 1815 Aged 10 months & 6 days WILIE Son of R. & M.L. Ellis Born March 8, 1857 Died Sept. 20, 1859 Aged 2 years 6 mos & 12 days BETTIE J. Daughter of John & Mary Ellis Born Oct. 1816 Died 1818 JOHN ELLIS Born A.D. 1782 Died April 23, 1816 Aged 34 years ROBERT ELLIS Died April 19, 1862 Aged 49 years, 5 mos. 15 days Infant son of John & Mary B. Bradshaw Born Oct. 4 Died Oct. 21, 1855 In Memory of RUFUS ELLIS Who was born Dec. 5th 1811 died May 16th 1831 Aged 20 years In Memory of Lucyl Daughter of the late Anderson Ellis & consort of O. G. Foard who departed this life April 14th 1840 Aged 26 years, 4 months, & 26 days In Memory of SARAH ELLIS Who was born June the 26th 1809, Died Sept. 26th 1815 Aged 6 years & 3 months BETTIE Daughter of R. & M.L. Ellis Died Jan. 18, 1857 Aged 1 year, 2 mos. 11 days ALFRED Son of John & Mary Ellis Died May 11, 1812 Aged 7 months & 21 days In Memory of An Infant Daughter of W. Anderson & Mary G. Ellis Born Aug. 9th, Died Sept. 11, 1850 Aged 4 weeks & 3 days Foot stone with ''J. W. E.'' with headstone broken off and missing |
A footstone with the Initials J. W. E. |
The diamond marks the location of the cemetery. It is on the Davidson county bank of the Yadkin River between Salisbury and Lexington, NC. |
Notes: I am publishing this information because of its historical significance and because of the remote location of this family cemetery. I don't know much other Ellis family geneology than what I've given, so please don't ask me about that. I'll be happy to answer any questions about the cemetery itself. If there are some Ellises out there who would like to move this information to a family web site, please let me know.
Ann Brownlee <preservation at trading-ford dot org