There are records for two different men named Thomas Ellis. We are researching Thomas Ellis, the father of Elizabeth Ellis, who married Thomas Curtis.
1682 The will of Thomas Ellis, dated 21 May 1682 named Daughter Elizabeth Ellis. Land, 1-64 of a share, tenanted by Edward Fersen. Personal estate. Executors and guardians of the daughter--Samuel Jenings, Elias Far and Thomas Budd. Witnesses--Elisabeth Gardner and Mary Coggen. [1]
1682 Inventory dated 19 June of the estate (£50, the 1-64 share valued at £5.7.4, the dwelling house and shop, apparently a smithy £16); made by Tho. Gardner and Thomas Gladden. [2]
1683 Will proved 08 Aug by Thomas Budd with inventory submitted (£50.-). Elizabeth, the orphan daughter of said Thomas Ellis, is placed with John Browne of Burlington by her guardians, Samuel Jennings, Thomas Budd and Elias Farre. [3]
Research Notes:
Several records cited below do not clarify which Thomas Ellis is referred to.
1677 "The families of Robert Stacy and Samuel Odas and Thomas Ellis and John Batts, servant sent by George Hutchinson, came on this ship" [the Flyboat Martha]. [4] [5]
1678 About this time, and a few years afterwards, arrived at Burlington, the following settlers from England ... Thomas Ellis ... [6]
1680 Thomas Ellis was one of the signers of a letter from the Quaker monthly meeting at Burlington to the yearly meeting in London. [7]
Who is the Thomas Ellis named by William Penn, after the death of our Thomas Ellis, in the notes below?
1685 William Penn sent a letter from London informing the council of the death of King Charles the second and sending greetings: "... Dearly salute me to dear friends ... particularly to John Simcock, Christopher Taylor, ... Thomas Ellis, ..." [8]
1687 William Penn, Governor of Pennsylvania, wrote to the Commissioners of New Jersey about a replacement for Thomas Lloyd, who sought a quietus [to resign from a leadership role] : "I ... do nominate ... Samuel Carpenter, who I hope will accept, and industriously serve that station, else Thomas Ellis; who has an office that requires his attendance, having one in my eye, that may see you shortly, as a man richly qualified for that station ..." [9]
[1] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 152, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[2] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 152, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[3] William Nelson, Documents relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey. Archives Vol. 23. (Wills and Administrations 1, 1670-1730) (1901), 152, [HathiTrust], [GoogleBooks], [InternetArchive].
[4] Samuel Smith, The History of the Colony of Nova-Caesaria, or New Jersey (1890), 103, [InternetArchive], [Google].
[5] Robert Proud, The History of Pennsylvania, in North America, Vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Zachariah Poulson, 1797), 149, [GoogleBooks].
[6] Samuel Smith, The History of the Colony of Nova-Caesaria, or New Jersey (1890), 109, [InternetArchive], [Google].
[7] Robert Proud, The History of Pennsylvania, in North America, Vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Zachariah Poulson, 1797), 159, [GoogleBooks].
[8] Robert Proud, The History of Pennsylvania, in North America, Vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Zachariah Poulson, 1797), 291, [GoogleBooks].
[9] Robert Proud, The History of Pennsylvania, in North America, Vol. 1 (Philadelphia: Zachariah Poulson, 1797), 334, [GoogleBooks].