Freeman Ellis

  General Notes:

FREEMAN2 ELLIS (Lt. John1), bom about 1661, died in Sandwich before 20 June 1728.

He married about 1686 MERCY ---. The Rochester Town Records give the births of the children of Freeman Ellis and Mercy, his wife, but curiously enough she did not quit-claim any deeds, and this despite the fact that she survived him since the probate records show that Judge Winslow appointed the widow Mercy Ellis and the son, Joel Ellis, joint executors of his estate. Since four of the children removed to Nantucket it is possible that their mother's family lived there; perhaps a thorough search of deeds and probates of that island may pro-duce evidence of this. Several early deeds (see below) show that Freeman Ellis had dealings with members of the Winslow family and we suggest that further research may reveal that his wife was in some way connected with that family group. It is to be noted that Freeman and Mercy Ellis gave the then rather uncommon name of Eleanor to one of their daughters (the name of the wife of Kenelm1 Winslow) and that Kenelm2 Winslow married Mercy Worden.

Freeman Ellis took the Oath of Allegiance in 1681 (Free-man, op. cit., vol. 2, p. 73-74). He evidently accompanied his mother when she removed to Sippican (this is Rochester) or settled there soon after.
Although we have failed to find record of it we believe that the widow Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis must have deeded Sippi-can land to her son Freeman about the time of his marriage. He certainly owned land there before 1692 which he ex-changed with others as we see:

"I, ffreeman Ellis of Rochester in the County of Barnstable ... for and in consideration of other lands conveyed unto me by a deed ... of Joseph Doty of sd Rochester" exchanged "ten acres of land at the Little Neck, being part of the widow Ellis her share at First ... this 1 February 1692." Acknowledged 9 Feb. 1723/4; recorded 7 March 1726 (Plymouth County Deeds, vol. 21, p. 153). Two weeks later: "I, ffreeman Ellis of Rochester" exchanged with Kenelm Winslow of Yarmouth "ten acres of land belong-ing to ye fifth lot in ye common fields ... belonging to ye Third House Lot in Sippecan within ye township of Rochester." The land for which this was exchanged is not specified, but the deed was signed in the pres-ence of Joseph Doty and John Hammond 16 Feb. 1692. It was not acknowl-edged until 1717/18 when Freeman Ellis appeared before Samuel Prince, J.P.; it was entered 22 June 1719 by Josiah Cotton (ibid., vol. 14, p. 180). Freeman Ellis of Rochester cooper, "sold for £10. paid by Jabez. Hiller of Rochester, yeoman a ten acre lot ... containing half the grant called the First Addition, belonging to Kenelm Winslow, his share at First, it being the grant which ffreeman Ellis had of the sd Kenelm Winslow by his deed 1702." This deed, dated 13 March 1726/7, was acknowledged 12 May 1727 and recorded 27 July 1727 (ibid., vol. 22, p. 68). An explanation of the delay in recording this 1702 deed is furnished by the following: "I, John Winslow of Rochester, ... yeoman, son of Kenelm Window ... late of Harwich, deceased ... whereas sd Kenelm Winslow by his deed dated 1702 ... had conveyed to him certain lands in exchange by ffreeman Ellis of Rochester afsd … did convey 10½ acres ... in sd Rochester but the sd deed not recorded by reason of the death of all the witnesses, although it was of seal ... and by the Last Will and Testament of the sd Kenelm Winslow whereby ye sd John Winslow is the only son and heir ... do now ... this 21 March 1727" (ibid., vol. 22, p. 69). The next deed furnishes documentary proof of the parentage of Freeman2 Ellis: "I. ffreeman Ellis of Rochester ... for £2. paid by Ichabod King of ... Scituate ... grant land lying ... on both sides of the Mattapoisett River ... and is in part ... of my Honoured Mother Elizabeth Ellis her share at first ... ye afsd sixth part ... of a lot in Rochester 30 April 1707;" witnessed by Mary Winslow, Peter Blackmer; recorded 11 Aug. 1708 (ibid., vol. 6, p. 156). On 15 Feb. 1714/15 "ffreeman" Ellis of Rochester, "for the Love Good will and affection I have and do bear unto my dutifull son Joel Ellis of ye sd town ... give all that one half part of the seventh Lot of Cedar Swamp that I have ... in Mattapoisett in sd Rochester ... and is part of Elizabeth Ellis her share at First ... this 15 Feb. 1714/15." Acknowledged 10 July 1716; recorded 6 March 1727 (ibid., vol. 22, p. 202). Freeman Ellis of Rochester by deed, 15 April 1719, sold for £12. to "Samuel Sprague of same land there containing the sixth part of that share or allotment of Cedar swamp that originally belonged to Elizabeth Ellis ... to the North-ward of William Griffeth's dwelling house ... 15 April 1719;" witnessed by James Chapman, Mordecai Ellis (ibid., vol. 36, p. 67).

In his will, dated 4 Aug. 1710 and proved 20 June 1728:

"I, ffreeman Ellis of the Town of Rochester" gives "to my loveing wife Mercy Ellis the whole use and improvement of my housing lands and cattels during the time of her continuing to be my widdow … and my household goods & chattels to be to her dispose, provided her disposall be to my daughters ... to my four sons, namely Joel Ellis, Ebenezer Ellis, Mordecai Ellis & Gideon Ellis all my housing and lands and meadows that I have in the township of Rochester, both divided & undivided, to be equally between them, their heirs, ... from the end of my said wive's widdowhood or in case she doth marry then they to divide the sd land immediately after her decease & thence forward forever to be and remain, to them, their heirs and assigns. And as to my aforesd daughters I give to each of [them] one shilling apiece to be paid by my aforesaid sons at the time when they enjoy the afsd lands. And I make & ordain my sd wife & my sd son Joel to be my full & sole executors." Signed by mark. Witnessed by James Winslow, the mark of Ellis Doty and Peter Blackmer.

Judge Winslow appointed the widow Mercy and the son Joel executors 11 Feb. 1728. The inventory, dated 7 Aug. 1728, was taken by Stephen Wing, Samuell Wing and Ellis Doty. Sworn 18 Sept. 1728. Total £196. (Plymouth County Probate, vol. 5, p. 471).
[Lt. John & Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis of Sandwich, Mass by Lydia B. (Phinney) Brownson, of Duxbury, Mass & Maclean W. McLean, of Pittsburg, PA]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 4 Aug 1710, Sandwich, Barnstable, MA. ^24,65

Freeman married Mercy Winslow about 1686 in Sandwich, Barnstable, MA ^5,37.^,65 (Mercy Winslow was born about 1660 and died after 1728.)