The Life and Legacy of Jesse Ellis: A Historical Journey Through South Dedham's Ellis Family
- Patricia Fanning
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
Jesse Ellis (1790-1866)
Julia Dean Ellis (1794-1876)
Martha Emily Ellis Ellis (1843-1868)
Lenore E. Ellis (1868-1868)
Jesse Ellis was born on September 12, 1790. His father was Joel Ellis and his mother was Azubah Morse Ellis.
He became a farmer and lived in the “Ellis Neighborhood” of South Dedham. His home still stands at 88 Washington Street.
On September 8, 1822, Jesse Ellis married Julia Dean. Julia was born on June 26, 1794 to Samuel Holmes Dean and his wife, Deborah Lewis Dean (both interred in lot 66 of Old Parish).
Jesse and Julia Ellis had five children: Julia, John, Caroline, Alfred, and Joel. Their son, Alfred, remained in South Dedham and worked on the farm with his father. The 1865 Census shows both as farmers living in the same household.
Jesse Ellis died on January 14, 1866 at the age of 75. The cause of death was “congestion of the brain.” His widow, Julia Dean Ellis, survived him by a decade. She passed away on March 18, 1876 of tuberculosis
Also interred in this family lot are Martha Emily Ellis Ellis, the first wife of Alfred Ellis. She was the daughter of Alvin L. Ellis and Martha B. Dean Ellis. (Alvin L. and Martha Dean Ellis are interred in lot 112). Alfred and Martha married on November 30, 1862. They had two children: Walter, born in 1866, and Lenore, born in 1868. Tragically, Lenore died of infant debility on September 20, 1868. A month later, on October 27, 1868, Martha Emily Ellis died at 25 of tuberculosis.
The stone reads:
JESSE ELLIS.
Died
Jan. 14, 1866
Aged 75 Yrs. 4 Mos.
JULIA His wife.
Died Mar. 11, 1876
Aged 81 Yrs 8 mos.
MARTHA E.
Wife of Alfred Ellis
died Oct. 27, 1868.
aged 25 years 3 mos.
LEONORE E.
their infant Dau.
died Sept.20, 1868.
Alfred Ellis and his second wife, Margaret Donley Ellis are also interred in this family lot. Their names are on the reverse of the stone.