Hilliard Ellis, born in slavery, was a successful farmer and landowner in Wilson township. He married Fereby Rountree circa 1848 and registered their 18-year cohabitation in Wilson County on 11 August 1866. As culled from census, marriage and death records, their children included: Louisa Ellis Rowe (1850-1924), Adeline Ellis Mitchell (circa 1853-??), Caroline “Carrie” Ellis Coleman Woodard (1854-1914); William Ellis (1856); George Ellis (1859-1941); Emma Ellis Bunn (1861-1937); Hilliard D. Ellis (1865-1924); Mary Anne Ellis(1866-??); Warren Ellis (1869-??); Phillis Ellis Barnes Hagans (1870-??); and Millie Ellis Smith Hunt (1874-??).
The Hilliard Ellis family cemetery is located just off Nash Street in the New Hope area, which is now within the extreme northwest limits of the city of Wilson. There are approximately 25 identifiable graves in the cemetery, including those of Ellis and his children Hilliard Ellis Jr., Carrie Coleman, Louisa Rowe, and Warren Ellis Jr.
Hilliard I. Ellis, 6 Jan 1825-22 Sept 1900.
Louisa Rowe, 1850-7 May 1924.
Photos by Lisa Y. Henderson.
Hilliard Ellis was my Great-great grandfather. I am a descendant of Hilliard D. Ellis.
It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope you found my other posts about him. A fascinating man.
Thank you….I am also a descendant appreciate it….
Me too let’s connect fb Ursula James
Hello
I know this is an old post. My dad was adopted and had his name changed to Hilliard David Ellis,a politician. They were from Columbia,SC. I’m not sure why she changed his name…was she related? Was he a black politician she just admired, did she just like the name?
Please let me know if you can add anything. Like was the D in his middle name David too?
Thank you so much.
Neither Hilliard D. Ellis of Wilson County nor his son Hilliard D., Jr., were politicians. As far as I am aware, both were lifelong residents of Wilson County. I don’t know of any Columbia SC relatives and, without your grandmother’s name, cannot try to determine if she had links to this Ellis family. (Ellis is a very common surname in Wilson County, and an Ellis is not necessarily, or even likely, related to another Ellis.)
My grandmother is Mary Jane Ellis she died July 02 1969
She lived on rt 2 in wilson and is buried in this cemetery
She had a sister named Josephine Vines of wilson
Please contact me at (267) 836-3449
My name is Joseph