anoah Ellis (Lt. John), born about 1659,
the date and place of his death have not been determined. He
married about 1679 MARY. It has been claimed that she was Mary
Burges, daughter of John and Mary, (Worden) Burgess of Sandwich,
who is said to have married an Ellis. Perhaps some reader can
produce evidence to support the hypothesis that Manoah Ellis'
wife was this Mary Burges. We have found neither probate nor
gravestone records of either Manoah or his wife.
We have not found any original record which specifically states that this Manoah Ellis was a son of Lt. John and Elizabeth (Freeman) Ellis. Indeed, the records are scarce and unsatisfactory for this branch of the family and we have had to base a number of relationships on circumstantial evidence. The first source we find, however, identifies this man with Sandwich, for at the March Court 1679/80: "Mannoah Ellis and Mary his wife, of Sandwich" were accused of premarital relations for which they were convicted and fined 5 pounds. (Plym. Col. Recs., 1857, vol. 8, p. 154). Freeman (op. cit., vol. 2, p. 7374) lists Manoah Ellis along with Freeman, Matthias and Mordecai Ellis among Sandwich townsmen who took the Oath of Fidelity in 1681.
Josiah Paine in his History of Harwich (1937), p. 84-85, makes the following statements upon which the supposition is based that Manoah Ellis removed from Sandwich to settle upon that tract of land called "Satuckete, which was established in 1694 as the town of Harwich (Provincial Laws, vol. 1, p. 181). Paine (op. cit., p. 108) says: "Manoah Ellis came- from Sandwich where he was born about 1650" [sicl]. "He doubtless was son of John Ellis of that place ... removed to some part of Harwich before 1692." In discussing the first settlement of Harwich Paine wrote (ibid., p. 84-85): "These Indians to make the title stronger promised to procure old John Quason & young John Quason Jr. to confirm it. Early in 1687, Caleb Lumbert sold one half part of the above described parcel to Joseph Severance of Yarmouth who about this time took up residence there . - . and shortly the remaining moiety became the property of Manoah Ellis of Sandwich." He adds (p. 88): "In 1692, Feb. 27th, Jacob Crook, an Indian residing in Yarmouth, but formerly a resident of the reserve near the 'Mattakesett Field' sold his tract of 50 acres lying at the south shore to Joseph Severance, Manoah Ellis & Elisha Eldridge for 6 pounds." A petition, 30 May 1694, for Harwich town privileges, names Manoah Ellis and others (ibid., p. 94). Paine was evidently unable to find proof of the identity of the children of this Manoah Ellis but lists the following as "believed to be his children: John, m. Martha Severance, Manoah, m. Elizabeth Atkins, Cornelius, m. Mercy Atkins, Samuel, m. Thankful Smith and Gideon, a fisherman in 1727 who witnessed the tumult at Billingsgate" (ibid, p. 109)
In view of the dearth of original sources we think that Paine's statements must carry weight wince he had made a careful study of the early settlement of the Harwich area. However, we think that Manoah Ellis was some nine years younger than Paine believed him to be we also have added two children, Elnathan and Jaboc Ellis on a very tentative basis, to this list given by Paine. [Plymouth & Cape Cod MA Genealogy]
