William Ellis was the first child of John Ellis & Catherine Parkin born at Palterton & christened May 27th, 1842 at St Leonard’s, Scarcliffe, Derbyshire.
In 1851 William & his parents were living at Sothall, Beighton, Derbyshire where his father was a farm labourer.
In 1864 William married Hannah Hyde on October 23rd in Beighton. Witnesses at the wedding were Ralph Hyde & Elizabeth North?. William was a clerk. Hannah was born in 1844 in Glossop, Derbyshire, the daughter of Hannah & William Hyde, a coal proprieter.
In 1871 William & Hannah were living at 121 Rock St, Brightside Bierlow, Yorks where William was a cashier in the steel trade. With them was Hannah’s brother Robert Hyde, a pattern maker, & a 5 year old niece, Hannah Hyde.
The christening record of their first child, Margaret, in 1874 shows William's occupation as umbrella manufacturer.
By 1881 William & Hannah had moved to Attercliffe-cum-Darnall, Sheffield & William was described as book keeper at a blast furnace. They had 3 children by this time – Margaret C (Kate) (6), William F (4) & Frederick Hyde (3), all born in Birmingham, Warks.
Later in 1881 William, Hannah & family emigrated to the USA, leaving Liverpool on the British Queen & arriving in Philadelphia. Sadly 2 of their sons died not long after – Frederick died of shock from injuries received on Reading Railroad in 1882 & William died of epileptic convulsions in 1887.
The 1900 US census shows William & Hannah living in Philadelphia with daughter Margaret & 2 more sons – Robert (16) & Alfred (13). William was working as a salesman for a wallpaper supplier & son Robert was on a scholarship Saratoga.
William died suddenly on March 16th, 1905 in Atlantic City, New Jersey & was buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery.
In 1918 son Robert’s WW1 registration card shows that he was manager of Cannon Canadian Co working in Toronto, Canada. His dependents were his wife & 2 children & his mother. A passport application made by Robert in 1920 states that he had been living in Toronto, Canada since 1911. In 1922 Robert’s immigration papers from Canada to New York gave his wife’s name as Helen (nee Helen Mae Callahan) & children as Robert (12), William (7) & Frank (17 months) all born in Toronto. Sadly their twin girls had died in infancy. Robert’s brother Alfred was also employed by the Cannon Canadian Co as shown on his WW1 registration card of 1918. Alfred had married Edna M Henshaw & they had 4 children at that time. Alfred & Edna came to live in England after the war as did a number of their children.
The children of William Ellis & Hannah Hyde were:
el.2.3.1.1 Margaret Catherine Ellis born in Birmingham & christened August 9th, 1874 at Beighton, Derbyshire; died July 24th 1942 in Bermuda
el.2.3.1.2 William Fisher Ellis born in Birmingham & christened December 25th, 1876 at Beighton, Derbyshire; died September 25th, 1887 & buried West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, USA
el.2.3.1.3 Frederick Hyde Ellis born 1877 in Birmingham; died April 28th, 1882 & buried May 2nd in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Philadelphia, USA
el.2.3.1.4 Walter John Ellis born December 1879 in Birmingham; died June 1880 in Birmingham
el.2.3.1.5 Robert Hyde Ellis born September 18th 1883 in Philadelphia, USA;
el.2.3.1.6 Alfred Ellis born August 19th 1886 in Philadelphia, USA; died October 5th, 1943 at the London Clinic, Devonshire Place, London & buried October 8th at St Michael’s, Bray, Berkshire