Richard Ellis was the second child of John Ellis & Ellen (Helen) Wright christened February 29th, 1776 at Tibshelf, Derbyshire.
Richard married Sarah (Wass?) on August 5th, 1816 at Tibshelf. Witnesses at the wedding were Benjamin Mellors & Edward Wilson. Sarah was born c1786 at Pilsley, Derbyshire. There is a baptism for Sarah Wass, daughter of Mary Wass of Pilsley, on March 5th, 1786 at North Wingfield, Derbyshire. (‘Spurious’ was written by the entry indicating that Sarah was illegitimate.)
At the time of the christenings of their first 3 children Richard was described as a labourer.
Richard & Sarah had a son Richard who was reported to have been chopping sticks in December 1842 at Palterton. A portion of stick flew into his eye which unfortunately caused it to burst leaving him blind in one eye. (Derbyshire Courier December 3rd, 1842)
In 1851 Richard & Sarah were living at Palterton, Scarcliffe, Derbyshire & Richard was an agricultural labourer. With them were son Richard (22), also an agricultural labourer & a 7 year old grandson, Samuel Ellis born at Palterton. This was the illegitimate son of Richard & Sarah’s daughter Mary, who was christened May 15th, 1844 at St Leonard, Scarcliffe. (Samuel died aged just 17 & was buried February 19th, 1862 at Scarcliffe.) Mary was working as a servant for Samuel Warner, a farmer, & family in Palterton at the time of the 1851 census.
Richard died in 1855 & was buried on June 3rd, 1855 at Scarcliffe.
In 1861 widowed Sarah was still living in Palterton, Scarcliffe & with her was son Richard, still an agricultural labourer.
Sarah died in 1867 & was buried on May 5th, 1867 at Scarcliffe.
After the death of his mother son Richard continued to live on his own in Palterton working as an agricultural labourer. He did not marry. By the time of the 1891 census Richard was an inmate of the Mansfield Union Workhouse & was described as a farm labourer. Richard was still in the Workhouse in 1901.
The children of Richard Ellis & Sarah Wass were:
el.2.1 Ellen Ellis christened July 20th, 1817 at Tibshelf; buried September 19th, 1817 at Tibshelf
el.2.2 Mary Ellis christened November 15th, 1818 at St Leonard, Scarcliffe
el.2.3 John Ellis born at Palterton & christened May 24th, 1823 at St Leonard, Scarcliffe; died June 1901 in Derbyshire
el.2.4 Richard Ellis born c1829 at Palterton, Scarcliffe