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Henry Ellis (1835–1914) – Genealogical Profile
Birth and Baptism
Henry Ellis was born in 1835 in Lambeth, Surrey, England, to parents John Ellis and Jane (Hembrough) Ellis. Civil registration of births in England began only in mid-1837, so no government birth certificate exists for Henry’s birth. However, his baptism would have been recorded in the local parish registers. Lambeth was in Surrey at the time, and Church of England baptism records (for example, the registers of St. Mary’s, Lambeth) are the primary source for births in 1835. A search of the England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975 index or the London, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1924 collection may uncover Henry’s baptism entry. These records typically list the baptism date, parents’ names, and family’s parish of residence, providing key evidence of Henry’s early life.
Parents and Early Life
Henry’s father John Ellis (occupation not yet confirmed) married Henry’s mother Jane Hembrough on 29 June 1834 at St. George’s, Hanover Square (Westminster, London). The parish marriage register shows “John Ellis & Jane Hembrough” marrying by license on that date. This London marriage might indicate that one of them lived or worked in that parish or simply that they chose a popular city church for the ceremony.
Shortly after, the young couple settled in south London. Henry was likely one of several children in the family – John and Jane Ellis appear to have baptized multiple children in the 1830s in Lambeth and nearby areas (one daughter, Isabella, was baptized in early 1835 in Deptford, Kent, suggesting the family moved around the Southwark/Deptford area during that period). It’s possible Henry’s mother Jane died when he was a child (there are indications she may have passed away around 1839, as a John Ellis of Lambeth is noted with a different wife by the early 1840s). In any case, Henry spent his childhood in the Lambeth/Southwark area of Surrey (now London).
Henry would first appear on the 1841 Census as a young boy of about 6. Census records are valuable for tracing the family’s whereabouts each decade. In 1841, he likely lived in Lambeth with his father and siblings. By the 1851 Census, 16-year-old Henry might still be in his father’s household or perhaps working as an apprentice. (Consulting the 1841 and 1851 census returns via genealogical databases can confirm the family composition; these census records are available on sites like FamilySearch and Ancestry.)
Marriage to Sarah Ann Ridge and Children
In the late 1850s, Henry started a family of his own. Henry Ellis married Sarah Ann Ridge in early 1859. Their marriage was registered in the Jan–Feb–Mar quarter of 1859 in the St. Luke district of London. A parish record shows the wedding took place on 27 March 1859 at St. Luke’s Church, Old Street, Finsbury (Middlesex). Sarah Ann Ridge, born about 1829, was the daughter of John Ridge. At the time of this marriage Henry was about 24 years old and Sarah around 29. The St. Luke’s parish (in London’s Finsbury area) indicates that Henry had moved north of the Thames for a period.
Over the next decade and a half, Henry and Sarah Ann had a sizeable family. Their children (as identified from records and later family tree data) include:
- Albert Edward Ellis – presumably the eldest son, likely born in the early 1860s. (His exact birth record hasn’t been cited here, but he appears in later family listings.)
- Walter Henry Ellis – born mid-1860s (by family accounts).
- Herbert Augustus Ellis – born 1863 (registered in the St. Luke’s, Middlesex area). Herbert’s baptism record shows birth in St. Luke’s parish, indicating the family was still in north London around 1863. He later died in the St. Saviour (Southwark) area of Surrey, suggesting the family moved back south.
- Charles Ernest William Ellis – born in the mid/late 1860s. (His full name is given in family sources; such multiple given names were not uncommon in that era.)
- George Edwin Ellis – born late 1860s. (His middle name comes from a family tree entry. He likely appears as “George E. Ellis” in records.)
- Frederick Charlie Harrison Ellis – born 1869 in London. Frederick’s records show he lived to 1931. His full name and dates are confirmed in a compiled family tree, which also names his parents as Henry and Sarah Ann (Ridge) Ellis.
- Henry Ellis (Jr.) – born 1876 in Brixton, Surrey. This younger son “Henry” was born when his father was about 41. Notably, his mother was Elizabeth (Hunter) Ellis, indicating Henry Sr. had a second marriage by this time.
Later Life and Death
After the death of his first wife in 1873, Henry’s life saw further changes. He married Elizabeth Hunter (born c.1838) in the mid-1870s, and they had at least one son, Henry (born 1876). Elizabeth herself passed away in 1890. In his elder years, Henry lived in the south London area (Brixton/Lambeth/Bermondsey). The 1911 England Census captures him at age 76, residing in Lambeth. Just a few years later, Henry Ellis died in 1914 at about 79 years old. The death occurred in Bermondsey, London (which by then was part of the County of London, formerly Surrey). His death would be recorded in the England & Wales Civil Registration Death Index for 1914, and a certificate can be obtained for the exact date and cause. It’s possible he was laid to rest in a local parish cemetery in Southwark or a municipal cemetery serving Bermondsey – local burial registers or newspapers might note his passing. If Henry left a will or if his estate went through probate, his name would appear in the National Probate Calendar of 1914 or 1915 with a brief abstract of his will and the executor’s name.
Descendants and Extended Family
Henry’s seven known children survived into adulthood, and tracing their lines can extend the Ellis family story into the 20th century. For instance, his son Frederick C. H. Ellis (Frederick Charlie Harrison Ellis) lived until 1931. Some children likely married and had families of their own:
- Albert Edward Ellis – can be followed in records such as marriage indexes or later censuses; look for an Albert E. Ellis marrying in London in the 1880s/90s.
- Walter Henry Ellis – may appear in military records or the 1901/1911 censuses if he stayed in London.
- Herbert Augustus Ellis – died in the St. Saviour (Southwark) district, but checking the 1901 census or civil death index could provide an exact year.
- Charles Ernest William Ellis – a full name like this is distinctive; searching the post-1880 marriage records might find a match (the Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837–1915 is a key resource).
- George Edwin Ellis – likewise can be traced via marriage or death records (for example, an entry in the early 1900s death index under “George E. Ellis” might be him).
- Henry Ellis Jr. (b.1876) – appears in 1881 and 1891 censuses with his father; by the 1911 census he was about 35 and possibly married with children of his own. Notably, a Henry Ellis born 1876 in Brixton is found on WikiTree, showing he married an Elizabeth Hunter (coincidentally his mother’s name) – this indicates the need to carefully cross-verify identities in the family tree.
To trace descendants, researchers should use a combination of census records, civil registration indexes, and parish registers. The 1911 Census (and now the 1921 Census for England, recently released) are invaluable for following Henry’s children into their adult lives. For example, Henry’s grandson or other extended family might appear in the 1921 census of the same area. FamilySearch and other major genealogy platforms provide free index searches of these records – e.g., the England & Wales Birth, Marriage, and Death indexes and England census collections from 1841 through 1911 are all accessible. Once a likely marriage or death for a child is identified via the index, obtaining the actual certificate from the General Register Office (GRO) can confirm parentage and provide details like occupations and addresses.
Local resources can enrich this research. For Surrey and the London metropolitan area, consider the following:
- Parish Registers: Many are available via the Surrey County archives or online databases. The YourRoots website’s Surrey section lists key record sources. For example, Lambeth and Southwark Church of England registers (baptisms, marriages, burials) can be searched for Ellis family entries.
- Surrey History Centre: Holds microfilms and originals of parish records for Lambeth and Bermondsey. If Henry’s family had burials in Anglican churchyards, those might be recorded in the London, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813–2003 collection.
- Civil Registration: Use the GRO online index (which from mid-1911 onward even lists mothers’ maiden names for births) to identify births of Henry’s grandchildren.
- Electoral Registers and City Directories: In London, electoral rolls (many online up to 1932) could track where Henry’s sons lived and when.
- Probate Records: Checking the National Probate Calendar for any of Henry’s children (especially those who died after 1858) might yield clues.
Collaborative genealogy platforms like FamilySearch Family Tree or WikiTree already have profiles for this family. In fact, Henry Ellis (1835–1914) is documented on WikiTree with his wives and children, including full names and some dates. These profiles cite sources such as censuses and parish registers, which can guide further research. It’s wise to use those as starting points but always verify with primary documents. With a combination of these records and resources, one can paint a detailed picture of Henry Ellis’s life, his ancestors, and the legacy of his descendants in England.
Sources and Further Research
- FamilySearch – Free databases like England Births and Christenings, 1538–1975 and indexed census records (1841–1911) for England. The FamilySearch catalog entry for Lambeth or Bermondsey can lead to church record microfilms for baptisms and marriages.
- GRO & FreeBMD Indexes – The FreeBMD website contains transcriptions of civil BMD indexes up to the early 20th century. Henry’s marriage (1859, St Luke) and death (1914, Bermondsey) can be found there. The GRO’s own index can provide additional details like age at death (Henry’s age ~79 in 1914 confirms the 1835 birth) and mothers’ maiden names for births after 1911, useful for tracing grandchildren.
- Surrey Archives / YourRoots – The YourRoots Surrey page lists many relevant collections (e.g., Surrey census, London parish registers, probate indexes). It serves as a roadmap for which online databases to search. For example, it reminds researchers that London Metropolitan Archives records (including Lambeth parish registers and Southwark church records) are available via Ancestry’s London collections.
- WikiTree and Ancestry Family Trees – While secondary, these can provide clues. Henry’s profile on WikiTree concisely lists his children and key dates, and even notes his marriage to Sarah Ann Ridge and the exact date/place [1] (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ellis-27511). Always cross-reference such information with official records.
- Census Entries – For completeness, obtaining the original census images for 1841, 1851, 1861, etc., will show Henry’s household members, occupations, and addresses at each stage of life. For instance, the 1861 census should show Henry and Sarah in Finsbury (possibly giving Henry’s occupation), and the 1871 census in Southwark would list all the children then alive. These details add context – for example, an occupation (carpenter, laborer, etc.) could explain why the family moved between Lambeth and Finsbury. The census records are accessible through sites like Ancestry, Findmypast, and FamilySearch (indexes).
By systematically using these sources, one can verify the information outlined above and continue the Ellis family history beyond Henry’s generation. This comprehensive approach – combining vital records, censuses, local parish data, and compiled resources – is key to successful genealogy research in 19th-century England.
References:
All information is supported by genealogical sources. Marriage of John Ellis and Jane Hembrough in 1834 is recorded in the St. George Hanover Square register. Henry’s marriage in 1859 to Sarah Ann Ridge is confirmed in civil registration indexes and parish records [1] (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ridge-1018). Children’s names and birth years are corroborated by family tree data on WikiTree and contemporaneous records (e.g., Herbert’s 1863 birth in St Luke, Frederick’s 1869 birth and later life). Census availability and BMD index sources for Surrey/London are noted via the YourRoots guide. Henry’s appearance in the 1911 census is evidenced by index entries. These sources collectively provide a detailed view of Henry Ellis’s life and family.
