According to the family oral history, the "Ellis" surname orginated with a Caucasian man named Andrew Ellis, who was born about 1861; however, pursuant to federal and county documents, Andrew's race is listed as black. On January 19, 1882, 21 year old Andrew married 18 year old Ellen Jones whose race is also listed as black in the Jones County marriage register. However, according to family oral history, Ellen's mother Lettice (or Lettuce) Melvin Jones was Irish, and her father John A. Jones was American Indian/Indigenous American.

 

Andrew and Ellen had four children: Johnny, Herbert Lawyer, Dennie and Tom. Herbert Lawyer was born on August 16, 1889 or 1890, in Pollocksville, North Carolina. Andrew left his wife and family shortly after the birth of the youngest child Tom and was never seen again. After 1882, very little is known about Andrew and Ellen Ellis other than in 1900, their children including Herbert Lawyer, were living with their maternal grandparents John and Lettice (Lettuce) Jones in Pollocksville.

 

Sadie Mattocks was born to Elizabeth Jones Mattocks, a Cherokee Indian, and Ruben Mattocks, an African American, on July 15, 1896, in Belgrade North Carolina. Elizabeth's sister Ida raised Sadie and her younger sister Beulah after Elizabeth died from tuberculosis when Sadie and Beulah were only 8 and 6 years old, respectively.

 

Herbert Lawyer Ellis and Sadie Mattocks attended Old Hickory Hill Church in Hickory Hill, North Carolina as children. At the age of 23, Herbert married Sadie on April 26, 1915. From this union eleven children were born; one was stillborn. They are as follows:

 

• Elizabeth Ellis Bradley (deceased)

• Robina Ellis Meadows (deceased)

• Dennie Ellis Collins (deceased)

• Andrew Thomas Ellis (deceased)

• Beaulah Mae Ellis Jones (deceased)

• Herbert Coolidge Ellis (deceased)

• Hubert Harding Ellis (deceased)

• Ruben Columbus Ellis

• Royce Lee Ellis (deceased)

• Roland Delonce Ellis (deceased)

 

Herbert and Sadie later became members of First Baptist Church of Belgrade, North Carolina.

 

Farming was the family profession. Herbert Ellis was employed at the Superior Stone Company from 1940 until his retirement in 1956. Sadie Ellis managed the family and the farm at home while her husband was away working. On March 25, 1972, Sadie was called home, and five months later on August 22, 1972, Herbert joined her in Glory.

 

Herbert and Sadie Ellis left a tremendous legacy. In 1999, there were 57 grand children, 123 great-grand children, 67 great-great-grand children, and 5 great-great-great-grand children!!!