Thomas Ely and Jane Elizabeth (Smith) Ely, came to America from England and Ireland, respectively, about 1740, locating at Richmond, Virginia, where they are buried. Thomas Ely had a large family and he and some of his sons served faithfully in the Revolutionary war.
Thomas Ely, the ancestor of the branch of the Ely family in Southwestern Virginia, was among the early immigrants of that name to the American Colonies, coming about the middle of the eighteenth century. According to family lore, Thomas was a young man about 24 years of age when he left England for America. While on board he met an Irish girl by the name of Jane Smith, Who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He fell in love with her and they were married either aboard ship or shortly after they arrived at the port of entry.
There is some evidence that they remained in Pennsylvania for a few years after their marriage, until after the birth of their two oldest sons, before comming to Virginia. After moving to Virginia they settled in Stafford County where they remained for a few years. The loss of the Stafford County records eliminates forever the evidence that would establish more accrately Thomas Ely's place or places of residence during these early years.
Thomas Ely was a soldier in the French and Indian War and received a Land Office Warrant for 50 acres of land to be surveyed in any county within the Commonwealth for his military service. The place of his residence when he was engaged in this war is not definitely known, but most probably in Stafford County. He was under the command of Colonel Byrd.
Tradition has it Thomas Ely was wounded at Buford's Defeat, feigned death. A British soldier said, This old man is not dead and ran a bayonet through him. When asked, why are you fighting against the King? Thomas replied, I married here, my family is here, my home is here and I think I have a right to fight for my country? Thomas Ely died two years later from the bayonet wound he received, 1780, at Buford's Defeat, North Carolina. Apparently sometime after the death of Thomas, Jane Ely with her large family of children left Bedford County, Virginia and settled in Mongomerey County where they received small land grants, and where they lived for several years, until they sold their holdings and made the move to Lee County, Virginia, 1796-1798.
Presumably Jane Ely lived with her children after coming to Lee County since no records have been found showing that Jane was a land owner in the county. The date of Jane's death is not known nor the place of burial. She was most likely buried on Sugar Run in the old John Ely graveyard, in an unmarked grave
Thomas Ely, the ancestor of the branch of the Ely family in Southwestern Virginia, was among the early immigrants of that name to the American Colonies, coming about the middle of the eighteenth century. According to family lore, Thomas was a young man about 24 years of age when he left England for America. While on board he met an Irish girl by the name of Jane Smith, Who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He fell in love with her and they were married either aboard ship or shortly after they arrived at the port of entry.
There is some evidence that they remained in Pennsylvania for a few years after their marriage, until after the birth of their two oldest sons, before comming to Virginia. After moving to Virginia they settled in Stafford County where they remained for a few years. The loss of the Stafford County records eliminates forever the evidence that would establish more accrately Thomas Ely's place or places of residence during these early years.
Thomas Ely was a soldier in the French and Indian War and received a Land Office Warrant for 50 acres of land to be surveyed in any county within the Commonwealth for his military service. The place of his residence when he was engaged in this war is not definitely known, but most probably in Stafford County. He was under the command of Colonel Byrd.
Tradition has it Thomas Ely was wounded at Buford's Defeat, feigned death. A British soldier said, This old man is not dead and ran a bayonet through him. When asked, why are you fighting against the King? Thomas replied, I married here, my family is here, my home is here and I think I have a right to fight for my country? Thomas Ely died two years later from the bayonet wound he received, 1780, at Buford's Defeat, North Carolina. Apparently sometime after the death of Thomas, Jane Ely with her large family of children left Bedford County, Virginia and settled in Mongomerey County where they received small land grants, and where they lived for several years, until they sold their holdings and made the move to Lee County, Virginia, 1796-1798.
Presumably Jane Ely lived with her children after coming to Lee County since no records have been found showing that Jane was a land owner in the county. The date of Jane's death is not known nor the place of burial. She was most likely buried on Sugar Run in the old John Ely graveyard, in an unmarked grave
Thomas Ely and Jane Elizabeth (Smith) Ely, came to America from England and Ireland, respectively, about 1740, locating at Richmond, Virginia, where they are buried. Thomas Ely had a large family and he and some of his sons served faithfully in the Revolutionary war.
Thomas Ely, the ancestor of the branch of the Ely family in Southwestern Virginia, was among the early immigrants of that name to the American Colonies, coming about the middle of the eighteenth century. According to family lore, Thomas was a young man about 24 years of age when he left England for America. While on board he met an Irish girl by the name of Jane Smith, Who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He fell in love with her and they were married either aboard ship or shortly after they arrived at the port of entry.
There is some evidence that they remained in Pennsylvania for a few years after their marriage, until after the birth of their two oldest sons, before comming to Virginia. After moving to Virginia they settled in Stafford County where they remained for a few years. The loss of the Stafford County records eliminates forever the evidence that would establish more accrately Thomas Ely's place or places of residence during these early years.
Thomas Ely was a soldier in the French and Indian War and received a Land Office Warrant for 50 acres of land to be surveyed in any county within the Commonwealth for his military service. The place of his residence when he was engaged in this war is not definitely known, but most probably in Stafford County. He was under the command of Colonel Byrd.
Tradition has it Thomas Ely was wounded at Buford's Defeat, feigned death. A British soldier said, This old man is not dead and ran a bayonet through him. When asked, why are you fighting against the King? Thomas replied, I married here, my family is here, my home is here and I think I have a right to fight for my country? Thomas Ely died two years later from the bayonet wound he received, 1780, at Buford's Defeat, North Carolina. Apparently sometime after the death of Thomas, Jane Ely with her large family of children left Bedford County, Virginia and settled in Mongomerey County where they received small land grants, and where they lived for several years, until they sold their holdings and made the move to Lee County, Virginia, 1796-1798.
Presumably Jane Ely lived with her children after coming to Lee County since no records have been found showing that Jane was a land owner in the county. The date of Jane's death is not known nor the place of burial. She was most likely buried on Sugar Run in the old John Ely graveyard, in an unmarked grave
Thomas Ely, the ancestor of the branch of the Ely family in Southwestern Virginia, was among the early immigrants of that name to the American Colonies, coming about the middle of the eighteenth century. According to family lore, Thomas was a young man about 24 years of age when he left England for America. While on board he met an Irish girl by the name of Jane Smith, Who was born in Dublin, Ireland. He fell in love with her and they were married either aboard ship or shortly after they arrived at the port of entry.
There is some evidence that they remained in Pennsylvania for a few years after their marriage, until after the birth of their two oldest sons, before comming to Virginia. After moving to Virginia they settled in Stafford County where they remained for a few years. The loss of the Stafford County records eliminates forever the evidence that would establish more accrately Thomas Ely's place or places of residence during these early years.
Thomas Ely was a soldier in the French and Indian War and received a Land Office Warrant for 50 acres of land to be surveyed in any county within the Commonwealth for his military service. The place of his residence when he was engaged in this war is not definitely known, but most probably in Stafford County. He was under the command of Colonel Byrd.
Tradition has it Thomas Ely was wounded at Buford's Defeat, feigned death. A British soldier said, This old man is not dead and ran a bayonet through him. When asked, why are you fighting against the King? Thomas replied, I married here, my family is here, my home is here and I think I have a right to fight for my country? Thomas Ely died two years later from the bayonet wound he received, 1780, at Buford's Defeat, North Carolina. Apparently sometime after the death of Thomas, Jane Ely with her large family of children left Bedford County, Virginia and settled in Mongomerey County where they received small land grants, and where they lived for several years, until they sold their holdings and made the move to Lee County, Virginia, 1796-1798.
Presumably Jane Ely lived with her children after coming to Lee County since no records have been found showing that Jane was a land owner in the county. The date of Jane's death is not known nor the place of burial. She was most likely buried on Sugar Run in the old John Ely graveyard, in an unmarked grave
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