Re: Mercy, Wife of Matthias Ellis(1657-1748)
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In reply to:
Re: Mercy, Wife of Matthias Ellis(1657-1748)
9/01/01
McLean, MacLean W., "Notes and Corrections: Mercy Nye, Wife of Lt. Matthias Ellis," NEHGR 125:2 (Oct 1971), provides the following:
"George H. Nye and Frank E. Best, the compilers of ?A Genealogy of the Nye Family? published in 1907, stated that Benjamin Nye of Sandwich and his wife Katherine (Tupper) Nye?s daughter Mercy Nye, born 8 Apr 1652, married about 1678 Matthias Ellis. Mrs. Lydia Brownson (NEHGR 119:262) and I in our ?Lt. John and Elizabeth Ellis of Sandwich? also wrongly assumed that the identification of Mercy, wife of Matthias Ellis was correct.
Conclusive proof has come to light which shows that Mercy Nye did not marry Lt. Matthias Ellis or anyone else! The proof lies in wording of an original deed. This document is a conveyance by ?Benjamin Nye of the Town of Sandwich in the County of Barnstable in New England? dated 9 June 1704 in which the grantor gives all his lands, mills, and appurtenances in Sandwich to his son Jonathan Nye. This gift was subject to the restriction that the grantee Jonathan Nye was to continue to care for, ?relieve and support? the father ?and Katherine my now wife and Mercey Nye my daughter who have not been able for some years last past to relieve and support ourselves by reason of weakness and other infirmities.?
Additionally, in a deed dated 1713, Jonathan Nye gave considerable land to his son Jonathan, provided that the latter care ?for my sister Mercy who is feeble in body and mind.? So we now know that Mercy Nye, unmarried and unable to care for herself in 1704 ? was still in feeble health in 1713."
The Freeman genealogy of 1875 and the book "American Marriage Records Before 1699" say that Matthias Ellis married MARY BURGESS in 1678. The Burgess family history of 1865 states that Mary married ____ Ellis, based on the will of John Burgess. Because Manoah Ellis married a Mary ______ in 1679, many claim this was Mary Burgess. The wife of Matthias Ellis is called Mercy in his will, therefore the wife of Matthias remains unidentified.