Powhatan Ellis papers

Collection

Identifier: camh-arc-004662

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Powhatan Ellis papers concern the career of Powhatan Ellis (1790-1863) and relate to Ellis' activities as a soldier in the War of 1812; political appointments; legislative bills; and his term as a judge on the Supreme Court of Mississippi. Material includes letters, invitations, map, military papers, receipts, certificates, and newspaper clippings. Some of the material is in Spanish and pertains to Ellis' stay in Mexico City, where he was the American charge d'affairs during the Texas Revolution.

Dates

Creation: 1810 - 1836

Creator

Ellis, Powhatan, 1790-1863 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

There are no use restrictions on this collection. Publisher is responsible for complying with copyright law.

Biographical / Historical

Powhatan Ellis (1790-1863), was a United States federal judge. Born on January 17, 1790, at Red Hill Farm in Amherst County, Virginia, Ellis graduated from Washington Academy (now Washington and Lee University) in 1809, received an Artium Baccalaureus degree in 1810 from Dickinson College, and graduated from the College of William & Mary in 1814, where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Lynchburg, Virginia, from 1813 to 1814, and from 1815 to 1816. He was a lieutenant in the Prevost Guards of Virginia in 1814. He resumed private practice in Natchez, Mississippi Territory in 1816. Ellis continued private practice in Winchester, Mississippi Territory (State of Mississippi from December 10, 1817) from 1816 to 1817. Ellis was a Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1817 to 1818, and from 1818 to 1825. He married Eliza Rebecca Winn Ellis in 1831.