Bibb County Georgia Obits Thomas M Ellis and wife and Annie Lucretia Ellis File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mona Lowe Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/crawford.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Christian Index Feb. 27, 1861 p.31, col.6 Departed this life in Liberty County, Texas, on the 30th of December, Annie Lucretia Ellis, youngest daughter of Rev. Austin Ellis, after an illness of eleven days, aged eleven years, six months and 14 days. Heavily falls this dispensation of an All-wise and unerring Providence on our aged father and the sisters and brother of dear little Annie. Only a few short months have elapsed since the ruthless hand of death tore from his fond embrace his beloved companion, a son, and other fond ties that alone bound him to earth, all of which sore afflictions he had been enabled, by the power of God, "in whom his soul trusteth all the day long," to bear with great christan fortitude. We trust that he who ruleth all things and doeth what seemeth good and well pleasing to him may comfort the bereaved ones and give them sweet submission to his holy and righteous will. Dearest Annie thou has left us, We thy loss do deeply feel, But 'tis God who hath bereft us, He can all our sorrows heal. JWM Note:The child's father was a founder of First Baptist Church in Macon. Obituaries of Thomas M. and Eliza Ellis The book First Baptist Church of Christ at Macon 1826-1968 by H. Lewis Batts (Southern Press, Macon) lists Thomas M. Ellis as one of the first trustees of the Baptist Church of Christ at Macon, which became First Baptist Church. His brothers Richard W., Austin, and John L. are also listed as founders and trustees. The book does, however, confuse this Thomas M. Ellis with another man of the same name who lived in Macon at the same time. Both were active in the church and church associations and both men’s father’s name was William Ellis. The Thomas whose obituary is below was born in Lunenburg Co., VA. The other Thomas M. Ellis, murdered in 1832 over the failure of Macon Bank, was from Philadelphia. The Christian Index Feb. 15, 1860 Page 23, col. 2 Microfilm at Tarver Library, Mercer University, Macon, GA Transcribed by Mona Lowe Near Macon, on the 20th day of November, 1859, Thomas M. Ellis, aged 72 years. He was one of the earliest settlers of Bibb County, was a teacher in Col. Hawkins’ family when the Indians held possession of West Macon, and the United States troops were stationed at Fort Hawkins. As a citizen he was universally regarded as a good man, and was ever faithful to all public trusts committed to his management. He united with the Baptist Church at Macon, about 1828, and for more than thirty years he was one of her most pious and consistent members - For a large portion of his religious life he was a deacon in the church, and died holding the office. Long will his form be remembered as he sat each Sabbath drinking in the glorious gospel. His religion was a reality - it was his all - his life. He aided in constituting the Rehoboth Association, and never failed to attend its sessions a single year. He married late in life, and has left a large young family. He lived to see five of his daughters buried with Christ in baptism. May all his family meet him in glory. Farewell, my brother, till we meet again. Mrs. Thomas M. Ellis was Elizabeth “Eliza” Cunningham. They married June 2, 1831 in Bibb County. The Christian Index Sept. 9, 1857 Page 23, col. 4 Microfilm at Tarver Library, Mercer University, Macon, GA Near this city [Macon], on the 27th of August, Mrs. Elizabeth Ellis, wife of Thomas M. Ellis, being 44 years and 13 days old. Mrs. Ellis had long been a member of the Macon Baptist Church; and died with assurances of a blessed immortality. For a year she had been wasting under the power of that insideous disease, the Consumption. At first she had hopes of recovery, and was anxious to live; but for sometime previous to her death, she abandoned hope of revovery and prepared to meet her change. Ten days before death, she called each of her family to her bedside and give them admonitions and instructions suited to their several cases. This done, and she was happy and ready to depart. Her death presents a sad void in a large family. May God guide them, and may their deaths be like hers - a falling “asleep in Jesus.” Re: Austin Ellis The book The First Baptist Church of Christ at Macon 1826-1968 by H. Lewis Batts (Southern Press, Macon) calls Austin Ellis, along with his brother Richard W. and Richard's wife, three of the nine "original constituents" of the Baptist Church of Christ at Macon. Austin represented the church when it sought membership in the Flint River Association in 1827, for several years at meetings of the Ichaconna Association, and at the establishment of the Rehoboth Association. He later became a minister and served as pastor of New Salem Church in Jones County and at Busbyville. He was a deacon at Macon in 1857, but had gone to Texas by 1858. ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============