Charles Heberton Ellis ~ 3rd Great Grand Uncle

Charles Heberton Ellis and his wife, Nancy Turner Ellis are buried not very far from the area in which they lived their lives.


They are buried at Buffalo Baptist Cemetery in Cherokee County, South Carolina.



Charles’ marker has succumbed to the ravages of time and lies in silent testament to the man that it once identified.

Sadly, this happens and markers are lost. I see that other such markers in this cemetery have been dutifully replaced when they became no longer legible. For this, I am glad. Preservation and documentation is so very important, or we will eventually lose the knowledge of where our ancestor’s lie.



That is my personal quest, to document all that I can , for future seekers. Hopefully they will still search long after I am but a name, in a cemetery somewhere. Ashes to ashes and a name etched on stone.



Nancy’s marker still stands and gives us comfort that Charles rests beside her. Nancy's parents were Elijah Turner, Sr. and Edith "Edy" Jane Sarratt, buried at Ellis/Turner Cemetery, Spartanburg County, S.C.
Nancy was a sister to Sarah A. "Sally" Turner, who married David Ross Ellis. David and Sarah Turner Ellis were my 3rd Great grandparents. So two brothers, married two sisters.

There are old markers here and old graves really speak to me. It is like touching the past and being a small part of it all.  I love being in the midst of all that time passage.



I was proud to walk among them and whisper my hello.



What tales they could tell us and what stories we would hear?



With rustling sounds in the wind, I fancied that I really did hear a few whispers, standing in the bright sunshine, among my family.

In Search Of David Ross Ellis~

A heavily wooded lot beside a country road, crowded with deadfalls and briar patches.

My 3rd great grandpa was in there and I was going to find him.

I had instructions from two sources and I knew I had the right location.

Or so I hoped..very near the 'Old Ellis Ferry' site.

This was a son of the Ellis line.

David Ross Ellis.

My 3rd Great Grandfather.

There we were, parked alongside the ditch, along a lonely country road..pretty much a 'country mile' from any where..

There was a stand of pine trees before me, that were standing in rows, as if they were planted that way.

To the left of those towering pines was a mass of deadfalls and brambles..

Now I have seen ‘brambles and briar patches’ before, and this was pretty bad.

This graveyard rabbit was up to it.. Not going to keep me from ‘visiting my kin‘!

　

Russ cast me a look that said.. ‘Are you telling me, that you are really going in there?’

I cast him a look right back, that said..‘You Betcha'.

He stayed with the car.

I headed up the road looking for a way in, or a place that looked like an easier entry.

Could not really find one, but went on anyway.

There was a huge pile of limbs and deadfalls that snapped like dry dust underfoot in places.

I made my way through and got to the other side..First major hurdle accomplished.

The rest of the way consisted of pretty easy going for about six feet or so, through high weeds, and then stopping to climb over yet another fallen tree..

Quite a workout.

But I made it.

Further up, there was a slight clearing. I kept looking to the left for a barbed wire fence that I was supposed to climb through..never saw one.

But then, in the dappled sunlight that was cast through the tall trees, I saw something.

I stooped lower and looked in, there was a headstone..sure as can be.

That feeling, at that very moment,

is something very hard

to describe in words.

Discovery...

Lump in the throat...

Very intense happiness... Elation...

Triumph...

"Emotional Triumph", yes, maybe that comes the closest to a real description.

My heart lept! Tears welled. Big smiles.


A big, spoken underbreath, Yes!

The trees were so thick that I began marking my way in, leaving chalk marks on the tree trunks, but I was “home”. Already 'Home'.
　
I reached down and touched the marker of a man I never knew.
A man born and gone long before I came.

In Memory Of David R. Ellis, who departed this life Feb, 13th, 1857 in the 47 year of his age.

"Our life is ever on the wing,

And death is ever nigh.

When we begin to live,

We all begin to die."

*********************************



I never saw a picture of his face, and I do not know what he looks like.

But, I came seeking this man, anyway.

He is important to me.　
He is my family.


David Ross Ellis.
　






　
Also buried here are at least ten family members.





















Ellis Children, laid to rest.



























Philip Vandorn Turner,

Son of Elijah and Edy Turner.

Brother to our 3rd Great Grandmother,

Sarah A. "Sally" Turner.



Also his wife Nancy P. Lancaster.












Arreny Turner Hopper ~

Sister to our great grandmother,

Sarah Turner Ellis and sister to

Philip Vandorn Turner.











She was eight years younger than Philip and six years younger

than Sarah. She died at the age of 34.





Another important person lies beside David Ross Ellis.




His wife, Sarah A. "Sallie" Turner Ellis.



My third Great Grandmother!



I could not find a marker for her. It is lost, apparently.

Also here are Sarah's parents:




Elijah Turner, her father. My fourth Great grandfather.

















Elijah's wife, Edith "Edy" Jane Sarratt.
Sarratt? Yes.

Edith was a sister to Anthony Sarratt. My Fourth Great Grandmother.


　
　
　
Eady Amelia Ellis ~ Daughter of Charles Heberton Ellis and Nancy Turner
She married John W. Brem.
She died in childbirth, apparently. The child is buried along with her. She was only 17 years old.
　　 　
　
　
In the quiet stillness of that deep wooded area, I heard a snap.
A loud, close by snap of a branch.





Alarmed, I stood up, and peered through the trees.
Heart racing. What was in here with me??












And, then, there was Russ.

He just couldn’t stand , not being there.
He half smiled and said.."Well, I had to see, too , didn’t I?"






He had came in after me, through the thick brambles, despite having perfectly good sense.






I smiled.
　
　
　

Anthony and Letitia Ellis Sarratt ~

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prsjr/families/sc/sarratt/nobel-bk.htm

See this fascinating account of Noble Sarratt's book.

I had read some time ago, that there was a couple of old family cemeteries, located not far from the Old Ellis Ferry. The idea that more family was buried in that very vicinity, and that I had not located them yet, was just not acceptable..grin.

I just could not resist.

I do love a good challenge!



Letitia’s parents are buried there behind the Ellis Ferry Station house, along the Broad River.

James and Margaret "Peggy" Hopper Ellis.

Their son, Benjamin J. Ellis, was a brother to Letitia, (my 4rd great grandfather).

There was just little over a year's difference in their ages, so I would imagine they were close to one another. She was born in August of 1781 and he was born in September of 1782.

Letitia married Anthony Sarratt.

Letitia was my 4th Great Grand Aunt. Her marriage to Anthony Sarratt made him my 4th GGrand Uncle.

Letitia was apparently buried alongside her husband.

On the property once owned by the Sarratt Family.

We waited for a ‘not so miserably’ cold day and we struck out in the ol’ 48. It actually turned out to be a great day.

After a few wrong turns and a nice, long, country ride in the sunshine, we found it!

Just up the road from the Old Ellis Ferry site.

The cemetery is located on a secluded parcel of land, out behind a lady’s house.

We stopped in, introduced ourselves and chatted for awhile before heading out over the pasture to the location.

There are huge trees towering over the markers.

The markers for Letitia and her husband are quite impressive and could be seen across the pasture.




~ Letitia Ellis Sarratt









Anthony Sarratt ~







Looking a little further, I found that Noble John Surratt, the son of Letitia and Anthony had written a biography of his family some time back, in the 1800's. Matter of fact, there has been a lot of documentation done on this family.

Noble John Sarratt ~ May 20, 1809 - January 03, 1897

There also exists documentation of a gift that Anthony Sarratt bestowed upon the community:

A Gift of Land by Anthony Sarratt

(age 55) to Eustatia Seminary.

Transcription follows:

"This South Carolina } Spartanburg District } July 02, 1832 -

Know all men by these presents that I Anthony SARRATT of the above State and District, for, and in consideration of the love I have for education, and the proper means for illuminating and expanding the juvenile intellect; To grant, alien, and convey to the present trustees of "Eustatia Seminary", viz. Elijah TURNER, Benjamin ELLIS, John ALLISON, John SARRATT, and Anthony SARRATT, the grantor hereof, and to their successors in office, one half (1/2) acre of land, whereon to build a comfortable house for the Academy, (and which house after it is erected, shall be free and accessible to any local or itinerant preacher, in which, to preach and proclaim the glad tidings of the everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.) Situate on the North side of Sarratt's Creek, along the edge of the "Post Road" leading from said Creek to Benjamin Ellis' Ferry on "Main Broad" River, & adjoining John Turner's land on said Road, and running parallel with the road, thence East eight (8) poles running parallel with the West line, and thence South ten(10) poles along the "Post Road" to the Stake at the beginning. With all and singular thereunto belonging, to the above mentioned Trustees, and their successors in office, to have and to hold from me, my heirs, and assigns, for academic and other instructive purposes of a public and neighborhood benefit; so long as the house may last, or is kept in repair for literary uses.
In witness hereof I set my hand and seal this 2nd day of July 1832 in presence of,
Wit: Gilbert Sarratt

John O'Neill

Signed by Anthony SARRATT { Seal }



Around the year of 1840, traveling preachers established a congregation at Sarratt’s School House, near Beulah Church, about 5 miles from north Gaffney Cross Roads.


Anthony Sarratt’s son Noble is buried beside his parents, alongside him, is Edwin Clatton Sarratt.

Edwin was the son of Gilbert Sarratt, grandson of Anthony and Letitia.

Edwin fought in the Civil War.




He was a Private in Company E, 4th SC Res. He died from wounds suffered in the war. His tombstone says that he died in the 4th Louisiana Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina.

He was only 17 years old.











I stood there and marveled at the intricate, impressive markers for these long gone people.





Out in a pasture, hidden away by time and an old barn. Time marches on.
There are only four still identifiable graves remaining. Others are marked with field stones or hidden from view.

Brambles and dead falls are scattered about.


Down the road, not very far are the remains of Anthony and Letitia's son Gilbert and his wife, Lucretia Irvine Sarratt.

The cemetery is very visible just across from the local V.F.D.

This cemetery is called Ellis Cemetery because it is located on Ellis Ferry Road.
It is also generally referred to as the Confederate Cemetery, by the locals.






Lucretia Irvine Sarratt ~




Gilbert Sarratt ~

Seeking the past and bringing it back into the “light” has become so near and dear to my heart.

Let us not forget these people and the mark they left, for us and for generations yet to come.


Rest in peace, Aunt Letitia.


May Angels keep you and your family.