MRS. LYDIA ELLIS. HAVERFORD., DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Eastown, Chester County, Dec. 10.On the 8th inst. died here LYDIA ELLIS, in the 84th year of age, and this day her corpse was attended to the grave by a great number of her relations and friends, and interred at Haverford West, by the side of her husband, who left her a widow 38 years since, with 10 small children, which she carefully educated through many difficulties.
She understood much of physick, surgery, and the virtue of herbs, by which she performed many and great cures in the country round her, and was always ready to run to the assistance of the afflicted, without expecting or requiring any thing for her trouble. She had from her youth a great share of vital piety, was careful in keeping to meetings, fearing God, and loving all that fought him in reality.
She was particularly tender and compassionate to the poor, to whom on proper occasions she gave liberally and chearfully. The effect of a well-spent virtuous life appeared in her quiet and happy death; for being sensible in her last sickness that her end approached, she settled all her worldly affairs, and took leave of her friends, with great calmness and composure of mind; and admonishing, praying for and blessing her children, she departed cheerfully to everlasting rest.
The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, 21 Dec 1742.
Extract from "Clovercroft Chronicles, Haines, 1897."
The eldest son of Thomas Ellis and his first wife was born in Wales about the year 1659. He came with his father in 1683 and settled on part of the large purchase made by him in Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He married Lydia Humphrey, eldest child of Samuel and Elizabeth Humphrey, the 19th day of the sixth month, 1685, at the house of William Howell, in Haverford.
Of Lydia Humphrey's parents there is the following record: "Samuel Humphrey and Elizabeth Rees were married before two Justices of the peace, named Morris Wynn and Robert Owen, of Dole Serrey on the 20th day of April 1658, and resided in the parish of Llangelynin in the county of Merioneth, where were born their children: Lydia, Daniel, Benjamin, Joseph, Rebecca, Ann and Gobeitha. The father died 17th of seventh month 1677, and was buried at Bryn Trallwyn, aged 71 (?) years and nine months.
For more than thirty-six years of widowhood, Lydia Ellis "kept the noiseless tenor of her way" in the performance of those daily duties and ministrations of love that befit the faithful mother, friend, and neighbor. Near the close of her eighty-fourth year her last will was written, in which she mentions her "Daughter Rebecca George and her children Lydia and Ellis and 'other' sons; daughter Bridget David and her children; daughter Elizabeth Price, deceased, and her sons and daughter; son Joseph's children; son Benjamin's children; son Evan Ellis, and nurse Susanna Shelton."
This will is dated November 25, 1742, and before another month was completed Lydia Ellis had passed away from earth.