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326    ELLIS, LEMUEL [L25.2]

Location - New Hope Township. 1,000 feet east of SR 1700, North Pea Ridge Road, off lane 0.7 mile south of SR 1941, Seaforth Road

Coordinates: 35d 42m 51.0s N; 79d 03m 36.1s W Click here for Online Maps

On 25 March 1992, Will M. Heiser, with descendants of the Lemuel Ellis family, recorded 3 grave markers, and noted 15 graves marked by field stone. Charles Thomas found the site and photographed the inscribed markers on 8 Feb 2011. The site was surveyed as part of a cultural resources assessment in July 2023 by Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc (ACC). That team identified 58 likely graves.

Another photo of the cemetery. - - - Plan map of cemetery by ACC 2023.

A total of 58 graves were identified within this cemetery. Three graves were marked with cut stones Eighteen graves had both fieldstone head- and footstones present. Five have only headstones and three have only footstones. Twenty-one graves were identified based on depressions only.
Eight stones with no associated depressions were also identified. It is not known if these stones are natural or denote graves. Based on the inscriptions, the earliest death date is 1889; the latest is 1901.
Lemul's and Tilitha's headstone is a marble obelisk on a square base with gothic arches at the top. An angel motif is present above the word "HOPE." The remaining sides have a decorative scrolled motif that is the same on each side. One side is carved with Lemul's inscription and another side with Tilitha's.
Ralph's headstone is a marble round-topped marker on a beveled base. There are no decorative motifs present on it.
Based on census data, Lemuel was an overseer for "Dilley" Bynum in 1850 and operated a cotton gin with three workers. He is listed as a farmer in 1870 and 1880, owning land worth $800.00. He also served as Postmaster of Trades Hill in 1870. Trades Hill is reflected in the project vicinity on an 1870 map. Upon his death in 1895, he left his estate to his wife, Tilitha Ellis nee Hatley, and son, Joseph A. Ellis, who was Ralph's father. Joseph A. Ellis (1869-1944) and Mannie Francis (1882-1967) were married in 1898. Ralph was their first child. They went on to have six more children. There are no records that Lemul Ellis owned slaves. However, the Bynum family owned large tracts of land in the project vicinity.
According to census records, Dilley (Delia) Bynum nee Bell owned a minimum of five slaves upon her death in 1857, all of whom had been hired out to other landowners. Dilley's presumed husband, Joseph D. Bynum, Jr. owned 10 slaves in 1830 and 13 in 1840. Adjacent property owners include William Bynum. He and his sons all owned slaves prior to 1860.
Based on the prevalence of slave ownership in the Bynum family, it is possible that the fieldstone marked and unmarked graves in the Ellis Cemetery predate Lemul's death and are those of enslaved people.

Owner: OWASA, Deed Book 545-210.
Legal Description: Parcel 17538. Prior owners: Lemuel Ellis, Nellie Ellis (CW-67); J. Lonnis Copeland farm, J. Q. A. Eubanks (JV-317); Robert H. and Loven R. Bruhn (384-982).
Topo Quadrant: Merry Oaks.
Family owned: Yes.
Abandoned: Yes.
Number of graves: 58.
Cemetery size: 120' x 60'.
White: Yes, and possibly enslaved.
Restricted access: Yes. Hard to get to. Private property.
Overgrown and easy to identify: Yes.
Enclosed: No.
Enclosed explanation: Originally had wrought iron fence on stone wall.
Markers: Yes.
Markers with inscriptions: Yes.
Number of readable markers: 3.
Last burial: 1901.
First burial: 1889.
Markers damaged: Yes.
Other damage explanation: Neglect.
Hazards: OWASA has promised right of access to Mrs. Zilpha Ellis Cooley, 919 542-2043.
Listed: 31CH1372
Miscellaneous information: Mrs. Cooley is granddaughter of Lemuel Ellis, the original family owner. NC Coordinates: N714,800 E1,982,060.

Last canvassed by: Will M. Heiser w/ Zilpha Ellis Cooley and other relatives. Date: 25 Mar 1992; Charles Thomas, 8 Feb 2011; July 2023 by Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc.

1. Ellis, Lemuel   (b. 1824 - d. 10 Feb 1889)
Row-1. No-2. "Lemul" on marker. Husband of Tilitha (Hatley) Ellis. Pedestal 1' sq. 4' high on 18" sq. base "ELLIS" on base. Footstone "L.E.". Material Marble. Condition leaning. Closeup. Footstone. Shares pedestal with wife Tilitha Hatley Ellis. - - - Another view of pedestal.
2. Ellis, Ralph   (b. 19 Dec 1899 - d. 8 Dec 1901)
Row-1. No-3. Son of Joseph Andrew & Mannie Frances (Copeland) Ellis. "Gone to be an angel". Vertical slab. Material Marble. Condition Good. Closeup. - - - Another view. - - - Footstone.
3. Ellis, Tilitha (Hatley)   (b. 1832 - d. 28 May 1895)
Row-1. No-1. Wife of Lemuel Ellis. "His Wife". Shares pedestal with Lemuel Ellis. On opposite side of column for Lemuel Ellis. Material Marble. Condition leaning. Closeup. - - - Another view of pedestal.
4. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Material fieldstone.
5. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Material fieldstone.
6. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Material fieldstone.
7. Unknown, Unknown   (b. Unknown - d. Unknown)
Material fieldstone.