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THOMAS ELLIS was born in 1711/12, the second son of Edward Ellis Galltfelyd in Fflintshire. He was destined for the Anglican priesthood in Wales, and in 1727 attended Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1731. He was elected Fellow of the College and retained the title until 1761. He was awarded his BD in 1741, just four years after coming to Holyhead as a lecturer (or curate). His salary was £50 a year. He spent the next 22 years in Holyhead as a priest.
Unfortunately there is no known portrait of Thomas Ellis. We do know, however that from letters written by William Morris (1705-1763) a good friend, that he was a thin man, who wasn't in particularly good health. His interests included gardening, playing the harp, literature and antiques, collecting fossils, and he also enjoyed his regular pinches of Phoenix Snuff. The welfare of the poor people in the parish was of great concern to Thomas Ellis, so much so that he distributed alms to the needy, sick and to large families.
Ellis had a profound effect on the lives of the people. Herring fishing was an important event in Holyhead so at the start of each season Ellis would conduct a special service of blessing on the beach. He moved "Wake Sunday" (Sul Y Creiriau) from first three Sundays in July to St. James's Day (July 29th). He put an end to the drinking, debauchery, feasting, fighting and cursing by arranging competitions and races for the parishioners and he gave the winners silk ribbons as prizes. He showed great kindness and forgiveness, and in 1753 he and William Morris sent a gallon of butter to Walton where Goronwy Owen the poet (1723-1769) had been appointed curate.
Thomas Ellis helped with some proof reading of the S.P.C.K Welsh Bible in 1748. He dispatched 1070 bibles, 664 New Testaments and many Prayer Books in Holyhead.
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