Ellis, Powhatan

Born January 17, 1790, in Amherst County, VA
Died March 18, 1863, in Richmond, VA

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of Mississippi
Nominated by Andrew Jackson on July 13, 1832, to a seat vacated by Peter Randolph. Confirmed by the Senate on July 14, 1832, and received commission on July 14, 1832. Service terminated on January 5, 1836, due to resignation.

Education:
Dickinson College, A.B., 1810
College of William and Mary, 1814

Professional Career:

Private practice, Lynchburg, Virginia, 1813-1814, 1815-1816
Prevost Guards of Virginia lieutenant, 1814
Private practice, Natchez, Mississippi, 1816, 1842-
Private practice, Winchester, Mississippi, 1816-1817
Justice, Mississippi Supreme Court, 1817-1818
Judge, Mississippi Supreme Court, 1818-1825
U.S. senator from Mississippi, 1825, 1827-1832
Charge d'affaires to Mexico, U.S. Department of State, 1836-1836
Envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to Mexico, U.S. Department of State, 1837-1842
Private practice, Richmond, Virginia, -1863

Bibliography

Cobb, Edwin L. "Powhatan Ellis of Mississippi: A Reappraisal." Journal of Mississippi History 30 (1968): 91-110.

Manuscript Collections

Duke University
Durham, N.C.
Munford-Ellis family papers, 1777-1942; 30 linear ft.; finding aid; correspondence.

Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Powhatan Ellis papers, 1822-1832.
10 items; finding aid; collection is a part of the Miscellaneous Manuscripts collection.

Library of Virginia
Richmond, Va.
Ellis family papers, 1701-1889.
30 items; finding aid; Virginia state records concerning Ellis, which George W. Munford obtained while secretary of the Commonwealth.

Mississippi State Department of Archives and History
Jackson, Miss.
Powhatan Ellis papers, 1814-1832.
6 items; finding aid; collection includes a report by Lieutenant Powhatan Ellis, copies of 2 bills pertaining to lands in the areas acquired in Mississippi from the Choctaw Indians, 2 letters, and a plan for the organization of land districts in the state of Mississippi.

University of Texas at Austin
Center for American History
Austin, Tex.
Powhatan Ellis papers, 1811-1836.
1 ft.; finding aid; correspondence, bills, receipts, news clippings, maps, and pamphlets.

Powhatan Ellis papers, 1822, 1825.
2 items; correspondence concerning unpaid debts.

Virginia Historical Society
Richmond, Va.
Ellis family papers, 1701-1889.
134 items; finding aid; collection contains correspondence, notes, accounts, and other papers of Powhatan Ellis.

Powhatan Ellis papers, 1856-1890.
1,592 items; includes letters to Ellis from members of the Cocke, Ellis, Munford, Taliaferro, and Tucker families.

Federal Judicial Center

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Ellis, Powhatan