Thanks to Lovella Reed and her brother Harold Ellerson and his wife Juanita Ellerson. We can confirm that James Westley Ellerson had a wife named Mary aka “Minnie” Williams. We know this from a World War I draft card where Seoilure Ellerson Sr. listed James Westley Ellerson as his father. We can confirm James and Minnie’s union through a marriage license that was filed in Haywood, Tennessee on December 24, 1892.

We can also confirm James’ father, Abraham “Abram” or “Abe” through a 1880s U.S Census record. Where Abraham was married to Mary Allison. Together they had eight children,  four sons and four girls. One of those sons is named West Allison which matches the birth year we have for James Westley Ellerson.

There are many family members we haven’t confirmed yet but what we can confirm is that the Ellerson/Ellison name goes as far back as 200 years prior to the signing of the declaration of independence. For there is a Robert Ellyson (Ellison, of Newcastle. He was born roughly September 7th 1589 and his birthplace is Penrith, Cumbria, England (United Kingdom). This info was provided by geni.com. Other family members ran a DNA test and confirmed that the Ellerson bloodline does trace back to Ireland.

Simply put, YES! On a 1850s U.S census record shows Abraham, his parents and siblings as white despite that the section for race is blank. But in the 1880s census data Abraham is listed as black and can be visibly seen on that document. Also, we have a military record where Abraham Allison born in Haywood County Tennessee was enlisted  on May 28th, 1863. He was part of the 54th U.S Colored Infantry.