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The business of a scrivener was to make charters and deeds concerning lands and tenements and all other writings which by law are required to be sealed. Ellis outlived every member of the profession. On the death of his master Ellis succeeded to the business in partnership with young
Taverner, whose
112:, who visited him 4 October 1790, in his ninety-third year, found his judgment distinct and clear and his memory "able to serve him very well after a little recollection". In the last year of his life his circumstances were reduced by a bankruptcy; but his friends relieved him.
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in 1750, and afterwards appointed alderman's deputy. The duties of the latter post he actively discharged until his resignation on St. Thomas's day 1790, not long before his death. In
January 1765 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the office of chamberlain of London.
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Ellis lived for many years in Black Swan Court, and afterwards in Capel Court, Bartholomew Lane. Ellis was never married, and lived to an advanced age. Up to his eighty-fifth year he used frequently to walk thirty miles a day.
59:, with a brother and two sisters, and later moved to another, not much superior, in Wine Office Court, Fleet Street. Here he learned the rudiments of grammar, and is said while at school to have translated a Latin poem of
162:, with whom I used to dine generally once a week." Ellis, though not ambitious to publish, continued writing verses for more than 70 years, and used to recite poems of a hundred lines after the age of 88.
158:, who once said to Boswell, "It is wonderful, sir, what is to be found in London. The most literary conversation that I ever enjoyed was at the table of Jack Ellis, a money-scrivener behind the
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151:, who addressed to him a poetical epistle describing a journey to Ireland, which, with Ellis's reply, also in verse, was printed in a 'Collection of Poems,' published in 1767.
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entitled 'Marston Moore, sive de obsidione prœlioque
Eboracensi carmen lib. 6,' 1660, which was published in 1750.
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Ellis began his business career as clerk or apprentice to John
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every Friday evening at eight o'clock to enjoy the society of his literary friends.
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imprudence involved him in loss. Ellis took an active part in the affairs of the
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Ellis died 31 December 1791, and was buried 5 January 1792 in the church of
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He was the son of James and
Susannah Ellis, born in the parish of
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Chief among the circle of his literary friends and admirers was
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With many unpublished poems, Ellis left behind him versions of
262:(4th ser. vii. 5), he used to attend at the Cock tavern in
39:(1698–1791) was an English scrivener and literary figure.
243:, Thomas Bowles, and other printers, were also printed.
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Ellis was also for forty years an active member of the
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200:The Surprise, or the Gentleman turned Apothecary
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170:Ellis's major work was a translation of the
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194:A verse translation from Latin of a broad
205:A travesty of Maphæus, published in 1758.
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221:, was set to music as a song by
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310:"Ellis, John (1698-1790)"
430:People from the City of London
338:Done into English Hudibrastic,
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342:In every other page annext.'
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