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Ellis

Dr. Vincent Ellis.
From Irish Times, August 11, 1958.

James Ellis,
born 1843, Co.Longford.
He mar Anne Clyne [or Ann, born 1858, Co.Leitrim].
At son's birth 1893 he is police constable, living Street, Street par, Co.Westmeath (on Co.Longford border, see map).
They are listed in 1901 census just across the county border at Edgeworthstown, Co.Longford. He is "insurance agent".
He is listed as "merchant" at son's mar 1921.
They had issue:

1. Dr. Vincent Ellis,
   Vincent Cornelius Ellis,
   born 21 Jan 1893, Street, Co.Westmeath.
   See birth cert from here.
   He was bapt 21 Jan 1893 [Street RC par records, Co.Westmeath].
   See him listed in 1911 census as a boarder with a family on Haddington Rd, Dublin. He is "medical student".
   Medical doctor, graduate of UCD, qualified 1916.

   Sinn Fein supporter, 1917-1921: Joined Sinn Fein 1917. In 1918 he was elected as a Sinn Fein member of the South Dublin Board of Guardians. In 1918 he became Assistant Medical Officer at Grangegorman Mental Hospital (Richmond Lunatic Asylum) in Dublin. He was close friend of republican Michael Staines, who was on the Grangegorman Mental Hospital Board. He gave medical assistance to IRA in War of Independence 1919-21. Grangegorman hospital was used to store arms and ammunition. In 1920-21 the British military raided Grangegorman. Vincent helped hide a male nurse who was wanted by the British. The nurse was put in a padded cell and told to act like a lunatic. He escaped capture this way.

   At mar 1921 he is listed as Doctor, living Richmond Asylum, Dublin.
   He mar 2 Feb 1921 to Marjorie Dempsey [born 2 Mar 1895].
   He became Medical Officer to the new Garda Siochana in 1922 [obituary].
   His friend Michael Staines was the first commissioner of the Garda Siochana in 1922.
   Vincent became Chief Medical Officer of the Gardai.
   He lived with his family at Garda HQ, Garda Depot, Phoenix Park.
   Living Garda Depot, Phoenix Park, when children born and died 1923 to 1925.
   Described as M.B. at Eileen Dempsey's burial, June 1925.
   He did postgraduate course at St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, 1929.
   M.D. 1930.
   Became Member of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (MRCPI) in 1932.
   Served on Central Council of the Irish Red Cross Society when it was established 1939.
   Took further courses in London and Vienna.
   Became Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (FRCPI) in 1945.
   His address when making [BMH statement] in 1952 was Garda Depot, Phoenix Park.
   He retired from Gardai in Jan 1958 [obituary].
   At death living 96 Bushy Park Rd, Terenure. Retired Medical Doctor.

   Vincent dies, 1958:
   He died 96 Bushy Park Rd, 10 Aug 1958, age 65 yrs.
   See death cert from here.
   See death notice in Irish Times, August 11, 1958.
   See obituary in Irish Times, August 11, 1958.
   Funeral 12 Aug 1958, bur Dean's Grange.
   Marjorie died 4 Dec 1979, age 84 yrs, bur Dean's Grange.
   Vincent and Marjorie had issue:

   
   

   1. Geraldine Ellis,
      born 1922, or 1921.
      Address at death given as Garda Depot, Phoenix Park.
      She died 7 Mar 1923, age 1 yr.
      She was bur Dempsey grave at Glasnevin.

      
      

   2. Joan Ellis,
      Joan Teresa Ellis, born 13 July 1924, 89 Lower Baggot St, Dublin [GROI].
      She died 13 Jan 1925, Temple St Hospital, Dublin, age 6 months.
      See death cert from here.
      She was bur Dempsey grave at Glasnevin.

      
      

   3. Vincent Ellis,
      born 1925,
      died 1965, age 40 yrs.

   4. Brian Ellis,
      mar Kal Hegarty.

   5. Donal Ellis.
      He mar Mary ---- and had issue.

Grave of Dr. Vincent Ellis. Dean's Grange.
From Joyce Tunstead.

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References

• Statement by Dr. Vincent C. Ellis to [BMH witness statements].

• The mental toll of revolution, Peter Berresford Ellis, The Irish Democrat, 23 Dec 2003.

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Things to see

• Grave of Dr. Vincent Ellis. Dean's Grange cemetery, Dublin. St.Patrick's Section. No.1133.

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• The writer Peter Berresford Ellis wrote a 2003 article with material about Dr. Vincent Ellis.
  • He introduces Dr. Vincent Ellis by saying "A short time ago I stumbled across a statement while trying to access some family history." But he does not clarify if Dr. Vincent Ellis is actually a relation, or this was just a random Ellis he found when searching.
  • Peter Berresford Ellis' ancestry is from Millstreet, Co.Cork. James Ellis above was born in Co.Longford. So it seems unlikely they are the same.