James Ellis (1758-1817) was born in Albany, New York and grew up in New Jersey where he met Sarah Riggs. He moved with members of the Riggs family to eastern Tennessee and married Sarah. They became the parents of eight children. Their numerous descendants live in Tennessee, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma and other parts of the United States.

William Holcomb was born about 1650 in England. He was a minister in the Church of England. He and his wife emigrated before 1678 and settled in St. Stephen's parish, New Kent, Virginia. They had at least four children. Traces descent through their fourth son, John Holcomb (b. 1685). Simon Gross was born in 1711 in Baden, Germany. He and his brother, Theobald, emigrated in 1741 and settled in Pennsylvania. Simon married Catharina Schneider and had...