BORN:

c1789 location unknown

MARRIED:

21 August 1814 to Mary Morgan, in Runcorn Cheshire

KNOWN CHILDREN:

Anne (bap 9 May 1819) - at St, Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass maker of Sankey Green.

Ireland (bap 21 April 1822) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass maker of King Street.

Thomas (bap 3 October 1823) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass maker of Flag Lane.

Edward (bap 18 March 1825) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass maker of King Street.

Olivia (bap 4 August 1826) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass maker of King Street.

Mary (bap 22 June 1827) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass manufacturer of Manchester.

Jane (bap 28 May 1830) - at St. Elphin Warrington. Father listed as glass manufacturer of Manchester.

DIED:

July 1839 in Manchester

Biography

Of the five men associated with the opening of Molineaux & Webb in 1827, least is known about Owen Ellis. His birthplace is unclear and he is first spotted in 1814 when he married Mary Morgan in Runcorn. In 1816 he joined the freemasons in Warrington. The baptism of his child Anne in 1819 has him living at Sankey Green. This was a few hundred yards to the west of the Warrington Bank Quay glass works and is the best evidence that he once worked at Perrin & Geddes.

Further baptisms in Warrington, at King Street and Flag Lane, place him roughly halfway between the two train stations of modern Warrington (Central and Bank Quay). The roads in question no longer exist - they are buried underneath the Golden Square shopping centre.

Owen called himself a glass maker whilst in Warrington, but the baptism of Mary in 1827 finds his job title shifting to glass manufacturer. He still baptised his children at Warrington though now living in Manchester. In 1828 he transferred to the freemasons Manchester lodge.

Owen's name appeared in the company title of "Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co" after William Maginnis left the partnership in 1831.

In 1837, a list of railway investors shows that Owen invested £500 in the Grand Connection (Worcester and Wolverhampton railway). Thomas Molineaux invested £1000 in the same railway.

In 1838, Owen lost his second son Thomas, at the age of 14, and in the following year it was Owen's turn to appear in a newspaper death notice.

Dated 12th July 1839

On Tuesday last, in his 50th year, Mr. Owen Ellis, of Manchester, flint-glass manufacturer.

His wife Mary continued the family interest in the business. The company continued to trade under Molineaux, Webb, Ellis & Co. until 1848, when Mary left the partnership. She continued to live very close to the glass works, and on the 1851 census was at 20 Mill Street, Ancoats. Owen's eldest son, Ireland Ellis, also lived on Mill Street in the mid 19th century where he worked as a mechanic iron turner. There is no sign of the Ellis family being involved with glassmaking after 1848.

Grave of Owen's eldest son, Ireland Stubbs Ellis, at Manchester General Cemetery

Manchester Commercial Directory Entries

1828

Owen Ellis, glass manufacturer, 39 Mill Street, Islington

1832

Owen Ellis, glass manufacturer, home 1 Falkner Street

1836

Owen Ellis, glass manufacturer, home 41 Mill Street, Ancoats

1838

Owen Ellis, glass manufacturer, home 41 Mill Street, Ancoats

1841

Mary Ellis, glass manufacturer, 20 Mill Street, Ancoats