James was baptised at Selsey on the 3rd Sep 1826, the first of 5 children of James & Jane Jelleff.
On 23 April 1850 James married Ellen Marshall at Sidlesham Parish Church:
James Jelliffe 24 Bachelor, Mariner, Sidlesham, father James Jelliffe, Baker
Ellen Marshall 22 - Sidlesham, father Thomas Marshall, Cordwainer.
By Banns.
James signed but Ellen made her mark. The marriage was in the presence of John Earwicker & Mary Jinman.
His wife, Ellen, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Marshall, was baptised at Sidlesham on 29 Aug 1825. She was the eldest of 5 and the family lived at Sidlesham Mill.
Ellen's first child Edwin James Jelliffe Marshall had been baptised at Sidlesham on 7 Feb 1849 & buried 5 days later.
The 1851 Census shows James & Ellen Jelliffe, 24 & 22, at Mill, Sidlesham ( There were 5 households on the edge of Pagham Harbour, 4 fishermen and James a mariner).
Their next 5 children were also baptised at Sidlesham:
Thomas William baptised 16 Jun 1851 and buried 4 days later.
Joseph Randolph Jelliffe baptised 2 Jul 1852, married 2 Nov 1892, died Q2 1931.
Clement William Jelliffe born 20 Aug 1854, baptised 8 Sep 1854, married 26 Apr 1881,died 1890.
Elizabeth Jane Jelliffe baptised 16 Nov 1856, married Walter George Ullmer 29 Oct 1879.
Edwin James Jelliffe born 30 Jun 1858, baptised 7 Oct 1858, married Alice Scott 12 Jan 1881 St Mary's, died 11 July 1885, buried Kingston Cemetery,Portsea.
The family left Sidlesham and were living in Portsea by 1861.
The 1861 Census shows Ellen Jelliff,32, Seaman's wife , born Sidlesham at 26 Regent Street, Portsea (St Paul's), with 4 children: Joseph Randolph 8, Clement William 5, Elizabeth Jane 4 (all scholars) & Edwin James 2 (all born Sidlesham). James was not there, presumably at sea. The house was shared with another household.
Two more children were born in Portsea, but were not baptised as infants.
Then, Henry Allen Jelliffe was born in Q2 1862 in Portsea. He later married Elizabeth Martha Sheen 29 Aug 1885 at St Mark, Portsea and was living in London by 1901. He died Q3 1920 in Camberwell.
Thomas Ernest Jelliff was born 2 Nov 1865 at 47 South Brighton St, Landport , son of James Jelliff (Mate Merchant Service) & Ellen Jelliff (formally Marshall). He married Ellen Jane Williams 2 Nov 1892 at St Mary's Portsea, who had been baptised 18 Apr 1910 at St Mary's Portsea She died 19 Dec 1943.
On 10th Dec 1868 – James Jelliff was discharged from the ship Yvonne and joined the ship Eliza at Sidlesham (WSRO card index). The ship Eliza was employed in the Corn and Coal trade between Hartlepool and Sidlesham.
The 1871 census shows the family at 60 South Brighton St. (near Pavilion Place),Portsea (St Lukes). James Jelliffe, head, Married, 45, Merchant Seaman, born Sussex Selsea, with wife Ellen 43 born Sidlesham, With them were Joseph 19 unemployed labourer, Clement 16 Naval App Boy RN, Elizabeth 14, Edward 12 Errand Boy, Allan 9 Scholar, Thomas 5.
James died before 1881, possibly lost at sea as no record of his death has yet been found.
The 1881 census shows Ellen Jelliffe, widow, 51, living with her eldest son Joseph R Jelliffe 29 Coal Merchant & his wife Elizabeth 22 at 40 Fratton Street, Portsea, In the same house was his married sister Elizabeth Ullmer 24 with her son Walter Ullmer 6months, unmarried brother Henry A Jelliffe 20 Clerk (CoalMerchant), and brother Thomas 15 Pawnbrokers Assistant.
By the 1891 census, Ellen Jelliffe was living at 17 Delhi Street in the Parish of St Mary, Kingston (Portsea) where she lived for the next 20 years, firstly her son Thomas and daughter Elizabeth Ullmer lived with her. Later she was living with George & Elizabeth Ullmer.
Ellen was buried 26 Aug 1912 in Kingston Cemetery, Portsmouth.