Abraham Ellis was the son of Johann Jacob Alles (b. abt 1722 Germany, d. 1785 Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania) & Elizabeth (Mohr) Alles (b. abt 1726 Germany, d. Unknown Hanover, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania). Abraham's siblings were: Jacob Alles (b. abt 1748, d. 1806), Christopher Alles (b.1763, d.1836). Abraham Alles Sr. served in the American Revolutionary War with his brother Jacob Alles. Abraham and Jacob enlisted in the Pennsylvania Militia (The Hanover Associators) in June of 1776. Abraham was elected to a First Lieutenant in January of 1777. He was at Valley Forge. As a First Lieutenant he served as a Company Commander in the Pennsylvania Militia. After serving in the major battles of: Long Island, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown he left the Pennsylvania Militia in September of 1777. At some point during this period his surname "Alles" was changed to Ellis. Abraham Ellis was married to Anna Maria Ried (b. 1757, d. abt. 1778) on September 11, 1777 at the New Goshenhoppen Reform Church in Salford, Pennsylvania. On May 31, 1778 she gave birth to their only child, Abraham Ellis Jr. and she died in childbirth but the son survived. After the death of Anna Maria, Abraham had to find someone to take care of the baby so he could return to the war. In Virginia he found Katherine Joel (b.1764, d. 1840) in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia). In 1780 Abraham and his brother Jacob

re-enlisted as privates in the Virginia Militia. Abraham served until September of 1781 when he was bayoneted at the Siege of Yorktown. He was dismissed from service in the Virginia Militia. On October 19, 1781 he was present at surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. He married Katherine Joel and had six children: Henry Ellis (b. 1782, d. 1857), Joel Ellis (b. 1788, d. 1865), Katherine (Duckwall) Ellis, Rosina (Carman) Ellis (b.1793, d. 1857), Margaret Ellis (b. 1795, d. aft 1820), Isaac Ellis (b. 1798, d. 1882) and Eli Ellis (b.1801, d. 1835).

In about 1806 the Ellis Family moved from Back Creek Valley, Berkeley County, Virginia (now WV) to Clinton County, Ohio. He received a pension until his death on September 26, 1837 for the severe bayonet wound that partially disabled him.