From the census records James Joseph Ellis appears to have been born in London, growing up in Edmonton where (in 1861) his father was a Porter in a primary school. By 1881, JJE (aged 27) was a Baptist minister (Philip Street Chapel) in Bedminster, Bristol. In 1891, 1901 and 1911 he is still described as a Baptist minister but living in the London area (Hornsea, East Ham and Lewisham.) According to the Philip Street Baptist records, Ellis was born 20/8/1853 and trained at Spurgeon's Pastor's College. His first appointment was in Gosberton, Lincs., but two years later he came (June 1880) to Bedminster where he served until December 1884 when he took up the Pastorate at Duke Street Baptist Church, Richmond. [https://www.philipstreet.org.uk/main/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PhilipStreet-His-Work-A4.pdf] Timothy Stunt
