• Born: 13 Apr 1806, Attleboro MA
• Marriage (1): Mary D. Jackson on 14 May 1832 in Attleboro MA

  General notes:

Engraver

  Events in his life were:

• He appeared on the 1850 census taken at Waterbury CT, listed as a button maker.

• He was issued design patent number 27,974 on 24 Apr 1860
  
  DARWIN ELLIS AND PHILANDER HINE, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.
  
  PORTABLE MATCH-CASE.
  
  Specification of Letters Patent No. 27,974, dated April 24, 1860.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that we, Darwin Ellis and Philander Hine, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented, made, and applied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Match - Carriers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making part of this specification, wherein—
  Figure 1, is an exterior view of said match carrier. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section, Fig. 3, is a cross section and Fig. 4, is a view with the end revolving button removed to show the cross slide.
  Similar marks indicate the same parts. "Our said invention consists in a metallic case within which the matches are retained, and by a revolving motion each match in succession is presented to an opening in the case and delivered therefrom by the operation of a cross slide.
  In the drawing a, is a case of suitable size, shape or material; we however prefer that it be of metal in the circular shape shown.
  b, is a hollow shaft guided at one end by the circular flange 1 that occupies the interior of the cylinder a, at one end. The shaft b, passes through a diaphragm 2, and terminates with the button c, that forms an end to the cylinder a.
  3, 3, are small wings on the hollow part of the shaft a similar to thin cog teeth, and between these wings the matches are laid as represented, a slot 4, being provided in the cylindrical case a, for entering or expelling the matches. The matches are laid one by one between these wings until the carrier is full, the button c, being turned to revolve the shaft a.
  5, is a lip at one side of the slot 4, between the ranges of wings 3, 3, which lip taking the match prevents the shaft a, being turned.
  d, is a cross slide provided with a spring on one side against the diaphragm 2, to prevent it moving too easily, and 6, is a finger projecting from this slide down into the slot 4. By pressing on the lower end of this slide d, it is raised to the position shown in Fig. 4, and in dotted lines Fig. 2; the button c, is then turned until a match takes against the lip 5, when on pressing down the slide d, and finger 6, the match is thrown up out of the slot 4, as seen in Fig. 2, and can be taken and lighted by friction on the roughened plate 7.
  The hollow shaft a, may contain matches, and can be made as large as circumstances will admit of, and the end cap e, completes our carrier.
  What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is—
  The combination of the slotted case a, revolving shaft &, having the wings 3, 3, and the cross slide and delivering finger 6, substantially as set forth.
  In witness whereof we have hereunto set our signatures this 20th day of February, 1860.
  
  Darwin Ellis
  Philander Hine
  
  Witnesses:
  Theodore S. Buel
  Norton J. Buel
  

• Token, 1860
  Private Collection
  Issued by SCOVILLE MANUFACTURING Co; the dies engraved by Ellis.

• Token, 1863
  Private Collection
  Issued by SCOVILLE MANUFACTURING Co; the dies engraved by Ellis.

Darwin married Mary D. Jackson on 14 May 1832 in Attleboro MA. (Mary D. Jackson was born on 8 Jun 1807 in Attleboro MA and died on 24 Oct 1846 in Waterbury CT.)