Ora Cunningham claimed that his parents were Thomas Jelliff and Catherine Fillow who according to S595 married before Feb 1734/35. Ora claimed they married in 1738. The ”Notes on the Jelliffee Family”, pg 1, by grandchild of Maria Jelliffe Quintard, ca 1901, says his parents were Thomas Jeliff and Hannah Scribner who are said in the same source to have married in 1756. According to his tombstone, William was born about 1752, and according to the 1800 census, was born before 1756. It seems unlikely then that Thomas and Hannah could have been his parents.

Thomas Jelliff Sr. was in Norwalk between 1741 and 1786. His son, Thomas Jr., was there between 1759 and 1772.

William Jelliff was born in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut and died in either Norwalk or Westport, Fairfield County, Connecticut, on October 23, 1823. He married Huldah Sturges, the daughter of David Sturges and Charity _____ on December 7, 1771 in Norwalk, Fairfield County, Connecticut [Norwalk, Conn. Vital Records (Barbour) LR 18, p 23; American Ancestry, p 132; The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk Connecticut, Hall, p 73]. A descendant, Pearl Risely Humphrey listed in her notes, a date of December 19, 1771. Huldah was baptized in Westport, Fairfield County, Connecticut, on January 13, 1754. She died there on August 14, 1836 or August 19, 1836.

William and Hannah had 10 children all born in Norwalk, Connecticut:

William (20 Oct 1772 - bef 12 Apr 1814 (inventory)) m. Polly Taylor
Aaron (15 May 1775 - 17 Aug 1835) m. Anna Fillow
Sturges (12 Sep 1777 - 15 Jan 1864) m1. Susan Beer, m2. Miranda _____
Hezekiah (8 Jul 1780 - 15 Apr 1836) m. Nancy Bennett
Zalmon (10 Mar 1873 - ) . Rebecca Gregory
Polly (14 Oct 1785 - ) m. Denton Gregory
David (8 Apr 1788 - 12 May 1845) m. Polly Pike
Gould (27 Sep 1790 - 14 Dec 1859) m. Angelina _____
Rachel (4 Jan 1793 - 11 Mar 1830) m. Bennet Taylor.
Hiram (13 Oct 1796 - ) m. Elizabeth Ann Bailey