Lyman Ellis being too young to be drafted, he volunteered in June 1776 as a fifer. He enlisted in 1777 and served under his uncle, Lt. Philip Ammidon in Capt. Peter Penniman's company, Col. Job Cushing's regiment; service from 17 August 1777 to 29 November 1777.
Census of Ellis Rev. War Pensioners, Who were alive in 1840, Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., N.Y., Lyman Ellis age 80, res. Lyman Ellis, re: ECN winter 1990, pg. 7.