David Ellis is reported by Paine telling of his peculiar behavior and it would seem that he was insane in later life. He was a Revolutionary War soldier serving as a private in Capt. Small's company in September 1778 at the time of the Tarpulin Cove alarm. In 1794 he signed two deeds disposing of his father's estate so he was in good mental health at that time.

Source: The Register, Jul 1968, p. 200.