Thanks Forfarian for all your input and Looby for your ongoing interest. Forfarian, your suggestions all proved extremely fruitful and I would like you provide an update of what I have discovered as a result.
Starting with George Ellis who was sent in exile to Melbourne, Australia;
-born in 1812 in Duffus
-married Isobel Forsyth in 1837 in Duffus
-had 4 children;
1. Johanna Brander (born 1838 in Thomashill)
2. Helen (born 1840 in Thomashill)
3. Christinia (born 1841 in Thomas Hill)
4. Isabella (born 1843 in Thomshill)
-only listed in 1841 census, consistent with his exile to Australia in 1846
George Ellis parents are indeed John Ellis & Helen Robertson;
-John Ellis & Helen Robertson married in Alves, Elgin in 1810
-Helen Robertson's death certificate lists 9 children (but not their location) - all children were born in Duffus between 1812 & 1834
-John Ellis died in 1864 in Elgin while Helen Robertson died in 1855 in Deanshillock
John Ellis was born in 1786 in New Spynie (near Duffus) to William Ellis & Christina Ross. He was the third of 5 children - his siblings were born in Ettles, Drainie (William, 1781) / Duffus (John I, 1783) / West Alves (James, 1788 + Alexander, 1792.
I was surpised to be able to go so far back with relative ease, however I am now stuck at William Ellis. A couple of online "Ellis" family trees suggest;
-he was born in 1762 in Alves, possibly to George Ellis
-his siblings were George Ellis (born 1769) & Ferdinand Ellis (born 1776)
I do not, however, have any strong documentation suggesting these details. I am being a little greedy now, as I am just delighted that I have been able to find out so much. I am actually heading over to Elgin in 6 weeks time to do some more hands on research and I am also awaiting copies of the Inverness trial records from 1843.
Thanks again to all that have helped me!, drbono