William Ellery
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William Ellery was born on December 22, 1727, in Newport, Rhode Island, to William and Abigail Ellery. He was the second of at least five children. His family can be traced back to England. His Great-Great Grandfather, William Ellery, immigrated to New England and was a successful merchant in Newport, where he owned a ferry, was a judge, and a member of the Newport Town Council, among many other positions. His mother’s grandfather was Christopher Almy, who had been born in England and came to America with his family when he was three years old, and they settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Not much is known about his personal life, as he burned most of his private papers and asked his correspondents to do the same with his letters. We know he was the son of a rich merchant and was tutored by his father before being sent to Harvard when he was 16. At Harvard, he was known as being fun and humorous, but was also serious about obtaining knowledge and developed an interest in ancient languages. He had a broad knowledge of Latin, French, and English, as well as literature. He graduated from Harvard in 1747 and went to work in his father’s business, where he learned about shipping and trade. Around this time, he also became a Naval Officer of the Colony of Rhode Island.[1] During these early years, and until he became a lawyer, he struggled financially.
On October 11, 1750, he married Ann Remington, who was the daughter of Johnathan and Lucy (Bradstreet) Remington of Newport, Rhode Island. They have seven children, but only five live to adulthood and have issue. They are Elizabeth, who was born in 1751, Lucy, born in 1752, Ann, born in 1755, William, born in 1757, Almy, born in 1759, William, born in 1761, and Edmund Towbridge, born in 1863. Ann and Ellery would be married for fourteen years, until her death on September 7, 1764. It was a happy marriage, and he would say, “he was recalled from his bachelor habit of spending his evenings at a tavern, by discovering a memorandum in his wife’s almanac of her delight at his having stayed home for a single evening.”[2]
During his first marriage, he was Clerk of Court and gained knowledge of the law and many of its functions. He began to study law during this time period. He would eventually pass the bar and start a practice by 1770, and would practice successfully for several years, but was drawn into public service. During his marriage, he was also one of the founders of Rhode Island College.
Ellery remarried on June 28, 1767, to Abigail Cary. She was the daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth, nee Wanton Cary. They would have 10 children together, but only 2 survive to adulthood and have issue. They are Abigail, who was born in 1768, John Wilkins, born in 1770, Abigail born in 1772, Ruth Champlin born in 1773, Susan Kent born in 1775, Philadelphia born in 1777, Nathan Carey born in 1778, Ruth Champlin born in 1779, Mehitable Redwood born in 1784, and George Wanton born in 1789. Out of a total of 16 children, six would die under the age of six years old. His wife passed away in 1793, and he did not marry again. Some of his descendants include his grandson William Ellery Channing, who was a poet, and Richard Henry Dana, another grandson, who was an author and abolitionist lawyer. Another grandchild, Elizabeth Danna Ellery, marries Theodore Sedgwick, who was the fifth Speaker of the House of Representatives. Through this marriage, Ellery was related to Edie Sedgwick, a socialite and 1960’s actress, and her cousin Kyra Sedgwick, who is an actress and wife of Kevin Bacon.
The Stamp Act was the catalyst that would get him involved in the independence movement. He would lead a protest through Providence, Rhode Island, and support efforts to resist the Intolerable Acts in 1767. He did not believe in the virtual representation theory advanced by Parliament and thought it an abhorrent policy.
Ellery was a member of the Committee of Safety and the Committees of Inspection and Defense for Rhode Island, but he was not a member of the First Continental Congress. However, he was well-connected and well-informed about what was happening with the British Parliament. He was firmly against Parliament taking control of the colonies and legislating from England. Like others in America, he believed that the colonial legislatures were the only ones who should pass tax increases and laws governing the colonies. After the Battles of Lexington and Concord, he made it known that he would stand for office should an opening arise. He wrote, “You must exert yourself. To be ruled by Tories when we may be ruled by Sons of Liberty how debasing. There is liberty and fire enough, it only requires the application of the bellows. Blow, then, a blast that will shake this country.”[3]
In March of 1776, Samuel Ward, a Rhode Island delegate to the Second Continental Congress, died of smallpox, and the Rhode Island legislature chose Ellery to replace him in Philadelphia. He presents his credentials and takes his seat on May 14, 1776. Ellery joins with Hopkins to draft a letter to the Rhode Island Governor, asking for direction, as communication had been lax during Samuel Ward’s illness.
By July 2, 1776, the Rhode Island delegates had received their directions, and they voted for independence. Ellery would write to his brother, Benjamin, “We have lived to see a Period which a few years ago no human forecast could have imagined – to see these Colonies shake off and declare themselves independent of a State which they once gloried to call Parent…”[4] When the Signers gathered on August 2, 1776, to sign the engrossed document, Ellery deliberately took a seat near Secretary Charles Thomson to watch as the delegates signed. He states, “I was determined to see how they all looked as they signed what might be their death warrant. I placed myself beside the Secretary Charles Thomson and eyed each closely as he affixed each name to the document. Undaunted resolution was displayed in every countenance.”[5] Legend has it that during the signing of the Declaration, Benjamin Harrison told him, “I shall have a great advantage over you, Ellery, when we are all hung for what we are now doing. From the size and weight of my body, I shall die quickly, but from your lightness of body, you will dance for some time before you are dead.” It should be noted that some versions of this story replace Ellery with Elbridge Gerry, who was also slight.
He would serve in Congress from 1776 to 1786, except in 1780 and 1782. He was a member of the Marine Committee, Board of Admiralty, and Committee to hear appeals from the Admiralty Courts. It is said that Ellery was the first to recommend preparing fireships and sending them out from Rhode Island. He would also work on the mail routes, war wounded, army purchases, and public account committees. In 1777, he signed the Articles of Confederation. His last act in Congress would involve attempting to end the practice of slavery in the United States.
He traveled, on horseback, between Rhode Island and Philadelphia and personally financed the trips. This was true of most delegates. One time, he traveled with John and Samuel Adams, eating meals consisting only of bread and butter. Another time he traveled with William Whipple, sleeping on the floor of inns and encountering a variety of people, some warm and friendly and others not, but all were welcoming.
In 1778, the British occupied Newport, Rhode Island, and Ellery took part in the failed campaign to drive them out. He was not captured, but his home and properties were destroyed. He left Congress in 1786. When he returned home, he found that Newport was destroyed and had to be rebuilt, along with his own fortune. That same year, he was appointed Commissioner for the Continental Loan office of Rhode Island and was the Chief Justice of Rhode Island for a brief time.
In 1790, President Washington appointed him Collector of Customs for the Newport District, and he held this position until he died in 1820. His grandson, the Reverend George. G. Channing, in later years, would tell a story of how he had taken some paper off his grandfather’s desk to use during this time, and his grandfather stopped him, saying, “My boy, if you want paper I will give you some; but that is Government paper.”[6] This clearly demonstrates he was conscious of the use of government resources and funds and did not want to be frivolous with either.
Sometime before his death, he wrote to his grandson saying:
“I have been a clerk of the court, a quack lawyer, a member of Congress, one of the lords of the admiralty, a judge, a loan officer and finally a collector of customs, and thus, not without many difficulties, but as honestly, thank God as most men, I have gotten through the journey of a varied and sometimes anxious life.”[7]
On February 15, 1820, William Ellery passed away sitting in his chair reading Cicero’s De Officiis. Ironically, a family friend, who was a physician, would visit him that day and note that he held an interesting and informative conversation with him before his death. He is buried in the Common Ground Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island.
Tidbits Second greatest number of children among the Signers. Good conversationalist, loved telling stories about his early life as well as the Revolution years. Wore wire rimmed glasses, had a chunky round face, was 5’5” tall, and was thin most of his life. In later years, he would grow to be more rotund. He was one of three signers to live into their 90’s. Served under eight administrations and five Presidents. His fellow delegates described him as a competent and well-liked man. His personal motto was “Vive de floresce,” which roughly translates to live and blossom or live and flourish. |
[2] Thomas, Wentworth Higginson. “William Ellery” The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (1877‑1906) 2, no. 4 (1878): 433.
[5] Barthelmas, Della Gray. The Signers of The Declaration of Independence: A Biographical and Genealogical Reference (Jefferson, NC, London, McFarland, 2003) 56 and http://www.dsdi1776.com/signers‑by‑state/
[6] Kiernan, Denise, and Joseph D’Agnese. Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of The Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence (Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2009) 48
[7] Kiernan, Denise, and Joseph D’Agnese. Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of The Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence (Philadelphia: Quirk Books, 2009) 48
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