William Ellery, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"

William Ellery (December 22, 1727 - €“ February 15, 1820) was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Rhode Island. In 1764, Ellery joined Stephen Hopkins, Samuel Ward, the Reverend James Manning and several others as an original fellow or trustee for the chartering of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (the original name for Brown University)

The son of Benjamin Ellery, William Ellery was born in Newport. He worked first as a merchant, next as a customs collector, and lastly as Clerk of the Rhode Island General Assembly. Ellery started the practice of law in 1770 and was active in the Rhode Island Sons of Liberty. After Samuel Ward's death in 1776, Ellery replaced Ward in the Continental Congress. Ellery was among the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Ellery also served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and by 1785 he had become an abolitionist. He was the first customs collector of the port of Newport under the Constitution, serving there until his death. Ellery was buried in Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport.

src: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ellery

The second son of William Ellery Sr. and Elizabeth Almy, William Ellery was born in Newport and received his early education from his father, a merchant and Harvard College graduate. In 1747 William Ellery graduated from Harvard College where he had excelled in Greek and Latin. Ellery returned to Newport where he worked first as a merchant, next as a customs collector, and then as Clerk of the Rhode Island General Assembly. Ellery started the practicing law in 1770 at the age of 43 and became active in the Rhode Island Sons of Liberty.

After Samuel Ward's death in 1776, Ellery replaced Ward in the Continental Congress. Ellery was among the fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Ellery also served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island and by 1785 he had become an abolitionist. He was the first customs collector of the port of Newport under the Constitution, serving there until his death. Ellery was an active worshipper at the Second Congregational Church of Newport.[2][3] After his death in 1820 at age 92, Ellery was buried in Common Burying Ground in Newport.[4]

Family and legacy

Ellery married Ann Remington of Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1750. She was the daughter of Judge Jonathan Remington. She died in 1764 in Cambridge and was buried there. He remarried in 1767 to Abigail Cary.

His descendants include Ellery Channing, William Ellery Channing, Richard Henry Dana, Sr., Edie Sedgwick, Kyra Sedgwick, Grace, Emily, Charlotte, and Amy Loring, Daniel Kraus, James Ellery, Gary Ellery, and Jadriene M. Ellery. Ellery Avenue in Middletown, Rhode Island is named in his honor. He had 19 children and was married twice in his lifetime.

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More About William Ellery and Ann Remington:

Marriage: October 11, 1750

Children of William Ellery and Ann Remington are:

• Elizabeth Ellery, b. August 13, 1751.
• Lucy Ellery, b. September 21, 1752, d. May 25, 1834, Boston, Suffolk, Mass.
• Ann Ellery, b. April 17, 1755.
• William Ellery, b. March 2, 1757, d. September 3, 1759.
• Almy Ellery, b. February 14, 1759.
• William Ellery, b. October 9, 1761, d. May 9, 1836, Newport, RI.
• Edmond Towbridge Ellery, b. November 2, 1763, d. March 24, 1847.

More About William Ellery and Abigail Carey:

Marriage: June 28, 1767

Children of William Ellery and Abigail Carey are:

• Abigail Ellery, b. March 28, 1768, Newport, RI, d. October 14, 1768, Newport, RI.
• Nathaniel Ellery, b. May 13, 1769, Newport, RI, d. October 18, 1839, Newport, RI.
• John Wilkins Ellery, b. May 18, 1770, Newport, RI, d. May 18, 1770, Dighton,Bristol, Mass.
• Abigail Ellery, b. February 2, 1772, Newport, RI, d. September 20, 1772, Newport, RI.
• Ruth Champlin Ellery, b. September 4, 1773, Newport, RI, d. March 31, 1777, Dighton,Bristol, Mass.
• Susanna Kent Ellery, b. June 11, 1775, Newport, RI, d. April 14, 1828, Newport, RI.
• Philadelphia Ellery, b. November 5, 1776, Newport, RI, d. April 24, 1856, Newport, RI.
• Ruth Champlin Ellery, b. May 23, 1779, Cranston, Providence, RI, d. December 20, 1779, Cranston, Providence, RI.
• Mehetable Redwood Ellery, b. January 4, 1784, Newport, RI, d. August 11, 1832, Newport, RI.
• George Wanton Ellery, b. December 24, 1789, Newport, RI, d. January 26, 1867.

Source:

http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/w/o/o/Clayton-Arthur-Wood-New-York/WEB...