William Ellery (Lieutenant Governor)

William Ellery (born October 31, 1701 , † March 15, 1764 ) was a British trader, lawyer and politician . He served as Deputy Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations .

Career

William Ellery, son of Benjamin Ellery, was born during the colonial era. His father moved from Bristol to Newport ( Rhode Iceland ) and became a wealthy trader. He owned a ferry there, was a speaker in the House of Representatives and a judge at the district court. He also made a large donation to help build a new church, was a community moderator, and was a member of Newport City Council. William Ellery's grandfather was Sergeant William Ellery, who immigrated to New England in 1668 and settled in Salem. There he became a successful trader. Nothing is known about the youth of William Ellery, who is treated here. Ellery graduated from Harvard University in 1722 . After that he became a wealthy trader. As the eldest son, he inherited most of his father's fortune. Ellery was an MP and assistant in the Colonial General Assembly and a judge in the District Court. He was lieutenant governor of the colony between 1748 and 1750.

family

Ellery married Elizabeth Almy (1703–1783). She was the granddaughter of Christopher Almy. He was born in England . At the age of three he sailed in the Abigail with his mother, father and siblings to New England, where the family settled in Portsmouth. Elizabeth Almy and William Ellery had at least two children: Benjamin (1725–1797) and William B. (1727–1820). His son William was one of the signatories of the United States Declaration of Independence .

Trivia

William Ellery taught his son of the same name himself. This enabled him to go to Harvard University at the age of 16, where he graduated in 1747. Upon his return to Newport, he taught him the details of shipping and trade in his trading business.

literature

• Babson, John J .: History of the Town of Gloucester, Cape Ann ..., Gloucester, Massachusetts: Proctor Brothers, 1860, pp. 84f
• Bicknell, Thomas Williams: The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations , Volume 3, New York: The American Historical Society, 1920

Individual evidence

1. ^ Bartlett, John Russell: Records of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England: 1741-1756 , AC Greene and Brothers, State Printers, 1860, p. 261
2. ^ List of lieutenant governors of Rhode Island
3. ^ Benjamin Ellery in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved March 6, 2015.
4. ^ William B. Ellery in the Find a Grave database . Retrieved March 6, 2015.

Web links

• William Ellery in the database of Find a Grave (English)
• William Ellery on The Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence website