Allen line: Samuel Ely 1639-1692

The jury is out as to where Samuel Ely was born, but fortunately we do know bits and pieces about his life and we have his will and inventory.  We also know that he was a man of many sorrows-certainly more than most of us can even imagine. 

Samuel was the son of Nathaniel and Martha Ely.  Martha's maiden name is unknown, and also unknown is the birth record for Samuel.There seems to be no birth record for Samuel but since his father had been in Hartford since 1635 (Nathaniel is recognized as a founding father of the city) it is most likely that Hartford was the place of his birth.  Somewhat unusually among our ancestors, he seems to have had only one sibling, a sister named Ruth.  The possibiity exists that the two were born to a different mother, who died in or shortly after childbirth.  Martha may have been a stepmother. 

Samuel moved with his family to Norwalk, Connecticut in 1651 and then on to Springfield, Massachusetts by 1659.  Nathaniel was welcomed but Samuel had to have a security bond in order to live there, perhaps because he was young and single and perhaps because a reputation may have preceded him.  He wasn't the first young man of whom security was required.  Samuel married Mary Day, the daughter of Robert and Editha Stebbins Day, in either Hartford or Sprinfgield.  The Days and the Elys had been close friends in Hartford so it's possible the wedding took place there, we just don't know. 

What we do know is sad.  Samuel and Mary had sixteen children together.  They had to make the walk to the graveyard 10 times for their young children.  Of those who died young, one lived to his early teens but the others died much earlier, mostly as infants or toddlers.  I cannot fathom the sadness of losing ten children, nor can I imagine what happened.  I wonder if there was a genetic defect that affected some of the children but not others.  Regardless, the family must have been much pitied. 

Nathaniel Ely had run an ordinary (tavern) and Samuel carried on the tradition of hospitality.  Whether or not he ran an ordinary, too, he did entertain selectmen and other town personages and was reimbursed by the town for expenses.  Samuel doesn't seem to have taken as many town jobs as his father did.  Perhaps he was kept busy caring for Mary as she went through so many pregnancies and losses.  Or perhaps he was busy making money, and supporting his family.  He did act as an appraiser of cattle, and sat on a committee to audit the town books, and his yard was used as a town pound from time to time, so he was very much a part of the town. 

I've been unable to locate anything placing Samuel Ely in military service at the time of King Philip's War, but "Ely's Tavern" was one of three garrisoned houses (built more strongly, and had at least a few troops to protect it) in 1675.  The town was attacked by Agawam and other Indians on October 5, 1675, with all but thirteen homes being destroyed.  There were further skirmishes during the war, or rather, ambushes, with Indians attacking settlers on their way to church, for example.  From this, we can tell that not all of the town left, or at least they didn't leave for long.  We don't know about Samuel and his family but it is likely they stayed in their garrisoned house, offering food and shelter to neighbors in need. 

 Samuel died March 19, 1692.  He was only about 53 years old, and death must have come suddenly for he left no will.  His widow, Mary, and two oldest sons, Joseph and Samuel, proposed a settlement to the court that appears to have been accepted.  Mary was to get 1/3 of the estate, plus money to raise her youngest children.   The two oldest sons were to receive 60 pounds, the two younger sons 50 pounds, and the two daughters 30 pounds, when they were of age.  Thomas Day, Luke Hitchock and John Hitchcock appraised his estate at 400 pounds.  He had the typical farm type animals and implements, four pounds worth of books (quite a lot for the time and place) and enough tables, chairs, and eating utensils to either furnish a house very well, or to equip a tavern.  He had a cider press and a still, which again supports the tavern idea.  In fact, a further agreement notes that Mary Ely and Samuel Ely (junior) were granted a license to continue operating the "ordinary" after Samuel's death. 

Mary married Thomas Stebbins and then John Coleman, and died October 25, 1725 at the age of 84.  She had seen more sorrows that most women ever fear, and we can be proud to be the descendants of Samuel and Mary Ely. 

The line of descent is

Samuel Ely-Mary Day
Joseph Ely-Mary Riley
Mary Ely-Thomas Stebbins
Ruth Stebbins-Samuel Hitchcock
Margaret Hitchcock-Richard Falley
Samuel Falley-Ruth Root
Clarissa Falley-John Havens Starr
Harriet Starr-John Wilson Knott
Edith Knott-Edward Allen
Richard Allen-Gladys Holbrook


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