WILLIAM ELLERY By Ms. Ross

EARLY LIFE  William Ellery was born in 1727 in Newport, RI  Graduated from Harvard College in 1747  Studied law  Married Ann Remington in 1750  Had 19 children with his two wives

MID LIFE  Served as Rhode Island congressman at the Second Continental Congress  Helped create and sign the Articles of Confederation 1781  Served as a judge for the Supreme Court of Rhode Island

LATER LIFE  First wife died in 1764, remarried to Abigail Cary in 1767  By 1785 Ellery was an abolitionist (against slavery)  Active worshipper at the Second Congregational Church of Newport

AMERICAN REVOLUTION  Started one of the first Stamp Act riots in Newport, RI in 1765  Active in the Rhode Island Sons of Liberty  Signed the Declaration of Independence that freed the U.S. from British rule

DIED  Died in Newport in 1820  Buried at Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport

SOURCES    Declaration-of-Independence/ Declaration-of-Independence/  m_ellery m_ellery