Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Ely Family, History Of The
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Buckingham Township


HISTORY OF THE ELY FAMILY
   The Elys were among the early settlers of Bucks county.  
Joshua, the parent stock, was born in Dunham, 
Nottinghamshire, England, in 1645, and came to New Jersey in 
1685 with his wife and sons, Joshua and George.  John was 
born on the voyage, Hugh in 1689, and Elizabeth and Sarah in 
1694 and 1698 respectively.  His wife died a few years 
after, and he married Rachel Lee, of Burlington, by whom he 
had two children, twins - Benjamin and Ruth.  He purchased 
400 acres of land of Mahlon Stacy, lying above the Assanpink 
creek, Trenton.  He was a man of some prominence in his day, 
and was one of the justices of Burlington about 1700.  He 
died in 1702.  Hugh, a son of Joshua, was born in 1689, and 
in 1712 married Mary Hewson.  After a number of years the 
latter died, and in 1753 he married Phebe Smith, widow of 
Robert Smith, whose maiden name was Canby.  By her he had no 
children.  He moved to Bucks county in 1720 and purchased 
300 acres of land of James Linnox, and in 1724 an additional 
100, adjoining the first purchase, from Richard Lundy.  The 
whole tract formed nearly a perfect parallelogram, extending 
from the Old York road to the mountain, and from the present 
Holicong and mountain road to Samuel E. Broadhurst's line.  
As now divided it embraces the farms of Lavinia S. Paxson, 
Annie Atkinson, Anna J. Williams, Jonathan Smith and part of 
the estate of Judge Paxson.  Hugh died in 1771, leaving 
children:  Thomas, Hugh, Anna, and Ann.  He joined Friends' 
meeting at Buckingham in 1731, whereof he was an elder, and 
his wife Phebe an accepted minister.  As there is no mention 
of their having united with Friends at an earlier day, it is 
probable their English ancestry belonged to the established 
church.  Hugh deeded to his son, Thomas, 150 acres of the 
northeast part of his 400, extending from Holicong to the 
mountain, and in 1772 by will gave his son Hugh 250 acres.  
Thomas moved to Maryland in 1773 and sold his 150 acres to 
his brother Hugh, who them became owner of the 400 acre 
tract as owned by his father.  And now of Hugh the second, 
grandson of Joshua:  He was born in 1715, and married 
Elizabeth Blackfan in 1746, had children:  John, William, 
Elizabeth, Hugh, Jesse, and Joseph.  John was born in 1748, 
and married Hannah Austin in 1777, settled on the central 
farm, had children:  Thomas, Samuel, John, James, Elizabeth, 
and Seneca.  Thomas never married, John left children, James 
died young, Elizabeth married David Parry and left children, 
Samuel married and lived near Mechanicsville, left three 
children:  Seneca W., now living at an advanced age, and one 
of the able editors of the Cincinnati "Commercial Gazette;" 
the late General John Ely, and Sarah, first wife of Harvey 
Shaw.  The late Sheriff Ely is a grandson of Samuel through 
John.  William 2nd son of Hugh, was born in 1750, and in 
1774 married Cynthia Fell, daughter of George Fell, who 
married Sarah Kirk.  They settled the same year upon the 150 
acre farm adjoining the present village of Holicong.  He 
died in 1824, left children:  Sarah, George, Edward, Aaron, 
Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Patience.  Sarah married Evan 
Jones, and left children: George died at sea, Edward married 
and left issue" George, now living in Montgomery county, and 
Anna, also living, widow of the late Joshua Paxson, of 
Bristol.  Aaron, fourth child of William, was born 1783, 
married Rebecca Sheed in 1832, and lived upon the farm 
occupied by his forefathers from the time of first 
settlement in 1720.  He died in 1842, leaving two children:  
William and Lavinia S.  The former died in 1855, at the age 
of 19, just after having completed his school studies at Mr. 
Bolmar's in West Chester. He was a young man of more than 
ordinary promise.  Lavinia married Albert S. Paxson in 1854, 
and had three children:  William, who died in infancy, 
Edward E., now engaged in the banking business in 
Philadelphia, and Henry D., who is a member of the Bucks 
county bar, and the present captain of company G, Sixth 
regiment first brigade National Guard of Pennsylvania, the 
only military organization in Bucks county. Benjamin, 
another son of William, moved to Philadelphia, and engaged 
in the mercantile business.  Elizabeth never married, and 
Patience died in childhood. Elizabeth, third child of Hugh 
2nd, married Thomas Smith, and had numerous children. From 
them are descended the many Doctor Smiths at Newtown and 
Lower Makefield. Hugh, a child of Hugh 2nd, moved to 
Solebury and married Ruth Paxson and left children: Elias 
and Elizabeth.  The latter married Richard Randolph, the 
former Sarah Wilson, and left children:  Richard Elias Ely, 
of New Hope, who married Caroline Newbold and had children, 
Margaret, who married Dr. Rhodes of Germantown, and Ruth 
Anna, who married Oliver Paxson, of New Hope, the two latter 
deceased, but have left several children at the old mansion. 
Jesse, another child of Hugh 2nd, married Rachel Carver and 
settled near Carversville in Solebury township, and had the 
grist and fulling mill there; the latter was known only by 
its ruins.  They had several children, only two of whom left 
issue.  He finally moved to his father's farm, where 
Jonathan Smith now lives.  His son, Hugh B., married Sarah 
Olden, of Princeton, and left children:  Achsah, who married 
Homes Davis, M. D., and had one child, who was the first 
wife of George Eastburn; Joseph Olden, who married and has 
one child; Charles Bennington, who married Mary Kirk and has 
children; Francenia, who married John Blackfan, and is a 
childless widow; Mary Ann, married Moses Eastburn and left 
one child; Hugh B., who married Sophia Pugh, and is the 
present district-attorney of Bucks county.  Of Alfred and 
William, two younger children of Hugh, the former died while 
a youth, and the latter in early manhood.  William C., 
another son of Jesse, married Lydia B. Hulse and left four 
children who are married, and one single.  Hugh, the eldest 
living, married Theresa I. Herbert, and has four children:  
Kate, Rachel, Mary, and Hugh; the latter is the fifth in 
descent of the name in this country.  Joseph, another son of 
Hugh 2nd, moved to Philadelphia, married and lived in Arch 
street, but left no family. Of all those broad acres 
purchased by the first Hugh in 1720, there are now only 75 
in possession of any of his descendants.  The northern farm 
or homestead was deeded by the first Hugh to his son Thomas, 
who moved to Maryland n 1773, and sold the tract to his 
brother Hugh, who conveyed it to his son William in 1782.  
He left it by will to his son Aaron, and it came by 
inheritance to Lavinia S. Paxson, wife of Albert Paxson, who 
now resides at the homestead.  Captain Henry D., their son, 
is the sixth in direct line that have occupied the same 
premises continuously since 1720.  It rarely happens in this 
country that more than two or three generations follow in 
the footprints of their ancestors in occupancy of premises, 
but --- "Westward the star of empire takes its way." In the 
long line of ancestry what changes have been witnessed.  The 
same hand is seen in them all, however.  The same kindred 
generation after generation opened the same doors; their 
feet trod the same halls and ascended the same stairways.  
They plowed the same fields and gathered year after year the 
bountiful harvests in the same old barn.  The same tree cast 
its grateful shade around them as they took their harvest 
noon.  They were generally blessed with large families, 
which added not a little to their social converse and 
childish sports.  The following lines are somewhat 
descriptive of the youthful
   members of the family:---
   "And thus the years sped on space;
   The old farm house, with quiet grace, 
   Nestled among the linden trees,
   Where birds of song and honey bees
   Mingled their notes with murmuring rills,
   That laughing came from northern hills,
   And singing onward on their way,
   Or turned their mimic wheels in play;
   The rolling seasons brought to each
   The lessons which the seasons teach,
   The falling leaves and dying flowers,
   Fit emblems of this world of ours;
   The sunlight and shadows fall
   On stream and vale and storied hall;
   The mountain rears it solemn crest,
   The wild bird wings him to his nest,
   The Wolf-Rocks stand out bold and clear,
   Little reck they the dying year.
   The soft winds linger through the pines,
   They sing the songs of other times;
   The barns well filled with winter's store,
   Enough for them and for the poor;
   While on the breeze is borne along
   The merry huskers' cheerful song.
   The winter's snow, the village school,
   The solemn teacher on his stool,
   With pen put back behind his ear,
   The well-used rod, too, always near;
   A sovereign in his little realm,
   He guides with steady hand the helm.
   Of childish sport they had their share,
   For birds they set the crafty snare;
   Lured the meek hare with cunning art,
   Ah! Well, each one performed his part.
   And when the blasts of winter came,
   And icy fetters bound the main,
   With skates well fastened on their feet,
   They lightly skimmed the frozen sleet;
   Then, when the shades of night came on,
   And lowly sank the winter's sun,
   The lowing herds with faithful care
   Were sheltered from the piercing air.
   The chores done up, each one betook
   Himself to game or pleasant book;
   Or gathered round the kitchen hearth,
   The scene of joyous quiet mirth;
   And as the wintry wind swept by,
   Piling the snow flakes up on high
   In curling drifts around the door,
   Or blowing in upon the floor,
   The crackling fire was freshly stirred;
   The blasts without were scarcely heard,
   As up the chimney's mighty throat
   The flame and cinders lightly float.
   The wood piled on with generous hand,
   The huge back-log and fiery brand
   Light up the room, and o'er the wall
   Fantastic shadows gently fall.
   And then the weird tale of ghosts,
   Of heroes, and of mighty hosts
   That met in battle's shock afar;
   The thunders of the mighty war
   That rocked our country, when the sun
   Of Freedom rose at Lexington.
   And when the winter's tale was o'er,
   And lessons conned with trouble sore,
   The store of nuts was gaily sought,
   The steaming mug of cider brought;
   The golden apples from the bin,
   And doughnuts their contentment win;
   And thus in pleasure's pleasant ways
   Were passed their childhood's happy days."
   With the change of seasons winter rolled away, and May 
with its buds and blossoms and June with its summer baptism 
of jubilee wreathed the valley in her robe of green.  Our 
old time people had not forgotten the one important object 
of their lives, the preparation for the life eternal.  They 
climbed the same hill to the old meeting-house at 
Buckingham, and occupied the same seats as their ancestors 
of yore.  Their faith was not new, it was older than their 
American ancestry.  It dated back to the time when George 
Fox, with his liberal doctrine, laid the foundation of 
spiritual advancement.  They believed that the blessed 
promises vouchsafed to a loving people would not be withheld 
from them, and that blessings, like the dews of Heaven, are 
alike beneficent and bountiful to all.  The lines of the 
poet Whittier are somewhat descriptive of this family:---
   "They worshipped as their fathers did,
   And kept the faith of childish days -
   And howso'er they strayed or slid,
   They loved the good old ways -
   The simple tastes, the kindly traits,
   The tranquil air, and gentle speech,
   The silence of the soul that waits
   For more than man to teach."
   The enunciation of new doctrines in religion formed no 
part of the character of their lives. The empty husks that 
lie strewn along life's pathway by contending theologians 
were not gathered by them.  They seldom entered in to 
discussions wherein mooted questions of doctrine were 
involved.  In this respect, they might, with much truth, be 
compared to one of England's most celebrated female 
sovereigns, who, when her empire was tossed on the sea of 
uncertainty in religious belief, was appealed to, to decide 
that ever open question among theologians, the true 
inwardness of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.  Well 
knowing the danger of adopting the dogmas of either party, 
with a fertility of thought that marked her career, she 
replied to the cardinal: -
   "Christ was the word that spake it,
   He took the bread and brake it -
   And what he there did make it,
   This I believe and take it."
   The Elys are the old homestead had in turn witnessed the 
many encounters with arms in which our country had been 
engaged.  The old French and Indian war, that of the 
revolution, the war of 1812, the encounter with Mexico, and 
our late American conflict. We have no record of this family 
being engaged in the furtherance of any appeals to arms they 
witnessed.  The nearest approach to it was when the farm 
team of William Ely was pressed into the service to haul 
military stores to New York, he, for its safety and return 
home when done, accompanied it.  For this he was disowned by 
Buckingham meeting. How many valuable members have been lost 
to the society by too strict an adherence to the letter of 
discipline, for "the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth 
life."  2 Corinthians iii. 6.  Educated and reared in the 
simplicity of their sect, in the quiet of their farm houses, 
removed from the turmoil and bustle of the world, their 
contemplative minds could take in the harmony of nature as 
contrasted with the untold miseries resulting from an appeal 
to arms.  With them it was a belief, founded upon religious 
conviction, that if wars and fighting were in accordance 
with the teachings of the blessed Messiah, then the 
teachings of George Fox and William Penn were in vain. Their 
occupation of the premises covers a long line of years, and 
extending backward more than half a century before the 
revolution, and many incidents connected with that historic 
struggle were related by those living at the time, to the 
younger generations in after years.  Seneca W. Ely, now 
living, well remembers his old grandmother, Hannah Austin 
Ely, relating to him that when young she witnessed General 
Washington passing along the Old York road, and that a fine 
field of wheat growing on their farm where the new house of 
Anna J. Williams now stands, was trampled down.  This 
occurred on the 20th of June, when Washington and Lee 
marched from Valley Forge to New Hope, by way of Doylestown. 
 The weather being stormy and road heavy, a large portion of 
the army filed in long lines through the wheat.  Another 
event connected with the old mansion and the times referred 
to, resulted in the unfortunate death of one about to enter 
upon the defense of his country.  We give the information as 
taken from the original affidavit in possession of the 
Paxson family now living on the premises. "The information 
of Cynthia Ely, taken on qualification before me, George 
Fell, his Majesty's coroner for the county of Bucks, is as 
follows:  Robert Pogue and John Shannon came to my house the 
14th day of August, in the morning, 1775, and asked me if I 
would lend John Shannon my husband's gun to go to the muster 
that day.  I told them they might have it.  With that Robert 
Pogue took down the gun and gave it to John Shannon, and 
told him that was a nice piece for to exercise with, to 
which the aforesaid John said it was, and went out of the 
house and began to exercise at about three yards distance 
from the aforesaid Robert, who stood outside of the door, 
and I stood in the door, to see the aforesaid John exercise, 
and he gave himself the word of command, and went on to the 
word fire, and shot the aforesaid Robert in the throat, and 
he fell down dead in that place." Signed, Cynthia Ely. The 
"muster" alluded to was no doubt at the ancient hostelry 
then known as Bogart's Tavern, now Righter's at Centerville. 
 Cynthia Ely, the affiant, was a daughter of the coroner, 
married William Ely in November, 1774, and this was their 
first year of farming and wedded life.  The gun spoken of is 
yet in a good state of preservation, and among the stored 
relics of Captain Henry D. Paxson. There were many things 
which tried their faith and tested the sincerity of their 
religious profession; for it was not then an easy-going 
religion as now.  There were then yearly trainings, and 
those who failed to put in an appearance were liable to the 
fine for non-attendance.  As they could not attend from 
principle, they could not pay the penalty, for the same 
reason.  The collector would, therefore, visit the barns of 
those so situated and distrain in grain or other products 
the amount of fine and costs, which were much in excess of 
the actual demand.  William Ely was often an unwilling 
witness to these scenes, and the walls of the old barn now 
standing, built in 1792, are mute witnesses thereof.  The 
practice originated during or shortly after the revolution, 
and was continued perhaps as late as 1845, when the law was 
repealed or changed, but not before it became odious. We 
would be doing injustice to the wives of the Elys as well as 
history, did we omit the important part they bore in sharing 
the joys and burthens of life, and moulding the character of 
those committed to their charge, with a proper understanding 
of the true mission of man.  Like the early settlers they 
were domestic in their habits, but possessed in no small 
degree those female attributes that most adorn a home.  Ever 
ready with acts of kindness and charity, their helping hand 
was never wanting in efforts to improve the condition of 
those around the.  It is hard to realize the changes that 
have taken place since the first Hugh planted his foot 
beneath the wilderness of forest that covered his large 
purchase from Linnox in 1720.  As Hugh moved to the premises 
at that time, Linnox had no doubt made considerable clearing 
and erected some improvements thereon after he took title 
from Lundy a few years previously.  It is more than likely 
that the buildings then erected are those now standing 
nearest the York road.  There is evidence of the first story 
walls being of great antiquity.  Samuel Johnson, father of 
the late Ann J. Paxson, who lived on the farm across the 
road, and adjoining, remembered when young the appearance of 
the house, a one-story structure, with cellar kitchen.  This 
was about 1775, when William Ely settled upon the farm.  The 
present barn (stone end) was built in 1792, which is marked 
by a stone set in the wall.  As there was a barn there which 
was replaced by the present one, the old one would carry us 
back to a period when the first house was erected by Linnox. 
 There is further evidence of the old mansion having been a 
one-story building as spoken of.  When it was repaired and 
raised an additional story a few years ago, the old rafter 
plate of the one-story was found there much decayed and had 
to be removed before the present improvement could be 
completed.  A relic of the forest left standing, a walnut 
tree in the house yard, is also a silent witness of long 
gone years.  It has a circumference of twenty-one feet with 
lofty spreading arms of magnificent proportions, which 
justly entitle it to a premium as king of the forest.  Our 
best judges of the antiquity of timber trees place it there 
one hundred and seventy-five years ago at least, and it 
would be no great stretch of fancy to imagine Penn holding 
treaty with the Indians who were encamped around Holicong 
under its grateful shade.  It no doubt antedates and 
outranks in age the first buildings erected upon the 
property. The Indians were frequent visitors at the Ely 
mansion as late as 1775.  Isaac Still, a man of note among 
them, came into the township in 1771 and collected the 
scattered remnants of his tribe preparatory to their 
departure for the West.  They were about forty in number, 
mostly females, the men having left for their new homes.  
Their temporary cabins were at the Holicong well, near by, 
and the keen sense of the native foresters could scent the 
savory pies of Cynthia Ely upon baking days, and their 
visits to her in consequence thereof were not a few.  They 
left about 1775, to join their encampment on the Wabash. The 
old fire-place bears evidence, likewise, of great antiquity, 
and has the old "trammel and crane" that did good service in 
cooking their meals in days long gone.  It has been swinging 
back and forth since 1720, and while its usefulness has been 
superseded by modern improvements, it is held in veneration, 
and retained as a reminder of the habits and ways of our 
ancestors.  The present generation have made some change 
which has added not a little to the artistic beauty of the 
old fire-place.  Its dimensions have been somewhat 
curtailed; those now occupying the premises being modestly 
content with three feet logs therein, instead of six feet as 
formerly.  The addition of a center-piece above the mantel 
gives the whole structure a unique and striking appearance, 
resembling those fashioned in the old world in the sixteenth 
century.  It consists of an old casting taken from the house 
of an adjoining property, once occupied by Nathaniel 
Ellicott, one of the earliest settlers.  It came from 
Holland more than two hundred years ago, and after much 
cleaning to remove the accumulated rust of centuries, the 
original design was developed in a good state of 
preservation.  The plate is two feet square and weighs about 
seventy-five pounds.  It bears upon its face unmistakable 
evidence of Dutch art.  The design represents a conflict 
between life and death.  The skeleton representing death has 
placed his bony hand on the shoulder of a stalwart Dutchman, 
who is apparently in the vigor of health.  In his uplifted 
right hand he holds a thighbone with which he is about to 
deal him a death-blow.  The German with drawn sword looks 
death defiantly in the face, while beyond them is another 
man with hands clasped as if deploring the chances of his 
brother in the terrible conflict.  At the bottom of the 
plate is this inscription in ancient Dutch characters: - 
   HIR. FEIT. MIT. MIR. DER. BITER.
   TOT. ER. BRINGT. MICH. IN. TOTS. NO.
   This is supposed to be the words of Death, and a literal 
translation into English would be:  He (man) presumes to 
fight with me, bitter Death, but he cannot bring me (Death) 
to death, (or he cannot conquer death).  The picture has 
been executed with considerable artistic knowledge, the 
expression and the grouping vastly better than could be 
expected in a work otherwise so crude.  Taken altogether it 
is one of the most interesting things in its line, and is 
valuable either as a curiosity, or as an object of rare 
archaeological interest.   Contributed by Albert S. Paxson, 
Esq.