Clarissa May (Davis) Ely

Born [date unknown] in Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

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Biography

Clarissa May Davis, daughter of Major Robert Davis,* of Boston, a woman whose personal beauty was only equalled by the loveliness of her character, and whose devotion to her family and cheerful interest in society made her remarkably attractive even at the advanced age to which she lived. (*Major Davis was major of artillery in the Revolution ; in service at the " siege of Boston," and an active member of " The Boston Tea Party." His resemblance to Washington was so striking that he was often mistaken for him. When the troops followed the retreating British to the outlet of the harbor, he sent to his wife, by special messenger, the earliest news of their final departure, written on part of a " barrel-head," the only stationery at hand. He was a merchant of Boston, brother of Hon. Caleb Davis (Speaker of the House of Representatives, Massachusetts, 1780, and delegate from Boston to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention in 1787), and of Brigadier General Amasa Davis. All the brothers resided in Boston, and were members of the " Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts." )

She passed away in 1882.

Sources

• Beach, Moses. The Ely Ancestry (The Calumet Press, New York, 1902)