William EELY was born 16 April 1780 in Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, England. He married Jane KNIBBS 02 February 1805 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. He died 19 November 1819 in Aynhoe, Northamptonshire, England. Jane KNIBBS, daughter of Francis KNIBBS and Sarah CHERRY , was born April 1784. She died July September, 1846 in Brackley District, Northamptonshire, England.


Children of William EELY and Jane KNIBBS are:
1. Ann EELY, b. 12 March 1806
2. Charles Francis EELY, b. 09 November 1810
3. Francis EELY, b. 28 December 1813
4. George EELY, b. 23 June 1816 See George EELY & Maria CAVE OR George EELY & Harriet CALESS OR George EELY & Sarah Jane HAYNES
5. David EELY, b. 26 December 1817
6. Henry EELY, b. 16 March 1808

Marriage Notes for William EELY\Jane KNIBBS:

Jane and William were married at St Giles Church, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England. Both were apparently noted as "sojourners". I take that to mean that they were temporarily living in Oxford.

This information has been confirmed by Carolyn Langford, the ggggrand-daughter of William EELY.


Notes for William EELY:

From 30 Oct 1794, William was apprenticed for 7 years to R. Phillips of Chipping Norton to instruct him in the Business of a Cooper.
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The majority of data for this little EELY family unit is provided by Carolyn Langford, William's ggggrand-daughter.
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I'm told by another of his 4 x g.granddaughters, Val Elbert, that after William died in 1819, his wife Jane and the children were sent from Aynhoe to the workhouse at Chipping Norton. I've shown below an extract from a book of "Reports of cases argued and determined in the Court of King's Bench, Volume 5" which relates to an appeal by Jane against the decision that she should be moved to Chipping Norton.

It's not easy to understand, but basically, it was a fight between the authorities of two different parishes over who was responsible for looking after William's widow, Jane Eely and their children. William, Jane and their children were living at Aynhoe at the time of his death, and under normal circumstances, it would be the responsibility of Aynhoe to support them.
However, the authorities at Aynhoe claimed that, under the Poor Law Acts, as William had completed an apprenticeship in Chipping Norton, then Chipping Norton should be deemed his place of settlement, and not Aynhoe. So consequently, Jane and the children were despatched to the work house at Chipping Norton.
The argument was that as there was some discrepancy in the "stamping" of the apprenticeship indenture and therefore it's legality, it could not be accepted as evidence, and therefore, Jane and the children should return to Aynhoe.

The following was extracted from a book of "Reports of cases argued and determined in the Court of King's Bench, Volume 5" :
Rex against the Inhabitants of Chipping-Norton.
UPON an appeal against an order of two justices, whereby Jane Eely, widow, and her six children, were removed from the parish of Aynhoe, in the county of Northampton, to the parish of Chipping Norton, in the county of Oxford,- the sessions confirmed the order subject to the opinion of the Court on the following case:' By indenture of the 30th October, 1794, William Eely, the late husband of the pauper, Jane Eely, and the father of her children, not being then settled in the parish of Chipping Norton, bound himself to serve R. Phillips of Chipping Norton, as an apprentice for seven years, and R. Phillips, in consideration of 25/., the sum given with the apprentice, covenanted to instruct him in the business of a cooper. The indenture was duly stamped, with a stamp denoting the payment of the several duties, amounting in the whole to six shillings, imposed by different statutes upon the indenture itself; but it was not stamped with any stamp in respect to the premium, as required by the statute against, within the time required by that statute, nor until the making of the order of removal, and after the entering of the appeal against the order. Before the hearing of the appeal, the indenture was stamped, upon the payment of 5/. penalty, and of 1/., with a stamp denoting payment of a duty of 1/., being the ad valorem duty stamp used to denote the payment of such duty under the f>5 Geo. 3. c 184., and 1/. being the duty payable under that statute, in respect of a premium of 25/. given with an apprentice. The duty payable in respect of the like premium under the 8 Anne, c. 9., was twelve shillings and sixpence only, the duties payable under both the last mentioned statutes, were, after they were paid into the exchequer, applicable to the same purposes. The stamps used by the commissioners, under the 55 G. 8. c. 181., are of a different sort from those which were required to be procured, and used by the statute 8 Anne, c. 9., which were poundage stamps. These stamps were used until the passing of the 44- G. 3. c. 98. ; which imposed an ad valorem duty, and the poundage stamps were disused, and the dies with which they were formed were then broken up, and are not now in existence. William Eely served under the indenture in Chipping Norton, until the expiration of seven years from the date thereof.

Sources for William EELY:

  1. To be Verified,
  2. Personal Contact with Val Elbert,

Notes for Jane KNIBBS:

I suspect it was this Jane who died in q3/1846 in the Brackley District of Northamptonshire.
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I'm told by her 4 x G.granddaughter Val Embert, that in about 1820, Jane was removed from Ayhno to the work house at Chipping Norton with her 6 children.The Indenture papers of William Eely stated that the Pauper Jane Eely and her 6 children are removed to Chipping Norton. It was related to non-payment of the stamp duty on his apprentice papers.
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We are indeed fortunate to have been given a photograph of an engraved pendant that Jane gave to her husband, William.


This pendant is now in the care of Jim Davis, and I'm extremely grateful to him for sharing the images with us. (click to enlarge)

Sources for Jane KNIBBS:

  1. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Deddington,
  2. FreeBMD,

Notes for Ann EELY:

Sources for Ann EELY:

  1. Northamptonshire Parish Register - Aynho,

Notes for Charles Francis EELY:

We see Charles in 1881, living at Parsons Street, East Adderbury, Oxfordshire:
Charles Eely Head M male 70 Aynhoe, Northampton Plasterer
Drusilla Eely Wife M Female 64 Bodicott, Oxford
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In 1891, Charles' wife Drisilla was living at Parson Street, Adderbury East, Oxfordshire:
Drusilla Eely Head Wid 73 Living on Own Means Oxon Bodicote
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Drusilla died in q1/1900 in Banbury District, Oxfordshire.

Sources for Charles Francis EELY:

  1. Northamptonshire Parish Register - Aynho,
  2. GRO England & Wales,
  3. Oxfordshire Parish Register - Adderbury,
  4. 1881 British Census,

Notes for Francis EELY:

I'm not yet 100% sure but I believe Francis emigrated to New York, USA, probably at about the same time as his brothers Henry and David.

If I'm right, we see him in 1850 living at Albion, Oswego, New York:
Francis Eely Head Mar 36 England
Elizabeth Eely Wife Mar 36 England
Elizabeth P Eely Daur 19 New York
James Eely Son 12 New York
Jethro Eely Son 10 New York
Elizabeth N Eely Daur 5 New York
Lydia Eely Daur 5 New York
Richard F Eely Son 1 New York
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We next see Francis in 1855, living at Albion, Oswego, New York:
Francis Eely Head Mar 41
Elizabeth Eely Wife 41
Jas Eely Son 17
Jethro Eely Son 15
Mary Eely Daur 12
Elizabeth Eely Daur 9
Lydia Eely Daur 7
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In 1880, he was living at Albion, Oswego, New York:
Francis Eely Head Mar 66 England
Elisabath Eely Wife Mar 66 England
Thomas Evleigh Other 14 Canada
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In 1892, we see Francis and his wife still living at Albion, Oswego, New York:
Francis Eely Head Mar 78 Farmer England
Elizabeth Eely Wife Mar 78 Enhland
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In 1900, He was still living at Albion, but by this time, he was married for a second time:
Francis Eely Head Mar (4 years) 87 Farmer England
Charlotte Eely Wife Mar (4 years) 82 New York
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From the Oswego Daily Times, 7 March 1895:
Albion
MARCH 5—Francis Eely died February 16, aged 81 years. The deceased leaves an aged husband, one son, James Eely of Belleville, N. Y., and three daughters, Mrs Mary Bronnell of Fraicheur, Mrs. Libbie Brewster of Syracuse, and Mrs. Lydia E Mowers of Albion Cross Roads—F. S. Mowers has erected a blacksmith shop near his Saw mill.—Borton F. Mowers is living with his grandfather in Albion Centre.—Henry Phillips and family of Fraicheur, visited their brother, Charles Johnson, and uncle, J. J. Mowers, last week.—Mr. S. R. Brownell and wife visited F Eely last Sunday.—Will Maxon and wife of New Haven, visited their uncle, J. J. Mowers, on Monday.—Alice Preston spent Saturday night and Sunday last with Mrs. Montford Taylor at Salmon River.


Note: An embarrassing error by the reporter, referring to Francis' "aged husband".

Sources for Francis EELY:

  1. Northamptonshire Parish Register - Aynho,
  2. Newspaper Article,

Notes for David EELY:

David's wife's surname before she married was Ferry, the same surname as his brother Henry's wife, so I suspect they were sisters.
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We can see David living in Allegan, Michigan, USA in 1850:
David Ely 32 Labourer England
Hannah Ely 33 England
Joseph Ely 10 NY
George Ely 7 NY
Thomas Ely 6 NY
Adelia Ely 4 Mich
Isadora E Ely 2 Mich
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The family was still in Allegan, Michigan in 1860:
David Ely 41 England
Hannah Ely 42 England
Joseph Ely 20 New York
George Ely 17 New York
Thomas Ely 16 New York
Adelia Ely 14 Michigan
Isadore E Ely 13 Michigan
Jane Ely 9 Michigan
Anna Ely 8 Michigan
Mary Ely 6 Michigan
Harriett Ely 3 Michigan
Frances E Ely 1 Michigan
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In 1870 we see David and his family still in Michigan:
David Ely 51 Brewer England
Hannah Ely 52 Keeping House England
Adelia Ely 24 Teacher Michigan
Isadore Ely 23 Michigan
Jennie Ely 19 Teacher Michigan
Anna Ely 18 Michigan
Minnie Ely 16 Michigan
Hattie Ely 13 Michigan
Charles Ely 8 Michigan
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And in 1880:
David Ely 61 Self England Plasterer
Hannah Ely 62 Wife England Keeping House
Anna Ely Dau 28 Michigan Teaches School
Charles Ely Son 18 Michigan Farm Labourer
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of David and his family.

David's headstone has the surname as ELY, as do all the census returns I've seen so I guess that was how he wrote it.

Sources for David EELY:

  1. Northamptonshire Parish Register - Aynho,
  2. findagrave.com,
  3. Personal Contact with Val Elbert,
  4. 1870 US Federal Census,

Notes for Henry EELY:

Henry emigrated to America with his wife Harriet Ferry Eely and young 3 year old son, Edward, ariving at Oswego, New York on 21 June, 1832. He became a naturlaised American Citizen on 3 July, 1849.
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I'm told by Val Elbert that Henry went to live in Ellisbury, Jefferson, New York, USA with his wife Harriette Terry. They had 4 children:
Joseph b.11 Jan 1836 at Ellisburg, Jefferson, New York
Hannah Jane b.1838 - 3 Apr 1875
William A b.1841
Elizabeth b.1845
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We see Henry and his wife in 1850, living at Ellisburgh, New York:
Henry Ely Head Mar 42 England
Harriet Ely Wife Mar 42 England
Edward Ely Son 22 England
Jane Ely Daur 16 England
Joseph Ely Son 14 England
Hannah Ely Daur 12 England
William Ely Son 8 England
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In 1860 we see Henry and his wife living in Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York:
Henry Ely Head Mar 52 England
Harriette Ely Wife Mar 52 England
Hannah Ely Daur 22 New York
William Ely Son 19 New York
Elizabath Ely DSaur 15 New York
Joseph Ely Son 24 New York
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In 1870 we see Henry and his wife still living in Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York:
Henry Eely Head Mar 62 England
Ann Eely Wife Mar 62 England

His son Edward was living next door with his wife Caroline and sons Frank and George.
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Our gratitude goes to the members and volunteers at Find A Grave web site for recording the details, in memory of Henry, his wife Harriet (Ferry) Eely, and children Jane Eely Rounds (____ - 1875), Edward Eely (1828 - 1918), Joseph Eely (1836 - 1920), and William H. Eely (1842 - 1917)

Note: His last name is spelled Elly on his stone

Sources for Henry EELY:

  1. Personal Contact with Val Elbert,
  2. Northamptonshire Parish Register - Aynho,
  3. LDS - Naturalization Records, 1791-1980,