Mischievous Ellicott boys, the store and electricity

In the 19th century, a few people, including Ben Franklin, experimented with electricity for science or entertainment. Joseph Priestly wrote the book The History and Present State of Electricity, with original experiments in 1769. One image from the book is at left.

An Ellicott descendant related in his 1882 book how some grandsons of the founders set up electrical devices around the stove in the Ellicott's store in order to shock unsuspecting locals.

John J. Audubon and the Ellicotts

Four brothers, the grandsons of one of the Ellicott founders (Andrew), supported Audubon (1785-1851) by being subscribers for his first book - The Birds of America, 1827.

Baltimore Orioles (left) and a sketch of Baltimore behind Canvas backed ducks (below) showed Audubon's appreciation for the geneosity of Baltimorians after his plates were destroyed.

Granite Quarry at Ellicott’s Patapsco Mills 1815

Benjamin Brown wrote that he leased the early quarry at Ellicott's mills and his announcement/advertisement was picked up by a London weekly! The granite was used to build the Cathedral and other buildings in Baltimore, particularly in "Columns or Pilasters of any dimensions, Basement Stories or Fronts of Houses, door or window Cases and Cills."

The Maryland Society for promoting the abolition of slavery, and the relief of poor negroes and others unlawfully held in bondage

Elias Ellicott, one son of Ellicott City founder Andrew Ellicott, was a founding member and on the 'acting committee' of the Maryland Society was also a member of the Philadelphia Abolition Society (logo on left). The Maryland Society, founded 1789, was the sixth in the world after Phila, NY, London, Paris and Delaware.  Constitution, bylaws and founding members (by 1797 membership had increased to 231) from a book 90 years later...

Benjamin Banneker's almanac and the Ellicotts

George Ellicott, his brother Elias Ellicott and their cousin Major Andrew Ellicott each helped to get Banneker's first almanac published in 1792. The previous post HERE on the biography of Benjamin Banneker has other details of his life and accomplishments.  George taught interested neighbors astronomy using his celestial globe and telescope, and gave some of his books and tools to his friend Benjamin.  Andrew, a famous surveyor who did at least thirteen years of almanacs, passed on Benjamin's well-written letter, and it is preserved in the Historical Society of Pa.  Elias who had moved to Baltimore was also a Quaker, joined the newly formed Md Abolition Society and wrote numerous letters about the almanac.