John Ellicott and the first steam boat

John Ellicott, son of the founder John, was one of the early experimenters of steam.  He worked on a steam boat (about 1789), and foresaw that "steam cars would roll their rapid wheels from city to city."  Unfortunately while working on his steam engine, the safety-valve became clogged and the explosion took off his right arm.  John Fitch of Phila. tried out his steam boat (image left) in 1787 which is recognized as the first steam boat.

Ellicott family founders of EC - 250 years ago

The remarkable Ellicott brothers - Joseph, Andrew, John, with some financing from Nathaniel - created the state-of-the-art mill and the town of Ellicott mills in 1772. 1854 image of George, Jonathon and John homes.

Elkridge Quaker meeting house in Ellicott City

The Ellicott family donated four acres for a Quaker meeting house and a cemetery on 'Quaker Hill'. Excerpts from Martha Ellicott Tyson, and an 1891 article about the abandoned meeting house.