This collection is made up of 3 letters that Senator Christopher Ellery wrote to his wife Clarissa from Washington, D.C., in and around 1803 (one item is undated). Ellery discussed his involvement in political conversations, including a meeting in which he addressed President Jefferson about "removals from office," an upcoming convention, and friendly encounters with other Congressmen. He also reflected on his separation from his wife and children, expressed his love for his family, and offered sympathy for his wife, who oversaw the household while he worked in Washington.
Christopher Ellery was born in Newport, Rhode Island, on November 1, 1768, the son of Christopher Ellery and Mary Ward; he was also a nephew of William Ellery (1727-1820). After graduating from Yale College in 1787, he practiced law in Newport. A Democratic Republican, Ellery represented Rhode Island in the United States Senate from May 1801 to March 1805, occupying Ray Greene's vacated seat. After leaving the Senate, Ellery was commissioner of loans in Providence, Rhode Island, and collector of customs at Newport, Rhode Island. He and his wife, Clarissa Bird, married on October 22, 1792, and had at least six children. Christopher Ellery died on December 2, 1840.
