Ely was born in Longmeadow in the Province of Massachusetts Bay on August 14, 1765. He was the youngest son[1] of Deacon Nathaniel Ely (1716โ1799) and Abigail (Colton) Ely (1724โ1770); his mother died when he was 5.
Ely completed preparatory studies. He was graduated from Yale College in 1787. He studied law. Ely was admitted to the bar in 1791.
^ abcdDexter, Franklin Bowditch (1907), Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College With Annals of the College History Vol. IV, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, p. 541