James Elliot died while still young of small pox, and his wife Martha Day Elliot and 3 sons (James, Samuel, William) were left in low circumstances. They soon moved to New Salem, MA.
Martha came to New Salem after death of her husband. Her son James says she supported herself and her children with a little help from relatives by working as a seamstress. He mentions Col. [William] Stacy particularly as helping them.