Otis

FOREBEARS John Otis emigrated from England in 1631 to Hingham, MA; he had many prominent descendants. His great grandson, James Otis (1725–83), was a Boston lawyer who played a major role in the development of opposition to the British crown and the establishment of the Fourth Amendment. Another descendant was Elisha Graves Otis (1811–61), inventor of the elevator, who was born on his father's farm at Halifax, Windham Co., VT.