Elizabeth Moseley was born in 1757 to John and Mary (Ives) Crowninshield; her brother, Clifford Crowninshield, became a successful Salem merchant. Elizabeth married Captain Joseph Moseley (1760-1799), and they had eight children: Elizabeth (born 1783); Mary (born 1784); Abigail (born 1786); Joseph (born 1787); Emperor (born 1789); Nancy (born 1794); Clifford Crowninshield (born 1797) and Martha (born 1797).

Joseph was a ship captain. His last voyage was in the ship Enterprise in 1799. On the 16th of July, in the North Sea, he was hailed by a privateer which showed Dutch colors. While standing upon the deck, a shot from the privateer struck him in the head and he died in the arms of his men. He was buried in Norway. Elizabeth died in 1833.