The connection to his wife is demonstrated in several transactions between John Hawkins and Elisha: On Aug 12, 1713, John Hawkins deeded 93 acres for love, etc., to son-in-law Elisha Knowlton and Lydia, his wife. And on 19 Oct 1715, John Hawkins gave free consent to sons William Hawkins, Hosannah Brown, and Elisha Knowlton to sell all their lands which they had of him. [687, p. 316, John Hawkins]

Elisha was a General Assembly representative for Providence several times between 1719 and 1729. (History of Providence County, Rhode Island, Bayles, 1891). When Providence was divide in 1730 into four towns, Elisha was chosen the first clerk of Glocester as well as one of the first Deputies to the General Assembly. (History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations, 1878)