Amelia Elizabeth du Pont (1796-1869) was a granddaughter of Pierre Samuel du Pont de Nemours (1739-1817), founder the E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, a chemical research and manufacturing company. She was the eldest child of Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1827) and Gabrielle Josephine de la Fite de Pelleport (1770-1837), born in South Carolina. In 1812, du Pont married William Clifford, and they had a daughter, Gabrielle (1813-1891). The marriage was annulled by an act of the General Assembly of Delaware, and she resumed her maiden name. In 1860, du Pont went to live with her daughter in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Clifford was an Englishman whose father was in the wool business near Gloucester, England. On April 26, 1811, Du Pont, Bauduy & Co. made a contract with Clifford to manage the factory. He immediately had a conflict with Raphael du Planty (1776-1854), a partner in the woolen factory, ultimately leading to him leaving. Two years after marrying Amelia du Pont, it was discovered that Clifford already had a wife and child in England and was actually Nathaniel Perkins.