Elisha Small (died December 1, 1842) was an American sailor who was sailing with the rank of Seaman. He had served on several kinds of ships, including a slaver, before joining the United States Navy.In November 1842, while serving abroad the brig USS Somers, during the return home from a voyage to Liberia, suspicion arose that Philip Spencer had formed a plan to seize the Somers and sail her as a pirate ship or slaver.