Emily Goss Davenport was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, to parents whose names are not widely recorded but were likely members of a rural Vermont community. Information is scarce regarding her childhood.

Emily likely experienced a childhood characteristic of early 19th-century Vermont. This would involve basic education (possibly at home or in a small local school), helping with household chores, and participation in community activities. Details about her specific upbringing are limited by available historical records.

Emily married Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith from Brandon, Vermont. The precise year of their marriage is uncertain, but it occurred in the early 1830s. This union proved crucial to her later involvement in electrical invention.