Semiquincentennial - - Revolutionary War - - William Stark Kelly

- 1st in a series of posts about our family's Revolutionary War soldiers -

250 Years; 1776 - 2026

Our Family was there, from the Beginning

Our family had many branches living in the American Colonies, before the United States were formed. In Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina my great grandfathers & great uncles left their farms and their families to break away from British rule. They were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. We can proudly know that our family was there in those early days to help ensure our independence. 

 

 

William Stark Kelly

17 March 1739 Ireland - 13 December 1826 TN

Husband of Mary F Durham

My 5x great grandfather 

Private in the North Carolina Militia

William Stark Kelly was a Revolutionary War soldier. It is because of the files of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution that we know about William, his wife and his descendants. Many people have laid claim to William as their ancestor to become members of these organizations and have, therefore, submitted details of their links to him. Piecing together this data forms a reliable Kelly family tree. According to those sources William was born on 17 March 1739 in Ireland, came to the American Colonies in 1755 and settled in Wake County, North Carolina.[i], [ii]

            Currently, the names of William’s parents, siblings and his birthplace in Ireland are unknown. In the future we may be able to learn more.

            William Kelly was a private in the Revolutionary War, serving in the North Carolina Militia.[iii], [iv]

 

[He] Served as a private in Capt. Brown's Company, Col. Thomas Clark's Regiment (first) North Carolina Continental Line 1777; also in Capt. Brinkley's Company of 1st Regiment of North Carolina Militia.[v]

North Carolina’s First Regiment was active during the war.[vi]

 

The 1st North Carolina Regiment was raised on 1 September 1775, at Wilmington, North Carolina, for service with the Continental Army. In January 1776 the organization contained eight companies. … The regiment was present at the defense of Charleston in 1776. It transferred from the Southern Department to George Washington's main army in February 1777. At that time, Thomas Clark became colonel of the 1st Regiment. The unit became part of Nash's North Carolina Brigade in July. … In 1777 the 1st North Carolina saw action at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown and it was present at White Marsh. Still led by Clark, it fought at Monmouth in June 1778. The North Carolina Brigade marched south under the command of James Hogun and arrived at Charlestown, South Carolina in March 1780. The 1^st Regiment was captured by the British army at the Siege of Charleston on 12 May 1780. Clark and 287 men became prisoners. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781 and fought well in Jethro Sumner's brigade at Eutaw Springs in September that year. The 1st North Carolina was furloughed on 23 April 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on 15 November 1783.[vii]

 

            William married Mary Frances (Durham) Kelly[viii], daughter of William Durham and Margaret (Colough) Durham.[ix] Fortunately William’s Will lists the names of their children. 

            When writing about William’s great grandson, Richard Bussey Kelly, Joel Campbell DuBose briefly explained William’s travels.

 

William S. Kelly, “an Irish lad, tiring of the oppression of England, decided to come to America, where men enjoyed the privilege of political and religious freedom. This Irish lad, William Kelly, settled in Wake County, N. C., where his son, Sims Kelly, was born in 1784. Sims Kelly loving liberty like his father, became one of the combatants when war was declared against England in 1812.

 

            In 1800 William and family were living in York District, South Carolina.[x] During the War of 1812 William and Mary’s sons, William Durham Kelly and Sims Kelly served as volunteers from Tennessee. They enlisted in September 1814 which tells us the family was living in that state at the time.[xi] In 1820 William Kelly and his wife were living in Franklin, Tennessee.[xii]

It would be interesting to have more details on William’s movements from Ireland (1739), to the Colonies (1755), to North Carolina (1777), to South Carolina (1800) and on to Tennessee (1814). Unfortunately, we do not have that information.

            William Stark Kelly died 13 December 1826 in Tennessee.[xiii]

 

William’s sons, William Durham Kelly and Sims Kelly, fought in the War of 1812. William’s grandson and son of Sims Kelly, Samuel Camp Kelly, fought in both the Mexican – American War and the Civil War.

 

---

 

Read more about our family's pioneers & patriots.

This is my newest book, published in late 2024. It includes chapters on these families:

Alford, Ashely, Brown, Brumfield,

Fortenberry, Hollis, Kelly, Kennington,

Lawrence, Ott, Smith & Spurlock

Buy from me: Price: $95.00 + $10 shipping & packaging. No credit cards.

OR: use credit card & purchase through Troy Book Makers.

 

[i] Sons of the American Revolution, Membership Applications, 1889 – 1970; Louisville, Kentucky; National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, microfilm; William Kelly.

[ii] Russey, George S., The Russey Family in America: A Genealogy of James Russey (1970) Genealogy Gophers (gengophers.com: accessed January 2020) 79.

[iii][iii] Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War; NARA catalog 570710, Record Group 93; digital image, Fold3 (fold3.com: accessed January 2020) William Kelley.

[iv] Revolutionary War Soldiers for NC and SC; digital image (ourfamtree.org: accessed January 2020) William Kelly/Kelley.

[v] Sons of the American Revolution, Membership Applications, 1889 – 1970; Louisville, Kentucky; National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, microfilm; William Kelly.

[vi] J. D. Lewis, 1^st North Carolina Regiment, The American Revolution in North Carolina; digital image (carolana.com: accessed January 2020).

[vii] Wikipedia. 1^st North Carolina Regiment; digital image (en. wikipedia.org: accessed January 2020).

[viii] US and International Marriage Records, 1560 – 1900; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: accessed January 2020) William S. Kelly and Mary Frances Durham, m. in NC.

[ix] Russey, George S., The Russey Family in America: A Genealogy of James Russey (1970) Genealogy Gophers (gengophers.com: accessed January 2020) 79.

[x] 1800 US Census, SC, York; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: accessed May 20200 Wm Kelly.

[xi] Tennessee Secretary of State, History & Genealogy/War of1812, Regimental Histories of Tennessee Units During the War of 1812; digital image (sos.tn.gov: accessed June 2020) Major William Russell.

[xii][xii] 1820 US Census, TN, Franklin; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: accessed January 2020) William S Kelly.

[xiii] Russey, George S., The Russey Family in America: A Genealogy of James Russey (1970) Genealogy Gophers (gengophers.com: accessed January 2020) 79.

St. Patrick's Day - - Irish Roots

 

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

May laughter be your music and joy your guide,
May the spirit of St. Patrick walk by your side.
May rainbows light your path, and blessings overflow,
With love and luck wherever you go.

Enjoy this special day, my birthday! - - Colleen

Some of my family names associated with Ireland:

• Bartholomew Anthony Brady 1866 – 1943
• Bartholomew Brady bc 1897
• Catherine Brady 1872 – 1930
• Catherine Brady bc. 1893
• Ellen Brady bc. 1902
• John Brady bc. 1894
• John Brady 1864 – 1957
• Patrick Brady bc, 1847
• Patrick Brady bc 1899
• Peter Brady 1891 – 1951
• Thomas Brady d 1914
• Thomas Brady b 1860
• Thomas Joseph Brady bc. 1890

• James Theopilous Dillon bc. 1719 Ireland, my 6x great grandfather

• Margaret (Brady) Coyle c1855 Ireland – 1934, my 2x great grandmother 
• MaryAnn Brady bc. 1900
• Mary Josephine (Mullane) Coyle 1867 – 1927, my great grandmother
• Michael Coyle b 1870, my great grandfather
• Michael Coyle bc. 18o5 Ireland, my 3x great grandfather
• Patrick Coyle 1841 Ireland – 1925, my 2x great grandfather

• James Cunningham, b c 1771 Ireland, my 4x great grandfather
• Mary (Cunningham) Coyle, c 1810 Ireland - 25 Jan 1848 Moate, Cavan, my 3x great grandmother 

• Catherine (Gibney) Brady, 1818 Ireland - 27 Mar 1873 Granard, Cavan, my 3x great grandmother 

• William Stark Kelly, 17 Mar 1739, Ireland - 13 Dec 1826 TN, my 5x great grandparents

• Daniel Mullane c1838 Ireland – 1930 Ireland, my 2x great grandfather
• Brigid (English) Mullane d 1920 Ireland, my 2x great grandmother 
• Frances B (Mullane) Keeton 1878 Ireland – 1946

Learn More! Read my Book!

     Remembrances is the story of my mother’s family from stories told me to when I was a child to research I did as an adult. My maternal grandmother’s family includes the surnames Brady, Coyle, Cunningham, Gibney, Mullane, Sullivan & more from the counties Cavan, Cork & Tipperary in Ireland. My maternal grandfather’s family includes the surnames Edelstein, Farkas, Gartner, Horn, Katz, Weissberg & more from Eastern Europe. How did these very different families come together? What was life like for my grandparents?  What were the celebrations and sorrows in their lives? Research in archives, libraries, courthouses & cemeteries helped me answer many questions about these families. Photographs, letters, diaries and documents helped to bring these ancestors to life once again. This book includes timelines, family tree charts, local history, source citations and an index. It is my sincere hope that the stories in this book will keep our family’s ancestors alive far into the next generations.

   Soft cover, over 340+ pages with family charts, timelines, old letters, many photographs & an index. $50.00 + $10 postage & shipping. No credit cards. 

      Contact me for a copy. <cgbp@nycap.rr.com>

     OR Contact Troy Book Makers, who publish my books

  

Ancestor Anniversaries in March

Do you have an anniversary in your family branches in March? 

I have uncovered a few. 

Check the surnames to see if you may have a match here. 

Follow the links for more information.

2 March 1963. John Eugene Jolliff (b 1937) married Nora Louise Dulaney (b 1942). John was the son of Glenn Raymond Jolliff & Helen Vanita Eschleman. 

3 March 1916. County Tipperary, Ireland. Timothy J. Horgan (c 1885 – after 1920) married Julia Mullane (1885 – 1918). Julia was the daughter of Daniel Mullane & Brigid English. She was my great grand aunt. Their children were Mary & Teddy. Their marriage was brief because of Julia’s death at the age of 32.

4 March 1897. Ohio. James Elmer Messmore (b 1873) married Emma D. Ritter (1876 – 1969). Emma was the daughter of John William Ritter & Anna Scott). 

7 March 1946. James Sheppard, Jr. married Elenora Cutrer. Elenora was the daughter of Isaac Omer Cutrer & Serena Olivia Lee. 

8 March 1888. Ohio. Philip M. Creasy (1867 – 1934) married Mary E. Wasem. Philip was the son of Christian Gruissy & Mary Wise. Their son was Harry Lewis Creasy. They were married 46 years.

9 March 1947. Ohio. William Alered Huff (1926 – 1979) married Lucille Marguerite Mark. Lucille was the daughter of Charles Forest Mark & Bertha Flickinger.  

10 March 1864. William H. Schilling married Christianna Euseba Fortenberry (1844 – 1920). Christianna was the daughter of Gasua Chapman Fortenberry & Sarah Brown. 

10 March 1898. Ohio. Samuel Martin Jolliff (1871 – 1927) married Margaret Maude Mark (1881 – 1964). Margaret was the daughter of William Mark & Elidia Rebecca Ritter. They had 8 children. 

11 March 1878. Mississippi. Samuel Matthew Foil married Margaret Jane Brumfield (1862 – 1937). Margaret was the daughter of Isaac Nelson Brumfield & Sarah Jane Smith. They had ten children. They were married 58 years.

12 March 1927. Howard Merton Hurd (1900 – 1973) married Marian Louise Lehman (1904 – 1969). Howard was the son of Roy Hurd & Mona D. Morrison. They had 2 children and were married 42 years.

16 March 1848.  William John Fortenberry (1814 – 1896) married Elizabeth Martha Ann Cutrer (1827 – 1909). William was the son of William Jasper Fortenberry & Violette Kennington. They had 10 children. 

23 March 1896. Amite, Mississippi. Frank Richard Brumfield (1869 – 1960) married Julia Gardner (1877 – 1948). Frank was the son of Joseph Warren Brumfield & Courtney Jane Simmons. They were the parents of 12 children. 

24 March 1878. Manhattan, N.Y.  Leopold Gartner (1860 – 1948) married Florence Edelstein (1860 – 1908). Leopold was the son of Markusz S. Gartner & Devorah Dora Horn. Fannie was the daughter of Adolph Edelstein & Netty Grofs. They had 5 children and were married for 30 years. They are my great grandparents. 

24 March 1929. Fleet Rankin Cutrer (1902 – 1978) married Mildred Maeola Bauds. 

27 March 1943. Columbia, Mississippi. Julius Robert Fornea (1922 – 1992) married Donis Bernelda Ball (1925 – 2015). Julius was the son of Robert Hilton Fornea & Julia Allen Wilkes. Donis was the daughter of James Alton Ball & Mildred Olga Brown. They were the parents of 10 children. They were married 49 years. 

30 March 1893. Pennsylvania. John T. Ritter married Margaret Evans. John was the son of Samuel Ritter & Hannah E. Koch. 

31 March 1939. Charles Edgar Brumfield married Virginia Rawls. Charles was the son of Charles Edgar Brumfield & Katie Leona Freeman. They had 2 children. 

 

Learn more about my family's branches by reading my books.

 

 

Ancestor Anniversaries, February 18 - 28

  Anniversaries are filled with memories of wedding celebrations, large or small; religious or civil; recent or many decades ago. We can imagine the weddings and the marriages of our family members on their anniversaries. 

Look for your surnames and see if you connect with any of these couples. 

18 February 1815. Mississippi. Needham Judge Alford (1789–1869) married Martha Waddell. Needham was the son of Jacob Alford and Elizabeth Bryant. Needham was my third great uncle. The couple had 10 children.

18 February 1874. Jeptha Josephus Alford (1854–1913) married Olevia Luminda Fortenberry. Jeptha was the son of Ira Payne Alford and Elizabeth Hope. They had 10 children and were married for 39 years.

21 February 1839. Ohio. Abraham Mark (1812 – 1872) married Mary Isabella Heffelfinger (1819 – 1904). Mary was the daughter of Philip Heffelfinger & Elizabeth Mowrey. They became the parents of eight sons and were married 33 years. They are my third great-grandparents.

21 February 1861.Ohio. Augustus Ceaser Gruissy (1840–1915) married Mary Ann Everett. Augustus was the son of Christian Gruissy and Mary Grorisclauss. They had four daughters. Augustus later married twice more. Augustus was my 2nd great grandfather. 

21 February 1965. Louisiana. Marvin Edgar Owen married Delena Ann Lea, daughter of Hanry Lattimore Lea and Irma Ruby Blades.

22 February 1822. Jonas Moyer married Susanna Ritter, daughter of Johannes Ritter and Maria Heffelfinger.

22 February 1877. Robert R. Ritter married Josephine Hess.  Robert was the son of Martin B. Ritter and Sarah Mohr. The couple had three children.

22 February 1880. William Hawk (1847–1915) married Elizabeth Ritter, daughter of Isaac Ritter and Isabell Fisher. They had six children together.

22 February 1946. Ohio. Ernest Miles Mark (1915–1996) married Helen V. Sampsel. Ernest was the son of Amos Martin Mark and Lillian Myrtle Hoverstock. They had four children.

23 February 1906. Jessee Monroe Conerly married Lottie Irene Brumfield (1879–1908).  Lottie was the daughter of Isaac Nelson Brumfield and Sarah J. Smith.

24 February 1848. Alfred Fortenberry (1823–1861) married Aderine Mary Faulk (1828–1888). Alfred was the son of William Jasper Fortenberry and Violette Kennington. They became the parents of eight children.

26 February 1795. Pennsylvania. Johannes Ritter, Jr (1771–1864) married Anna Mariah (1777–1842).  Johannes Ritter, Jr. was the son of Johannes Ritter and Maria Elisabeth Keck. They had thirteen children. They were married for 47 years.  They are my fourth great-grandparents.

28 February 1947. Ohio. Clyde Earl Purdy married Janet Irene Miller, daughter of Karl Jackson Miller and Mellie Arlene Jolliff. Together, they had seven children.

Learn more about my family's branches by reading my books.  

 

Anniversary: Coyle & Brady, 1870 County Cavan, Ireland

In 2012 I took a trip to Ireland. My daughter and I traveled around the island, looking for our roots along the way. We found Saint Mary's church in Carrick, County Cavan where my 2x great grandparents were married. It was very exciting to me to stand in the church where Patrick & Margaret had exchanged marriage vows.

 Patrick Coyle

20 May 1841 Ireland – 21 June 1925 CT

Son of Michael Coyle & Mary Cunningham

 

Margaret Brady

c 1855 Ireland – 22 November 1934 CT

Daughter of Thomas Brady & Catherine Gibney

My 2x great grandparents

Married

11 February 1870, Saint Mary's Church

County Cavan, Ireland

Marriage Record for Patrick Coyle and Margaret Brady, 11 February 1870, Roman Catholic Chapel of Carrick, Registar's District of Finea, in the Union of Granard, in the County of Cavan.

Marriage Record for Patrick Coyle and Margaret Brady, 11 February 1870, Roman Catholic Chapel of Carrick, Ballymachugh Parish Records, Register 33b, Page 7, Cavan Genealogy, Johnston Central Library, Farnham Street, Cavan, Ireland.

Parents of:

 

Michael Coyle 

Bernard Coyle

Catherine Coyle

Maria Coyle

Patrick Joseph Coyle

Margaret Coyle

Thomas Albert Coyle

James Joseph Coyle

Bridget Imelda Coyle Kelly

Maryanne Coyle Cass

William Paul Coyle

Related Posts: 

• The Life of Patrick Coyle
• Funeral card for Patrick Coyle
• Patrick & Margaret Coyle
• My Trip to Ireland

Ancestor Anniversaries, February 1 - 14

Because of Valentines' Day, people think of February as a romantic time of year. We have several family weddings to celebrate, including John & Cinderella getting married on February 14th. 

Look for your surnames and see if you connect with any of these couples. 

1 February 1946. Mississippi. Thurman Fortenberry (1917 - 1992) married Bessie Pearl Edwards. Thurman was the son of Lucius Wilburn Fortenberry & Mary Rosa Schilling. 

2 February 1898. Isaac Omer Cutrer  (1871–1941) married Fannie Rebecca Smith (1881–1923). Isaac was  the son of Hiram Cutrer and Sarah Jane Fortenberry.  Fannie was the daughter of Wyatt Rankin Smith and Irene Bankston. The couple had six children. Both Isaac and Fannie were my second cousins, three times removed. They were married 25 years. 

2 February 1914. New Jersey.   Thomas Joseph Brady married Catherine Lynch. He was the son of Patrick Brady and Ellen Reilly. The couple had four children together. They were married 59 years. 

2 February 1936: Herbert Phillip Mullen, Jr. married Margaret Delores Engle.

Herbert was the son of Herbert Phillip Mullen, Sr. and Ruth Geneva Jolliff.  They had two children.

8 February 1964. Ohio. Robert M. Beriswell (1932–1986) married Francis Edith Brophy, daughter of Glen Ralph and Eileen Mae (Reis) Brophy. The couple had four children.

9 February 1905: Walter Lee Blades (1883–1959) married Addie Angeline Cutrer

Walter was the son of William Ephraim Blades and Morgana J. McDaniel. They had two children. They were married 54 years.

11 February 1870. Ireland.  Patrick Coyle (1841–1925) married Margaret Brady (circa 1855–1934) Patrick was the son of Michael Coyle and Mary Cunningham. Margaret was the daughter of Thomas Brady and Catherine Gibney, in County Cavan, Ireland. They had eleven children. Patrick and Margaret were my second great-grandparents. They were married 64 years.

12 February 1901. Michigan.  Arthur Spice married Emaline Floy Moore  (1883–1942). Arthur was the son of Robert Anson Spice and Emma Catherine Gordon. Emaline was the daughter of Peter Jonathan Moore and Caroline Louise Gruissy. The couple had five children. 

13 February 1825. Pennsylvania.  Frederick Wolf   (1804–1891) married Louisa C. Goetz. Frederick was the son of John Frederick Wolf and Esther Barbara Schaffer.   Louisa C. Goetz was daughter of John Goetz. They had with eight children. Frederick Wolf was my third great uncle. They were married 36 years.

14 February 1839: John Wilson Brumfield (1811 -  1889) married Cinderella Lanier (Circa 1817 LA - 30 Dec 1884).  John was the son of John Brumfield & Margaret Kelly.  They had 11 children and were married for 45 years. 

14 February 1942. Mississippi.  Jessie Miles Hall (1921–1983) married Sylvia Rayleen Brown (1924–2006).  Sylvia Rayleen was the daughter of Roy Jessie Brown and Mary Thelma Ellzey. They had five children and were married 41 years.

14 February 1953: William Thomas Zengler married Kathryn Isabel Waidman

William Thomas Zengler was the son of Urban Robert and Mildred Mae (Wolf) Zengler.

Learn more about my family's branches by reading my books.