Kelseys

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        in

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                     Canada

    My name is Garry Kelsey and this is my attempt at publishing my genealogy. I can't take all the credit for what you will find here. My brother Lorne Kelsey and his wife Marjorie got me started. I came along to keep an electronic record of their findings and have been adding to what they had for about 20 years. Many others have contributed to this research project and I thank everyone for their input. I now have over 5,000 people in our database. We have established many, many links to the people of Leeds & Grenville County and across North America. Some are related and some are not even connected but some day...
    Family lore has it that 2 brothers came to Canada. The story goes that they came up the Mohawk Valley and when they came to the St. Lawrence River they built a raft and paddled across with a horse swimming behind. They went overland until they came to some sort of habitation and hid out, eating grain to keep alive.
    As near as we can tell this is only a legend that got re-told by members of the family from early generations on down and is quite far off the truth. Historically this is what seems to have happened.

     James Kelsey was farming on leased land in Rensselaerwyck's Manor near Albany County, New York at the time of the revolutionary war. In 1629, Kilean Van Rensselaer established the feudal manor of Rensselaerwyck. The portion in Rensselaer County was 24 miles long and ran along the Hudson River to include what is now known as Schodack, Nassau, North and East Greenbush, Sand Lake, Grafton, Brunswick, Petersburg, Berlin, Stephentown, Troy and Rensselaer. Fort Crailo, located in the City of Rensselaer, was the early Manor house.
    James Kelsey was with the King's Loyal Americans commanded by Ebeneezer Jessup, and raised in 1776. The Jessups were a wealthy merchant family from the Grand Falls area, 45 miles north of Albany, NY; other family members involved in the corps were Edward and Joseph. Jessup's Corps took part in the ill-fated Burgoyne Campaign in 1777; as well as the Queen's Loyal Rangers commanded by John Peters. The survivors of the King's Loyal Americans, were condensed with McAlpins Corps and Peters' Queens Loyal Rangers into a new battalion called the Loyal Americans in 1781 at St. John's Quebec. The unit was disbanded in 1784, with members settling in Grenville County, Ontario.
    James Kelsey was held as a prisoner some of the time between 1777 and 1782 and following is what was found at this address:
http://www.tbaytel.net/bmartin/quinte.htm
THE QUINTE LOYALISTS 0F 1784. By P. H. BRYCE, M.A., M.D.
The following were prisoners of Jessup's Corps from 1777 to 1782:
Lewis Hix
John Scott
Horminus Lee
Jacob Diamond
John Griffen
Matthias Rose
Wm. Rogers
Hendry Normand
James Kelsey
Sgt. Ralph Spooner of the Loyal Rangers in 1777.

    His wife Sarah, three daughters and a son, William, were shown on a ration list as they came north in 1783. They had been living in Albany County, NY. His wife and children met James near Lake Champlain and they travelled north and spent the winter of 1783-84 at St. Johns, twenty-seven miles from Montreal on the south side of the St. Lawerence River. Two Provincial corps were stationed there. One commanded by Major Jessup and the other by Major Rodgers. Their forces were the first settlers of Upper Canada. About the first of June, 1784 they came up, and settled on the banks of the St. Lawrence River commencing a short distance from the Province line.
    They ascended the river by means of small boats called bateuax. They were built at Lachine and were capable of holding four to five families.
    It is estimated that about 10,000 new settlers came into the province that year. James and his family settled in Augusta Township in 1784. On a claim January 22, 1788 for losses suffered in the revolution he is shown as residing in Oswegatchie. This is one explanation of where Oswegatchie was:

"Major Jessup's Loyalists were greeted by Major Edward Jessup and Capt. Justus Sherwood at Newtown, now Johnstown, near Oswegatchie. Maitland was at that time known as New Oswegatchie."
Based on these facts Oswegatchie must have been between Johnstown and Maitland.

     This is the information I found in the War Office Record on James Kelsey:

KELSEY, James
Age 41
1783
War Office Records:
Returns of Detachments and Companies of the Kings Rangers and Loyal Rangers stationed in Lower Canada.
National Archives of Canada: Microfilm Reel No. B-2867 (MG 11, W.O. 28/10), page 187
From America

Canadian Immigrant Records Part 2

Kelsey, James
Soldier post 1783
Rank and File
List of members of the Loyal Rangers under the command of Major Edward Jessup. It is not dated, so it is unclear whether it is a list prepared before or after the disbandment. The latest date in the 'Dead' or 'Discharged' column is 24 December 1783. Transcribed from original documents held in the collection of the National Archives of Canada [Ottawa]: RG 19, vol. 4447, file 18
He drew land in Elizabethtown Township in 1798.
(James Kelsea was granted 100 acres which was west half of lot 27, concession one. James Keltsey was also granted 200 acres, which was all of lot 3 Con. 7 and 200 acres, all of lot 27, Con. 8. It is assummed that these people are one and the same.)

On Muster Roll No. 11-Settlers of township 8 (Elizabethtown) in 1785 Ind# E254



November 1, 2004
Recently I came across some new information on an early list of inhabitants of Elizabethtown Township taken in 1797. The following people were listed on this early census:
Js. Kelsea, male
Sarah Kelsea, female
Unice Kelsea, female
Jno. Kelsea, male
Saml. Kelsea, male
Sarah Kelsea, female
Uriah Kelsea, male
Charlotte Kelsea, female
Fulford Kelsea, male

In another location on this same census this was found:
Wm. Kelsea, male
Elizabeth Kelsea, female
illegible (possibly Jessica) Kelsea, female
Jno. Kelsea, male

This is my theory on this new information:
There were indeed two brothers that came to Canada in 1784 and they were James Kelsey and a brother of James Kelsey. We have proof that James had a son that was named William and either the brother of James was named William or he had a son named William. This is based on other information found later in a list of inhabitants of Yonge Township where I found two William Kelseys listed one below the other.
In 1804 James Kelsea was listed as being an inhabitant of Yonge Township and with him were two males under sixteen and two females under sixteen as well as one male over sixteen, James himself and one female over sixteen, probably his wife Sarah. I didn't find a listing of William Kelsea or his family in 1804. There was a column for age over sixty and James was not idicated. The total number of inhabitants was 897.
In 1805 there was a Yonge Twp, Special Assessment found at the following address.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~onleedsg/docs/ld_yonge_census_1805.htm
James Kelsey and William Kelsey appear there.
In 1808 there was another census of Yonge showing James Kilsey (note spelling), listed were three males and two females. Again I didn't find a listing of William Kelsea or his family in 1808. The total number of inhabitants was 512 males and 401 females. The list was signed by Benoni Wiltse Jr., TC (town clerk?) 1808 and says "The Census Taken by me, Andrew Teed, T. Clerk"
In 1809 there was a list of inhabitants for the Rear of Lansdon (spelling) & Leeds and there was a William listed with wife Betsey (Elizabeth) and family Samuel, Uriah, Phillip, James, Charlotte and Hannah. I have seen this information earlier and tried to make sense of the names. With this new information the names may start to fall into place.
In 1810 William is still in the Rear of Leeds & Lansdowne with Eliza replacing Betsey as his wife. These are probably shortened versions of Elizabeth.
In 1810 the list of Yonge Township shows James Kelsey (note spelling), with one wife, one son and one daughter. The totals and the signature are not visible.
In 1811 there was a list of inhabitants for the Rear of Lansdon (spelling) & Leeds and there was no William Kelsey listed.
In 1811 James Kelsey is still in the Yonge Township census with a wife and no sons or daughters but two grandsons and two grandaughters. Below James is William with a wife and two sons and three daughters.
By the next census of Yonge Township in 1819 there is a John or Tom Kelsey shown with two males and two females in the household. This would probably be one son and one daughter. This John could be the Jno. found in 1797 with James and Sarah being the parents. A Samuel Kelsey is listed showing four males and two females in the household. Below are William Kelsey with four males and five females, three male children and four female children. Directly below William is James Kelsey with one female and two males, one male child and no female children.
By 1820 there are 1688 inhabitants in Yonge Township. Samuel Kelsey is listed with wife Hannah (Wiltse) with three male children and no female children. This Samuel would probably be the Samuel from the 1797 Elizabethtown Township list and it was known that he married Hannah Wiltse, daughter of Benoni Wiltse Sr.
John Kelsey is on this list with his wife (no name given) and one male child and one female child.
The most interesting thing about all these lists is that in 1820 two William Kelseys were listed, both in Yonge Township. The first with Mary shown as his wife and one male child and one female child. The second William with Sarah as his wife and two male children and three female children. This second William has the same number of children as the 1811 list in Yonge Township.
The big question is "Were there two William Kelseys and who were the parents of each".

Below I have listed events as they occurred:

Time Line

1776 - King's Loyal Americans commanded by Ebenezer Jessup and raised in 1776. Edward and Joseph Jessup also involved with the corp.
1777 - Burgoyne Campaign, Jessup's Corp. took part.
1777 to 1782 - James Kelsey listed as held prisoner of Jessup's Corp. at some time during that period.
1777 - Three townships set aside for Major Jessup's soldiers, Township 6 - Edwardsburg, Township 7 - Augusta, Township 8 - Elizabethtown.
1781 - Jessup's survivors condensed with McAlpin's Corp. and Peters' Queen's Loyal Rangers as Loyal Rangers.
1783 - Sarah Kelsey found on rations list with children. A son over 10 yrs., a daughter over 10 yrs. and two daughters under 10 yrs.
1783 - Canadian Immigrant Records Dec. 24, 1783 show James Kelsey as dead or discharged.
1783 - War Office records - Kings Rangers and Loyal Rangers stationed in Lower Canada lists James Kelsey - age 41, from America.
1784 - Loyal Rangers disbanded.
1785 - James Kelsey on muster roll No. 11 - Settlers of Township 8 - Elizabethtown in 1785.
17 ? - The claim...
1797 - James Kelsea and Sarah with others shown on Elizabethtown list of inhabitants:
     Js. Kelsea, male, Sarah Kelsea, female, Unice Kelsea, female, Jno. Kelsea, male, Saml. Kelsea, male, Sarah Kelsea, female, Uriah Kelsea, male, Charlotte Kelsea, female, Fulford Kelsea, male.
     Also on this 1797 list shown seperately were Wm. Kelsea, male, Elizabeth Kelsea, female, illegible (possibly Jessica) Kelsea, female, Jno. Kelsea, male.
The old United Empire Loyalists List Appendix B shows - Kelsey, Wm or Celsey. Son of Jas. Kelsie. L.B.L
1798 - Drew land, 200 acres - all of lot 3, Con. 7 and 200 acres - all of lot 27, Con. 8.


    My great-great grandfather, William Kelsey was a son of these original settlers, James and Sarah Kelsey. He is mentioned in:
THE OLD UNITED EMPIRE LOYALISTS LIST APPENDIX APPENDIX B - Kelsey, Wm or Celsey. Son of Jas. Kelsie. L.B.L

    We have never substantiated his birth or death dates. He was shown as being over 10 yrs. old in 1783, on a rations list when he came with his mother from the U.S. which means he would have been born before 1773.
    William is shown on the 1809 census of Rear of Leeds & Lansdowne with the following people:
Betsey (his wife?)
Samuel (his son or brother?)
Uriah (his son, brother or uncle?)
Philip (unknown)
James (his son or his father?)
Charlotte (his sister or his daughter?)
Hannah (his daughter or Samuel's wife Hannah Wiltse)

On the 1810 census Eliza replaces Betsey. Betsey and Eliza could be the same person (Elizabeth?).
Many questions arise from the information found in the 1809 and 1810 census.
Is Betsey his wife Elizabeth?

Who was Samuel? The only Samuel found was a Samuel Kelsey born 1788, married to Hannah Wiltse. I suspect that this Samuel was a Canadian born son of James and Sarah. Samuel and Hannah were married in 1815 which would indicate that the Hannah on these census reports was not Samuel's wife.

Who was Uriah? There was a Samuel Kelsey married to a Hannah Wiltse that had a son Uriah but he was not born until 1819. Could this Uriah be Samuel's father or grandfather? If so how was he related to William?

Who was Philip? James' daughter Hannah is thought to have married Philip Phillips who later became a magistrate.

Who was James? This is probably his son but the birth date of his son is unsure. It is thought to be between 1808 and 1812. This James could be either William's son or his father, the original James.

Who is Charlotte? We know William had three daughters but have names for only two. The book "Beautiful Charleston" by Edna B. (Eaton) Chant says that William had six sons and three daughters. Daniel, Israel, James, Nelson, Howard and Alfred. There is no mention of my great grandfather Benjamin or the names of the girls. There is a Charlotte in the correct time frame that was married first to Edward Parish and later to William Wiltse. Charlotte and Edward had two daughters that we know of. They are Cynthia Samantha Parish and Julia Parish. Both daughters were married to sons of James Wiltse.

Who is Hannah? We think it is probably William's sister. There was a Hannah Kelsey that was granted a Patent for 200 acres of land which was all of lot 6, Con. 8 in the township of Yonge on May 17, 1802. She received this grant as a child of a Loyalist. Hannah is thought to have married Philip Phillips who later became a magistrate.

    These questions have been my quest for the last few years with few answers to show. Occassionally I do come across clues but no definative answers.
    The exact name of William's wife is somewhat of a mystery. The older people of the family always said her name was Elizabeth Wing and in the 1809 and 1810 census this seems to be correct. Later information uncovered seems to indicate her name was Bertha Slack. Maybe her name was Elizabeth Slack and Elizabeth became Betsey and Betsey became Bertha.
    On the 1851 census in Escot Tsp. near Charleston, Ont., living on 35 acres of land we found Elizabeth, age 60, was living with a Daniel Kelsey, age 85. William's sons, Daniel, Israel and Howard were found living with her and this unknown Daniel Kelsey. If this is William's wife Elizabeth this would make her birth date about 1791 and the Daniel , age 85 would have a birth date of about 1766.
Was Daniel the legendary brother of James?
Was Daniel a brother of William?
Why was Elizabeth with Daniel? Did she remarry after William died?

    The book "Beautiful Charleston" by Edna B. (Eaton) Chant says William built the first house in Charleston, Ontario. She mentions that he had six sons and three daughters. Daniel, Israel, James, Nelson, Howard and Alfred. There is no mention of Benjamin or the girls names. This is the Benjamin that was my great grandfather.

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