| 1. ARCHIBALD KELLY b. ABT. 1740,
Scotland, (son of JAMES? KELLY and MARGARET STUART?) m. c1759, in Scotland, EUPHEMIA KELLIE, b. c1740,
Scotland, d. c1812-13, Bladen County, NC. ARCHIBALD died ABT. 1813, Bladen Co. The
following letter was given to Archibald and Euphemia Kelly by their minister upon their
departure for America. The original was held in the Brown Marsh Presbyterian Church,
Bladen County, NC, for for well over 100 years.
"That the bearer, Arch'd Kelly, Eupham Kelly his spouse,
Catherine, Florence, James, and Mary Kelly their children lived from their infancy in the
united parishes of Kilian and Kilchenzie and behaved themselves soberly, honestly, and
inoffensively free of scandal or church censure, and may be received into any Christian
Society or congregation whom God in His providence may order his lot, is attested in name
& by appointment of session at Rosehill the 13th day of August 1770 year by
- Robert Thompson (minister) - Donald Clark (Clerk)"
This appears to be solid evidence that Archibald and Euphemia
"lived from their infancy" on the Kintyre Peninsula of Scotland. We know of no
other evidence of their earlier years. However, there is some evidence that they may have
lived on a farm near the community of Dalrioch, a few miles west of Campbelltown.
Archibald first appeared on the 1784 Tax List for Bladen
County with 200 acres, one white and one black poll.
On the 1788 Tax List he shows 450 acres, one town lot, and one
free poll.
In the 1790 Census he shows with three white males 16 and
over, three free white fenales, and one slave. If his older daughter married and left home
before 1790 the numbers would account for his five other known children.
The following document indicates Archibald's conversion to
loyalty to the "New World" from his former allegiance to the Crown.
"State of North Carolina, Bladen County: This day
Archibald Kelly personally appeared before me and made oath that he and nine other men
together in a class in the year 1779 furnished the Continental Army with a substitute by
the name of John Dailey who was to serve as a soldier during the war and that the cost
thereof to him was ten pounds current money. Signed and sworn to before me this 30th
day Sept. 1791. J. Lewis Arch'd Kelly"
Will dated June 12, 1813: Archibald Kelly, Sr. (Stabler).
Calls out sons James Kelly, Sr., Archibald Kelly, Jr.; dau. Catherine Taylor, Flora
Campbell, and Mary Ray; and sons-in-law Daniel Taylor, A. Campbell, Duncan Ray and Duncan
Currie. Executor: James Kelly, Sr. (son). Witnesses: John Taylor, Jr., Jean Ray.
As the will fails to name Euphemia, it is thought that she may
have predeceased Archibald. There is no other evidence of her death date, and no
indication of their place of burial.
A cogent point is, while Kelly is the second
most frequently found surname in Ireland, THESE Kellys came from Scotland
where they, apparently, had remained for generations. In North Carolina
they were active members of the Brown Marsh Presbyterian Church where
services were conducted in Gaelic until early in the 20th Century. For
several generations they were vestrymen in the church. My great
grandfather, John Archibald Kelly, was probably the first family member to
become a Baptist when he married Abigail Lennon, the daughter and grand
daughter of Baptist ministers.
|
