The purpose of this site is to bring together Kelsay/Kelsey kin to share information and stories. This site was made possible by relentless efforts of Tom Goldrup and Fred D. Kelsay and the information they have supplied. Any questions regarding the information on this site should be directed to Tom Goldrup [email protected] or Fred D. Kelsay [email protected] . Please feel free to contact me if you wish to contribute.
Sincerely,
John Eastman [email protected]
The Kelsay Family
By Tom Goldrup
Our probable ancestor was Gowen Kellsay, a native of Ayr, Scotland who emigrated to County Antrim in North Ireland. In the year 1641 many of the Scottish Protestants were killed by the Irish Catholics in the religious war that ravaged this land. As Gowen Kellsay died there that year it is assumed he was most probably a victim of this war. After we find no record of Gowen Kellsay in North Ireland until a William Kellsay died in Balleycross, County Down, Ireland in 1773. There were many Kelsos in this area and as our family was sometimes spelled Kelso and Kelsey in early records they may be related to Gowen and Later to William. Two men, supposed brothers left North Ireland and came to America in the 1720's or 1730's These were John and Robert Kelsay. Robert became a Baptist minister and resided most of his years in New Jersey. John was a farmer and resided by 1729 in Chester County, Pennsylvania, at which time he signed a petition as John Kellsey for the formation of a new county. As a result Lancaster County was formed that year and John became a resident of this new county. John married a woman named Margaret (maiden name possibly Campbell), but as another John Kelsey living at this time in the same county married Margaret Wilson it is possible to confuse these two men in the early records. This other John Kelsey later moved with his family to South Carolina. It is believed that it is our ancestor who is listed as John Kelso who warranted 200 acres of land in Lancaster County on September 4, 1744. On August 19, 1749, Lancaster County was divided and John's land became a portion of York County, Pennsylvania. In 1762, John and his two eldest sons (William and Moses)were listed on a tax list as residents of Manallen Township, York County. In the latter 1750's, John and his family moved to Botetourt County, Virginia (which portion became Rockbridge County in 1778) and both John and Margaret are presumed to have died there. In 1771 a John Kelso is listed there on a tax list, but it is not known if this was the father or his 25 year old son. John and Margaret had eight children, as both he and his brother Robert named their eldest son William, it is thought their father may be of that name as it was a custom in those days; to name their first son after the paternal grandfather.The origin of the Kelsay Family by Fred Kelsay
Descendants of John and Margaret Kelsay compiled by Tom Goldrup
Descendants of Rev. Robert Kelsay compiled by Fred D. Kelsay
Instructions for the Kelsay, Kelsey and Kelso mailing lists
Wasco County, Oregon Image Map
This page was last updated on 12/10/99.