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KELTON, William, Robert, David R Four Generations PA NC TN AR 10/19/1999

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM¹ KELTON (ROBERT^A, JAMES^B) was born September 26, 1753 in New London Twp, Chester, Pennsylvania, and died May 18, 1813 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee. He married ELIZABETH RAMSAY Bef. 1773 in Salisbury, Rowan, North Carolina, daughter of ROBERT RAMSAY and JANET GETTYS. She was born March 08, 1753 in New London Twp, Chester, Pennsylvania, and died July 30, 1830 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee.

Notes for WILLIAM KELTON:
NC 1790 Census Morgan Dist Burke Co 1st Co T498 Roll 2 First Co
Kelton, William p106 1 FWM 16+, 4 FWM under 16, 6 FWF, 7 other free persns.
NC 1793, Capt, Casion's Company- acreage, Whites, Studs. 1st Co in 1790 Census
Wm Kelton 352, 1-1.
Tn 1800 Smith Co
Tn 1810 Census Rutherford Co pg9 (same pg as Thomas Yardley, Thomas White, Robt
Jetton)
Kelton, William 00201-00101-06.

NOTABLE SOUTHERN FAMILIES, ARMSTRONG, VOL I-II, 929.2 pg 216-230.
The Keltons are an ancient family in Scotland. Many references are given to
them in Scottish history. There the name is pronounced with the accent on the
second syllable. The land on which the new city of Edinburgh is built is said
to belong to the Kelton heirs. Mary Kelton married John Glasselle, of the
family who accompanied Mary, Queen of Scots from Poictiers, on her return to
her native land. The Keltons early began to emigrate to America. The first
emigrant of that name reaching South Carolina between 1640 and 1645. Like many
other Scots, the Keltons aided in colonizing Ireland. Some of these later came
to America with the Ulster immigration. One of them, James Kelton came from
Ireland to Chester Co Pennsylvania, about 1735 and was the great-grandfather of
General John Cunningham Kelton, the soldier and author of a Treatise on
Military Affairs. They came here in great numbers for the census of 1790 gives
twenty-one heads of families of this name in Massachusetts, four for Rhode
Island, one for Pennsylvania, two for North Carolina, and one for South
Carolina. Dr Claude Kelton, who served six years in the Hospital Corps of the
U S Army says that the records at Washington show that the US Army has had
Kelton recruits from nearly every state in the Union. Also that the name has
not been missing from the record a single year since 1776.

The first history of William's family was written by his great grandson,
Richard Lee Kelton of Van Buren, Arkansas, which appeared in the 1922 book
Notable Southern Families.

William and Elizabeth Kelton.
William Kelton was born Sep 26, 1753. His wife Elizabeth was born Mar 8, 1754.
As to whether William Kelton came direct from Edinburgh, or was the son of the
emigrant from that place, has not been ascertained; but that he and his wife
Elizabeth were in North Carolina, with a large family and numerous slaves, is
given in the census of 1780. Of William Kelton's Revolutionary record, nothing
definite is known, but that he was of Revolutionary timber a few scattered
facts attest. He was Scotch-Presbyterian. He is traditionally known to have
been concerned with the Mecklinburg Declaration of Independence and belongs to
the region where it was framed. His name does not appear on the list of
signers, probably because of his youth. He does appear as a member of the
Militia of Morgan District in the period immediately following the Revolution.
By way of Smith Co, Tennessee, where he had resided for a short time, William
Kelton came to Rutherford Co Tennessee, and in 1801 purchased a large tract of
land known as "Black Fox Camp". Black Fox was an Indian Chief who formerly
hunted and encamped at the magnificent spring not far from the present site of
Murfreesboro. The story is that Black Fox was pursued to this place, and rather
than be caught by the soldiers, sprang into the water and disappeared from
sight. The soldiers believed him to be lost, but by an underground channel he
came to surface again at Murfree's Spring, two and one-half miles below. This
Black Fox Camp has often been memtioned in the History of Tennessee, its
unusually large spring being a land mark. The expedition of General Robertson
in 1792 sent one of its scouts over the old trail from Nashville to Chattanooga
who reported that he "had been as far as Black Fox Camp" where he had seen the
signs of a numerous army of Indians. Again in 1794 Major Orr's expedition
against the Creek and Cherokees of the Lower Town, "marched to Black Fox's Camp
and remained there for the night". The deed to this tract of land says that it
was granted by the State of North Carolina to Thomas Harris and that the said
Thomas Harris of Mecklenbugh Co North Carolina conveys to William Kelton of
Smith Co Tennessee in 1801, the Black Fox Camp, a tract of 619 acres for six
hundred dollars. The witnesses were: L Sullivan and Alexander Sloan. It is of
interest to know that this deed was acknowledged before Andrew Jackson, at that
time one of the judges of the "Supreme Court of Law and Equity". William Kelton
purchased many other tracts of land, owning finally many thousand acres in this
and other parts of Tennessee.
Rutherford Co formerly included in Davidson and Williamson Counties was
organized by an act of the General Assembly at Knoxville, Oct 25, 1803. The
first court met at the home of Thomas Rucker, Jan 3, 1804. Of this court,
William Kelton was one of the first grandjurymen. Murfreesboro was founded in
1811 but it was not until 1813 that elections were ordered to be held at
Murfreesboro instead of Black Fox Camp, showing that much of the County
business had been transacted at the latter place.
A family story of the four sons of William going into the woods to hew logs for
the First Presbyterian Church is sustained by the record of their mother,
Elizabeth, being a Charter Member of the Congregation. There is now on the
original site a neat new brick building.
Here then, on a plantation of several thousand acres around this spring from
which the town of Murfreesboro is now supplied with water, William and
Elizabeth Kelton established their large family. William Kelton died in 1813. A
chart now on file shows the division among his heirs of the original holdings.
This division was made Oct 10, 1816. Samuel Bigany, Moses Bellak and Sam Barber
being the trustees. This names the heirs as Archibald Sloan and wife Agnes,
John Sloan and wife Mary, Robert Kelton, Samuel B Kelton, Elizabeth Kelton
Senior, James Kelton, Elizabeth Kelton Junior, William, Alexander Lackey and
wife Margaret. These being the widow and eight children. David, another child
died quite young and was not living at this time.

Brands cattle with K, horses with W.

Buried at Old City Cemetery, Vine St. Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co Tn.
Graves of Revolutionary War Patriots Pg222 973.34 H Vol 2
Picture of bronze plac.

TENNESSEE TIDBITS 1778-1914 VOL 1 976.8

Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Tennessee 1974
Lucy Womack Bates, Chairman 973.36 B
Kelton, William (B9-26-1753 Edinburgh, Scotland D 3-18-1813 Murfreesboro,
Tn) Sol-NC M1773 Elizabeth Ramsey B3-8-1754 Scotland/D7-30-1830. No Ch
listed. Ref.:DAR#545061.

DAR Tennessee Pg 437
Kelton, William (1753-1813) see Roster, VOL II, PG 478.
B. Edinburth, Scotland; M. Elizabeth Ramsay, 1773, Rowan Co, North Carolina;
Res during Revolution: North Carolina.

Service: Soldier, Morgan District Militia of Burke Co North Carolina. (My
People, The Keltons, Compiled & Published by Lorene Kelton Petersen,
1975, PG 7;
Notable Southern Families, by Zella Armstrong, Vol II, Pg 216;
DAR Patriot Index Vol I, PG 381.

Children: 1. Mary (Polly), B. Aug 1774 M. John William Sloan.
2. Robert, B. May 6, 1776 M. Rachel Jetton.
3. Agnes (Nancy), B. June 20, 1777; M Archibald Sloan.
4. William, B. July 12, 1778 M. Minerva.
5. Margaret (Peggy), B. C.1780; M. Alexander Lackey.
6. David, B. Dec 15, 1783 died young.
7. Elizabeth, B. Dec 7, 1785 M. James Wilson.
8. James, B. C.1788 M. Elizabeth White.
9. Samuel B. B.C.1791 M. Elizabeth Manley.

Members; Sandra Barnes Drake (Mrs Mathews Gustavus), No. 660156
Katherine Kelton Russell (Mrs Charles D.), No. 585843
Ruth Elizabeth Kelton Ward (Mrs Howard Peyton), No. 615963

Charlton, William 2 North Carolina Regiment Rev War Pvt, 4652.

Rutherford Co Tn Deed Abstracts Vol I 1804-1810 Wray 976.857
D B "A" No 33 Registered Oct 23, 1804 Thomas Harris to William Kelton 619 Acres
Indenture 20 June 1801 between Thomas Harris of Macklenburgh Co NC and William
Kelton of Smith Co Tn. Land in Wilson Co on e water of W Fork Stones River.
Part of tract of 2057 acres known as the Black Fox Camp originally granted to
Harris. Begin in the middle of a Blue Hole in the Black Fox Spring, corner to
Hawkins & Cummings thence ---etc. Witness: L Sullivan A Sloan
16th day July 1801 Archibald Sloan appeared before Andrew Jackson one of the --
etc. Let it be registered. Andrew Jackson pg 7

D B "E" No 502 David Deadrick, by his attorney to William Kelton 640 acres
Indenture Aug 28 1807 Land adjoining William Mitchell's and Thomas Harris' on
the North. Begin on Henry Winbern's E bdry etc. Witness John E Beck John
Dickson registered October Session 1807 Rutherford Co Court pg94.

D B "F" 593 Anthony Foster to William Kelton 194 1/4 acres
Indenture Sept 20 1808 Begin Thomas Harris' line etc. Witness: Tho B Smith B
Searcey State of Tenn Davidson Co No Term 1808 Registered R McGavock
Clerk Superior Court Mero District pg 111.

D B "G" pg 275 Rich'd W Cummins etal to Wm Kelton.

Deeds Smith Co Tn 1800-1807 Crumpton Gen 976.852 C Vol I
Page 155. 15 Dec 1802. $220.00 220 acres.
On West Fork of Payton's Creek.
Signed J. Knowlton
Wit: Stephen Montgomery, George Anderson
Proven: Mar 1803 by oath/2wit. Rec: 2 Sept 1803.

Smith Co Tn Deed Books B-M 1800-1835 976.3768 Partlow
Bk G Robert Kelton, John Slone, Samuel Kelton, Elizabeth Kelton, Jr., William
Kelton, James Kelton, and Alexander Lackey, all of Rutherford Co except John
Slone of Smith Co, to Archibald Slone a tract of land on Peyton's Creek.
Said land was granted to Wm Kelton deceased by Grant No 9799. 13 Oct 1819.
(P 214).
Robert Kelton and others to John Slone 220 acres, it being land granted to
William Kelton. 13 Oct 1819. (P 215-216).
Archibald Sloan and wife Nancyn one of the heirs of William Kelton, to George
Sutton a tract of land. 1 Aug 1821. (P 107-108).

Burke Co North Carolina Land Records 1779-1790 Vol 2 Huggins 975.6A
#78 William Kelton, 250 acres Cain Creek, branch of French Broad River,
"beginning at a place where the creek runs partly round a spot of land and make
like a small island opposite a high bank on the west side of the creek," down,
including both sides, "taking in a large maple Swamp where is marked there on a
maple tree WK commonly called the Goose ponds." Warrant Issued. "No land to be
got or known by POTSIS lower entry." 1 Aug 1783.

28 Jan 1799 William Kelton of Burke Co sold a parcel of land located in Iredell
Co, North Carolina to John McPherson for 180 silver dollars. The land is
described as "Beginning at a white oak, thence South one hundred poles to a
black oak, thence East thirty poles to a black oak, thence South one hundred
and forty-six poles to a white oak, thence North eighty-five, West along Robert
McNeelly's line one hundred and fifty-six poles to a black oak, thence North
one hundred and eighty-two poles to a white oak, thence East eighteen poles to
a black oak sapling, thence North fifty-two poles to a white oak, thence to the
Beginning. Containing by estimation two hundred and nine acres..." This parcel
of land was originally registered in Rowan Co as a grant given to William
Kelton for his service in the Revolutionary War.

Smith Co Tn Deed Books B-M 1800-

List of Jurors 1783-1790
April 1788: William Kelton

Mar 17, 1800 Grand Jury Carthage, Smith Co Tn.

My People The Keltons, Elaine Kelton Peterson.

"William Kelton records his stock mark, thus a half crop off the left ear, and
an upper slope and under slopeoff the right ear, and brands his cattle with K
and horses with W."

Black Fox Camp original tract and subsequent additions totaled l,688 1/4 acres.

More About WILLIAM KELTON:
Burial: Old City Cemetry, Rutherford, Tennessee

Notes for ELIZABETH RAMSAY:
NC 1790 Census Morgan Dist Burke Co 1st Co
Kelton, William p106 1 FWM 16+, 4 FWM under 16, 6 FWF, 7 other free persns.
NC 1793, Capt, Casion's Company- acreage, Whites, Studs. 1st Co in 1790 Census
Wm Kelton 352, 1-1.
Tn 1800 Smith Co
Tn 1810 Census Rutherford Co pg9 (same pg as Thomas Yardley, Thomas White, Robt
Jetton)
Kelton, William 00201-00101-06.
Tn 1820 Census Rutherford Co
Kelton, Elizabeth 000110-20111

Age 77 yrs 4 mos 22 days.

McCanless says birth 8 Mar 1754, Death 15 Nov 1830.
Lorene Peterson Kelton in "My People-The Keltons"
says birth 8 Mar 1753, will proved 15 Nov 1830.
Soldiers and Patriots says birth 8 Mar 1754, death July 30, 1830.

Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revolution Buried in Tennessee 1974
Lucy Womack Bates, Chairman 973.36 B
Kelton, William (B9-26-1753 Edinburgh, Scotland D 3-18-1813 Murfreesboro,
Tn) Sol-NC M1773 Elizabeth Ramsey B3-8-1754 Scotland/D7-30-1830. No Ch
listed. Ref.:DAR#545061.

DAR Tennessee Pg 437
Kelton, William (1753-1813) see Roster, VOL II, PG 478.
B. Edinburth, Scotland; M. Elizabeth Ramsay, 1773, Rowan Co, North Carolina;
Res during Revolution: North Carolina.

NOTABLE SOUTHERN FAMILIES, ARMSTRONG, VOL I-II, 929.2
TENNESSEE TIDBITS 1778-1914 VOL 1 976.8

Inventory of the estate of Elizabeth Kelton, deceased, as allowed in her will
to be devided in four parts that is between Mary Sloan, Elizabeth Wilson, and
Alexander Lackey's three xxx, return in court by William Kelton and James
Kelton Executors of the said estate November 15 1830.
Twelve head of hogs, one three yr old heifer, three beds and bed clothing and
waring clothes, two bedsteads, one large and small pot one oven and lid, one
frame of pot hooks, one pane of fine iron and one grid iron, one flanwill, two
tables and three chairs, two small trunks, and one pot rack and part of a log
chain, two pewter basons, and one dish, one small jar, and small looking glass
and three books, one note on Joseph Marlin for seven (?) dollars sixty two and
a half cents due 28th of Oct 1830. One note on John Kenedy for twelve dollars
due the 15th of Feb 1820.Suppose not to be good. One side of hefer leather.
Cash left four dollars sixty two and a half cents. State of Tennessee.
Rutherford County William Kelton & James Kelton.
Executors of the estate of Elizabeth Kelton deceased of said County do certify
to the best of our knowledge the above to be a true and just inventory of said
deceased estate as stated fiven from under our hands. William Kelton, Sr
James Kelton Adms Recorded Jan 8th 1831. pg 170,171.

More About ELIZABETH RAMSAY:
Burial: Rutherford, Tennessee

Children of WILLIAM KELTON and ELIZABETH RAMSAY are:

2.	i.	MARY POLLY² KELTON, b. August 1774, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. Rutherford, Tennessee.
3.	ii.	ROBERT KELTON, b. May 06, 1776, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. Abt. 1826, Murphey's Spring, Rutherford, Tennessee.
4.	iii.	AGNES NANCY KELTON, b. January 20, 1777, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. bef 1830, Rutherford, Tennessee.
5.	iv.	WILLIAM KELTON, JR, b. July 12, 1778, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. October 23, 1866, McMinnville, Warren, Tennessee.
	v.	DAVID KELTON, b. December 15, 1783, Burke, North Carolina; d. Bef. 1800, Burke, North Carolina.

Notes for DAVID KELTON:
Notable Southern Families, Armstrong, Vol I-II, 929.2
Tennessee Tidbits 1778-1914 Vol 1 976.8

Died Young.

More About DAVID KELTON:
Burial: North Carolina

6.	vi.		MARGARET PEGGY KELTON, b. January 01, 1784, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. September 22, 1829, North Carolina.
	vii.		JUNIOR ELIZABETH KELTON, b. December 07, 1785, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. March 12, 1846, Rutherford, Tennessee; m. JAMES WILSON, October 31, 1821, Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee; b. Abt. 1796, Tennessee; d. Rutherford, Tennessee.

Notes for JUNIOR ELIZABETH KELTON:
Tn 1810 Census Rutherford Co (same pg as John Jetton, Thomas Peay)
Wilson, James 12111 01111 12 slaves

Tn 1830 Census Rutherford Co S285
Wilson, James 0100001-0100001 (Elizabeth Jr)

Notable Southern Families, Armstrong, Vol I-II, 929.2
Tennessee Tidbits 1778-1914 Vol 1 976.8

Rutherford Co Murfreesboro Marriage Rec 1804 - 1837
Wilson, James To Elizabeth Kelton issued Oct 31 1821 Solmn Oct 31 1821 by
Robert Henderson JP.

Early Middle Tennessee Marriages 976.8 Sistler.
Kelton, Eliza to James Wilson 10-31-1821 Rutherford.

More About JUNIOR ELIZABETH KELTON:
Burial: Tennessee

Notes for JAMES WILSON:
Tn 1810 Census Rutherford Co pg 16 (same as John Jetton, Thomas Peay)
Wilson, James 12111 01111 12 slaves

Tn 1830 Census Rutherford Co S285
Wilson, James 0100001-010001

Rutherford Co Murfreesboro Marriage Rec 1804 - 1837
Wilson, James To Elizabeth Kelton issued Oct 31 1821 Solmn Oct 31 1821 by
Robert Henderson JP.

Early Middle Tennessee Marriages 976.8 Sistler.
Kelton, Eliza to James Wilson 10-31-1821 Rutherford.

35,000 Tenn Marriage Records 1783-1870 V2 G-N 976.8 T
Kelton, Samuel to Elizabeth Manly - Issued Oct 1 1817, Bondsman: James
Wilson, M. by Jas. S. Jetton, JP Oct 2, 1817, Rutherford Co.

Is this the same James D Wilson County Clerk who posted the will of
Rachel Jetton Kelton wife of Robert Kelton?

More About JAMES WILSON:
Burial: Tennessee

7.	viii.		JAMES KELTON, b. February 11, 1789, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. August 12, 1847, Murfreesboro, Rutherford, Tennessee.
8.	ix.		SAMUEL B KELTON, b. Abt. 1791, Morgan District, Burke, North Carolina; d. October 01, 1817, Porterfield, Rutherford, Tennessee.

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