Amy (Doniphan) Kelly (1670 - abt. 1728)

Born 1670 in Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 4 Feb 1728 at about age 58 in Sitt.Parish, Richmond, Virginia

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Biography

Amy's father and mother

A 2006 genforum post by Bellinda Barnett states: "(Captain) Alexander DONIPHAN, Jr. married wife # 1: Amiee/Amee/Amy PARTRIDGE, (also may have been spelled PARTRYCHE,) and they were the parents of other children including my paternal 7th great grandmother, Amy DONIPHAN, who married (Captain) John KELLY."

Perhaps Amy was the "Anne" Doniphan who, together with her father Alexander, Sr., witnessed a deed in Richmond on 3 July 1693.^[1]

A 1677 court order that gives the name Amie Doniphan together with sisters Sarah Wilson, Mary Colclough [ancestor of Lousanna Durham, wife of Amy (Doniphan) Kelly's great-grandson Mathew Kelly of Kentucky and Indiana] and Elizabeth Young. Sarah Wilson was the sister and heir of Samuel Partridge who died in 1678.^[2] By inference, Amy Doniphan, the first wife of Alexander Doniphan (and mother of Amy (Doniphan) Kelly in whose family the name "Alexander" and "Doniphan" occurred down the generations) was the sister of Sarah Wilson who was the sister of Samuel Partridge, giving the supposition that the maiden name of Alexander Doniphan's first wife Amy was Partridge.^[3]

Amy's First Husband

The names "Alexander" and "Donathan" (a variant of Doniphan) appear among the descendants of John Kelly and Amy Kelly.

On 3 May 1705 Capt. Alexander Doniphan gave a parcel of land to his son Alexander, who then immediately conveyed the land to John Kelly. It appears that this was Alexander Doniphan's way of giving his daughter Amy an inheritance, getting around Virginia's primogeniture law with the help of son Alexander, Jr.^[4] This would explain why Amy (the daughter of a first wife) wasn't mentioned in her father's 1717 will; she had already been taken care of.

Amy's Second Husband

After the death of Amy Doniphan's first husband John Kelly, she married (2) Edward Ransdell, who had a son Wharton by his first wife Mary. This has led some to the mistaken conclusion that Amy was the mother of Wharton Ransdell and that her maiden name was Wharton. Amy (Doniphan) (Kelly) Ransdell was the step-mother of Wharton Ransdell.

"EDWARD [Ransdell] appears with a wife MARY in a Westmoreland deed of 30 and 31 May 1699 (D&W 2, pp. 186-186a, as transcribed on p. 89, WDWD 2, 1965). Edward Ransdell of Cople Parish, carpenter, to Jacob Ramy Junr., 30 acres adjoining Nicholas Spencer, Jacob Remey Senr., Thos. Collinsworth. On 31 May 1699, Mary Ransdell, wife, relinquishes dower right to this land. He appears with a wife AMY in a deed of gift to son WHARTON on 24 Jan 1720/1, D&W 7, p. 87 (as mentioned in Holtzclaw's Thornton article on p. 13, which was cited above) and without Amy's being mentioned on 26 Feb. 1723, D&W 8, p. 7a (WDWS, 1723-1726, p. 11, 1994), a deed of gift to sons EDWARD and JOHN. Amy, as will be seen in Edward Ransdell's will, was the widow of Capt. John Kelly. John Kelly died sometime in 1715. His will, written 7 Oct. 1714 and proved 4 May 1715 is on p. 208, Richmond Co. Wills and Inventories, 1709-1717, as transcribed on p. 29, Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800, comp. by Robert K. Headley Jr., publ. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1983. Amy's will, written 17 Jan. 1729/30, pr. 4 Feb. 1729/30 is transcribed on p. 65 of the same publication She mentions dau. Mary Moxley; sons John Kelly, Matthew Kelly, and Alexander Kelly, exr. friend James Wilson. Witn. Anne Wilson, James Williams, William Jordan. It is obvious from the date of death of John Kelly and the absence of Ransdell children in Amy's will that she had no children by Edward Ransdell."^[5]

Probate Records

Edward Ransdell died sometime in 1724, since his will was written on 1 May 1724 and probate took place on 24 June 1724, D&W 8, pp. 23a-24 (WDWS, 1723-1726, pp. 38-40, 1994). To sons WHARTON, EDWARD; and JOHN, personal property; to wife AMY and her children by Capt. John Kelly, personal property and whatever estate he had by virtue of his marriage to her; sons Edward and John to be under guardianship of Wharton until they reach age of 21; to Elizabeth Jeffries, a cow; to daughter-in-law [= step daughter] Mary Kelly, a heifer; to Nicholas Stephens, clothing; to slave Will, a box; to daughters ELIZABETH TALBOT and MILESENT LONGWORTH, residue of estate; and to William Longworth, my best suit of clothes. Exr. son Wharton Ransdell. Witn. Christopher Marmaduke, W. Stuman, Deborah Marmaduke. Will proved 24 June 1724, recorded 6 May 1724."^[6]

"Abstract of will of AMY RANSDELL, wr. 17 Jan. 1729/30, pr. 4 Feb. 1729/30, on p. 65 in Wills of Richmond County, Virginia, 1699-1800, comp. by Robert K. Headley Jr., publ. Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1983. To dau. Mary Moxley; sons John Kelly, Matthew Kelly, and Alexander Kelly, exr. friend James Wilson. Witn. Anne Wilson, James Williams, William Jordan.

"Richmond Co., Va. Deed Book 8, p. 516. Bond. We Matthew Kelley, Alexander Kelley, and Edward Eidson of Richmond Co. bind ourselves to the justices of the peace of Richmond County in the sum of £100 this Feb 4, 1729, to insure that Matthew and Alexander Kelley, Administrators of the will and of all the goods, chattels, and credits of AMY RANSDELL deced, make an inventory of the goods, chattels, and credits of the deceased. Signed Matthew Kelley, Alexander Kelley, Eidson. Rec. Feb. 4, 1728 (1729?)."^[7]

Research Notes

Disputed Child

Some researchers identify Penelope (Kelly) Eidson as an additional child, without source. That person was born in Ireland and so does not appear to be related to this family. She has been detached pending identification of a reliable source supporting the claim.

Sources

1. ↑ John B. Boddie, Virginia Historical Genealogies, p. 77.
2. ↑ This message cites Cavaliers and Pioneers, vol. 2, p. 192
3. ↑ See Partridges in Early Virginia, c. 1678, a 2001 forum post by Grady Bonner. See also this 2002 rootsweb post by Bellinda Myrick.
4. ↑ Early Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck website, citing 1704-1705 Richmond Co VA Order Book 4 (Antient Press), p. 63. The abstract is as follows: Richmond County Court 3d of May 1705 - This day Capt ALEXANDER DONIPHAN acknowledged an Assignment for the one halfe of a certaine parcell or tract of land mentioned in a Conveyance made by GEORGE JONES, deced., to him, to ALEXANDER DONIPHAN, JUNR., wch: is ordered to be recorded - This day ALEXANDER DONIPHAN, JUNR. acknowledged an Assignment of the one halfe of a certaine tract or parcell of land mentioned in a certaine conveyance made to ALEXANDER DONIPHAN, JUNR. by GEORGE JONES, deced., to JOHN KELLY, which is ordered to be recorded.
5. ↑ Robert P. Moore, "An Outline of the Early Ransdells of Virginia and Kentucky".
6. ↑ Robert P. Moore, "An Outline of the Early Ransdells of Virginia and Kentucky".
7. ↑ Robert P. Moore, "An Outline of the Early Ransdells of Virginia and Kentucky".