Hugh Kelso (abt. 1700 - 1737)

Born about 1700 in County Londonderry, Ulster, Ireland

Husband of Sarah (Unknown) Kelso — married 1715 in Londonderry, County Londonderry, Ireland

Descendants

Died 1737 at about age 37 in Worcester, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Mark Todd [send private message] and Daphne Maddox [send private message]

Biography

wife Sarah -- see will

• in group of Londonderry Ulster Scots who arr. Massachusetts 1718 and went to Worcester. Presumed member of Rev. MacGregor's congregation (https://books.google.com/books?id=dmU4JDLQ9tgC&pg=PA48&lpg=PA48&dq=hugh+kelso+pelham+massachusetts&source=bl&ots=OAzCSEEGok&sig=odMUsLYDxxyzRTAhZCpjgHAYXok&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig4O3E9JDKAhVC42MKHTv7BjUQ6AEIODAF#v=onepage&q=hugh%20kelso%20pelham%20massachusetts&f=false for example)

• named as a wheelwright in probate. Interesting, there was a Kelso who later went to VA from supp. Scotland who was apparently a wheelwright

• his probate record, including will: http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/worcester-county-probate-file-papers-1731-1881/image/?volumeId=30222&pageName=34458:1&rId=682820527
• Executors: Robert Blair, William Gray Jr. and Robert Barber
• Witnesses: John Gray, John Blair, William Foster
• in addition to Grays, Blair, Andrew MacFarland an appraiser: http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/worcester-county-probate-file-papers-1731-1881/image/?pageName=34458:8&volumeId=30222&rId=682820527

• some think that the spelling of Kelso was conflated with Kelly, Kesley but this may be genealogical error conflating two families. supposed son or brothers (alexander, william, richard, john) bear futher investigation (http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.kelso/92.200.3/mb.ashx, and http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.kelso/92.200.3/mb.ashx)

Children

These are likely all of the children who survived him, as they were named in his will.(http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/worcester-county-probate-file-papers-1731-1881/image/?pageName=34458:11&volumeId=30222&rId=682820527)

By the wording of the will, it seems that of the daughters, only Jane was married by summer of 1737 (which is consistent with the rest being under 16)

Jean or Jane Kelso, b. 1717, m. Matthew Gray (in Londonderry, while rest in Worcester)

named in probate as wife of Matthew Gray the third: http://www.americanancestors.org/databases/worcester-county-probate-file-papers-1731-1881/image/?pageName=34458:6&volumeId=30222&rId=682820527)

This Findagrave memorial is written as if based on an inscription, but no stone.... how can we know? Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 March 2023), memorial page for Jean Kelso Gray (1716–20 Dec 1764), Find A Grave: Memorial #79422025, citing Worcester Common Burial Ground, Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Carolyn N. Gray-Yeaw (contributor 47062093).

Susannah Kelso, b. abt. 1722

Either she was married to John Crawford or Jonas Gray, the other person being probably someone else's daughter?

... or she was married to neither of them and both are not his daughters?

supp. m. Jonas Gray(http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.kelso/92.200.2/mb.ashx), also supp. m. John Crawford (http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.kelso/92.200.2.1/mb.ashx)

"Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFV4-Q68 : accessed 4 January 2016), Susannah Gray, 11 May 1813, Death; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,565.

"Vermont, Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFV4-Q62 : accessed 4 January 2016), Susannah Gray, 13 Mar 1809, Death; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 27,565.

This must be the version of Susannah who m. John Crawford:

"Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCMQ-PTY : accessed 4 January 2016), Susannah Crawford, 05 Nov 1808; citing Pelham, Hampshire, Ma, reference Item 10 Pg86; FHL microfilm 1,863,562.

"Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC6V-4Z4 : accessed 4 January 2016), John Crawford and Shusannah Kelso, 19 Sep 1752; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 1,863,287.

John Kelso b. abt. 1722 or is it 1729?

This has got to be him, shown as b. 1729, right? "Massachusetts Deaths and Burials, 1795-1910," database, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FH87-1N5 : accessed 4 January 2016), Capt. John Kelso, 11 Jul 1814; citing , reference ; FHL microfilm 879,889.

It seems with a wife named Sarah he had many children -- if this is the correct John Kelso: http://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Worcester/Worcester/Images/Worcester_B155.shtml

says here she was Sarah Crawford: http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/charles-nutt/history-of-worcester-and-its-people-volume-7-ttu/page-22-history-of-worcester-and-its-people-volume-7-ttu.shtml ... which further supports the idea that his Susannah may have married Joh Crawford

Sarah Kelso, b. abt. 1723 (or is it 1726 as per said in findagrave reading of gravestone?), m. John Blair

Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 26 March 2023), memorial page for Sarah Kelso Blair (1726–20 Dec 1807), Find A Grave: Memorial #74046688, citing Putnam United Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Putnam, Washington County, New York, USA; Maintained by Thomas Dunne (contributor 46784633).

Mary Kelso, b. abt. 1724 (is this date a proxy for being youngest daughter?

Hugh was a Wheelwright.

Hugh Kelso was born about 1700 in Londonderry , Londonderry County, Province of Ulster, Northern Ireland. [1, 2]

He married Sarah Taylor about 1715 in Londonderry, and their first daughter Jean was born there in 1716. [1, 2]

They arrived in Worcester, Worcester County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, British Colonial American in 1718, where a number of former Londonderry residents had immigrated to the New World that same year, including the John Gray Jr and Matthew Gray Sr families. [3, 4].

Caleb Wall's Reminiscences of Worcester, mentions that Hugh, "as well as a few other natives of the north of Ireland, came over with their Scotch brethren, and introduced here the first potatoes used in this country." [8]

According to immigration records and later will and probate records, Hugh was a wheelwright by trade (someone who builds and repairs wheels for wagons and carriages.) [4, 5]

By 1733, Hugh is listed among the early Worcester County settlers from Ireland, and he maintained a certain standing in the community since he was given a pew assignment by name rather than general seating in the public section of the church. [6]

In 1734, his oldest daughter, Jean, married Matthew Gray Jr. [1, 2] (Both had come to the New World as children, Jean as a two-year-old and Matthew as a ten-year-old. [5, 6])

Only three years later, Hugh signed a will before witnesses on 14 Jun 1737, in which he states he was "sick and weak." He further calls Jean's husband "my well beloved son Matthew Gray," to whom Hugh bequeaths his "wearing cloaths [sic]." Further, John Gray (Mattrew's grandfather) was present at the will signing as both witness and co-executor to Hugh's estate. [5]

In that document, Hugh also includes mention of his wife Sarah, son John, and his other two daughters Susannah and Marey [sic]. [5]

Hugh Kelso died that same summer, and on 14 Aug 1737, his will was read in the Court of Probate in Worcester by Judge John Chandler. [5] One month later, his wife Sarah also died. [7]

His inventory was taken on 25 June 1737 in Worcester.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ "Probate records v. 1 1731-1739, 1778-1814, 1863-1870" database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9Y5-BDK2  : 3 February 2024), Film# 00774407, Worcester, Massachusetts, image 156, Vol 1, Page 268.

1. Hugh Kelso, biographical details, FamilySearch.com [1]

2. Hugh Kelso, biographical details, Ancestry.com [2]

3. Bolton, Charles Knowles. Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America|Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America (Bacon and Brown, Boston, 1910), Full digital text [3]

• pages 187-88: Hugh Kelso arrives in Worcester in 1718.
• page 183: Hugh Kelso as part of Worcester County settlements in 1733.

4. Bolton, Ethel Stanwood. Immigrants to New England, 1700-1775. Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1931. 235p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1966. "U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s." Ancestry.com database.

• page 102: Hugh Kelso immigrates in 1718. [4]

5. "Massachusetts, Wills and Probate Records, 1635-1991 for Hugh Kelso," Worcester Probate Records, Vol 1, 1731-1739, 1778-1814 and 1863-1870. Ancestry.com database, with original image of the will [5]

6. Bolton, Charles Knowles. 'Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America|Scotch Irish Pioneers in Ulster and America (Bacon and Brown, Boston, 1910). Full digital text. [6]

7. Sarah Taylor Kelso, biographical details, Ancestry.com. [7]/35255314/person/100067050068/facts

8. Wall, Caleb A. Section: Ecclesiastical history. Chapter VIII. "The first church." Reminiscences of Worcester : from the earliest period : historical and genealogical, with notices of early settlers and prominent citizens, and descriptions of old landmarks and ancient dwellings, accompanied by a map and numerous illustrations. Worcester, Mass.: Tyler & Seagrave, 1877. Transcribed at Ancestry.com [8]