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Samuel Kelley was born about 1750. According to Delaware Biographies which I found years ago in the Philadelphia Historical Society collection, "Samuel Kelley was born in Scotland, immigrated in his youth and settled in upper New Castle County.  He became a land owner and spent his life farming.  He was buried at White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church where he was a member".  I do not have the page number, the compiler or their sources.  Where I can, I will confirm this infomration with source date.

It is probable that Samuel's mother or possibly grandmother was Ezemy Kelley, maidenname unknown.  There is a will New Castle County, probated on Dec. 21, 1758 for Ezemy Kelly widow of Mill Creek.  The exe was son William, and heirs listed included son Samuel, William, Thomas, John and James and daughters Mary, Margaret and Elizabeth.   Samuel also had a daughter named Ezemy listed in his will.

New Castle County Deed book B2, page 56, 1772 notes that Samuel Kelley purchased property from James Moore and wife on the east side of Red Clay Creek.

The Old Swedes Church records of Wilmington Delaware show that Lawrence Girelius married Samuel Kelley to Margaret Grey on September 4, 1787... The original Records Book of Old Swedes was taken back to Sweden by the first pastor, Rev Eric Bjork.

In 1796, Orphans County of New Castle CountyVol 1, Book H, page 249, spoke to Elizabeth Kelley, a minor, daughter of Samuel Kelley.  The cournt appointed men to make a value estimate of the houses, orchards and land owned by the deceased.  A report from May 24, 1797, Vol 1 Book H, page 267 Orphans Court describes property as "comfortable slave dwelling and kichen, hay house with celler, stable.  1/2 an old house with spring house and weaver shops and orchard."

We know that Samuel Kelley married first Rebecka English because in 1802 there was a court battle over the property left to the children of Samuel Kelley. It can be found in the Recorder of Deeds.  There was a final settlement in 1859, found in Recorder of Deeds, Book G 7, page 201. The gist of the story is that Samuel and Rebecka lived on a farm in Mill Creek Hundred of New Castle County that was inherited from Rebecka's father.  His name and purchase of the porperty still needs to be found.  Rebecka died in 1783.  Samuel remarried in 1787 and then he died in 1796. One of Rebecka's daughters, Elizabeth was left out of his will and she sued after she married Robert Higgins. There were at least four other daughters that were listed in the will.  They must have been Margaret's but I don't have that confirmed.
New Castle County DE  Orphans Court Vol 1, Book H, page 249

 Margaret and Samuel  had a son William Kelley  born according to his tombstone in White Clay Presbyterian Cemetery in 1785.  He inherited at least some if not all the property. 

Samuel Kelley, Yeoman of Mill Creek Hrd, wrote a will June 2, 1794.  It was probabed May 3, 1796 and is in New Castle County Will Book O, page 159.  Margaret was named Executor along with Thomas Montgormery, Esq and Robert Crawford, Gent. It named his children Elizabeth, William, Rebecka, Ezemy, Lydia and Margaret.  Also, Samuel Kelley, the Miller.  and noted his late wife Rebecka, mother of said Elizabeth and William. 

I have another note, source unknown, that stated that all the daughters were Rebecka's and that William was Margaret's son.  I don't know when Rebecka died, but William's tomb indicated he was born 2 years before Samuel and Margaret were married.  However, I actually believe that most of the children were Margarets because of the 1800 Delaware Census, Mill Creek hundred, page 201.  It lists the family as
Marg Kelly- head of house hold - female 26-45
      1 male 10 - 16,
      3 females under 10
      2 females 10-16
  That would place most of them born after the 1787 wedding of Margaret and Samuel.

Samuel was probably buried in the old White Clay Cemetery on the hill above the church maybe a quarter mile.  A 1987 news article bemoaned the condition of the cemetery.  " in the Henderson Heights area, with houses all around.  It is 80% jungle and 20% dump".  Unformtunately, the White Clay historical records were lost to fire many years ago.

The 1830 White Clay Hundred Census, New Caslle County , Roll M19-12, page 60 shows William Kelly as head of household with a woman 70-80 years old.  This is most like Margaret.

If you know the answer please CONTACT US

1. Where was Samuel from?
2. Who were his parents?
3. Get a copy of the will of Mr. English, Rebecka's father.
4. Get a copy of Samuel Kelley's will.
5. Get a copy of the 1802 litigation.
6.  Try to determine who birthed each child.

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Date Last Edited:11/28/2010