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Michael & Candie Witherspoon
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Notes for William Kelton
In 1773, Robert's son, William, married Elizabeth Ramsay, whose family had come from Pennsylvania when the Keltons came. Later William moved his family across the mountains to Tennessee and in 1801 settled at Black Fox Camp, a former Indian stopover, in what became Rutherford County, Tennessee. William and Elizabeth had nine children -- Mary (Polly), Robert, Agnes (Nancy), William, Margaret (Peggy), David, Elizabeth, James and Samuel B. The descendants of William were a large family, some of whom moved on to Arkansas, Texas and Arizona.
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. "Source: Zella Armstrong, compiler, Notable Southern Families (Chattanooga, Tenn.: Lookout Publishing Co., 1922), Volume II, pp. 215-230". An expanded account of the parents of William Kelton and his descendants appeared in the 1975 book, My People -- The Keltons written by one of William's descendants in Arizona, Lorene Kelton Petersen.
NC 1790 Census Morgan Dist Burke Co 1st Co
Kelton, William p106 1 FWM 16+, 4 FWM under 16, 6 FWF, 7 other free persons.
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.
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