Col. John Kelly and Sarah Polk
Husband Col. John Kelly 1 2 3
AKA: Col. John Kelley 4 Born: Feb 1741 or 1744 - Londonderry Twp, Lancaster (later Dauphin) Co, PA 1 2 Christened: Died: 8 Feb 1832 - Buffalo Valley, Northumberland Co, PA 1 Buried:
Father: Patrick Kelly (1709-1769) 5 6 Mother: Rachel [Unk] (1708-1782) 5 6
Marriage:
Wife Sarah Polk 1 7
AKA: Sarah Poak 3 Born: Christened: Died: 2 Jan 1831 1 Buried:
Father: James Polk ( - ) 1 Mother:
Children
1 M John Kelly 1 7 9
AKA: John Kelley 8 Born: - ? Centre Co, PA Christened: Died: 26 Apr 1838 - Cooperstown, Jackson Twp, Venango Co, PA Buried:
2 M James Kelly 1 7 10
Born: 1776 10 Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Elizabeth Hanna (Abt 1773- ) 10
3 M William Kelly 1 7
AKA: William Kelley 4 Born: Christened: Died: 27 Jan 1830 - Centre Co, PA 7 Buried:Spouse: Margaret Allison (1797-1846) 4
4 M Andrew Kelly 1 7
Born: 1783 7 Christened: Died: 24 Sep 1867 7 Buried:Spouse: Did Not Marry
5 M Samuel Kelly 1 7
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:
6 F Elizabeth Kelly 1 7
Born: Christened: Died: Buried:Spouse: Simeon Howe ( - ) 1 7
7 F Maria Kelly 1
AKA: Mary Kelly 7 Born: Christened: Died: Jan 1861 1 Buried:Spouse: John Campbell ( - ) 7
8 M Robert Kelly 1 7
Born: Abt 1788-1798 Christened: Died: 12 Apr 1865 1 7 Buried:
9 M Joseph Kelly 1 7
Born: 1793 1 Christened: Died: 2 Mar 1860 1 7 Buried:
10 M David H. Kelly 1 7
Born: 5 Nov 1798 or 1803 - Buffalo Valley, Northumberland Co, PA 1 7 Christened: Died: 11 Feb 1875 1 11 Buried: - Baker's cemeterySpouse: Mary Baker (1812-Aft 1898) 12 Marr: 10 Feb 1831 11
General Notes: Husband - Col. John Kelly
After the Indian purchase of 1768, he settled in the Buffalo Valley, enduring all the hardships of pioneer life. At the age of twenty-seven he was a captain and major on the frontiers, and at the outset of the Revolution was ready for the conflict; he was a member of the convention of July 15, 1776, and subsequently entered the army, having previously assisted in organizing the associators, being appointed major in Col. James Potter's battalion. After the battle of Princeton, when Cornwallis by a forced march arrived at Stony Brook, General Washington sent an order to Colonel Potter to destroy the bridge at Worth's Mills in sight of the advancing British. Colonel Potter ordered Major Kelly to make a detail for that purpose, but the latter said he would not order another to do what some might say he was afraid to do himself; he took a detachment and went to work. The enemy opened upon him a heavy fire of round shot; before all the logs were cut off, several balls struck the log on which he stood, and it breaking down sooner than he expected, he was precipitated into the stream; his party moved off, not expecting him to escape. By great exertions he reached the shore, through the high water and floating timbers, and followed the troops. Encumbered as he was with his wet and frozen clothes, he succeeded in making prisoner an armed British scout, and took him into camp. During the summer of 1777, Colonel Kelly commanded on the frontier, and continued in that service almost to the close of the Revolution. The record of his adventures during those troublesome times reads like a romance. Colonel Kelly was appointed agent for confiscated estates May 6, 1778, and in 1780 was chosen to the Assembly. He was one of the magistrates of Northumberland county from August 2, 1783, for upwards of twenty years. [CBEDC, 127]
This honored pioneer was in the full vigor of manhood at the time that the oppressed colonies resolved to throw off the English yoke, and his quick intelligence and dauntless courage brought him into prominence from the first.
He had already established a home in the wilderness in Buffalo Valley, then a part of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, having settled there immediately after the purchase from the Indians in 1768, and before the opening of the land office in 1769. He was about six feet, two inches in height, with a vigorous, muscular frame, which easily endured the labors and hardships of pioneer life. He took an active part in the discussion of the wrongs of the colonists, which led to the attempt at separation from the mother country, and in 1776 was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of the new State of Pennsylvania. He had had considerable experience as a member of the militia, and at twenty-seven had been appointed major in that service, and he was thus well prepared to assist in the tremendous task that confronted the patriot forces. The fall of 1776 was a dark period. The loss of Forts Washington and Lee with their stores, and the defeat on Long Island, had brought the hopes of the colonists low, but it was at this critical juncture that the rally was made to drive the British from New Jersey, the wrongs of that colony being felt by others as their own. A large force went from this state, Col. Kelly being conspicuous among the number for his ability. Of the brave deeds performed history has a scanty but significant record, and to the ordinary dangers of war there was added the prospect of an ignominious death as a rebel, belligerent rights not being acknowledged.
A quote from an address made on the occasion of the unveiling of a monument to Col. Kelly on April 8, 1835: "For three days at a time there was no regular service of provisions, and for more than thirty-six hours, at another time, they were constantly on the march, or in action, without a moment's sleep or giving up their arms. In the course of one of their re-treats, the commander-in-chief, through Col. Potter, sent an order to Maj. Kelly to have a certain bridge cut down to prevent the advance of the British, who were then in sight. The Major sent for an axe, but represented that the enterprise would be very hazardous. Still the British advance must be stopped, and the order was not withdrawn. He said he could not order another to do what some might say he was afraid to do himself; he would cut down the bridge. Before all the logs on which the bridge lay were cut off, he was completely within the range of the British fire, and several balls struck the log on which he stood. The last log broke down sooner than he expected, and he fell with it into the swollen stream. The colonial soldiers moved on, not believing it possible for him to escape. He, however, by great exertions, reached the shore through the high water and the floating timber, and followed the troops. Encumbered, as he must have been, with his wet and frozen clothes, he, on his road, made a prisoner of a British scout, an armed soldier, and took him into camp. What did Curtius do more than this? If such an instance of devoted heroism had happened in Greece or Rome, the day would have been distinguished from all other days. A medal would have been struck, and every means used to secure the everlasting remembrance of such a deed. In England such a man would have been made a Knight or a Lord, with the thanks of Parliament. In our poor devoted land such instances were too common to receive especial notice. History mentions that our army was preserved by the destruction of that bridge; but the manner in which it was done, or the name of the person who did it, is not mentioned. It was but one of a series of heroic acts, which happened every day, and our soldiers then were more familiar with the sword than with the pen.
"Major Kelly was present at Trenton, when the Hessians surrendered, and assisted in that most masterly movement on Princeton, by which the chain of communications of the enemy was broken, all their plans deranged and their army compelled to return to New York. After his discharge he returned to his farm and family, and during the three succeeding years the Indians were troublesome neighbors to this then frontier settlement. He became colonel of the regiment, and it was his duty to keep watch and ward against the incursions of hostile Indians through our mountain passes. At one time our people were too weak to resist, and our whole beautiful country was abandoned. Col. Kelly was among the first to return-for at least two harvests reapers took their rifles to the fields, and some of the company watched while others wrought. Col. Kelly had the principal command of the scouting parties in this Valley, and very often he was out in person. Many and many nights has he lain among the limbs of a fallen tree to keep himself out of the mud, without a fire, because a fire would indicate his position to the enemy. He had become well skilled in their mode of warfare. One circumstance deserves particular notice: The Indians seem to have resolved on his death, without choosing to attack him openly. One night he had reason to apprehend that they were near. He rose in the morning, and, by looking through the crevices of his log house, he ascertained that two, at least, if not more, were lying with their arms, so as to shoot him when he should open his door. He fixed his own rifle and took his position so that by a string he could open the door and watch the Indians. The moment he pulled the door open two balls came into the house, and the Indians rose to advance. He fired and wounded one, and both retreated. After waiting to satisfy himself that no others remained he followed them by the blood, but they escaped.
"For many years Col. Kelly held the office of a magistrate of the county. In the administration of justice, he exhibited the same anxiety to do right, and the same disregard of selfish gain, which had characterized him in the military service of the country. He would at any time forgive his own fees, and if the parties were poor, pay the constable's costs, to procure a compromise; while, by industry and economy, his own pecuniary circumstances were comfortable and easy, he seemed to desire the prosperity of all men, and most anxiously to desire that all neighbors should be friends. No man ever in vain sought his interposition to reconcile con-flicting interests, to soothe angry passions, to stand, as the defender and protector of the poor man, the widow, and the orphan. He obeyed the injunction, be given to hospitality. It is true that so general is the hospitality of his neighborhood that the want of it would be con-sidered a great vice; but in him it was a part of the same character, indicating a freedom from selfishness, an inability to enjoy fully God's bounties alone; a feeling that a good thing is rendered far more valuable by participation; and a conviction that the diffusion of happiness is not merely right in itself, but the source of great joy to every well-regulated mind. Col. Kelly was an affectionate husband, and a kind and judicious father, as well as a friendly and hospitable neighbor. He was a sincere and an exem-plary Christian, and adorned all his other virtues by exhibiting a pattern of humility well worthy of imitation. Having no anxieties who should be greatest in the kingdom of Heaven, he had no striving who should be greatest in the Church on earth; his profession of religion was well sustained by his practice. He had that true characteristic of bravery, an indisposition to fight his battles over again, and that feeling of humility, that where a man has only done his duty, boasting has no place. It is in some measure owing to this reserve that our notice of his life must be so brief and so imperfect. He seemed not to know that other men would have done differently from him; but to believe that whatever distinguished him from others, arose mainly from the circumstances under which he acted. We are of another generation, and his contemporaries have either gone down to the grave, or through lapse of time and failing faculties, are unable to give particular details. From himself, but a few gleanings from a life long and full of incidents, have been obtained.
"His last end proved his character to be con-sistent. He met the grim messenger calmly; 'for he knew in whom he had trusted;' and he could 'walk through the valley and shadow of death, fearing no evil.' The frame was bent, and the muscles relaxed; but the mind-the immortal mind-could not be obscured. It brightened more and more unto the perfect day. At the age of eighty-eight years, he departed, leaving his memory to our care and his virtues for our imitation." [CBRCP: CCUS, 893]
General Notes: Wife - Sarah Polk
from White Deer, [Union Co,?] PA
1 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Company, Publishers, 1896), Pg 127.
2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 893.
3 Helen M. Snyder, Genealogy of Robert Beatty 1760-1823 (Franklin, PA: Self-published.), Addendum.
4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 197.
5 William Henry Egle, M.D., M.A., Pennsylvania Genealogies; Chiefly Scotch-Irish and German (Harrisburg, PA: Harrisburg Publishing Co., 1896), Pg 246.
6 —, Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania (Chambersburg, PA: J. M. Runk & Company, Publishers, 1896), Pg 124.
7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 894.
8 —, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1071.
9 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 571.
10 Charles A. Hanna, Ohio Valley Genealogies (New York, 1900), Pg 56.
11 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 895.
12
—, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 895, 962.
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