Richard Kelsey is the probable brother to my 5th great-grandfather William Kelsey. I really need more documentation to know for sure. The following will is what caught my attention to the possible connection.
This is the last
Will and Testament of me of Richard Kelsey of North Court in the parish of
Swingfield in the county of Kent yeoman in manner following that is
to say I give and bequeath unto my natural and reputed son Thomas
Kelsey of the parish of Adisham in the said County yeoman my
Nephew William Kelsey of North Court aforesaid yeoman and my
friend Mr. George Downe of the parish of Elham in the said
County Gentleman Sum of Two hundred pounds three per Centum
Consolidated Bank Annuities now standing in my Name upon Trust
nevertheless that they the said Thomas Kelsey William Kelsey and
George Downe and the survivors and survivor of them and that
Executors and Administrators of the survivor shall and do well and
duly pay or cause to be paid by and out of the dividends arising upon
the said two hundred pounds Stock the clear Sum of ffive pounds a
year unto my niece Susanna the wife of John
Hills to and for her own proper use and benefit for and during
the term of her natural life by half yearly payments the first
payment to begin and be made when the next half years dividends on
the said Two hundred pounds shall accrue due and I do direct that the
receipt and receipts of my said Niece Susanna ___ shall from
time to time be a good and sufficient discharge and discharges to my
said Trustees for upon said dividends not withstanding her present or
any future coverture and the residue of such dividends I do direct
to be paid and applied to the said Thomas Kelsey his executors
administrators and assigns to and for his and their own proper use
and benefit for and during the term of his natural life of my said
Niece Susanna and ____ and immediately after her decease then
upon Trust and I do give and bequeath the said _____ ___ Two hundred
pounds Stock unto the said Thomas Kelsey and to his Executors
Administrators and assigns to and for his and their own proper use
and benefit also I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth the
wife of Thomas Richards the sum of fifty pounds of lawful
money of Great Britain and I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John
Kelsey and Edward Kelsey and to Margaret the daughter of
the said Thomas Richards by my said niece Elizabeth his wife
the
sum of Ten pounds
a piece of like lawful Money which said last named four Legacies I do direct to be
paid and payable within three Months next after my decease and also I give devise and
bequeath unto the said Thomas Kelsey all and every my Messages
Lands Tenements and hereditaments and the rest residue and remainder
of all and every my Monies
and Securities for Money and all other my real and personal Estate whatsoever and
wheresoever that I shall be possessed of Interested in or intitled
unto at the time of my
decease To hold all the same unto him the said Thomas Kelsey and to his heirs and I
do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Thomas Kelsey
solo Executor of this my will hereby revoking all former and
other wills by me at any time or times heretofore made and declared
this to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof
I the said Richard Kelsey the Testator have to this my last
will and Testament set my hand and Seal the sixth day of July in the
year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight Richard
Kelsey Signed sealed published and declared by
the said Richard Kelsey the Testator as ad for his last will
and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his
presence and in the presence of each other do hereunto subscribe our
Names as witnesses Ann Moon,
Will: Moon, Wm Knocker
There are a few words I just could not make out, hence the blanks. This will may have supplied a few answers, but of course it has also left me with a few questions. The nephews and nieces that Richard names, William, Susanna, John, Edward and Elizabeth, were all baptized in Swingfield, Kent, England the children of William and Susannah (my 5th great-grandparents). Well, Susanna, John and Edward's mother is listed as Sarah for some reason. So I am calling my 5th great-grandmother "Sarah Susannah". Susanna was the oldest born 1751 and Edward was the youngest born 1766.
The thing that puzzles me the most is that he did not mention their brother Richard Kelsey (1756-820) my 4th great-grandfather, at all. It's most likely that the father William named him Richard after his brother. Did they have a falling out? Curious minds want to know! This seems to be the only Kelsey family in Swingfield at the time.
The witness
William Moon was also a bondsman for the marriage of William Kelsey to Ann Gammon Nov 1793 in Swingfield. So I have a feeling that Mr. Moon is connected to them somehow. Coincidentally my Richard's mother-in-law was Elizabeth Moon.
Sources:
- England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858, Ancestry.com
- England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975, Ancestry.com
- Kent, England, Extracted Parish Records, Ancestry.com
Leslie
Ann