John Kelsey

John married Hannah Disborough about 1668 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. Hannah (daughter of Nicholas Disborough and Mary Bronson) was born on 16 Oct 1636 in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; died on 22 Jul 1709 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Kelsey was born on 20 Oct 1671 in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut; died on 17 Sep 1780.
2. Hannah Kelsey was born on 13 Sep 1668 in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut; died on 02 Feb 1729 in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut.
3. Joseph Kelsey was born on 25 Dec 1673 in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut; died on 08 Mar 1740 in Killingworth, Middlesex County, Connecticut.

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1632, Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts; from England

Notes:

William Kelsey was among the original Braintree Company which emigrated to New England with the Rev. Thomas Hooker in 1632

{sjt#1-12} From The Kelsey Family News Bullition, Aug 1977, Vol. XXVII No. 2. Published by the Kelsey Kindred of America (an Organization of the decendants of William Kelsey, Puritan Immigrant, 1632).
EARLY SETTLER LEFT HARTFORD UNDER DURESS Recently published in the Hartford Conn. Times by Audry Kane.

CLINTON--Members of the kindred from all parts of the country gather together each year during a September weekend. They all have at least one thing in common -- they are descendants of William Kelsey, one of the "original propietors" of Clinton.

Born in England about 1600, William Kelsey was among the original Braintree Company which emigrated to New England with the Rev. Thomas Hooker in 1632. Kelsey settled in "New Tone", now known as Hartford, with the Rev. Hooker and more than 50 families in 1636.

Kelsey's name is inscribed on the founders' monument in the lod cemetery of the First Congregational Church in Hartford as being one of the "original proprietor".

In 1663, the King of England granted William Kelsey six acres of land in Clinton, then known as Hammonassett and later known as Kenilworth. In 1838 the area was divided with the northern part named Killingwoth and the southern part Clinton.

Falling Out
It is uncertain why Kelsey wanted to move from Hartford. In the first volume of the Kelsey Genealogy, it is said that he may have left because of a dispute on theological matters in which he had "recieved the worst of the argument". ."original propietors" in Clinton. Part of the original grant is still owned by his descendants, 10 generations later. Another part of the grant is now the Liberty Street Green.

It is said that Kelsey made the first private donation to the church of Killingworth . . 20 shillings to be paid yearly for the use of the ministry.

The Kelsey kindred, now numbering 500 descendants, was formed in 1928 by Joseph Kelsey, Sr. who lived at 90 East Main St. Part of the kindred's program during annual reunions includes attendance at Sunday services at the First Church of Christ, Congregational.

Until last year, Kelsey's descendants gathered annually in Clinton. The reunion will take place in Mystic this September giving distant relatives the chance to vist Mystic seaport. However, they will return to Clinton to carry on the tradation of attending Sunday church services here.

Still in Family
One of the earliest warranty deeds shows William Kelsey giving his property to his sons, John and Daniel.

It was recorded on June 8, 1674 that he gave John "all my house lot containing six acres more or less -- also my cow yard on the north side of the street over agaynst my house sixty rods of land more or less -- also I give to unto him my division of medow lying on the river."

A stone monument erected to William Kelsey's memory now stands to the east of the house at 90 East Main Street ... The last parcel of land remaining in the family for more than 300 years.

http://thomas-family.org/familytree/kelsey/william_/family.BAK

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=39228884

http://www.foundersofhartford.org/founders/kelsey_william.htm

Immigration:
William Kelsey was among the original Braintree Company which emigrated to New England with the Rev. Thomas Hooker in 1632

William married Bethia Hopkins about 1625 in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Bethia was born about 1605 in Newton, Suffolk, England; died about 1680 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]