The origins of the Kelsey’s can successfully be traced back to the birth of James Kelsey and Virginia Frederick somewhere around the 1800s. Two other Kelsey’s found in the 1880 Census and in the same enumeration district as Jame Kelsey were Jeff Kelsey (b. July 1817) and Liza Kelsey (b. April 1828). Their relation to James Kelsey is unknown.

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James Kelsey in 1800 along with Mary McNichols in 1802, also born around 1800 produced seven children: Robert (b. 1820), Emanuel (b. 1822), Jack (b. 1829), Abram P. (b. 1830), Thomas (b. 1835), Lewis (b. 1850) and Will (birthdate unknown).

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• Robert Kelsey and his two wives – Peggy White and Milley Jones had the following offspring: Abram Theodore James, Katherine, Abram P., Hattie, Frances, William, Andrew Z., Chaney, Jane, and Lucy.

• Emanuel and Sylvia (maiden name-unknown) Kelsey produced Sarah Diecy, Emanuel Jr., Abram, James, Jack, Jim, Millie, Sam, Bonny, Charlie, and Mozell.

• Jack and Easter (Jackson) Kelsey were the parents of Abram, Mary, Lizzie, Cleanie, and Nelson.

• Abram P. and Layie (maiden name- unknown) perhaps his second wife- unknown, Kelsey had Jim, Will, and Lusindia.

• Thomas (1835) and Sarah (Bradley) Kelsey (b. 1825) produced Dollie (1863), Peggy (1865), Ossie, Madelle, and Ada; Home in 1880 was in Burke County, Ga. Martha, Joseph, Thomas – 4 months) Bradley, and Ozzie Worthy – age 7.

• There is no record of children born to Will and Anna (Lawson) Kelsey. Other sources of information say that Will moved to Florida at an early age.

• Lewis (spelling taken from the 1890 Census) and Laurinda (Barnes) Kelsey were the parents of Carrie, Ida Bell, Camile, Mary, Louis Jr., Howard, Perry, and Lenton.

• The Kelsey family has prospered, and the legacy of James and Mary Kelsey lives on in present generations as well as in generations to come.