Captain James Kell
James Kell was born near Carlisle, PA on March 6, 1760 and died on Feb. 22,1848 in Gilmer County, GA..
He married Letitia Kneal on Aug. 30, 1783 in Rowan Co., NC. I show Letitia Kneal as dying in 1803 in SC.
Marriage License Bond
Raleigh, NC
State Dept. of Archives & Rowan County Marriage Bonds
Know all men by these Presents that we jointly and severally bound to Alexander Martin, Esq., Governor of North Carolina, in the full sum of 50 pounds species to be paid to him or his successors in office on condition that whereas license should be granted bearing equal date with this bond for the consideration of the rights of Matrimony between JAMES KELL and LETITIA KNEAL. Now if there shall appear any lawful case why this marriage shall not have taken effect, then this obligation to be void, else to remain in full force and value.
Witness in ours hands and seals the 30th day of August, 1783.
Signed: JAMES KELL
Wit: James Karie ?
Children of James and Letitia:
James (Jr) Kell (b) 1784 in NC
Alexander Kell (b) 1785 in NC (d) March 19,1847 in Gilmer County, GA
John Kell (b) 1789 in NC (d) 1870
Elizabeth Kell (b) 1791 in SC
Cynthia Kell (b) 1798 in SC (d) Nov.17, 1868 in Gilmer County
They may have had another daughter and at least one more son according to the 1790 and 1800 SC Census.
James' father moved from Pennsylvania to Orange Co., NC in 1763. James resided in Orange Co. when he enlisted in the Revolutionary War. After the Revolutionary War he moved to Rowan Co. NC. Approx. 4 years later he moved to Surry Co., NC & after 1 yr. he returned to Rowan Co.; he then moved to Burke Co., NC. After approx. 4 years (1789) he and a John Kell moved to Pendleton District, SC and settled at a place on the Seneca River (now Lake Hartwell). After approx. 20 years he moved to Rabun Co., GA. He was among the first settlers(1820) of Rabun County after is creation in 1819. He was among the first settlers of Gilmer County after it's creation in 1832. He purchased 300 acres of land in Gilmer County on July 21, 1834.
James applied for pension in December 1833, while living in Rabun Co., GA.. The application stated:
The State of Georgia
Rabun County
On this Eleventh day of December 1833 personally appeared before us in the Inferior Court for the County of Rabun aforesaid, Capt. James Kell of Gilmer County in the said state late and for a great many year resident in this County, who being first duly sworn saith he is aged Seventy three years doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 and first the reason of his applying in Rabun is that the County of Gilmer is just organized & his first application was in the County of Rabun. That he entered the service of the United States as a Volunteer under Capt. Jameson in October 1778 in Orange County in the State of North Carolina and went with him down Deep River after Tories, & took three prisoners, which they took to Hillsboro & delivered them to General Butler he served two months, at the least. In July 1780 he turned out volunteer under Capt. Trice under Col. Poterfield and Genl Butler and joined Genl Gates at Lynches Creek & marched to Rugeley's Mill -- and in the evening was marched to near Camden where they met the British & in the morning the Battle was fought he was in the Battle shot twice in the night & once in the morning after the Battle he was marched on retreat to Salisbury & from there to Hillsboro where he was discharged this tour he served three months at the least.
Afterwards Lord Cornwallis was marching southward and he was called on as a volunteer to find his horse clothes & arms & go with Col Taylor, he could not procure his cloth, horse & arms in time to start with Taylor but as soon as ready in about a week he followed to Salisbury. Taylor had gone but he found Col Davy he joined his Regt of Cavalry under Capt Lock and marched to Charlotte where they met Cornwallis & had a skirmish fired two or three rounds & retreated to Col Fifer, he there prusued Taylor to the narrows of the Yadkin & he being gone he joined Capt James Crump of the Horse, under Col Ledbetter he was in several skirmishes with Tories one on McLendals Creek & one on Downing Creek, during this time he was at Huware where they killed several Tories, & hung one or two. He served three months & he got a discharge from Col Paisley & Capt Crump.
After this in the year 1781 He was Elected Captain of a Militia Company in Orange County & he volunteered the room of Capt Harton to command a Company of Volunteers & marched them to Ramsays Mill on Deep River where he joined General Bulter he marched from there to near Cox's Iron Works where they remained near two weeks, from there over Haw River over the Red field ford where thay remained two or three weeks, then marched to intercept Col Fanning & fought him at Lindley's Mills -- After the Battle of Lindsey's Mills marched to Haw River under Col Mabry & Genl Butler & continued in that section until the tour expired. This tour was not less then threemonths -- He went home & remained but a few days & went to Hillsboro & raised 58 Volunteers & marched to join Genl Butler again went to X creek & joined Col Tho. Taylor & Col Snaders & remained under their command for near two months. Genl Butler returned to X Creek & he then got under the command of Col Mabry and General Butler and marched down Capefear River against the Tories houses which spies had & compelled to abandon them - At the end of Four month Genl Butler directed the Horses sent home & the Command of them was given to him as he had been so long in the service his clothes were much worn he was willing to return home which he did. He was out of scouts then to the end of the war & did but one regular Tour. Col Benton of Orange County ordered him & a part of his company to turn out, he did so & was out about one month & was discharged by Col. Benton. This applicant served Eight months as a private and Seven months as a Captain at the least. All as a volunteer in the State of N. Carolina
And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.
And to the question required to be propounded to all applicants. He makes the following answers.
1st. He was born in the State of Pennsylvania near Carlisle as he has been informed - in March 6th, 1760
2nd. Has no record of his age -
3rd. He was living in Orange County in North Carolina when he entered the service he had lived there from his first recollection as he has heard his Father moved there in 1763. He lived there till the end of the War & after till he moved into Rowan where he lived about 4 years he then moved into Surry & remained there one year. Then he moved back to Rowan one year then moved to Burke where he lived 4 years. He then moved into South Carolina Seneca River, Pendleton District lived there about twenty years he then moved to Rabun at its organization where he lived till about three years ago he has been all this time since moving about in the _________ of Georgia & has now as he thinks located himself within Gilmer County Ga -
4th. Each time he entered the Service as a Volunteer
5th. He was with Regular Officers, Genl Gates, Col Robert Mayby, Col _____ Ligtell -- Capt Clendain
6th. He got discharges for every tour of duty One given by Col Paisley & other he is not positive whom signed - He had a Commission as Captain signed by Gov. Burke & given of filled up by Col Tinning. He discharges & Commission were all consumed with every other paper & nearly all his property in his house was burned in Pendleton District upwards of thirty years ago.
7th. I know of no person of my acquaintance who would not testify to my character for truth but in Rabun there are many respectable men to whom I refer - Col Sam Beck, Saml Faris Esq, late Senator H T Mazley present Senator, Edward Coffee & William Kelly present members Genrl Earle -- Col Jo. Grisham Col Anderson, They I have no doubt believe my word & believe I was a Revolutionary Soldier
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court
The day and year aforesaid James Kell
Robert Brown JJC
Allen P. Gaines JJC
William Gillespie JJC
Edward Coffee
Judge of the Infr
Court Rabun Ga
On Jan. 28, 1834 Pension Certificate #23 460 was issued to James. Rate was $166.66 per annum, act of June 7,1832, Georgia Agency.
Captain James Kell had a cousin, Robert Kell. Robert's wife was Isabella. They lived in Orange Co., NC during the Revolutionary War. Robert and Isabella lived in Rabun Co., GA in December 1833.
On Aug. 31, 1928, the Marietta D.A.R. placed a marker at the grave of James Kell, honoring his service in the Revolution. The grave is in a family cemetery just east of Broadtown Road, approx. 3 miles north of Ellijay.
On Oct. 2, 1994 the Roswell King NSDAR held a grave marking in Ellijay, Ga. The marker commemorated the grave and the Revolutionary War Service of Captain James Kell.
He had a number of cousins who stayed in the Burke County area in NC. Other cousins went to settle near Chattanooga, TN and Madison County, Illinois. I have not been able to connect James to these cousins.
Submitted by Raymond Kell - rkell@atlcom.net