Richard Kelley of Ninety-Six District, South Carolina
Research Report: Richard Bussey Kelley
This report was created on 29 April 2026 by Kelley – Parker Genealogy
Research
Question / Goal:
Is Richard Bussey Kelley related to James Kelley of Clark
County, Ohio?
Website ID / Links
·
FamilySearch: (GP9R-3CX) https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/GP9R-3CX
·
WikiTree: (Kelley-396) https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kelley-396
·
Find A Grave:
FROM FAMILYSEARCH FAMILYTREE
According to his FamilySearch Family Tree profile (GP9R-3CX)
Richard Kelley was born about 1735 in Virginia, British America, the son of
James Kelley and Sarah Nelson. His siblings were: Matthew, Nimrod, Matthew
William, Jonathan Henry, Nelson, Matthew, David, James W., Rebecca, and
Eleanor. He died about 1800 in Union County, South Carolina. There are
currently no sources that verify this information.
Richard Kelley was married twice. There is no marriage date
for either marriage, so which was first is currently unknown. Wife #1 is named
Savannah Hoyt and she is the mother of fourteen (14) of Richard’s children:
James, Peter, Daniel, William, Robert, John, Benjamin, Israel, Nathaniel, Hugh,
Delilah, Joel, Richard, and Richardson. Wife #2 is Martha Gibbs and it claimed
that she is the mother of one child (already mentioned in the list above):
John. Again, there are no sources to verify this information.
FROM WIKITREE
Richard Bussey Kelley, son of James Kelley and an unknown
mother was born 7 November 1736 in Virginia and died 1800 at about age 63 in
Ninety Six, Greenwood, South Carolina. His siblings were: Matthew, Nimrod,
David, Matthew, Henry Jr., Rebecca, Mary, and Eleanor.
Richard was married to Susannah Hoyt in about 1755 in Union
County, South Carolina and was the mother of the following children: Peter,
William, John, Nathaniel, Israel, Hugh, Delilah, Joel, and Richard.
There are only secondary sources such as Sons of the
American Revolution Applications used as sources.
KELLEY – PARKER GENEALOGY
RESEARCH
The following is the
research of Laurie Kelley-Wentz, a 5th-great-granddaughter of James
Kelley of Clark County, Ohio.
The Grindal Shoals Gazette published on 23 March 2015
an article entitled THE SEPARATE BAPTIST MOVEMENT – THE STORY OF THE EARLY
BEGINNINGS OF THE FAIRFOREST BAPTIST CHURCH IN UNION DISTRICT. [1] In
the section titled MORGAN EDWARDS LIST OF THE BRANCHES OF FAIRFOREST
BAPTIST CHURCH section 5 talks about Richard Kelley as follows:
The Meeting House was located just above where the Asbury
Road and Highway 18 converge. The church became an “arm” of the Fairforest
Baptist Church in 1770, and was probably constituted in 1772.
Richard Kelly was their first pastor. He was the son of James
Kelly and his wife ? Nelson. He was born in 1736. He had two wives. He was
first married to Martha Gibbs in 1753, and they had two sons.
He next married Susannah ? in 1755, and they had seven sons
and two daughters. His wife, Susannah ? was born in 1739. He had two surveys in
what became Union District, S. C., one for 150 acres on the Enoree River in
1756, and one on Padgett’s Creek in 1769.
His son, Joel Kelly, born in 1774, moved to Tennessee, where
he died in 1870.
31 October 1785 –
George Salmon measured and laid out to Richard Kelley a tract of land
containing 615 acres in District of Ninety Six on both sides of the Middle Fork
of Saluda River.[2]
1 January 1787 – Richard Kelley purchased 615 acres in the District
of Ninety Six on both sides of the Middle fork of Saluda River.[3]
STATE OF SOUTH-CAROLINA
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting: Know Ye,
that for and in consideration of fourteen pounds seven shillings Sterling Money
paid by Richard Kelley into the Treasury for the use of this State, We have
granted, and by these Presents do grant unto the said Richard Kelley his Heirs and
Assigns, a Plantation or Tract of Land, containing Six hundred and fifteen
Acres, Situate on the district of Ninety Six, on both sides of the Middle fork
of Saluda River having such Shape, Form and Marks as are represented by a Plat
hereunto annexed, together with all Woods, Trees, Waters, Water-Courses,
Profits, Commodities, Appurtenances and Hereditaments whatsoever thereunto
belonging, To Have and To Hold the said Tract of Six hundred and fifteen Acres
of Land, and all and singular other the Premises hereby granted unto the said
Richard Kelley his Heirs and Assigns, for ever, in free and common foccage. …
1790 – US Federal
Census for Richard Kelley of Greenville, South Carolina states that the
household of Richard Kelley was as follows: [4]
·
Free White Males – 16 and over: 2
·
Free White Males – under 16: 6
·
Free White Females: 2
Other Kelley / Kelly family members in Greenville, South
Carolina at this time included: Daniel Kelley (household of 8), Gershom Kelley
(household of 28), Samuel Kelley (household of 4), William Kelley (household of
6), Wm Kelley (household of 10) and Wm Kelley (household of 3). Surnames listed
on the same page as Richard were: Hooper, Monroe, McVay, Savage, Southern,
Freeland, Angle, Wood, Maxwell, Belshen, Machney, Lambert, Perce, Jones,
Salmon, Obanyan, Woolf, Foster, Foster, Kelley, Kelley, Earle, Earle, Raglin,
Jones, Woolf, McJunkin, Reeves, Grant, Bynum, Johnson, Evens, Wright, Jones,
Henderson, Russel, Gibbs, Jacks, Mayfield, Brummett, Mayfield.
The following deed of
Conveyance from Richard Kelley to Benjamin Johnston being proven before George
Salmon Esqr was produced in open Court May Term 1792 & ordered to be
recorded which was done 27th July 1792.
This Indenture made the first day of February one thousand
seven hundred & ninety Two, Between Richard Kelley of Greenville County
South Carolina of the one part and Benjamin Johnson of the County & state
aforesd of the other part Witnesseth that the said Richard Kelley for and in
consideration of the sum of Twenty pounds Sterling to him in hand paid by the
said Benjamin Johnson the receipt whereof he doth hereby acknowledge &
thereof exonerate and acquit the aid Johnson his heirs etc. hath Granted
Bargained sold aliened Enfeeoffes conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents
doth Grant Bargain sell alien enfeoff convey and confirm unto the sd Johnson
his heirs & assign for ever all that tract of land and plantation
containing by computation fifty acres be the same more less situate being and
being in the County aforesaid on the North side of the middle fork of Saluda
River on pounding Mill Creek joining the land of sd. Kelley’s and Vacant land,
being part of a Tract or survey originally Granted to said Richd Kelley and
Bounded as followeth, Viz,
Beginning at a post oak thence No 43 E 30 Chain to a black jack thence near an
East course about 10 to 12 chains to a Branch thence down said Branch to the mouth
thence on an agreement line to sd Kelley’s open line thence to the beginning with
their & every of their rights member
& appurtenances to the sd Benjamin Johnson to the only proper use benefit
& behoof of him his heirs and assign for ever with the reversion, & reversions, remainders and remainders
and all and singular of the rent iues services & profits thereof and every
part and parcel thereof with all and singular the rights Titles Interest claim
and demand whatsoever of him the said Richard Kelley his heirs Excr Admr &
assigns To have and to hold the sd land and premises with their appurtenances
unto the sd. Benjamin Johnson his heirs and assigns and the d Richard Kelley
doth covenant and agree that he, his heirs Execr Admr and assigns the above
mentioned land and premisses with all the rights members & appurtenances to
the sd Benjamin Johnson his heirs and assigns for ever against him the said
Richard Kelley his heits Exers Adms & assigns and against all & every
other person or persons whatsoever will warrant & for ever defend by these
presents the above land and premises. In Witness whereof the sd. Richard Kelley
hath hereunto set his hand & seal the day & date above.
Signed sealed & delivered } Rich.d
Kelley {Seal}
In presence of _____}
James Jones
Moses Evans
Aaron Evans
What We Have Currently Established
1. I have no primary evidence for Richard’s birth, parents,
or marriages.
Both FamilySearch
and WikiTree are unsourced.
This means:
·
No primary record ties Richard to a father named
James.
·
No primary record ties him to Virginia.
·
No primary record times him to Hoyt, Gibbs, or
any specific wife.
·
No primary record ties him to the long list of
children.
This is important because the
research question is about a relationship to James of Ohio. Right now, the
online trees cannot be used as evidence.
2. I have primary evidence placing Richard Kelley in
Ninety-Six District by 1785.
The document
states the following:
“31 October 1785 –
George Salmon measured and laid out to Richard Kelley a tract of land
containing 615 acres …”
This is a
survey, not a deed.
It establishes:
·
Richard Kelley was physically present or
represented in Ninety-Six District in 1785.
·
He had the means to apply for a large tract.
·
He was part of the local landholding community.
This is my earliest proven record
for him.
3. I have the 1787 grant, which I the legal conveyance.
This
confirms:
·
The 1785 survey and the 1787 grant refer to the
same man.
·
He successfully completed the land acquisition
process.
·
He had enough standing to pay the required fees.
This is a strong anchor point for
reconstructing his life.
4. I have the 1790 US Federal Census showing Richard’s
presence in Greenville, South Carolina with a large family.
This is
currently the only record that shows he was in a household of 10 people – 8 males,
2 females. Because the 1790 census only names the head of household, we do not
know who the remaining 9 individuals are. It is currently assumed that they are
his wife and children.
5. The last record I have for Richard Kelley is the 1792
deed proving he sold part of this land.
This
confirms:
·
He still owned land in 1792.
·
He was alive in 1792.
·
He was still residing in Greenville County at
that time.
·
His neighbors and witnesses (Jones, Evan, Salmon)
form a cluster.
This is the last proven record
for Richard Kelley.
What This Means for My Research
The research question is:
Is Richard Bussey
Kelley related to James Kelley of Clark County, Ohio?
Based on the evidence I have so far:
1. There is no documentary evidence connecting the two men.
Nothing in this report shows:
·
Shared locality
·
Shared associates
·
Shared migration patterns
·
Shared land transactions
·
Shared church membership
·
Shared probate
·
Shared military experience
·
Shared tax districts
·
Shared legal records
Right now, the only connection is DNA, which cannot
tell us whether the relationship is paternal, collateral or distant.
2. The online claims about Richard’s father being “James Kelley” are not
evidence.
They are repeated, unsourced assertations.
3. The Grindal Shoals Gazette article is a secondary source.
It contains useful leads, but it is not evidence of
parentage.
It states:
“He was the son of
James Kelly and ? Nelson.”
But provides no citation.
This cannot be used to prove a relationship to James Kelley
of Clark County, Ohio.
4. I have a clean, documented timeline for Richard from 1785 – 1792.
This is the foundation for:
·
Cluster analysis
·
Locality reconstruction
·
Migration pattern comparison
·
Tax list correlation
·
Probate search
·
Church record search
·
Revolutionary War pension correlation
·
Land chain-of-title analysis
This is how I will eventually determine whether a paper
trail exists.
[1] https://grindalshoalsgazette.com/?p=2386
[2] "South Carolina,
United States records," images, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSLV-L39H-V?view=explore :
Apr 29, 2026), image 119 of 846; . Image Group Number: 008195662
[3] "South Carolina,
United States records," images, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C348-27Q3-L?view=explore :
Apr 29, 2026), image 655 of 713; . Image Group Number: 008616142
[4] Ancestry.com. 1790
United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Citing The
National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; First Census of
the United States, 1790.; Year: 1790; Census Place: Greenville,
South Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 11; Page: 91;
Family History Library Film: 0568151
[5] "Greenville, South
Carolina, United States records," images, FamilySearch
(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS79-13FJ-T?view=explore :
Apr 29, 2026), image 455 of 661; . Image Group Number: 007856792
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