Person:Alexander Kelso (2)

Alexander Kelso was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

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American Revolutionary War Veteran

Revolutionary War Pension Information

Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 3, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :

Kelso, Alexander - born 3/30/1758 in Augusta County, Virginia; entered service 1775 in Washaw Settlement, South Carolina, where he resided; moved in 1776 to Botetourt County, Virginia thence later in 1776 to Bedford County, Virginia, thence to Sullivan County, Nofrth Carolina where entered service in 1780; discharged from service in 1780 when resided in Washington County, North Carolina; entered service there in 1781 & 1782 against Indians; resided after Revolutinary War in Jefferson County, Tennessee, thence to Knox County, Tennessee, thence in 1828 to Morgan County, Indiana, where granted Pension in 1832; died there abt. 2 September 1835; married 5/1781 Margaret Balch, Washington County, North Carolina who was born in Fall 1755; widow resided in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina during early part of Revolutionary War from there she fled with others to Little Limestone, North Carolina, where resided till married; granted Pension 1838 in Morgan County, Indiana, resided in Jackson Township; resided 1843 in Monroe County, Indiana resided in Perry Township; children included eldest son Charles (age 58 when he resided in Jackson Township, Indiana in 1843), & James W. (age 47 when resided in Monroe County, Indiana, 1843, veteran of War of 1812); widow had sisters mentioned but not named & brothers James, William, Amos, John & Stephen B. Balch; her brother William was ensign of North Carolina troops in Revolutionary War; her brother John was in Revolutionary War Battle of Ramson's Mill; her brothers James, Amos & William, all in Revolutionary War of Gates Defeat; her brother John resided 1837 in Jefferson County, Tennessee & brother Stephen B. was pastor of Presbyterian Church at Georgetown, D.C., after Revolutionary War (he had son Thomas B. who resided Maryland Eastern Short & had daughter mentioned but not named who married General Macomb; soldier's brother mentioned but not named substituted for him for one tour in Revolutionary War; surname also spelled Kelsoe & Kelsoo; query letter in file in 1908 from great grandson Clarence E. Kenso, Manistique, Michigan, states soldier died in Morgantown, Indiana; query letter in file in 1908 from descendant Wilber M. Kelso, Chicago, Illinois; query letter in file in 1938 says soldier was buried in old cemetery, west of Morgantown, Indiana, near John Williams farm. F-W9493, R1468.

Information on Alexander Kelso

From "The Kelso's in America", site of Joe Kelso:

Alexander Kelso Jr. (1758-1835) never knew his mother and father because they both died before his third birthday. Family history gives no hint at the cause of death, but some have conjectured that they were slain by Indians. Alexander Sr. and Mary are buried in the New Providence Church graveyard located midway between Staunton and Lexington, Virginia.

Alex and his siblings spent several years in the home of their Uncle Hugh. However, Hugh and Mary Kelso had nine children of their own and apparently Alex and Hugh spent most of their formative years elsewhere. This is evidenced by the fact that Hugh’s six sons entered adulthood well educated, while Alex had almost no formal education.

He (Alexander Kelso, Jr.) remained in this area for three years and met a woman, Margaret Ann Balch, who would become his wife in 1781. The wedding had originally been planned for 1780, but before it could take place, war again intruded upon Alex’s life.

Alex and Margaret Kelso became the parents of six children: Charles was born in 1785 in Greene County, North Carolina; Mary in 1787 in the State of Franklin; Velva, 1790 in Washington District, North Carolina; Ann in 1793, Dorcus in 1795 and James Balch Kelso in 1796 were born in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The shifting political boundaries of the young American nation become evident when it is realized that all six of the Kelso children were born at the exact same geographical location on the banks of Kelso Mill Creek, four miles upstream from the present site of Dandridge, Tennessee. Alex and Hugh built a grain mill there in 1796 and it was still in operation in 1929 when Clarence Kelso photographed it. The site of the Mill is now submerged at the bottom of Lake Douglas, which was formed when the Tennessee Valley Authority built Douglas Dam in the 1930’s.

Source: http://joe_kelso.tripod.com/historyofkelso/kelsos_in_america.htm

From "Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution. Volume II, K-Z", By Bobby Gilmer Moss, pg. 525:

Kelso, Alexander

W9493

b. 20 March 1758, Augusta County, VA

d. 1/2/3 September 1835

m. Margaret Balch, May 1781

While residing in the Waxhaw Settlement, he enlisted on 1 November 1775 under Captain John Bartley and Col. Richardson and was on an expedition against the Tories. About 1 March 1776, he moved to Virginia and North Carolina. He served in a North Carolina unit and was in the Battle of King's Mountain. In addition, he went against the Cherokee Indians and was in the Battle of Hightower. (Moved to Tenn. and Ind.).