... Charleston was at that time in possession of the English forces, and the market and base of supplies were both in the hands of the enemy. One commodity from the want of which people suffered much, was salt. Mr. Kelly's family attempted to secure a meager supply of this by digging up the earthen floor of their smoke-house, where formerly they had salted their meat, and, leaching it like leaching ashes, and then boiling down and evaporating the water, they secured a few pounds of the precious article. The daughter, Anna, was so pleased to again be able to season her dishes properly, that she prepared some young fowls and nicely seasoned them with the precious condiment, and asked some favored friends to take dinner with them; but just as the meal was served, a company of notorious Tory partizan rangers rode up, and not only ate the dinner, but confiscated the precious salt also.
In January of 1781, as Gen. Tarleton's army was marching to attack Morgan at the Cow-Pens, and while Colonel Ferguson's regiment was encamped on Bush River, Samuel Kelly and his sister Anna were one day on their way to meeting, beset by a band of marauding Tories, who determined to carry Samuel before Col. Ferguson in hopes of extricating information from him which might be of value to the British officers.
In vain the sister begged and pleaded for the release of her brother: his Captors were inexorable, "Then," said Anna, "if you take my brother you will take me also." When the officer found the sister was determined to accompany them, and, considering the awkward situation of taking a young lady prisoner before his superior officer, he discharged them both, and a few days later, when the officers of His Majesty's 71st Regiment assaulted Abijah O'Neall and lacerated his head with their swords until his scalp hung in tatters over his skull, it was Anna Kelly who, in her angel-hood, took him to her father's house, and nursed him back to life. ...
... Anna, who married Abijah O'Neall; ...
... Samuel Kelly and his sister Anna (Mrs. O'Neall) were both conscientiously opposed to the institution of slavery, and determined to rid themselves and their families of its stain. ...
