Major William Kerley

Overview. This particular William is well-documented, but the identity of his parents is uncertain.  I developed the assumption that he is a son of John largely by a process of trial and error and a process of elimination.  We know positively that he was born in 1761, and that he served in the Revolutionary War in 1776.  There were, as far was we know, only a handful of Kerleys in America who were old enough to be his parents in 1761.  They were the four children of the original immigrant, William Kerley: Joseph, Henry, George and John.  (Unless, of course, there was another Kerley family floating around out there at that time.  There is, however, no evidence that such a family ever existed.)  And, as best we can ascertain, William lived in Albemarle County, Virginia when he served in the War.  As far as we know, there were only two Kerley families that ever lived in that county.  One headed by Henry and the other by his brother, John.  It is doubtful that Henry was William's father because: (1) Henry and his family did not arrive in Albemarle County until the late 1770's or early 1780's, and (2) Henry had another son named William (who is very well-documented and who is my ancestor) (so Henry would not have had two sons named William).  Thus, that leaves only John as a possible father.  We do not know for certain exactly when John and his family arrived in Albemarle County, but we suspect that he was living there during the early stages of the Revolutionary War because his son, John Jr. served in the War there in 1777.  Accordingly, I am assuming that this particular William was the son of John.  But, I am open to better information and documentation.

Early years. We do not know exactly where William was born.  But, it appears that he was living with his father in Albemarle County Virginia in 1776 when the Revolutionary War broke out.  William and his brother, John Jr., were apparently excited about the cause of the Patriots and decided to join the Patriot forces.  William's obituary (see below) says that he enlisted with the Patriots in 1776 when he was only 15 years old.  However, William's official records do not support this statement.  The only evidence of William's service are a couple of pay records for the Albemarle Guards in Albemarle County, VA for a few months in 1779.  Wm Kerley Rev War Record(1)William Kerley Rev War record (2).   These records confirm that a William Kerley was a member of this unit for some period of time in 1779 (when he would have been 18 years old.)  These records also show, however, that William's service did not end with honor.  He is listed as having deserted sometime during October or November of that year.

I have no way or confirming or disproving that William actually began his service, as his obituary claims, in 1776.  It is certainly possible that he began his service at that time and that the records supporting that service have been lost, but I am somewhat skeptical.   It seems that William might, in his later years, have exaggerated or "mis-remembered" the details of his Revolutionary War service and tried to cover up his less than honorable termination of service.  My contention is supported by the fact that it appears that William never received a land grant for his service.  (Most Revolutionary War veterans received grants out in the western territories for their service.)  William never got any such grant as far as we can determine.  It is unlikely that land grants would have awarded to deserters.

There is also documentation that a fellow named John Kearley served in the Revolutionary War in the 11th Virginia regiment during 1777.  And, this John later received a Rev War pension for his service.  I believe that John was William's older brother.  William apparently shared John's enthusiasm for the rebellion, and joined with him as soon as he was old enough (i.e., when he turned 18).

Settlement in Madison County.  In 1785, William moved from Albemarle County to Madison County, KY.  (See obituary notice below) Why Kentucky?  Why Madison County?  We have no information indicating why William decided to make the move, but we can speculate.  Did he want to start a new life with people who were not aware of his desertion?  Was he excited about the opportunities of settling in a relatively unexplored part of the country? 

As discussed elsewhere, Daniel Boone organized several expeditions to Kentucky throughout 1779, and we believe that at least one member of the Kerley clan joined one of those groups.  See 3rd Generation: William -- Son of Henry.  Could cousin William have written to William telling him of the potential of living in Kentucky?  Possibly.  Or, could William have been by lured there by accounts sent to him by some of his neighbors who had made the move with Daniel Boone in 1779?  We know that some of William's Albemarle County neighbors joined the 1779 expeditions to Kentucky. 

Yelverton Peyton was born in the state of Virginia in Albemarle County ... and remained there until the fall of '79 at which time he and his three brothers, together with some others came to Kentucky ....  in the fall of '79, ... he came to Kentucky, being poor, he had nothing to risk but his own person and thinking he could do his country as much service in Kentucky as in Virginia, and wishing to procure himself a home resolved to run the hazardous risk of coming to Kentucky, among the savage Indians.

Draper MSS, Vol. 24C, p. 121.

In any event, by 1785, William was settled in Madison County, Kentucky.  And, William's move turned out to be a good one. He would spend the rest of his life there, raising his family, rising in prominence and becoming an increasingly important military officer.

Family.  Like so many other Kerley families of that era, William had a very large family.  According to his Last Will and Testament, he had 11 children.  We believe that he married a woman named Nancy Ann Rhodebaugh around 1780.  We are not certain whether they got married in Albemarle County or Madison Co. Kentucky.  I can find no evidence of a Rhodebaugh family at either location at that time.  (Evidence for Nancy's maiden name comes from French Tipton Papers, Vol. 1, page 166).  Their children were:

                  4. Elizabeth "Becky" Kerley b: Abt. 1780

                     +Elijah Faulkner m: Dec. 1, 1806 in Madison County, KY

                4. Joseph Kerley b: Abt. 1781, d: Abt. 1806 in Madison County, KY

                     +Sally Goring m: Oct. 14, 1802 in Madison County, KY

                4. William Kerley b: abt. 1782 in Madison County, KY  See 4th Generation: Major Williams's family 

                    +Betsy Matthews m: May 25, 1802 in Madison County, KY

                4. Martha Fanny Kerley b: Abt. 1783, d: Sept. 11, 1848

                    +James White b: 1780 in PA, m: Feb. 12, 1801 in Madison Co., KY, d: 1821in Platte, MO

                4. Green Kerley b: abt. 1792 in Madison Co., KY, d: Aug. 27, 1847 in Madison Co., KY

                    + Araminta Barrett m: Sept. 18, 1827 in Madison Co., KY

                    + Sally Hawkins m: Feb. 27, 1822 in Madison County, KY

                4. John J. Kerley b: abt. 1793 in Fayette County, KY, d: April 21, 1856 in Caddo Parish, Louisiana See 4th Generation: Major Williams's family 

                     + Lucy Boone Green b. ?, d. Oct. 18, 1822 m: Aug. 1, 1816 in Madison Co., KY

5.  William Green Kerley b 1819 in KY

5.  Nancy Ann Kerley b. 1820 in Madison Co., KY

                4. Mary "Polly" Kerley b: Abt. 1794 in Madison Co., KY

                     + Adam Cooper Woods m: March 24, 1807 in Madison Co. KY                 

                4. Rebecca Kerley b: 1798

                    + Jacob Miller m: Dec. 1, 1819 in Madison Co., KY

                4. Matilda Kerley b: Feb. 25, 1799 in Madison Co., KY, d: Dec. 4, 1843 in Madison Co., KY

                    +Joseph Turner m: Oct. 22, 1818 in Madison Co., KY

                4. Sydney Kerley b: Abt. 1800 in KY, d: Sept., 1853 in Shreveport, LA

                    +Susan ?

                4. Hannah Kerley b: Jan. 16, 1804 in Madison Co., KY, d: Sept. 11, 1848 in Clark County, KY

                    +Andrew Hood b: 1811 in Knox, TN, m: May 12, 1832 in Madison Co., KY, d: April 19, 1865 in Putnam, Indiana                                

Forging a New County.  While raising his large family in Madison County on the Kentucky frontier William joined with his neighbors in building a new community.  In 1785, shortly after arriving there he signed a petition that sought the separation of Lincoln Co. from the state of Virginia.  (At this time, Kentucky was still a part of Virginia).  And, 14 years later (in 1798) he was one of several men who served as trustees for the newly-created town of Richmond, KY.

That same year (1798), he also became involved in an altercation over where the county seat should be located.  See, "Glimpses of Historic Madison Co., Kentucky” by Jonathan Truman Dorris, 1955 (paraphrased except where shown in quotes):

In 1785 the Legislature of Virginia created Madison Co. in a subdivision of an area originally called Virginia County.  This Virginia County encompassed much of what is now western and central Kentucky.  Milford, a settlement about four miles southwest of Richmond (Madison Co.) was chosen originally as the county seat.  A courthouse and staff were created.  Milford, however, was deemed not favorable for the county seat and consequently in 1798 the state authorities (Kentucky having been admitted to the Union in 1792) chose to transact its business elsewhere.  The court chose John Miller's barn, standing near the present Richmond, KY courthouse, as the new county seat and secretly moved the records there.

The removal was bitterly opposed by the citizens of the southern part of the county.   On the day the court was expected to convene to determine the removal "Tom Kennedy at the head of about 300 excited men ... rode up to the door of the {Milford} stone courthouse and swore the judge should not open and adjourn court for that day."  On learning that the records had already been removed, David Kennedy "offered to whip anybody who was in favor of the removal".

William Kerley offered to defend the action of the court and the contest was arranged to be held in the stray pen.  With hair closely cut and heads greased the fight began.  Kerley proved himself the better man, but finally in desperation Kennedy used his teeth with such force on a finger of his opponent that Kerley's second shouted "enough" and thus ended the bloody set-to.  The county compensated citizens of Milford to the amount of $1,600 for losses due to the removal of the seat of government."

A bloodier version of the above story appears in "History of Kentucky" by Lewis Collins, Vol. II:

"Dave Kennedy, the bully --- a man of remarkable physical development whom few would have had the hardihood to encounter --- then offered to "whip any body that was in favor of the removal."  At last, Wm. Kerley was found who consented to "fight him in the stray pen, if nobody would interfere." Kerley objecting that his (Kennedy's) hair was too long, they both had their hair trimmed, and then well greased.

Kerley soon got his antagonist down, straddled him, and kept on knocking him on the head and jerking his arms against the sharp rocks in the rough natural floor of the stray pen.  Blood flowed, and the fight grew more earnest, but Kennedy scorned to acknowledge defeat.  With a lockjaw grip he seized Kerley's left forefinger with in his teeth, but Kerley tore the bone out, leaving the mouthful of flesh.  Hugh Ross, his brother-in-law, and second, stooped down with his mouth close to Kennedy's and hallooed "enough," and thus ended the bloody set-to."

Military Career. William had an interesting military career.  As we have seen, his service began when he was a very young man when he served in the Revolutionary War.  That service did not end honorably, however, since he deserted from his post.  After relocating to Madison County, however, he decided to resurrect his military involvement.  About 5 years after settling in that county, he joined the Kentucky militia.  In late 1790, he was commissioned as an ensign (junior officer) in Captain William Morrison's Company.  He then saw action with this unit in 1791 at the disastrous Battle of Wabash River.  He was certainly lucky to  have survived that battle.  It was the American army's worst defeat ever at the hands of Native Americans.  See https://armyhistory.org/the-battle-of-the-wabash-the-forgotten-disaster-of-the-indian-wars/.

After recovering from the shock of that battle, William remained in the Kentucky militia.  He moved steadily up the ranks.  In 1792 he was a quartermaster for the 7th Regiment and six years later (in 1798) he was an Adjutant for that Unit.  Nine years later (in 1807) he was serving as Brigade Inspector of the 13th Brigade of Kentucky Militia.

When the war of 1812 broke out William raised a company of volunteers in Madison County KY.  This was Company K of the 1st Kentucky Rifle Regiment, serving under Col. John Allen.  William was placed in command (as a captain) of this Company.  He was 51 years old at this time.  As with most of the volunteers, Kerley and his volunteers signed on for only a few months under the expectation that their service would not be needed for very long.  William’s original commitment was from August 15, 1812 to October 14, 1812.  That term was later extended to February 14, 1813.

William's unit took part in the famous Tecumseh Campaign, and was at the battle of the River Raisin on January 22, 1812.  The Battle of Raisin River was a major disaster for the Americans.  See  https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/remember-raisin.  So, William had the dubious distinction of being a participant in two of the more inglorious battles in early American history.  The extent of his company’s participation in this particular battle is not clear.  Judging, however, from the relatively few Company K men killed or captured, it is probable that his company was held in reserve for the main battle and thus missed the most of the action.  William's service record shows that he was in the Militia until March 7, 1813.  This timing would be consistent with the time needed for the army to retreat southward and to home. 

William's performance during the War was probably satisfactory.  I say probably because there is evidence that he was subject to a court-martial during his term of service, but he apparently was later restored to good standing.  In any event, this proceeding did not hamper his military career because by 1814 he was being referred to as a Major in the Kentucky Militia.  He was apparently referred to Major Kerley for the rest of his life.  

Daily Life in Madison County.  William's life on the frontier was typical for that period.  He paid his taxes, served on juries, helped build roads, bought and sold property and served in his local militia.  Here are some of the records showing what he was involved with.  (The following research was provided by Jim Fritsch (jffrit@att.net) 31 Webster Oaks Drive, St. Louis MO 63119).

1788, August 27: William was sworn in for jury duty.

1789, August 27: The Madison Co. Tax List for 1789 shows William Kerley.

1789: William’s tax record for the county lists one male over 16 years old, one black over 16, 1 black between 12 and 16, plus 3 horses.

1790, February 3: A court case between William Kerley and William Southerland was listed.

1790, May 4: William served on a Madison Co. jury.

1791, July 5: A deed is filed which records the earliest located purchase of land by William Kerley in Madison Co.  In it, William purchased land from "John Hill and Elizabeth his wife", 150 acres near Silver Creek.

1792: William was listed on Madison Co. tax rolls.

1793, Dec 4: William was paid for prisoner guard duty.

1793, August: William witnessed the probate for Benjamin Knox, Madison Co.

1793: Tax census lists William Kerley one white male over 21, no white males between 16 and 21, 1 black over 16 years old 6 horses, 19 cattle and 150 acres of land.  (These would be the 150 acres he purchased in 1791).

1795: William was shown on tax survey in Madison Co.  Property was 150 acres located on Silver Creek.

1796: At the request of the Court, William Kerley and others made an inventory of an estate for the Madison County Court.

1796: William was recorded with 4 slaves.

1797, July 2:  A deed records William’s purchase of land from Jones Hoy, 80 acres on Stone Lick Branch of Silver Creek, Madison Co. (from land description, this is same property as the 86 acres noted below).

1797:  The tax list records William’s property located on Silver Creek, 150 acres, with 1 white male over 21, 1 black over 16 years and three horses.

1797, Aug 1:  A Madison Co. deed records the sale of land from William Kerley and Nancy, his wife, to Ross (note reference to Ross in story above): 86 acres on Stone Lick Branch of Silver Creek.  Of interest is that within the text his wife is referred to as Nancy, whereas the signature is by Ann Kerley. This supports conclusion that her name was actually Nancy Ann (the same as her granddaughter by her first son Joseph).

179_:  Bad behavior by William?  Madison Co. Court Order Book B, page 247, 179? records an judgment against William Kerley:  "..It is ordered by the Court that William Kearly give security to be of good behavior to all the Commonwealth's leage People, whereupon the said William, with John White and James Anderson, his securities severally acknowledged themselves indebted to Issac Esquire, Governor of this Commonwealth, in the sums of following, viz, the said William in the sum of fifty pounds and the said John and James in the sum of twenty five pounds each to levied and in ___ of their respective goods, Chattles, lands and tenements that the said William shall be of good behavior to all the Commonwealth's leage People and more particular to the said Charles Brown for one year and a day."

1800: Sept. 21: William received land from dying son, Joseph, as equity to pay off his bills and for support of his family, personal property and 50 acres on Crooked Creek.

1800: William was listed in the tax survey with 200 acres, 1 white male over 21, no blacks, but 3 horses.

1802, April 4: William & Nancy sold 219 acres on Silver Creek to Steven Hancock.

1803: William is listed with 150 acres and 6 horses.

1804:  Tax lists report that William owned 150 acres and that there was one White male over 21 years of age, one white male between 16 and 21 years of age, 3 blacks and 7 horses.

1805, Oct. 7:  William bought 200 acres on Tates Creek from Steven Hancock and wife.  This property appears to be William's primary plantation which is held until after he and his wife pass away (see below for its sale following the death of William).

1805 through 1819: William served as Commissioner of a section of the Wilderness Road (a road running through Kentucky, used by pioneers moving from Virginia’s Cumberland Gap thence North through Kentucky).

1810, March 13: William purchased a tract and personal property from Samuel Dennis, Madison Co.

1810, August 12:  William purchased 7 acres in Madison Co. from Benjamin Clark and his wife Judith.

1810-1815:  Major William Kerley served in the Kentucky House of Representatives.  In Frankfort listings for court cases in Madison Co., a William Kerley was listed as party to many cases, mostly as representative of a client.

1812, August 12:  A deed records the sale of property from "William Kerley and Nancy, his wife," to Robert Caldwell: 7 Acres, "...part of the tract the said Kerley now lives on".

1817: William was a charter member of the local chapter of Masons.

1818: William was confirmed Justice of the Peace in Madison County.

1819, Nov. 2:  William purchased 55 acres in Madison County from Steven Hancock.

1821, Oct. 31:  William purchased tract and personalty from William Freeman.

1822, August 8:  William purchased tracts in Madison Co. from James Bratton.

1823: Madison Co. There was an election to fill three state legislative seats. Maj. William Kerley was one of those contending.  Of five candidates, he finished last.

1824, March 1:  William purchased 98 acres on Otter Creek from his son, Sidney Kerley.

1824, March 13: William and Nancy sold 42 acres to Archibald “Curle”.

1824, June 25: "William Kerley and Nancy his wife" donate land for a poor house in Richmond KY.

1826, March 25:  William purchased land lots in Richmond KY from John Speed Smith & wife.  The lots were later sold on Jan 3, 1831.

1827, August 28:  William submitted his Last Will and Testament to the Court. See William (Major) Kerley Will

1827, Sept. 1:  William sold Otter Creek Tract to Archibald W. Goodloe.

1827. Dec. 17:  William Kerley died.

1830:  In the 1830 KY Census, following William’s death in 1827, Nancy was listed with one boy between 10 and 15 years old and one boy between 20 and 30.  There was also one girl between 10 and 15 and one girl between 20 and 30.   The youngest children could be William G. (age 11) and Nancy Ann (age 13), children of John J.

1831, Jan 3:  Heirs of William Kerley sold his Richmond KY house and lot, both located on the Public Square, to Thomas S. Moberly for $450.

1831 Oct 27: A deed recorded settlement of obligation between Thomas Stephenson, Jerman Bohannon & wife, Andrew Hamilton heirs, and the executor of the estate of William Kerley.

1832 April 5: Heirs of William Kerley sold 39 acres on Silver Creek to Caldwell Campbell.

1833, February 16: Nancy Ann Kerley died.

1834, Jan 1: Heirs of William sold 197 acres on Tates Creek to Ezekiel H. Field.

1834, April 7:  Settlement of William's Last Will and Testament was recorded in Madison Co.

Tombstones.  Tombstones for Maj. William Kerley and his wife, Nancy Ann Kerley, are located in the Richmond Cemetery in Richmond, KY.  The monuments are flat, ground level style with inscriptions.  Local historians point out that the original burial was in the “Old” Richmond Cemetery which now lies under part of the current city of Richmond.  Around 1850 the burials in the Old Richmond Cemetery were relocated to their current position.  The headstone for Maj. William has weathered to the point of being unreadable.  Nancy Ann’s stone reads:

               "Sacred is the memory of Mrs. Nancy Kerley, Consort of Maj. Wm. Kerley.  As a wife she was dutiful, as a mother                     affectionate, and as a neighbor kind and beloved.  She was born May 11, 1760 and died Feb. 16, 1833".

Obituary.  William’s obituary appeared in the Frankfort KY Argus dated January 2, 1828:

“From the Farmer’s Chronicle (Richmond KY) of December 21, 1827: Died, at his residence near this place on Sunday night last, after along and extremely painful illness, Maj. William Kerley, in the 67th year of his age.  In 1776, when only 15 years old, he entered the ranks in behalf of the liberties of his country and, notwithstanding his juvenile age, he continued in her service for several years and once was taken prisoner by the enemy.

In 1785, two years after the independence of his country was acknowledged, he, with his family, removed to this State, then a wild and dreary wilderness, surrounded by ruthless and barbarian savages, against whom, it more than once became necessary for him to turn out and defend this then-thinly populated country.  He was one of the few old soldiers who had been spared by the ravages of time to relate to posterity the bloody scene of St. Clair’s defeat (War of Western Territory, Ohio, 1791).

During the last war between this country and Great Britain (War of 1812), not withstanding his then advanced age, he again bid adieu to his peaceful home and numerous family and friends to oppose the enemies of his loved country; he was probably brave to a fault, and patriotism always found him an enthusiast.

For some years he served in the Kentucky Legislature as a representative of this County (Madison).  The social virtues were also warm in the breast of the deceased; his hand never withheld the cordial cup of consolation from the lips of desponding misery, but was ever ready to administer relief to all who were poor or needy, so far as their necessities required and his circumstances permitted --- many a penniless stranger has partaken of the bounty with his roof and purse afforded, and the poor was never permitted to turn from his door unaided.

He has left an aged and amiable companion and a great number of relations and friends to lament his loss.  The disease was one that had been preying upon him for several months. He was buried on Tuesday with Masonic and Military honors.”

On April 7, 1834, Madison Co. KY the Court Book recorded the settlement for Major William Kerley’s estate.  It was processed following the death of his wife, Nancy, in February, 1833.  In accordance with his Last Will and Testament, his property was liquidated with the resultant income to be divided into nine parts. The properties liquidated include:

• one tract sold in February, 1828 for $1483,

• another tract (probably the plantation where he may have died) sold March 15, 1833 for $6323,

• Sale of half of the Martin place in Estill Co. for $383.00: This property was purchased by John White, the husband of William’s daughter, Fanny, based upon a loan from William.  The purchase must have passed back to William upon the early death of James White (see Fanny Kerley notes in later section).

• sale of brick house and lot in Richmond KY for $450,

• Sale of two tracts of land on Silver Creek for $354.

William Kerley’s estate was valued at $7668.76.  Divided into 9 equal parts, each part was worth about $852.

John Jr.

This particular John is one of the few Kerleys who is clearly documented as having served in the Revolutionary War.  The National Archives has records showing that a John Kearley served in Captain Peter Bryan Bruin's company in the 11th Virginia Regiment of Continental Troops under the command of Colonel Daniel Morgan.  There is a record showing he served during the month of June, 1777, and that he signed up "for the war."  There is another record showing him on the pay roll in August of 1777.  John's service, however, did not go well.  He apparently was captured by the British sometime in August or September of 1777.  There are two records showing him as a prisoner in September, 1777.

Although we are not certain whether this war-service record refers to John Jr or to his father John Sr, , my guess is that it refers to John Jr.  The reason for this is that there is a record in the Pension Roll of 1835 which specifies that the veteran (John) applied for, and received, a pension for his service in the Revolutionary War.  He started recieving that pension in 1818.  This record also indicates that John was 75 years old in 1835, thus making his birthdate sometime around 1760 (and his age when he began serving in the War as around 17 years old).  It is unlikely that John Sr. was born in 1760.  His mother (Dorothy) would have been 64 by then, far too old to be having kids.

We have very little informaton about John Jr (or about John Sr.).  All we know for sure is that John Jr was in Albemarle, Virginia during the Revoutionary War and that he was living in Scott County, Kentucky, in 1835 because he shows up on the Pension Rolls in that year.  John's listing confirms that he served on the Virginia line.  However, John is virtualy invisible for the intervening years.  We do not know where he lived between 1777 and 1835.  He does not show up in any censuses during those years.  (There is an ambiguous listing in the 1830 census for Owen County, Kentucky, for a John Kerly (but could easily be John Kirby) showing a man between the ages of 60 and 70 which would fit perfectly with an expected birthdate of 1760 for this John.  (Owen County is adjacent to Scott County).

Since this John is one of the few members of the Kerley clan who has a documented Kentucky presence, he is the person to whom I have assigned parentage of the Missouri Bunch.  4th Generation: The Gasconade Missouri Bunch