(MLK) I have a copy of an old letter written by Silvo S. Kerley, one of the earliest known Kerley researchers. Silvo live in Mt. Vernon, Illinois and he wrote as follows regarding Henry3 (Henry,2 William1):
The record of names that appear below:
Daniel Kerley `born June 27, 1781 Died
William Kerley July 13, 1783
Levinah Kerley April 12, 1785
James Kerley March 26, 1787
Lewis Kerley December 8, 1787
Elizabeth Kerley August 15, 1791
Benjamin Kerley December 16, 1793 May 12, 1803
John Kerley April 1796
Henry Kerley December 5, 1798
Aaron Kerley April 17, 1800
Mary Simmons October 26, 1792
were copied by me, S. S. Kerley, and was taken from an old dear skin covered bible containing the above names of which the record and in an unmistakable handwriting and a way far better than the average writing of today and this Bible has been handed down to us by Lewis Kerley of whose name appears on the list of names above and claimed it was his Father's Bible, containing his Father's children's names of which he was a brother, and he, Lewis Kerley, borned December 8, 1788, handed this Bible to his son, Miles Austin Kerley, born August 3, 1823, and Miles Austin Kerley handed it down to his son, John M. Kerley, born January 30, 1848, and John M. Kerley handed it down to his sister, Rebecca Kerley, born July 8, 1862, and she being married to Geo. Kelly, so now the Bible is in the hands of Rebecca Kelly who lives in Simpson, Ill. and anyone who cares to can see the old Bible anytime. Our family observe it as a perfect record. I speak for myself and all the rest of the family.
June 3rd, 1980
Rebecca Kerley Kelley died in 1955. At that time the bible was passed to her son Ned Kelley. Ned Kelley died on Nov 25th, 1955. At that time, per his request of his wife, Marie (now Mrs. John Kobe, Golconda, Ill.) the Bible was passed on to his nephew, Ralph Kelley, the son of Charlie Kelley, and on the night of June 2, 1980, the "Old Kerley Family Bible" was located and found to be in the possession of Ralph Kelley's brother (borrowed) Arthur Kelley, of Karnak, Ill who states its in pretty good shape for its age (about one hundred sixty-five years) with the deer skin cover still intact. Ralph Kelley now lives at 613 Meadow, Apt 1-c, Addison, Ill. 60101. On this date at 3:30 p.m. I was at the home of Arthur Kelley in Karnak, Ill and was able to see and hold the long-searched for Bible, which was published in 1815, and the records are still legible, and the Kelley Family have proven to be competent care takers of the old Kerley Family Bible the past 25 years.
Raymond A Kerley
Rt 3, Box 283
Metropolis, Il. 62960