William Ryburn Kelly1

b. 6 September 1842, d. 19 December 1916
FatherClaibourne Kelly1,2 b. 21 Dec 1812, d. 27 Sep 1891
MotherJane K. Edmondson1,2,3 b. 18 Apr 1820, d. 11 Jun 1896
Birth6 Sep 1842 William Ryburn Kelly was born on 6 Sep 1842.4 
Military  On Aug. 20, 1861 William enlisted as a private in Company F. of the 37th Virginia Infantry. It was known as the Glade Spring Rifles. He was captured by Union troops on March 23, 1862 at the Battle of Kernstown. Later that summer he was released as part of a prisoner exchange. The war took a toll on his health and on August 10th, 1863 he was admitted to the Chimborazo Hospital at Richmond, suffering from rheumatism. Later in the month he was transferred to Emory and Henry Hospital back in Washington County. Perhaps due to the affects of the rheumatism, William transferred to a cavalry unit the following March, joining Company D of the First Virginia Cavalry (Washington Mounted Rifles).5,6 
Marriage9 Mar 1865 He married first Susan J. Hawthorne, daughter of Bracken Dell Hawthorne and Elizabeth Tilson, on 9 Mar 1865 in Washington County, Virginia.7 
Widowed27 Jun 1868  Susan died 3 years later. 
  William and Susan may have had a son together. In 1880 14 year old Robert Kelly was enumerated living with Claiborne and Jane Kelly (William's parents). William and his second wife and family made up the adjacent household. 
Marriage27 Jul 1869 He married second Ellen B. Byars, daughter of John Blessing Byars and Emeline J. Snider, on 27 Jul 1869 in Washington County.8,9 
Cens-Sum  William and Ellen farmed land in the Holston district of the county. They were the parents of 11 children, 4 of whom died young.10,11 
Death19 Dec 1916 William died on 19 Dec 1916 at age 74.4,12 
Burial He was buried at Kelly's Chapel.4 

Family

Ellen B. Byars b. 15 May 1850, d. 13 Mar 1932
Children
  • C.L. Kelly10 (circa 1871 - )
  • Thomas F. Kelly10 (circa 1873 - )
  • George B. Kelly13 (22 Jan 1875 - 14 Mar 1876)
  • Samuel Hugh Kelly1,12,10 (13 Nov 1876 - 4 Jun 1948)
  • Mary Kelly10,14 (4 Nov 1878 - 30 Dec 1881)
  • Florence Kelly10 (Apr 1880 - )
  • Ida B. Kelly11 (Dec 1881 - )
  • Anny F. Kelly11 (Feb 1884 - )
  • Cable Kelly11 (Feb 1886 - )
  • Clariece Kelly15 (14 Apr 1889 - 14 Apr 1889)
  • Byars Kelly16 (11 May 1893 - 18 Sep 1893)
Last Edited17 Mar 2012

Citations

  1. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 7.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 194. W.R. Kelly 26y, wid, b & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Clayburn and Jane Kelly AND Ellen B. Byars, 18y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John B. & Emline Byars; 27 Jul 1869.
  3. [S701] William Edmondson will (recorded 1847), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 10: 333. William left his rifle to his grandchild William R. Kelly.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 193. W.R. Kelly, 6 Sept 1842-19 Dec. 1916 (CSA marker).
  5. [S2425] "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Belonging to Units From Virginia," digital images, Footnote.com (http://www.footnote.com : accessed May 2010); Wm R. Kelly soldier, Pvt. Co. F, 37th VA Infantry; also Wm R. Kelley, Co. (Second) Co. D, 1st VA Cavalry.
  6. [S1310] "Roll of F. Co., 37th Virginia Infantry", Washington County News - 3rd Annual Historical edition, Feb. 20, 1969, page 11A. The original roll was compiled by Capt. George Graham and was reproduced for the historical edition.
  7. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 194. William R. Kelly, 23y, 6m, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Claiborn & Jane Kelly AND Susan J. Hawthorn, 18y 6m, b. & resid WCV, d/o Bracken D. Hawthorn; 9 Mar 1865.
  8. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 7. This source states the marriage took place on 27 July 1868.
  9. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 194. W.R. Kelly 26y, wid, b & resid WCV, farmer, s/o Clayburn and Jane Kelly AND Ellen B. Byars, 18y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John B. & Emline Byars; 27 Jul 1869.
  10. [S165] William R. Kelly household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 100, page 252 stamped, dwelling 197, family 197, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, 2002, image 23 of 54. Enumeration reports: William R. Kelly, 37, farmer; Ellen B., wife; C. L., son, 9; Thomas F., son, 7; Samuel H., son, 3; Mary, dau, 1; Florence B., dau, b. Apr; all b. VA.
  11. [S634] W.R. Kelly household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Holston District, ED 114, sheet 7B, dwelling 128, family 128, viewed online at Ancestry.com, 2002, image 27 of 67. Enumeration reports: W.R. Kelly, 57, b. Sept. 1842, marr 31 yrs, farmer; Ellen D., wife, 50, b. Apri 1850, marr 31 yrs, mother of 11 children, 7 are living; Samuel H., son, 23, b. Nov. 1876; Flornce [sic] V., dau, 20, Apri 1880; Ida B., dau, 18, b. Dec. 1881; Anny F., dau, 16, b. Feb. 1884; Cable _., son, 14, b. Feb. 1886; all b. VA.
  12. [S1784] Letter from Samuel Kelly at Glade Springs VA to Redmond Cole, mailed Sept. 1930, "K" Misc. File (folder #54), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library.
  13. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 193. George B. Kelly, s/o W.R. & E.B. Kelly, 22 Jan. 1875-14 Mar 1876, age 1y, 1m, 20d.
  14. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 193. _____ Kelly, child of W. R. & E. B. Kelly, 4 Nov. 1878-30 Dec. 1881, age 3y 1m 26d.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 193. Clariece Kelly, Inf d/o W. R. & E. B. Kelly, b/d 14 Apr 1889.
  16. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 193. Byars Kelly, s/o W.R. & E.B. Kelly, 11 May to 18 Sept 1893.