Person Page 432

John Van Allen Kells was born on 19 January 1822 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

John Van Allen Kells had person sources.¹ He was christened on 24 February 1822 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Peter Silvester Kells was born on 13 June 1823 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York. He died on 10 July 1898 at age 75. He was buried at Saint Thomas Lutheran Church in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Peter Silvester Kells had person sources.¹

Jacob Andrew Kells was born on 14 February 1828 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York. He and Elizabeth ("Betsey") Best were married in 1846.

Sponsors were Jacob and Margaret Morris (wife's parents?). Was his middle name Andrew or "H."?

Was he the Jacob Kells, 35, of persons liable for military duty, 1864, Livingston?

It appears he was a farmer in Livingston most of his life and moved to Claverack late in life (unless that was another Jacob). In the 1900 Census, he and his wife and their son Jonas were living in Claverack. Jacob Andrew Kells had person sources.¹

Nathaniel Nesander Kennecot Kells was born on 18 April 1831 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.¹ He and Caroline Ophelia Sheldon were married in 1856 in Columbia County, New York.

In the 1880 Census, he was living in Claverack, a farm laborer. His family was living with him. In the 1870 Census, they were living in Hollowville P.O., Claverack, NY. In 1900 they were living in Claverack (Philmont). They had had 9 children, of which 7 were living. They were still there in the 1910 Census, with son James living with them. Nathaniel Nesander Kennecot Kells had person sources.¹

Elizabeth Betsy Kells was born on 23 November 1794 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York. William W. Allen and she were married before 20 July 1810 in Granger, Columbia County, New York.¹

Her sponsors were Ludwig Batz and Elizabeth Kels. She was christened December 25, 1794.

She and her husband are mentioned in Philip Kells' will. Elizabeth Betsy Kells had person sources.²

William W. Allen was born about 1792. He and Elizabeth Betsy Kells were married before 20 July 1810 in Granger, Columbia County, New York.¹

John William Allen was born on 18 October 1811 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

John William Allen had person sources.¹

Anna Maria Allen was born on 28 September 1813 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Anna Maria Allen had person sources.¹

Robert James Allen was born on 4 December 1816 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Robert James Allen had person sources.¹

Philip Thomas Allen was born on 10 January 1825 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Philip Thomas Allen had person sources.¹

Louis Henry Allen was born on 24 November 1822 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Louis Henry Allen had person sources.¹

Catharina Geddy Kells was born on 10 February 1802 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York. Nicholas Allen and she were married about 1823.

She and her husband are mentioned in Philip Kells' will.

Nicholas Allen was born about 1803. He and Catharina Geddy Kells were married about 1823.

Elizabeth Jane Allen was born on 24 December 1824 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.

Elizabeth Jane Allen had person sources.¹

Jacob J. Kells was born on 28 August 1797 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York.¹ He and Catharina Lieke were married about 1820.

He was baptized 17 September 1797 in the Dutch Reformed Church, Claverack. His sponsors were Jacob Miller and Christina Batz. Jacob J. Kells had person sources.²

Catharina Lieke was born about 1800. Jacob J. Kells and she were married about 1820.

John Leonard Kells was born on 9 August 1823 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.¹ He and Emaline Story were married on 12 May 1849 at Linlithgo Reformed Church in Livingston, Columbia County, New York.²

Was his middle name Leonard or Launerd?

William Leick was his sponsor. (grandfather?)

The family was living in Linlithgo (Livingston), Columbia Co., NY, in the 1860 Census. William A. Livingston, 52, was living with them. John Leonard Kells had person sources.³

Christina Kells was born on 25 April 1830 in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York.¹

Christina Kells had person sources.²

Catharine Kells was born on 5 March 1836.

Catharine Kells had person sources.¹

Angeline Kells was born on 30 March 1833 in Columbia County, New York.

Was Angeline b. March 3, 1833? Manor L 3859.

She was living with the family of Edward Stickles, 33, a farmer, in the 1850 Census. Angeline Kells had person sources.¹

Maria Kells was born about 1774 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York. John Melius and she were married on 17 June 1792 at Claverack Reformed Church in Claverack, New York.¹

Her sponsors were George Best and wife Maria Mesick. She was baptized January 27, 1774. She joined Claverack Reformed Church June 7, 1794.

She was also known as Mary. She and her husband, John, are mentioned in Philip Kells' will as heirs. Maria Kells had person sources.²

John Melius was born about 1770 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York.¹ He and Maria Kells were married on 17 June 1792 at Claverack Reformed Church in Claverack, New York.²

Name also spelled Milius.

Elizabeth Melius was born on 31 December 1793 in Claverack, Columbia County, New York.

She was baptized 27 January 1793 in the Dutch Reformed Church, Claverack. Godparents were Johannes Kells and Elizabeth Enderson/Ennis/Everson. Elizabeth Melius had person sources.¹

Hendryk Henry Kells was born before 1715. He and Anna Margareta Esweyn were married about 1735.¹

According to "The Palatine Families of New York, More Later Arrivals 1717-1776," it is not known for certain if he was actually of German background, although he married a Palatine woman. FamilySearch says he was born in Germany abt. 1700.

A Johan Andries Kell with wife and 1 child left Holland for England in the 6th party in 1709. It is possible Johan and his wife were the parents of Hendryk/Heinrich/Henry. Hendryk in turn named his first son Johannes, after his father? The 5th party included a Nicolas Kell and his wife in 1709, another possibility. (Consistency in spelling of names isn't found in these records, as German names were phonetically spelled in German, Dutch, and then English. Names appear as Els, Kells, Kels, Kelts, Kilts, Kelse, Kelsch, Kills, Kolsch, Colsh, Hils, Hiltz, Kiltz, and more.) A Konrad Kells was born 19 November 1663 in Germany and died 29 April 1727 in Stockenroth, Germany, child of Christoph Keltz and Margaeta Schmidt (so there were Kells' in Germany).

Heinrich Els and his wife Anna Margaretha Eschwein sponsored families at Kinderhook, Linlithgo, and Claverack Reformed Churches 1737-1759. Hendrick Els of Claverak was a freeholder of Albany Co. in 1763 (Albany Co. Freeholders). But he was not in the 1720 Census for Claverack. Jacob Esweyn was in that census. (The Palatine Families of New York, More Later Arrivals 1717-1776). (See also Walter Allen Knittle, "Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration," Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co, 1976; also Henry Z. Jones, Jr., "More Paltine Families," Universal City, CA, 1991, p. 86; Henry Z. Jones, Jr., "The Palatine Families of New York 1710," 1985.

Also, "Even More Palatine Families," Vol I - III, Henry Z. Jones and Lewis Bunleh Rohrback, Picton Press, 2002. Hendrik Kals is on the tax list in Claverack in 1767, according to Florence Christoph, "Upstate New York in the 1760's," p. 69. In the same book, Anna Veronica Winter, baptized as "Anna Vroa," June 19, 1725, married Heinrich Kilts by 1747 (per Steven Winter, Hawthorne, NJ). Parents were Christian Jacob Winter and wife Christinna from Dreyfeld. Christian was the son of Christian Winter, b. about 1660, and was baptized March 25, 1695 at Ruckeroth. Jacob Winter and wife were at Tarrytown in 1720's.

Hendryk and Margaretha Kells sponsored Margaretha, daughter of Francis Herdyk and wife Marytje, at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Athens, NY, in 1744 and also had a daughter baptised there at Jacob Hagedorn's house.

John, Hendrick, and Henry Kells were enlisted in the New York State militia during the Revolutionary War. John was from Albany Co, 1776, 8th Regiment, Hendrick also Albany, 1776, 8th Regiment; Henry, Albany, 1776, 6th Regiment. Claverack was part of Albany County at that time. If Hendryk was born before 1715, he would have been 61+ in 1776 and rather old to serve in the militia. His son John/Johannes, born abt. 1740, would have been about 36, a more likely age to serve. Were Henry and Hendrick his brothers? Or father and son? Did Hendryk and Margareta have more children than are listed here?

A Johan Andies Kell, wife, and one child left on the 6th Party Rotterdam Departure List in 1709. Also a Johan Philip Keys, wife, and 1 child. Also a Johan Kristoffel Kurts and wife and two children. The 6th Party consisted of 1443 passengers who were embarked in Rotterdam on a total of five ships and sailded for London on July 28, 1709. They arrived in London on August 2nd. The British government paid 2 guilders per person passage money and 4 stuivers per person per day for provisions (20 stuivers per guilder). Nicklaas Kell and wife shipped on the 5th Party, as did Koenraad Kuntz. The 5th Party sailed from Rotterdam on July 15th and arrived in London on July 19th. 4.5% of the passengers died during the trip. Spelling varied, given that these were German names being spelled phonetically or in Dutch equivalents. There were later Conrad Kells' and Nicholas Kells' in Schoharie County.

Another line to check out is the Conrad Kilts (Cueltz, Kiltz, Kueltz). Conradt Kueltz from Heina/Henau in the county of Krichberg as the Baden Privy Council August 13, 1738, for the manumission of himself, his wife, and 4 children, as he wanted to search for his fortune in New England. The office then reported that there were too many subjects in the county, and his property, after the subtraction of the debts, consisted of 273 Florints and 6 shillings (medium size - HJ); it was decided that Kueltz be manumited at the usual fee. The grandfather of the emigrant was probably Hanss Peter Kiltz, Elder and Geritsmann at Henau, buried February 3, 1695. The father of the emigrant was undoubtedly Johann Nickel Kueltz/Kiltz, called Gemeinsmann at Henau 1686-1695 and wife Engel Barbara. Conrad married Susanna Margaretha Moor, daughter of Hanss George Moor. Moor was noted as a churchelder and Gemeinsmann at Kellenbach with his wife Anna Elisabetha. Conrad Kueltz was called Gemeinsmann at Henau 1722-1737. Conrad Kilts acquired land at Stone Arabia Sepember 23, 1743. He was naturalized August 22, 1750. Conrad Kils and wife Zuzanna Margaretha sponsored Johannes Kils in 1754 (Stone Arabia Lutheran Churchbook). Coenrat Kilts and Peter Kells were freeholders at Stone Arabia in 1763. See David Kendall Martin's "The 18th Century Kilts Family of the Mohawk Valley," (West Chazy, 1985).

Other books to check: American Ancestry, Columbia County, NY, p. 111. Catharine E. Kells. "Palatine Families in Ireland" by Hank Z. Jones, Jr. (Picton, 1990) -- "The Germanic names now often sound 'Irish' and many descendants, whether in Ireland, Canada, or America, are unaware of their heritage." "Palatine Families of New York" by Henry Z. Jones (Picton, 2001) -- covers all 847 Palatine families who came to colonial New York from Germany in 1710 and some of their descendants. "Early Eighteenth Century Palatine Emigration" by Walter Allen Knittle (Genealogical Publishing Co, 1997) -- abt. 12,000 Palatine settlers by name, also a good history.

Two references used extensively (index on CD#401 comes from them): Arthur Kelly, "Marriage Records of the Claverack Reformed Church," 1970; Arthur Kelly, "Deaths, marriages, and Much Miscellaneous from Hudson, NY, Newspapers," Vol. 2, 1980; Arthur Kelly, " Marriage Records of Manorton, Churchtown, Germantown, and Barrytown Lutheran Churches," 1974.

A Daniel Kells lived in NY in 1765, and a Daniel Kells was living in Hudson in the 1870's.

Also to check: Robert and Andrew, sons of Robert Kells of County Cavan, Ireland, were among the first to come to America. Johnston Kells settled in Canada in 1846, but many of his descendants are in the U.S. Hewitt Kells came to Boston in 1847. His fifteen children have descendants all over the U.S.