Fountain County, Indiana Keelings … family lore is that their origin was pre-Revolutionary War in Virginia, after coming over from Wales.[1]A search of records show no ships sailing from Wales to any American port for years prior or thereafter 1732-1737, except for the occasional freighter.
Claimed original immigrant family members were James Keeling married to a Mary Bott — an original marriage record exists for them in Derbyshire, England[2] but there is no known record of their immigration.[2]Emigration / Immigration records do not exist for the pre-revolutionary war period. Movement within the British Empire was open borders for citizens. Tracking movement depended upon ship registries … Continue reading There is also no record of them living out their lives in England.
A baptism record for Mary Bott is dated 30 Sep 1711, Parwich, Derbyshire, England. Her father is listed as Thomas Bott and her mother is Ann Bott.
The first child of this Virginia Keeling family, whatever their origin, was James Keeling, born 1737 in the Frederick County, Virginia area.
Assuming that family lore is correct about parentage and origin, then the family immigrated between 1732-1737.
The Welsh Connection
Records for various other of the Bott family seem to exist indicating a solely Derbyshire, English life and origin.
For the American Keelings that began their life in Virginia, their family lore is recorded in The History of Fountain County (Indiana) which says that James Keelings “Wife’s people” were from Wales ~~~ this would be the Bott family.
In a possibly related Keeling line on the English side, a spinster Sarah Keeling notes in her last will and testament to nieces and nephews, to include “Two nieces of John and William Keeling in the Principality of Wales“.[4]Keeling Welsh principality origin lore from correspondence with Sue Johnson; see DOC2608101604
References
| ↑1 | A search of records show no ships sailing from Wales to any American port for years prior or thereafter 1732-1737, except for the occasional freighter. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Emigration / Immigration records do not exist for the pre-revolutionary war period. Movement within the British Empire was open borders for citizens. Tracking movement depended upon ship registries and local legal records when available. |
| ↑3 | Marriage record is available via FHL Film Number 428932, 498113 or online at Ancestry. Original data: England, Marriages, 1538–1973. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013. |
| ↑4 | Keeling Welsh principality origin lore from correspondence with Sue Johnson; see DOC2608101604 |