Kelso family

Mindi

I am not the Down volunteer but look as my wife has County Down ancestry also when I grew up in Dublin in the 1950s and 1960s there was a Kelso laundry and their vans were a common sight. It was formed in 1952 and was gone before 1970 I think.

Anyway there are two very good county Down sites and this first one has a large number of Kelso entries, came from Scotland in 1603 apparently, this is important historically as it is before the Plantation of Ulster.

See http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/ and http://countydown.x10.mx/html/index2.htm and I see 9 Kelso births, this site deals mainly with County Down around the Newry area or South Down.

It is possible if people could not read or spell someone would take it down on an official form or fill in the census for them by sound, my own research on a name Gilshinan, Gilshinnon is now Gilsenan and the earlier spellings defunct here in Ireland.

Civil records for Protestants commenced in 1845 and BMD for all in 1845, most now free online, prior to this only church records or some land records such as Tithe Applottments 1824 to 1838 I think and Griffiths in 1850s, a list of Flax Growers in 1796 I think are also available free online.

The Public Records Office on Northern Ireland are worth a visit, (back prior to 1921 Ireland was one county incorporated into the UK so to speak, since 1921 there are 2 separate entities). https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni

The 1901 and 1911 census are online, most all of previous census have been destroyed. 

If you want these later sites let me know.

Regards
Pat

Hi Pat,

Thank you for all of the information you kindly provided! Yes, any additional sites would be great.

Thanks,
Mindi

Hi Mindi

working backwards here is the census of 1911 and 1901, default 1911, other partial census available also but very little.

See http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/search/

A free site but you must sign in has protestant civil marriages from 1845 and BMDs from 1864, all births have entry available but only certain deaths and marriages can be viewed in full from ledger, church records on this site are mainly Dublin; Kerry and some Cork. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/civil-search.jsp

A land survey was done between 1848 and 1864 I think, only owner and lessor given but you can open separate page and see map, from 1st icon take plot number and then fiddle with map icons to find number in townland and you can draw bar to top right of map icon to left to give modern map and a lot of zooming is required to establish location, see http://www.askaboutireland.ie/griffith-valuation/index.xml?action=nameS… If searching maps is your thing you can view Irish maps here https://www.osi.ie/ 

Between 1824 and 1838 tithes were imposed and just names of those who had over an acre of land are here, just name and townland given, http://titheapplotmentbooks.nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home.jsp 

In 1796 a list of flax growers was made and I see some few Kelso on it, remember this is just those growing flax,http://www.failteromhat.com/flax1796.php 

In the 1600s there was a Hearth tax called money rolls, (hearth as in fireplace I think) but only some available and not Down but they are here there are no Kelsos in the Money Rolls but in searching this site I see a trade directory with one Kelso in Dublin, a saddle maker in Bridge Street.  http://www.failteromhat.com/kelly1915all.php The money rolls are on this site too, look at home page under Census/Directories.

The land change over or Plantation of Ulster took place between 1640 and 1680 and is called the Down Survey, nothing to do with Down as in County Town but in the putting down of chains to measure the land, think it was biggest ever done at teh time, no Kelso names but here is link http://downsurvey.tcd.ie/index.html and click on Historical GIS for search facility.

I am adding the catholic marriage registers but they are a difficult read and I had assumed they were Protestants, this assuming business in not good research, you need a month and year to use for the best as name search is not available.

http://registers.nli.ie/ 

Protestant Church of Ireland records are being placed online here, all these records are on subscription sites so if you have access to one these should be available. https://www.ireland.anglican.org/about/rcb-library/online-parish-records

These are all the primary sources but different areas are creating local sites and often a location plus history search will bring them up, or sometimes you may find a Face Book page for the area with active participants.

Happy Hunting and revert if any furrther queries, in about 2 months this site will allow you to place information on the site directly to the parish of interest and that may pick up others looking at the same parish.

Pat

Hi Mindi

Soemthing random just occurred that may interest you, on Facebook I am a member of a private group called Royal Irish Constabulary 1816 - 1922 A Forgotten Irish Police Force, you just request to join if you wish.

Inofrmation and photos are posted including pictures of old police barracks and today they posted a picture of Ballinarobe (Mayo) Police station now (when picture was taken) an engineering works and garage with JJ Kelso written on top of the window glass, assume owner, judging by cars the picture is not too old.

Regards
Pat

Pat,

I don't have facebook! I know that's probably hard to believe but I don't! That is neat info about the picture and all! I will have to get my brother to join so I can see it! Haha. Thank you so very much for all of the info you have provided. One day I hope to travel to Ireland, Scotland, and England! The pictures I have seen are just beautiful!

- Mindi

Hi Yet Again Mindi

odd how things come up but this is just to give you a wry smile or even a raised eyebrow, I had recorded the last UK series of Who Do You Think You Are and am watching it slowly. Anyway over a cup of coffee today the celebrity arrived home and her Dad had made out a family tree, they paused for a few seconds to discuss this odd name, Kelso, her great great grandmother I think, she married a man called Laing I think, not certain as they did not really go much further on that level, saw the name as the camera panned across the family tree, also saw the name Tully which is Irish.

The area was North Shields near Newcastle UK, the celebrity was if you remember the all girl group Girls Aloud, first Cherly Tweedy, then Cole and now some double barrelled name, not sure where you are so hope the names mean something to you, extremely unlikely to be a relative but interesting as the name is unusual and gives you a story of sorts;

I could only see trailers on Youtube, it may turn up there or the BBC have an access package that can be purchased monthly.

Regards

Pat

Hello all, my name is Garrett Kelsay of Missouri. Descendant of William Kelso. Looking forward to any insight on this family.

Hi Garrett

Only Mindi and myself will see your post now unless there is a specific search done or it turns up on a wild card, it may be better to start a new query on Ireland XO or write in the chronicles.

Any new query will be seen by all the volunteers and we have some active ones on Northern Ireland, if you do not have an exact location you can enter it under general Ireland, dates are important if you have any, location and religion, parents or siblings also help it the mothers maiden name is known.  Year of departure would also assist.

 It will be then picked up and hopefully we have an active volunteer in that area, the name appears to commence in what is now Northern Ireland. You can see the relevant websites above. The name may be a toponomyic from Kelso in Scotland but that is only a guess on my part. See http://www.kelsoconnections.co.uk/index.asp 

Good Luck

Pat

Hi!

My name is Kimberly Kelsay, a direct descendent from William Kelso (born 1688) married to Margaret.  I came across Misti’s post and have been searching for similar information with similar questions.