Kelton, Thomas

Published: 16 Jan 2015
Updated: 19 Mar 2020
Researchers: Pamela Dickinson Greenwood, Andrew Millard, Teresa Rust
Editor: Teresa Rust

Thomas Kelton, #16 on the “Scots at Lynn 1653. Iron Works Inventory”

Name variations: Kilton, Carlton, Kelton, Keltone, Kelson

Contributed by Dr. Andrew Millard in July 2018:
According to, Christopher Gerrard, Pam Graves, Andrew Millard, Richard Annis, and Anwen Caffell, Lost Lives, New Voices: Unlocking the Stories of the Scottish Soldiers at the Battle of Dunbar 1650, (England: Oxbow Books, 2018), on page 247, Thomas is categorized as: Definite [that he is a Dunbar prisoner transported on the Unity] Kelton/Kelson, Thomas. Residences: Lynn, Boston MA. Appears: 1653. D.1699. [Exiles; Banks; DR; SPOWS; Ch.7 & 8] For explanations of the category, abbreviations and references see List of Dunbar prisoners from Lost Lives, New Voices.

First Generation in the New World

1. THOMAS¹ KELTON, was born in Scotland and died at Dorchester, Suffolk, Massachusetts on 18 Oct 1699.¹ He married at Boston by 1661, SUSANNA (_____).²

Biographical Notes:
1. Thomas is believed to be a Scottish prisoner of war from the Battle of Dunbar at Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland on 3 Sep 1650, arriving at Charlestown, Massachusetts Bay Colony on the ketch, Unity, in late December 1650.
2. Kelton, Jean Ardyce. The Saga of Thomas Kelton: The New Kend Grun (The Land That I Know), (19 Jul 2007) available at Amazon.com.
3. “Kelton. of local origin from the village of Kelton in the parish of the same name, Kirkcudbrightshire. John Keltone in Bordland, 1685 (Dumfries),” page 391.
From: Black, George Fraser, 1866-1948. The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning and History, (New York : New York Public Library & Readex Books, 1962.)
4. SEE: Kelton Family Items by Dwight H. Kelton, c1895.

“*Kelton, Thomas – In 1651 was hired out to collier Thomas Looke for three years. In 1653 he made twelve loads of charcoal, and also had mining tools purchased for him. He was living at Lynn in 1657, and may be the Thomas Kelton who was later at Reading.” ~ transcribed from document below. [The ship Unity arrived in late December 1650 so Thomas being hired out in 1651 fits for him being on the Unity rather than the John and Sara, as the John and Sara did not arrive until the spring of 1652.~Teresa]

Children of THOMAS¹ and SUSANNA (_____) KELTON:
2. ii. JOHN² KELTON, (Thomas¹), born at Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts on 15 Aug 1661.³
2. iii. ELIZABETH² KELTON, (Thomas¹), b. at Reading, Suffolk, Massachusetts on 21 Dec 1663.
2. iv. SUSANNA² KELTON, b. at Reading on 23 May 1666
2. v. JANE² KELTON, born at Massachusetts in 1667. M., THOMAS ELLIS.
2. vi. SARAH² KELTON, born at Boston on 18 May 1671.⁴
2. vii. MARY² KELTON, b. at Boston in 1675
2. viii. LYDIA² KELTON, b. at Boston in 1676
2. i. THOMAS² KELTON, (Thomas¹), born at Milton, Norfolk, Massachusetts in 1658.

Second Generation

2. ii. JOHN² KELTON, (Thomas¹), was born at Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts on 15 or 17 Aug 1661,⁵,⁶ and died at Boston in 1726/7, will dated 11 Jan 1726/7.⁷ He married at Boston before 1691, LYDIA HALSEY.⁸ Lydia is his widow in his will.

Children of John and Lydia (Halsey) Kelton:
3. JOHN³ KELTON, (John², Thomas¹), was born at Boston on 17 Aug 1691.⁹ He married at Boston on 10 Apr 1718, LYDIA ELKINS.¹⁰ They were married in Boston, by Joseph Sewall. John Kelton, of Boston, mariner, made a willAug. 23, 1720, and mentions wife Lydia. This will was probated Jan. 11, 1727, showing he died, or was lost at sea, just previous.

4. KATHERINE KELTON, b. at Boston on 14 Oct 1722.
4. JOHN KELTON, b. at Boston on 27 Mar 1725. (Perhaps the John who went from Dorchester, in French and Indian War of 1756-8. See N. E. Genealogical Register, vol. xxv.,p. 24).¹¹

3. THOMAS³ KELTON, b. in 1694.
3. JAMES³ KELTON,
3. HALSEY³ KELTON,

2. iii. ELIZABETH² KELTON, (Thomas¹), was born at Reading, Suffolk, Massachusetts on 21 Dec 1663.¹²

2. iv. SUSANNA² KELTON, (Thomas¹), was born at Reading on 23 May 1666.¹³

2. v. JANE² KELTON, (Thomas¹), was born at Massachusetts in 1667 and died at Milton on 18 Jan 1706.¹⁴ She married at Boston on 09 Oct 1701, THOMAS ELLIS.¹⁵

2. vi. SARAH² KELTON, (Thomas¹), born at Boston on 18 May 1671.⁴

2. vii. MARY² KELTON, (Thomas¹), b. at Boston in 1675
2. viii. LYDIA² KELTON, (Thomas¹), b. at Boston in 1676

2. i. THOMAS² KELTON, (Thomas¹), was born at Milton in 1658 and die about 1706. He married at Milton, on 25 Mar 1685, JANE BLAKE,¹⁶ daughter of EDWARD and PATIENCE (POPE) BLAKE.¹

Biographical Notes:
He was a soldier in 1690 under Sir William Phipps.¹

Children of THOMAS and JANE (BLAKE) KELTON:
3. i. THOMAS³ KELTON, (Thomas², Thomas¹), was born at Milton on 08 Apr 1687.¹⁷ and probably died at Rehoboth, MA on 20 Jan 1730. He married, SARAH (_____).

Children of Thomas³ and Sarah (_____) Kelton:
4. AMIE/ANN KELTON, (Thomas³, Thomas², Thomas¹),was born at Rehoboth on 09 Oct 1726.¹⁸,¹¹

3. ii. JONATHAN³ KELTON, (Thomas², Thomas¹), was baptized at Milton on 14 Dec 1691 and probably died on 09 Apr 1752. He married, first, on 14 Feb 1718, MARY BIRD, daughter of THOMAS BIRD. She died at Dorchester on 07 May 1738.¹⁹ He married, second, on 06 Dec 1739, ESTHER BUMSTEAD.

Children of Jonathan and Mary (Bird) Kelton:
4. MARY KELTON, b. at Dorchester on 11 Dec 1718 and died at Dorchester on 25 Aug 1744.²⁰,¹¹
4. SOLOMAN KELTON, b. at Dorchester, on 04 Dec 1723.²¹ He married at Dorchester on 07 Oct 1746, MARGARET LEEDS. “Solomon Kilton, & Margaret Leeds Junr. both of Dorchester, were Married By Ye Revd. Mr. Jona. Bowman on Octr. 7th. 1746.” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7693/223/142212441))

3. iii. SOLOMAN³ KELTON, (Thomas², Thomas¹), was born at Milton on 09 May 1693.²²,

3. iv. JOHN³ KELTON, (Thomas², Thomas¹), was born at Milton on 12 Sep 1695.²³ and died at Rehoboth on 17 Apr 1765. He married at Milton on 14 Aug 1722, SARAH BABCOCK.²⁴,²⁵ She was the daughter of ENOCH and SUSANNA (GREGORY) BABCOCK of Milton.¹

Biographical Notes:
He served as a private in the expedition to Louisbourg 1745.¹ SEE: Siege of Louisbourg 1745 at Wikipedia.

Children of John and Sarah (Babcock) Kelton:
4. JOHN KELTON, (John³, Thomas², Thomas¹), was born at Rehoboth on 24 Jun 1724.²⁶
4. ENOCH KELTON, (John³, Thomas², Thomas¹), was born on 19 Jun 1726 and died at Warwick on 31 Mar 1812. He married on 23 Dec 1746, ALITHIA HICKS, and later moved to Warwick. He was a soldier in the French and Indian Wars of 1758.¹

5. AMOS KELTON, b. at Rehoboth on 11 Mar 1760

3. v. EDWARD³ KELTON, (Thomas², Thomas¹), b. Milton 1699

Children of Edward and
4. JANE KELTON, (Edward³, Thomas², Thomas¹), She married at Dorchester on 19 Mar 1746, SAMUEL WITHINGTON.²⁷

---

For more information please contact the descendants/researchers of Thomas Kelton. Thank you!

---

SOURCES AND NOTES:

Regan, Janet and Curtis White. Hammersmith Through the Historical Texts,
“About 17 Scots were subcontracted to the colliers (charcoal makers) and other plant workers. Accounting records show that a few of the Scots received wages from the Company for skilled work. For example, James Adams was paid for managing ox teams, James Gourdan for mining, Thomas Kelton for mining and coaling,…”

Massachusetts Historical Society: Lists of Scots Removed to New England as Prisoners by Oliver Cromwell in 1651

RootsWeb: Noma L. Kelton Henderson’s File 31 Dec 2015

Pamela Greenwood wrote:
“I had started my research on the Keltons with Dwight H Kelton’s genealogy published in 1895, “Kelton Family Items” (KFI), and an historical fiction authored by Jean Ardyce Kelton titled “The Saga of Thomas Kelton,” which has been useful in its own way. The author chose Parish of Kelton, Presbytery of Kirkcudbright, Synod of Galloway, Scotland as the possible birthplace for Thomas Kelton, and I have found that many family trees have taken that as fact, seemingly without any other source. Seeing that one of the goals of the group is to establish the lineage in Scotland, I am eager for ways I can begin that research, or participate in any ongoing activity.

To my knowledge, no birthdate for Thomas Kelton has been passed down. Nor has the lineage of his wife Susanna, including her birth, death, or even their marriage. Their first documented child, John, was born in Boston in 1661. Recorded births of four subsequent children are in Reading and Boston. A few children are added by KFI on speculation. And as far as I’ve discovered, there is not a birth or death record for the son Thomas, who married Jane Blake in 1685 and is the main descendant whose line is followed. In trying to confirm birth, marriage, and death dates (as found in town records), I’ve raised as many questions as are answered.

I am also trying to document as well as I can my own line back to Thomas. I can confidently trace back to Stephen Smith Kelton, said to be born in 1802, 1803, or 1805 in the Boston, Massachusetts, area. There doesn’t seem to be an official birth record for him. The only source I can find for his parentage and birthdate is a Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) application made by a great-grandson in 1942, which gives his parents as James Kelton Jr and Sally Merrifield, along with dates for their births and deaths and marriage. This James Kelton Jr is said to be an American Revolution patriot. However, no official vital records have been found to match any of the dates provided. Any connection to a patriot in the American Revolution does not seem to be proved by today’s standards.

Most Kelton family trees have Stephen Smith Kelton’s parents as James Kelton Jr and Sally Merrifield, then trace James Jr as son of a James Kelton who is the son of Solomon, the son of Jonathan, the son of Thomas, the son of Scots POW Thomas.

Meanwhile, I continue to search for all the official and contemporary to the time source information I can find. I’m wondering if there are other Kelton researchers in the group. Also looking for tips from others regarding new avenues of research for their SPOW ancestors. And I’m simply enjoying and learning from the ongoing discussions! ~ Pamela Dickinson Greenwood, SPOW Ancestor Thomas Kelton (abt 1630-1699)

1. Lewis Dary of Norton, Massachusetts, and some of his descendants by Dary, George Allen, (1842-). 1903, Boston found at Hathi Trust Digital Library, page 20. [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩] [↩]
2. “KELTON, Thomas & Susanna ____; by 1661; Boston/Reading {Kelton 1, 2; Shurtleff 1:319}” New England Marriages to 1700. Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/rd/21175/881/426893036 [↩]
3. “John of John & Lydia Kelton born Aug. 17.” Boston, MA: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699. Originally published as: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston Containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1883.
   https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1646/i/30233/196/723608223 [↩]
4. “Sarah of Thomas & Susanna Kelton born May 18.” Boston, MA: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699. (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015.) Originally published as: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston Containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1883.
   https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1646/rd/30233/119/723603522 [↩] [↩]
5. “John of Thomas & Susanna Kelton born Aug.15, 1661.” Boston, MA: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699. Originally published as: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston Containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1883. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1646/rd/30233/79/723601097 [↩]
6. “John of John & Lydia Kelton born Aug. 17.” Boston, MA: Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699. Originally published as: A Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston Containing Boston Births, Baptisms, Marriages, and Deaths, 1630-1699, Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, Boston, Massachusetts, 1883.
   https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1646/i/30233/196/723608223 [↩]
7. Suffolk County, MA: Probate File Papers.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2017-2019. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB2735/i/48704/5374-co1/1416795257 [↩]
8. KELTON, John & Lydia [HALSEY?]; by 1691; Boston {Kelton 2}” New England Marriages to 1700. Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/i/21175/881/426893034 [↩]
9. “John Kelton, Mother Lydia” Boston, MA: Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630-1822 (Thwing Collection). Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630–1800 and The Crooked and Narrow Streets of Boston, 1630–1822. CD-ROM. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB530/rd/14226/11775/260119016 [↩]
10. “*John Kelton & Lydia Elkins Married By Rev. Mr. Joseph Sewall Presbytn. on Apr. 10, 1718” Boston, MA: Marriages, 1700-1809. Originally published as: Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Containing the Boston Marriages from 1700 to 1751 (Vol. 28), Boston, Municipal Printing office, 1898. Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Boston Marriages from 1752 to 1809 (vol. 30), Boston, Municipal Printing Office, 1903. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB174/rd/7456/76/248378874 [↩]
11. Kelton Family Items by Dwight H. Kelton c1895. http://rs5.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/2007/20070619041ke/20070619041ke.pdf [↩] [↩] [↩]
12. “Elizabeth, d. of Thom[as], Dec. 21,1663.” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/7781/136/142068915 [↩]
13. “Susannah, d, of Thomas, Mar. 23, 1666.” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/7781/136/142069217 [↩]
14. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/13282/219/238485932 [↩]
15. “Thomas Ellis & Jane Kelton Married By Pen Townsend Esq. on Oct. 9, 1701” Boston, MA: Marriages, 1700-1809. (Online database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2006), Originally published as: Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Containing the Boston Marriages from 1700 to 1751 (Vol. 28), Boston, Municipal Printing office, 1898. Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Boston Marriages from 1752 to 1809 (vol. 30), Boston, Municipal Printing Office, 1903. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB174/rd/7456/4/248373935 [↩]
16. “KELTON, Thomas & Jane BLAKE (1658-); 25 Mar 1685; Milton {Kelton 2; Pope 7, 69; Shurtleff 1:318; Sv. 1:192; Blake (1898) 34}” New England Marriages to 1700. Originally published as: New England Marriages Prior to 1700. Boston, Mass.: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB1568/rd/21175/881/426893037 [↩]
17. “Thomas, Son of Thomas, April 8, 1687” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/13282/42/238482023 [↩]
18. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/14010/657/998893022 [↩]
19. “Mary Kilton Wife of Jonathan Kilton Died May 7th. 1738, In ye 40th. Year of her Age.” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/7693/138/142210032 [↩]
20. “Inscriptions From The Old Burial Ground In Dorchester, MS.” Vital Records from The NEHGS Register. Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. (Compiled from articles originally published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register.) https://www.americanancestors.org/DB522/rd/21070/238/1426618105 [↩]
21. “Solomon the Son of Jonathan & Mary Kelton was born the 4th day of Decemr 1723” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/7693/72/142207914 [↩]
22. “Salloman, son of Thomas and Jane, May 9, 1693” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/13282/42/238482023 [↩]
23. “John, son of Thomas and Jane, Sept 12, 1695” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/13282/42/238482023 [↩]
24. “John Kelton & Sarah Badcock Married By Mr. Peter Thacher on Milton. Aug. 14, 1722” Boston, MA: Marriages, 1700-1809. Originally published as: Report of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston, Containing the Boston Marriages from 1700 to 1751 (Vol. 28), Boston, Municipal Printing office, 1898. Records Relating to the Early History of Boston, Containing Boston Marriages from 1752 to 1809 (vol. 30), Boston, Municipal Printing Office, 1903. https://www.americanancestors.org/DB174/i/7456/313/248396291 [↩]
25. “John Kelton and Sarah Badcock, both of Milton …. Aug. 14, 1722” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 (Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2001-2016). https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/13282/141/238484446 [↩]
26. “John, of John and Sarah, June 24, 1724” Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/rd/14010/657/998892995 [↩]
27. “Samuel Withington Junr. & Jane Kilton, both of Dorchester, March 19, 1746. Massachusetts: Vital Records, 1620-1850 https://www.americanancestors.org/DB190/i/7693/223/142212441 [↩]