Primary information sources: Samuel Kelso/Kelsey 1720-1796, by Dr. and Mrs. Mavis Parrott Kelsey, Sr., 2 Longbow Lane, Houston, TX 77024 (1984), and The Heritage of Rutherford County, North Carolina, Volume I, published by the Genealogical Society of Old Tyron County (1984). Additional information received from Ben Callahan, sharing the research of Harold Rollins and Miles Philbeck, and from William Samuel McAliley II, sharing research on his ancestry through McCasland WALLACE. None of these sources is responsible for any errors of interpretation or presentation introduced by the compiler.
A note of caution
There are at least three men by the name of Oliver WALLACE in the same general area in the same era. Early records concerning Oliver WALLACE are few and it is difficult to determine to which person of that name they apply. One Oliver WALLACE left the following records in Tryon County (then including much of York District, SC):
It is apparent that the above records could not be for Oliver WALLACE, father of Lt. William WALLACE and his siblings, who immigrated to America in 1773.
It is also reported, but without any documentation, that "on good authority there was an Oliver Wallace who married Annisbell McNabb both presumed born in Cumberland County, PA and moved to the Mecklenburg/York area in the 1760's and then on to Georgia in 1785." Subsequent to receiving the previous quote, this compiler has obtained the Hight-Hite, Prindle-Pringle & Wallace Families, by Robert E. Wallace (a CD-ROM from Heritage Books, with The Family of Samuel W. Wallace available separately). Of special interest are the proposed ancestries and kin of Thomas WALLACE and Samuel W. WALLACE of York District, SC, containing information about a number of different persons named Oliver WALLACE, including the husband of Annisbell McNABB, but not including Oliver WALLACE, father of Lt. William WALLACE. Brief comments concerning Samuel W. WALLACE are in the David-Kerby-Hodges-Wallace Branch, with reported (unconfirmed) connections to the KERBY family.
Court records of Rowan Co., NC, in the case of Dom. Rex. vs. Oliver Wallace, refer to an as yet unidentified Oliver Wallace. The defendant plead not guilty, but the jury found "the prisoner at the bar, Oliver Wallace, Guilty of the Felony and Murder as chraged in the indictment" on Jun. 5, 1775. The following day, Jun. 6, 1775, sentence was pass: "That you Oliver Wallace be taken from hence to the place from whence you came and from thence to the place of execution and there to be hanged by the neck till you are dead, dead, dead."
A descendant of Lt. William WALLACE states categorically that the following will is not for the father of William, McCasland and their siblings, but does not reule out the possibility that it may be for a sibling. In the October Court 1789 of York Co., SC the will of an Oliver WALLACE was proven by James MITCHELL and James WALLACE, evidence thereto. Ordered to be recorded. Letters Testamentary to Thomas WALLACE, executor named in said Will (Andrew LOVE and Judith WALLACE having relinquished the Executorship). Thomas WALLACE came and qualified.
It is not known to which Oliver WALLACE the following records of the January Court 1787 of York Co., SC apply:
The text of following two documents is transcribed from photocopies of framed documents from the home of a McCasland WALLACE descendant in York, SC, a location known to be the residence of William WALLACE in the late 18th century. In an affidavit of Aug. 14, 1847 by James A. BLACK it is stated that McCasland WALLACE was in possession of "the passport under which his father came to this country which as well as I can now remember was in 1773." The compiler has edited the transcription for ease of presentation. The location where the original document was recorded is not currently known. Note that the Recommendation is dated ten years prior to the Passport, indicating that there may have been a delay in the intended relocation, or that the two documents may apply to two persons of the same name.
Recommendation
We, the ministers, Justices of the peace,
and Church Wardens of the Parish of Aroutraw in the County of
Tyrone, do hereby certify that we have been acquainted with Oliver
Wallace of ye Deer Park in the said Parish from ["his Infancy"
lined out]. and that we know him to be a person alwise of an orderly
& becoming conduct & of a very fair Character, given under
our hands this [blank] day of Feb., 1763.
Chas. Humble, Willm. Edie, Gilbert Mathison
I believe Oliver Wallace is justly entitled
to the charact. given of him above
John Pelisier
Passport
Ireland, County of Tyrone
By James Calhoun and James Hamilton, Esq., two
of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace for and of said County.
To All Mayors, Sheriffs, Justices of the peace,
Governors, Constables and all other Officers, Civil and Military,
under his Majesty George Third, by the grace of God, of Great
Britain, France, of Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, and
so forth,
Send Greetings. Whereas the bearer Oliver Wallace,
is Determined (by ye permission of God) to go with his Family
to South Carolina, and for his more Safe travel & Conduct,
he hath humbly prayed this our certificate and passport what we
thereby grant, knowing him, and knowing that he and his Family
have alwise behave as becometh....
These are therefore in his Majesty's name to
will and require you and every & either of you by reason hereof
to suffer & permit said bearer & Family, to pass and repass,
in, and to Carolina by land and Water, and all other parts of
his said Majesty's Dominions, where his lot and the lot of his
Family may happen to be, without let, hindrance or Molestation,
so long as said bearer and Family Shall continue to behave as
becometh. Given under our hands this 21st day of May 1773.
James Calhoun
Jas. Hamilton
Oliver WALLACE - b. County Tyrone, Ireland; d. York Co., SC. Various affidavits from the Revolutionary War pension file (Pension W8980) for Lt. William WALLACE provide many family details. From the obituary of McCasland WALLACE it is known that he was born at sea enroute to America in 1773. It is therefore clear that McCasland's mother was on the voyage, and very logically his older siblings and father. Various affidavits testify that all of the children here listed were siblings. Note that there is room in the following list for about 4 more children.
| 01-12: 13 25 14 10 12 14 12 12
14 13 13 29 12-25: 17 09 09 11 11 25 15 19
30 14 15 16 17
26-37: 11 11 19 22 17 15 16 17 37 39 11 12 |
William WALLACE - b. 1754, County Tyrone, Ireland; d. Mar. 3, 1800, Rutherford Co., NC. Son of Oliver WALLACE. Emigrated to Charleston, SC in 1773 with his mother and father, his sister Janie WALLACE, newborn brother McCasland WALLACE, and probably other siblings. William had service in the Revolution from SC as Lt. (Pension W8980), with his pension file naming four brothers and a sister. His service, which included the Battle of Briar Creek, GA, and the campaign at Orangeburgh, SC, totaled 8 1/2 months. At a patriotic ceremony held May 19, 2001, a bronze memorial marker was placed in Brittain Presbyterian Church Cemetery [photo] in Rutherford Co., NC, the probable place of his burial. William moved to Rutherford Co., NC about 1796. There are a number of relationships between the PORTER and WALLACE Families. Much of the information on children of William, other than Hannah and Josira, is from descendants Harold ROLLINS and Ben CALLAHAN. Married Jun. 1775, York District, SC.
Ruth PORTER - b. about 1756; d. 1849, prior to Oct. 1, Rutherford Co., NC. Daughter of Samuel PORTER and Sarah BYERS. An affidavit of Jun. 5, 1846 states that William WALLACE "was married to his wife Ruth, whose maiden name was Porter, the second or 3d. year after the landing in America." Ruth is apparently in household 636 of son Josira WALLACE (listed as Joseph S. WALLIS) in the 1830 Census of Rutherford Co., NC as the female age 70-80. A letter, apparently written as a transfer of church membership from the Beersheba Presbyterian Church, York District, SC to Brittain Presbyterian Church, Rutherford Co., NC, reads as follows:
These are to certify that William Wallace and Ruth his Wife, hath resided in Beersheba congregation for many years bypast previous to the end of the Year 1795 and hath behaved themselves in a sober Christian manner clear of Church Censure or publick Scandal and obtaining the Ordinance of Baptism for their Children without having the opportunity of the other Seal of the Covenant by reason of the want of a stated Ministry in the Congregation and as such we recommend them to any Christian Society where Providence may order their Lot. Certified by us this 14th Day of February 1800.
George G. MacWhorter, M.G.
Robert Kennedy, John Peters, John Chambers, Ruling Elders.
Josira WALLACE - b. 1797, Rutherford Co., NC; d. Apr. 1, 1869, Rutherford Co. NC; bur. Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery [photo], Rutherford Co., NC. Son of William WALLACE and Ruth PORTER. Josira's given name appears in a number of forms, such as Jos. Sira and J. Sirey. The 1830 Census of Rutherford Co., NC lists Joseph S. WALLIS at household 636 with data 020001-1100010001, with the female age 70-80 probably being his mother. In the 1850 census of Rutherford Co., NC, his family was enumerated twice, with his name being listed as Joseph S. WALLON and as Sirah WALLIS. See also the 1850 Argicultural Schedule for the county. In the 1860 census of Rutherford Co., NC, he was listed as Joseph S. WALLACE, and by that name he was administrator of his mother's estate. Josira married Bathshaba on Nov. 30, 1820 (bond date), Rutherford Co., NC.
Bathshaba KELSEY-JONES-HAIL - b. 1788, Chester Co., SC; d. Aug. 20, 1869, Rutherford Co., NC; bur. Brittain Presbyterian Cemetery [photo], Rutherford Co., NC. Though her grave marker gives 1791 as her year of birth, evidence concerning her birth (cited in the family narrative of her parent) supports the 1788 birth year. Step-daughter of William HALE, and daughter of Hannah JONES by George KELSEY.
Modified: 6/22/11