Daughter of the American Revolution

When I was yet a small girl, pre-5-years-old, I was bonded with my Grandpa Nelson, my Mom’s father. He was born in 1901. He really wanted my parents to name me Jenny, my Mom’s mother, who left this world way too early in 1951 when my Mother was not even 18 years old.

When I was 4 years old, because I was out at Grandpa’s farm so much, my Dad came to retrieve me one day and said, ‘We have decided to sell your bed since you are no longer home.’ That created panic in me. I returned home and was aware enough that I started limiting my visits from then on.

Nevertheless, I parsed my time from that point. Even so, Grandpa Nelson and I continued to have a special relationship. My experiences limited me from knowing why this genetic relationship mattered. Many years would pass before I would understand the spiritual connection. But, one aspect that would abide in my person is the repeated times Grandpa would say to me, ‘Sister (his name-sake for me), you and I are going to return to Virginia some day.’ He said that to me no less than a dozen times. He and I would look through old photos, and he would tell me of all the family names back in Virginia. I committed these visuals and stories to memory and to heart.

Grandpa left Virginia in the 1920s and moved to Missouri. To this day, I do not know what brought him to Cass County, Missouri, where he met my Grandmother Jenny Lou Harper. Grandpa never returned to Virginia, but he pined to return and wanted me to go with him. He had a very particular reason why he wanted to return, and that is a secret even to this day between Grandpa Joe and me!

Two years ago I learned more about my ancestors through this lineage. That leads to the point of this story, that I am a Daughter of the American Revolution. This summer, I will finally return to Virginia, to retrace my roots and to honor Joseph Guy Nelson, my Grandpa Joe. Here is an excerpt of this story from my book, Kimble Bumblebee, A Memoir of Short Stories from a Town&Country Girl.

‘. . . one certain tract piece or parcel of land lying and being in the County aforesaid on the South fork of Beaver Creek . . . . With all wood, swamps, meadows, low and high ground, orchards, gardens, houses and all appurtenances . . . .’

Residence of Thomas and Jane Smith Ely, Deed Book D-4, page 415, in Bedford County, Virginia, Circa 1778

Thomas Ely is my Great-Great-Great-Great-Great Grandfather. He came to Colonial America the middle of the 1700s. He was about 24 years of age when he left England. On shipboard, Thomas Ely met an Irish girl, Jane Smith, from Dublin, with whom he fell in love and married either aboard ship or shortly thereafter upon arrival at the port of entry.

Thomas Ely was a soldier in the war between Great Britain and France, also called the Seven Years’ War, and the French and Indian War in America. He served under Colonel William Evelyn Byrd III for the 2nd Virginia Regiment. Colonel Byrd was attached to the 2nd Virginia Regiment in 1758. 

In 1752, George Washington and the 1st Virginia Regiment fired the first shots of the French and Indian War. Later, in 1784, it was determined that the location/boundary of the first shot is actually in Pennsylvania. George Washington was 22 years old at the time.

During the time of the Revolutionary War, Thomas Ely and his family continued to live in Bedford County, Virginia. My Grandfather and three of his sons fought. Thomas Ely, Sr.,. was a private in the 5th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line under various Captains and under the command of Colonel Josiah Parker and Colonel Abraham Buford.

The best part of this story? You will have to read it in my book to be published later this year!

Excerpted from Kimble Bumblebee, A Memoir of Short Stories from a Town&Country Girl, Kimberly B. Gray. All material on this website is a copyright of this author.