Jane O'Killia

Family

David O’Killea and Jane Powell lived in Yarmouth over 40 years, raising a family of five boys and two girls:

1. Sarah b. ca 1660, unmarried
2. Joseph b. ca 1662, mentioned in 1697, no further record
3. Jeremiah b. ca 1664, m. Sarah Chase?
4. John b. ca 1667, m. Bersua Lewis
5. David was b. ca 1670, m. Anna Bills
6. Elizabeth b ca 1672, m. Silas Sears
7. Benjamin b. ca 1675. m. 1) Mary Lombard 2) Hopestill Smith

All were mentioned in David’s will.

The earliest know record of David in the colonies appears in Plymouth Colony Records, October 4 , 1655 when he is called "David Ogillior an Irishman". In that record David was implicated in charges of fornication with his future wife Jane Powell, of Sandwich, a servant of one William Swift. David is shown as the servant of Edward Sturgis, details as follows (edited for clairity):
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June 6, 1655 (GC Presentments by Grand Enquest, PCR 3:82): Item, wee present Jane, the seruant of William Swift, for an acte of fornication, by her owne confession vpon examination.

October 4, 1655 (GC, PCR 3:91): And att this Court, Jane Powell, seruant to William Swift, of Sandwidge, appeered, haueing been presented for fornication, whoe, being examined, saith that it was committed with one David Ogillior, and Irish man, seruant to Edward Sturgis; shee saith shee was alured thervnto by him goeing for water one euening, hopeing to haue married him, beeing shee was in a sadd and miserable condition by hard seruice, wanting clothes and liuing discontentedly; and expressing great sorrow for her euell, shee was cleared for the present, and ordered to goe home againe.From the Facebook page on the: Ancestry of the Uí Maine and The Kelly* Clan

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=68185367402&topic=14578

David O'Killia "The Irishman" was an orphan of Cromwell's War in Ireland (1649-53).

Being exiled from his ancestral land he made passage to Cape Cod. Upon arriving at Cape Cod he had somehow met Jane Powell, a Welsh orphan girl who went on as a bond servant to the Swift Family at Sandwich and David as a bond servant to the Sturgis Family at Yarmouth.

But the commonality of their plight could not keep them apart as David made great efforts to somehow find Jane. When their servitude was fulfilled they married and settled near the head of Bass River (now Dennis) establishing the Kelley farm.

The Kelley farm was a hub of activity contributing to the formation of the Yarmouth Friends as well as lending the family name to Kelley's Bay at Follin's Pond and Bass River. The Yarmouth Friends built their meetinghouse in 1714 on, or at the edge of the Kelley farm. The original pews of this meetinghouse are currently in the Kelley Chapel at Yarmouthport (built in 1873).

Source: http://www.kelleytrailblazer.com/

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The family appears in Cape Cod records under several phonetic spellings. A claim on Rootsweb is that David's parents were Teige O'Killia and Ann Daly, and that he was born in Gallagh, Ireland. The files agree David and Jane were married in Yarmouth, but not when. The children's birth order seems to be inferred from the will.

A list of men taking the oath of fidelity in Yarmouth "David O'Kelly, Irishman" 1657. A rate charged for King Philip's War £ 2:6:9, in 1676; A list of townsmen of Yarmouth, 1679; A list of townsmen of Yarmouth, February 3, 1692/93.

Land grant (10-12 acres + 2 acres swamp) dated February 28, 1689/90.

The Kelley family of Cape Cod is descended from David O'Killea, who established a homestead at Kelly's Bay in South Dennis, Massachusetts, during the second half of the seventeenth century. The origin of David's paternal ancestry has been speculated as being of the O'Kelly family of Galway, Ireland.

Details regarding David's voyage from Ireland to the colonies are not known, however the English subjugation of Ireland had taken place between 1641-1654 and many Irishmen had been captured in the process and sent to the colonies to be indentured servants.

The earliest know record of David in the colonies appears in Plymouth Colony Records, October 4, 1655 when he is called "David Ogillior an Irishman". In that record David was implicated in charges of fornication with his future wife Jane Powell, of Sandwich, a Welsh servant of one William Swift. David is shown as the servant of Edward Sturgis.

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June 6, 1655 (GC Presentments by Grand Enquest, PCR 3:82):

Item, wee present Jane, the seruant of William Swift, for an acte of fornication, by her owne confession vpon examination.

October 4, 1655 (GC, PCR 3:91):

And att this Court, Jane Powell, seruant to William Swift, of Sandwidge, appeered, haueing been presented for fornication, whoe, being examined, saith that it was committed with one David Ogillior, and Irish man, seruant to Edward Sturgis; shee saith shee was alured thervnto by him goeing for water one euening, hopeing to haue married him, beeing shee was in a sadd and miserable condition by hard seruice, wanting clothes and liuing discontentedly; and expressing great sorrow for her euell, shee was cleared for the present, and ordered to goe home againe.

Other Sources:

http://capecodhistory.us/genealogy/family/f854.html

From Tracy Crocker's page on David O'Killea:

http://www.tacrocker.com/p182.htm

David O'Killea[1]

• M, d. 1697

David O'Killea was born at Ireland.[1] He married Jane [Powell]. David O'Killea died in 1697 at Old Yarmouth.[1] He left a will;

[2:56] To all people to whome these presents shall come.

Know ye that I David Ocillia of Yarmouth in ye County of Barnstable in ye province of ye Massachusetts Bay in New England beeing at this time weak in Body but of a disposing mind and memory do this tenth day February 1696:7 make and ordaine this my Last will & Testament in manner and forme following:

First, I bequeath my soul to God in Christ Jesus who gave it me and my Body after my decease to decent Burial: and for that outward estate which ye Lord of his goodness hath given me I dispose as followeth viz:

That first of all that all my Debts which in Right and coutiance are due from me to any person whatsoever be in convenient time after my decease paid out of my estate.

• It. I will and bequeath to my son Jeremiah Okillia two shillings.
• It. I do give unto my son Joseph Ocillia two shillings.
• It. I do give unto my son David Okillia two shillings.
• It. I give unto my Grand child John Okillia two shillings.
• It. I do give unto my daughter Elisabeth Okillia my Little Chest and my great Iron kittle after my wifes decease.
• It. I do give unto my Daughter Sarah Okillia my Box and my two Lesser Iron kittils after my wifes decease.
• It. I give unto my son Benjamin Okillia my gun and my sourd and my great chest after my decease.
• It. I do give unto my Loving wife Jane & to my son Benjamin Okillia my hors and my two oxen & my Cow and heifer and all my Sheep and Swine equally between them.
• It. I do give unto my Loving wife Jane my Bed and beding and bedstead and Curtins and all ye moveables that are not above mentioned.
• It. I do give unto my son Benjamin Okillia my now dwelling house and all my Lands and meadows with all ye priviledges belonging thereunto (After my wifs decease or after her marriage if that my wife marry againe), all plows, Irons chains and all Iron Tools that are left.
• And I do make and appoint my Loving wife Jane Okillia to be my sole Executrix to perform this my Last will and Testament According to ye true meaning and Intent hereof.

In witness whereof I ye sd David Okillia Senr have hereunto sett my hand and seal ye date abovesd.

David Okillia his mark /s/

Signed and sealed in ye presence of us

• Thomas Folland.
• William Baker sen " his mark.
• Isaac Perse X his mark.

[2:57] Thomas Folland, Isaac Perse and William Baker whose names stand as witnesses to this will took their oaths ye two former according to ye coustom and ye Latter William Baker as he was in ye presence of God that they did see ye aforesd David Okillia signe seal and heard him declare this before written to be his Last will and Testament before Barnabas Lothrop Esqr Judg of probate within ye County of Barnstable, July ye 19th: 1697.

Examined compared and entered July ye 27th 1697.

Attest, Joseph Lothrop, Regist

Barnabas Lothrop Esqr Commissionated by ye Governour and Council for ye granting of Probate of wills and Letters of Administrtion within ye County of Barnstable.

To all to whome these presents shall come or may concerne.

Greeting.

Know ye that on ye nineteenth day of July 1697 Before me at Barnstable ye will of David Okillia Late of Yarmouth deceased To these presents Annexed was proved Approved and allowed who having while he Lived and att ye time of his Death Goods chattels Rights and credits in ye aforesd County ye Administration of all and singular ye Goods chattels & Rights and Credtis of ye sd deceased and his will in any manner concerning was comitted unto Jane Okillia wid. Relict of sd deceased executrix in ye same will named well and truly to Administer ye same and to make a true and perfect Invintory of all and singular ye goods Chattels Rights and credits of ye sd deceased & ye same to exhibit in to ye Registers office of sd County According to Law also to Render a true and plaine account of your sd Administration upon oath.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal ye of ye sd office. Dated at Barnstable ye eight and twenty day of July 1697.

Barnabas Lothrop, Judg of Probate /s/.

[2:58] An Invintory of ye estate of David Okillia of Yarmouth in ye County of Barnstable taken upon ye sixteenth day of July one thousand six hundred ninety seven

• It. by two oxen 9£ and 3 Cows 9£ and one hors 3£ 21=00=00
• It. by three Sheep and one Lamb and a half 18s 6d 00=18=06
• It. by Swine 02=10=00
• It. by house Lands and meadows 40=00=00
• It. by a gun and sword & powder and Bullits 1£ 19s 01=19=00
• It. by Bed and bolsters & pillows & beding & bedstead & curtaine 6£ 06=00=00
• It. by a trundle bed & beding 2£ and a Linin wheel & spinle & shers 02=05=00
• It. by a bed and bed clothing and an old sadle 2£ 11s 02=11=00
• It. by a pair of Loomes and a spit and dry caske 1£ 01=00=00
• It. by Indian Corne and Rie 1-8-6 01=08=06
• It. by four sickels 3s and hows 10s and 1 spad 1s too axes 8s 01=02=06
• It. by Iron tramels 5s one coulter 1-6 and tongs & fire slice 1-6 00=08=00
• It. by Iron chains and hamer & pinshers and other Iron things 01=06=06
• It. by plow shere & bolt and cops & pin 6s 6d and one agur 1s 00=07=06
• It. by a fring pan 3s on chisle 9 on box Iron 2s a pair of scailes 1s 00=06=09
• It. by on pichfork 1s on conew 6s on old sinth 2s 00=09=00
• It. by on old carte & wheels & boxes & bolts & yoak Ring staple 01=00=00
• It. by on great Iron kittle 18s on Iron pot 14s on broken Iron 01=08=00
• It. by a little Iron kittle 4s in brass 2s on sneal sive 1s 00=07=00
• It. by old caske and other Lumber 14s in Trays and spoons & trenchers 6s 01=03=00
• It. by a great spining wheel and ye Rime of a wheel 4s6d 00=04=06
• It. by pewter platers and earthen ware and tinn 17s 00=17=00
• It. by new cloath and too meal Baggs 1£ 10s one pair cards 4s 01=14=00
• It. by one chest 6s one box 2s on chest more 5s on great Table 8s 01=01=00
• It. by wearing Apparel in Lining and wollen & napkins & Shoos 03=09=06
• It. by a Looking Glass 3s on grinstone 3s on cubbirt 3s 00=09=00
• It. by old cheirs and a little Table 3s in Flax and yarne 10s 00=13=00
• It. by woolen yarn & Linnin yarne and Sheeps wool 1-8- 01=08=00

         [no total]

By us Thomas Folland. Benjamin Mathews.

Benjamin Okillia, son of David Okillia Late of Yarmouth deceased made oath to ye truth of this Invintory before Barnabas Lothrop Esqr Judg of Probate within ye County of Barnstable July 19th:1697.

Examined compared and entered July ye 28th 1697.

Attest, Joseph Lothrop, Regist.

Children of David O'Killea and Jane [Powell]

• 1. Jeremiah O'Killea b. c 1670
• 2. David O'Killea b. c 1672
• 3. Benjamin (Bery) O'kelly+1 b. a 1672

Citations

1. [S611] Eunice Kelley Randall, David O'Killia the Immigrant of Old Yarmouth, MA.

References

1. Randall, Eunice Kelley. (1962) David O'Killia, the Immigrant, of Old Yarmouth, Massachusetts, with His Descendants and Allied Families, 1652-1962. < GoogleBooks >
2. “David Kelley born 1630s and Jane Powell of Yarmouth (now Dennis) MA” (Sunday, August 28, 2011) < link >
3. “The Love Story of David O'Kelley and Jane Powell.” < link >
4. “Gaelic Love on Cape Cod: David, the Irishman, and Jane, the Welsh Maid.” (Sunday, October 16, 2016) < link >
5. Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Feb 29 2020, 22:25:33 UTC
6. https://www.werelate.org/wiki/Person:Jane_Powell_%284%29
7. Derick, Burt. “Gaelic Love on Cape Cod: David, the Irishman, and Jane, the Welsh Maid.” Dennis Historical Society Newsletter. Volume 31 Number 2. February/March 2008. < PDF >
8. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15104137/david-o'killia (has errors)
9. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15104262/jane-o'killia: accessed April 5, 2024), memorial page for Jane Powell O'Killia (1638–17 Oct 1711), Find a Grave Memorial ID 15104262; Burial Details Unknown; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642).