Gamaliel Kelsey was the fifth son and seventh child of William Kelsey(1674-1718)and Elizabeth Sheather(1679-1727),was born Dec 5,1714,at Killingworth,Connecticut.

When Gamaliel Kelsey' father ,William Kelsey died in 1719,Gamaliel received fifteen acres on Cowpen Hill, the meadow at Nod and certain movables in the distribution of his fathers estate.At the time of his fathers death, Gamaliel Kelsley was only four years old.Eight years later on May 3,1727, his mother,Elizabeth (Sheather) Kelsey,with her second husband,Thomas Spencer, deeded certain lands in Killingworth "Laid out to Elizabeth Spencer on account of a certain list handed in by her in the time of her widowhood" to "our son, Gamaliel Kelsey."

Gamaliel Kelsey probably removed to Saybrook (now Westbrook)after his mother remarried to,Thomas Spencer in about 1727.According to "Marriages as Found in Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800 Saybrook/Westbrook Congregational Church"(Vol. 2,pg 114),on Jan 11,1738,in Saybrook,Connecticut,Gamaliel Kelsey was joined in married by,Pastor William Worthington to,Mary Gray (1719-1758).Mary was the daughter of,Edward Gray III (1693-1726)and Rebecca Cory(1695-1750).Gamaliel and Mary resided in Saybrook,Connecticut.Their marraige is recorded in the public records with Gamaliel's sir name spelled "Kelcy",as it is on the grave stone of he and his wife Mary.His father and his son's use the spelling "Kelsey".Both spellings appear in many of the early records.

Gamaliel and Mary had the the following eight children..

1- Jeremiah Kelsey b Sep 11,1739,d Mar 15,1823

2-Rebeckah Kelsey(Bush) b Jan 8,1741,d abt 1793

3-John Kelsey b Mat 12,1742

4-Elias Kelsey b May 27,1744,d Mar 3,1825

5-Elizabeth Kelsey(Chapman) b Mar 14,1745,d Sep 23,1792

6-Samuel Kelsey b Jul 24,1752,d Dec 21,1817

7-Deborah Kelsey(Moulton) b Jun 29,1757,d 1794

8-Mary Kelsey b Jun 29,1758,d 1794

Gamaliel's wife,Mary Gray Kelsey died on Dec 25,1758.Four years later, Gamaliel Kelsey married a second time on Mar 23,1762 to the widow,Mary "Mercy" Chapman.Mary was the daughter of,Samuel Denison(1686-1724)and Mary Lay(1685-1726)

In the public records from the former Colony of Connecticut,the following record for,Gamaliel Kelsey's Militia commission is found in the form of a quoting from the assembly meeting of March 1760.The record for Gamaliel Kelsey's commision reads from a list of over 14 other commisions for March of 1760: "This Assembly do establish Gamaliel Kelsey Ensign of the 10th company or trainband in the 7th Regiment in the Colony" The 7th Regiment comprized of men from Saybrook,Guilford, Killingworth and Haddam.

The Connecticut Militia before,during and after the American Revolution can be confusing, but it helps if you begin at the creation of the Militia Regiment system in 1739. This system of Militia Regiments would continue in Connecticut until the 1840's. The common misconception of the militia is that it was a small company of men from a particular Connecticut Town or Village who would occasionally muster on the local Common or Green and practice the military drill of the day. This conception is only partially correct. What seems to be forgotten, overlooked or misunderstood is that every town militia company (sometimes referred to as Trained Bands) in the Connecticut Colony belonged to a numbered Militia Regiment from 1739 on. Not only would the Town Militia Companies train among themselves, under company officers (a Captain, Lieutenant, Ensign, Sergeant and Corporal), but they would then in turn train with their numbered Regiments who were commanded by Field grade officers (a Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel, and a Major). During the American Revolution, these Militia Regiments would be combined with others to form Militia Brigades which were under the command of a Brigadier General.

When Gamaliel Kelsey died he was intestate,and the inventory of his estate was filed at Saybrook on May 31,1793 by Joseph Spencer and John Plattts, value pounds 426-11-05. Advanced portions to daughters Elizabeth,Rebeckah and Deborah. Bond of administration given by,Jeremiah Kelsey and Timothy Starkey, both of Saybrook, May 7, 1793.The order of distribution,June 21,1793,Jeremiah Kelsey,administrator of the estate of Mr. Gamaliel Kelsey of Saybrook, Joseph Spencer, John Platts, and Jedediah Chapman, Esqr,to distribute to the widow and children as follows: To sons,Jeremiah,John,Elias, and Samuel,and to daughters ,Elizabeth and Deborah."

As shown here,Gamaliel Kelsey and his wife,Mary Gray Kelsey are buried beside one another at the "Old Burying Ground" in Westbrook,Connecticut.