| Maud
McLure Kelly (1887-1973), was the first woman to practice law in the
state of Alabama.
She was a top notch researcher who carefully documented
everything she discovered from about 1900 until her death in 1973.
Like most researchers, Maud's research evolved over time.
Where her research or correspondence is dated, the latest dates
will of course be the most accurate. CLICK HERE to find out more about where her research is now. Maud said she was 9 years old when her grandmother Louisa Catherine Vincent died. She affectionately called her "Othermama." 1 Perhaps Louisa's death made a great impact on Maud because it was about this time Maud Kelly first took an interest in researching her family's history. Later generations have continued the effort. Therefore research on this line of the Vinson / Vincent Family has been actively done for well over 100 years. This work is expanded by Cousin Caroline (who descends directly from Louisa Catherine Vincent). Of course, no reference to Maud's research would be complete without mentioning her older sister, Marion. It is Marion's records which seem to show her research redated Maud's. For example, this letter from my grandfather's oldest sister, Ida, addressed to her cousin Marion, was written in August, 1905. CLICK HERE for a transcript. Maud's research, weighing more than a ton, was donated to Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Related to my father on both his father's and mother's sides, Maud was Wilburn Glenwood Vincent's cousin twice over. See my page for more info -Ron.V PHOTOS - CLICK HERE for Photos of Maud Kelly LINKS - CLICK HERE for Public Links about Maud Kelly REFERENCES 1- See excerpt from August 14, 1939 Letter FROM Maud to Ruby Vincent Wiebens, paragraph 1. (Full copy below) RESEARCH ¤ As mentioned above, Maud and her sister Marion's research was donated to Samford University Library in Birmingham, Alabama. For a List of Microfilms of the Kelly Research donated to Samford University, CLICK HERE. ¤ Submissions for admittance to the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) require numerous supporting documents, all of which must be official (notarized) copies. Maud submitted several of her ancestral lines to the DAR. You can view them by going to the DAR website. CLICK HERE to see. ¤ July 25, 1939 Here's a good example of some of Maud Kelly's research. On July 25, 1939, she wrote a letter to her cousin Ida Vincent about a recent research trip. In this letter she told Ida of some of her discoveries. - CLICK HERE for a PDF copy of the
letter or
- Cick these links for JPEG copies of PAGE A -- PAGE B -- PAGE C -- or PAGE D. Please note that I added the page designations. I also had to write over part of the page because the photocopy was not readable. Maud kept copies of her correspondence. This is a photocopy of one of her hand written copies. August 3, 1939 Maud found out Ida had died. August 3, 1939, she wrote a letter to Ida's sister, Ruby Vincent Wiebens, and included a copy of the letter she sent to Ida. Here's Ruby's reply. In it, she refers to her Aunt Rhuey Vincent who was born in 1829 and who married Cincinnatus Chapman 25 Jul 1849. Maud's cousin Ruby said she was named after Rhuey. Although Ruby knows very little about her sibblings, aunts, and uncles, she shares what she does know as well as a bit about her husband and two daughters. - CLICK HERE for a printable PDF copy of Ruby Wiebens dated August 3, 1939 or - Click these links for JPEG copies of PAGE 1 -- PAGE 2 August 14, 1939 In her reply, Maud expresses her disappointment that Ruby neither knows much about the family nor does she seem to care about learning about them. Maud's lament is common to famiy researchers of all ages even today. - CLICK HERE for a printable PDF
copy of Maud's reply to Ruby Wiebens dated August 14, 1939 or
- For a link to a JPEG copy of this letter, CLICK HERE. ¤ Descendants of Aaron and Sarah Ogburn Vinson - CLICK HERE to see Maud's research notes of the descendants of Aaron and Sarah Ogburn Vinson then CLICK HERE to see the opposite side of the same research paper where Maud lists Aaron's father and mother, John and Amelia Vinson. On this side of the research notes Maud mentions that Aaron was appointed Administrator of John's estate in Feb. 1787. That is made clear in the settlement of John Vinson's estate below. 1787 Settlement of John Vinson's Estate - CLICK HERE to see a transcript, hand written by Maud Kelly, of probate court records for the settlement of the estate of John Vinson who died about before February 1787. The record was copied from "Inventories & Settlements of Estates, Wills, 1781 - 1791, Johnston County, N.C." pages 78 and 81. Included is an inventory of his estate dated 29 May 1787 by his son Aaron Vinson. Most of the items mentioned in the inventory are self explanatory except for the word "do" which means "ditto" as in "..., 4 mens saddles 1 womans do, 6 bridles..." where it is interpreted as "..., 4 men's saddles, 1 woman's saddle, 6 bridles..." These examples show Maud's beautiful handwriting as well as her attention to detail. It's why her records are so priceless to us today. |