Nancy Kelsey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy Kelsey
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Nancy Kelsey photographed by Carleton E. Watkins
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Nancy Roberts
August 1, 1823 Barren County, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | August 10, 1896 (aged 73) Cuyama, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | California pioneer |
| Known for | 1st white woman to overland from Missouri to California |
Nancy Kelsey (born August 1, 1823, in Kentucky – died August 10, 1896, in California) was an amazing pioneer. She was part of the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. Nancy was the first white woman to travel all the way from Missouri to California by land. She saw places like Utah and Nevada before crossing the huge Sierra Nevada mountains. This incredible journey ended on November 25, 1841.
Nancy was married to Benjamin Kelsey and they had eight children who survived. She is sometimes called the "Betsy Ross of California." This is because she helped create the original Bear Flag. This flag gave its name to the Bear Flag Rebellion.
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Nancy Kelsey's Early Life
Nancy Roberts was born in Barren County, Kentucky. When she was three years old, her family moved to Jackson County, Missouri.
On October 25, 1838, Nancy married Benjamin "Ben" Kelsey. They were married in Henry County, Missouri. Ben and his brothers had settled in an area that would become St. Clair County, Missouri.
The Big Journey West to California
In 1841, Nancy Kelsey was 17 years old. Her husband, Ben, decided they should travel west. He had read a letter from a doctor named John Marsh. This letter praised California's climate and good farming land.
Dr. Marsh wanted more Americans to move to California. He believed this would help California become part of the United States. He wrote many letters about California's good weather and soil. He also shared the best routes to get there. These letters were read by many people and helped start the first big wave of people moving to California.
Before they left Missouri, Nancy and Ben lost their second child, Samuel, who was only eight days old. Soon after, on May 18, 1841, Ben and Nancy began their journey. They had their one-year-old daughter, Martha Ann, with them. They joined John Bidwell and became part of the first wagon train heading to California.
The group split into two parts in August 1841. One group, including Nancy's sister, went to Oregon. Nancy, Martha Ann, and Ben Kelsey took the route Dr. Marsh described. This route went through Utah and Nevada.
Years later, Nancy Kelsey talked about her trip in a newspaper. She said the group had no guide and no compass. Nancy Kelsey was the first white woman to see the Great Salt Lake in Utah. On September 16, they had to leave their wagons and most of their belongings behind. This was near the Ruby Mountains in Nevada.
After leaving the wagons, they continued on foot with pack horses. They faced attacks and had their food and horses stolen. On September 24, they found the Mary's River, now called the Humboldt River. By October 15, they were at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The 34 people in the group arrived in California. They came through the Sonora Pass and followed the Stanislaus River. On November 3, they reached the San Joaquin River. Several members, including the Kelseys, stopped at Doctor Marsh's ranch on November 4, 1841. The Kelseys stayed with Dr. Marsh for a month. Then they went to Sutter's Fort. Many people who traveled with Nancy later wrote about her patience, bravery, and kindness. She is remembered as the first white woman to see Utah and Nevada, cross the Sierra Nevada, and travel overland from Missouri to California.
Life in the West
In 1842, Nancy and Ben Kelsey worked for John Sutter. They collected elk hides at Clear Lake, California. In 1843, Nancy was pregnant. They left Sutter's job and moved cattle north along the California–Oregon Trail. They passed Mount Shasta and Klamath Lake on their way to Oregon City. Along the way, they faced many attacks from Native Americans.
While in Oregon, Nancy gave birth to Sarah Jane Kelsey, who sadly died after eight days. Soon after, Nancy became pregnant again. She gave birth to her daughter Margaret on September 14, 1843, in Oregon. After selling their cattle, the family bought supplies. They returned to California and settled on 2,000 acres (800 ha) at Calistoga. Their land was next to General Vallejo's property.
In 1844, Native Americans attacked the Kelsey home near Calistoga. Nancy Kelsey quickly rolled her daughter into a blanket, and both survived. In the spring of 1846, Nancy gave birth to her son Andrew Kelsey on April 7. This brought their total living children to three.
The Bear Flag and California's Independence
During the Bear Flag Rebellion in 1846, the Kelsey brothers joined John C. Fremont. They helped declare California's independence from Mexico. Nancy Kelsey, Mrs. John Sears, and Mrs. Benjamin Dewell worked together. They sewed the original "Bear Flag." The design was drawn by William L. Todd, who was a nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln.
Nancy Kelsey is often called the "Betsy Ross of California" for her part in making this flag. The Bear Flag Rebellion was named after it. The words "California Republic" were written on the flag using pokeberry juice. The fabric was borrowed because there wasn't much available. Some people said the bear looked more like a pig! But the flag only needed to last for 24 days. From June 14, 1846, until the U.S. Navy claimed California for the U.S. and raised an American flag.
Moving Around California
In 1848, Nancy gave birth to Mary Ellen Kelsey on June 26 at Sutter's Fort. Ben left Nancy and their four children. He took fifty Pomo men from his brother Andrew's ranch. They went to the American River in the Sierra foothills to mine for gold. They set up a mining camp called Kelsey Diggings.
Ben sold all the mining supplies to other miners. He returned home to Sonoma, sick with malaria. But he had made a lot of money. During this time, there were conflicts with Native American groups. These events led to more violence in the region.
In April 1850, Ben Kelsey joined a group called the Union Company. They wanted to find and settle lands around Humboldt Bay. This area would supply the inland mines. In September 1850, Ben and his brother Samuel came to Humboldt County, California. They rejoined the Union Company. The Kelsey men were involved in conflicts with local Native American groups. These actions caused more tension and problems for everyone. Ben also helped open up wagon trails to the mining areas from Crescent City, California.
Nancy gave birth to Nancy Rose on February 14, 1851, in Sonoma. Around this time, Ben Kelsey became sick with tuberculosis. They lost their house in Arcata. After that, Ben, Nancy, and their four children moved around a lot. They lived in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Mariposa, and San Jose. On March 18, 1855, Nancy delivered Georgia Ann.
The family continued to move. They lived in Oakland for a year, then Gilroy for 14 months. They moved to the Kern River mines, where Ben mined and ran a toll bridge. From there, they moved to Four Creeks for two years. Finally, they moved to Mexico in late 1859. Nancy delivered her last child, William Wallus Kelsey, on October 22 in Arizona. This meant they had eight surviving children: six girls and two boys.
Facing Challenges in Texas
To find drier weather for her husband, the family moved to Mexico in 1859. Then, in 1861, they moved to Texas. There, Nancy, Martha Ann, and two younger daughters survived an attack by Comanche warriors. Nancy bravely loaded guns and told the children to hide. Her two oldest girls hid safely. But 12-year-old Mary Ellen was captured. She was found the next day with injuries. She survived, but she suffered from mental illness until she died six years later.
Final Years and Legacy
In 1864, the family returned to California. They first settled in San Luis Obispo. Then they moved near Fresno in 1865. Their travels continued. The family moved to Inyo County. They survived the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake, which Ben said was the only thing that ever truly scared him. Ben worked in the Cerro Gordo Mines. Finally, the family moved to Los Angeles. Ben Kelsey died there on February 19, 1889, at the age of 76.
Nancy Kelsey lived longer than her husband. She spent her last years on farms in Santa Barbara County, California. She worked as a midwife, helping mothers give birth. She was also an herbalist, using plants for medicine. A newspaper reporter once described her amazing stories. She told him, "I have enjoyed riches and suffered the pangs of poverty. I have seen U.S. Grant when he was little known; I have baked bread for General Fremont and talked to Kit Carson. I have run from bear and killed most all other kinds of smaller game."
Nancy Kelsey had eight children who survived out of ten pregnancies. She moved across much of the American West and even in and out of Mexico. In 1937, the Native Daughters of the Golden West placed a bronze plaque on Nancy Kelsey's grave. It is located in the Cuyama River Valley. On April 1, 1995, the Oregon–California Trails Association also placed a special marker on her grave.
