RESEARCHERS GOT IT WRONG! ©2025 by FrancoAmerican Gravy.
A note to the reader about this Proof Argument
Although the author attempts to use the confidence levels described by Elizabeth Shown Mills in Evidence Explained Elizabeth Shown Mills. (Evidence Explained. Fourth Edition. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing. 2024) to describe relationships and their conclusions, there may be some discrepancies .
The confidence levels are:
Certainly – no reasonable doubt about the assertions.
Probable – the assertion is more likely than not.
Likely – some evidence supports the assertion.
Possibly – the odds weigh at least slightly in favor of the assertion.
Apparently – an impression or presumption is made based on common experience.
Perhaps – the idea is plausible.
To help the reader keep the identities of the 3 Peleg(s) separated, the terms “Senior” and “Junior” are in Bold letters
Introduction to the Peleg Kingsley Problem
Twenty-five years ago, when I began researching a branch of Kingsleys from Washington County, New York, a cousin offered me a 23-page typewritten paper written in the mid-20th century by an anonymous Kingsley researcher. That paper described the ancestry of Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall and claimed his father was Peleg Kingsley Senior of Royalston Massachusetts. It also claimed Peleg of Whitehall was the same as Peleg Kingsley Junior of Royalston Massachusetts and Brattleboro Vermont noting the presence of Peleg Junior in the 1800 US Federal Census in Royalston Massachusetts.
Although there were no citations or footnotes, the paper was painstakingly researched and there was no reason to question its reconstruction of Peleg’s family of Whitehall, Washington County, New York. Several descendants created artistic family trees and passed them through generations to this day. Online trees in popular genealogy programs also perpetuate Unfortunately, the reconstruction is not supported by the evidence.
During the ensuing years, it became obvious that the paper lacked one piece of evidence that is easily available online in the 21st century. That evidence is the 1800 US Federal Census for Whitehall, Washinton County, New York citing the existence of a man named Peleg Kingsley and his family in the town of Whitehall. The online image of that census negates the paper’s conclusion and began several decades of confusion about the origins of Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall, New York.
This proof argument tries to set the record straight and firmly establishes the presence of two adult men named Peleg Kingsley in 1800 living one hundred miles apart -one in Whitehall, Washington County, New York and the other in Royalston, Massachusetts. They had different wives, different families, different parents. Descendents of both families who have constructed the parentage and families claim Peleg Kingsley Senior as the father, the wives and children often connected with each other.
In the aftermath of the American Revolution, descendants of colonial New England families fanned into the northern frontier lands of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York in vast numbers. (2) (3) Three men all named Peleg Kingsley, and all with ties to Swansea, Rhode Island, were among them. Peleg Kingsley Senior’s identity is known; and he is associated with Royalston, Massachusetts firmly established there by 1787.
The question becomes which of the two younger Peleg Kingsleys, both alive in the 1800 US Federal Census, was his son- the Junior. Was it the Peleg who lived in Royalston, Massachusetts and after 1800 moved to Brattleboro, Vermont? Or was it Peleg living in Whitehall, Washington County, New York? Although written family tradition strongly suggested Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall was the son of Peleg Kingsley Senior, information from the US Census Records, land deeds, probate records, and tax assessments will show Peleg of Royalston/Brattleboro was the Junior and probable son of Peleg Senior.
This proof argument asserts that Peleg of Royalston 1735-1793 (the Senior) is the father of Peleg (1767-1815) who died in Brattleboro, not Peleg Kingsley (1759-aft.1803) of Whitehall. It will also suggest future research emanating from its conclusions.
Peleg Kingsley, Senior 1735-1793
Born in Swansea. Married in Swansea (1st) 9 July 1758, (2nd) 25 Nov 1764. Married in Royalston (3rd) 14 Oct 1787. Died in Royalston, Massachusetts
Peleg Kingsley Senior (1735-1793), is well-sourced. His father, Oliver Kingsley (1735-1739), died in Swansea with a LW&T (Last Will and Testament) naming his minor sons Peleg and Pardon, along with their mother, Freedom Haile, and two sisters, Lidiah and Ann. Additionally, Peleg’s grandfather, Nathaniel Kingsley, left real property in Swansea to Peleg (Senior) and his brother Pardon, in his LW&T. Peleg (Senior) was born in Swansey, and his first two marriages were there. (4) He migrated to Royalston, Massachusetts where his third marriage was conducted. He died in Royalston with a LW&T naming his son Peleg Kingsley Junior as executor. His daughters were: Freelove, Sarah, Belinda, Elizabeth, Phebe, and Mercy (Mary). His sons were Peleg Junior, Zephaniah, and Lemuel.
Peleg Kingsley 1767-1815, proposed “Junior”
Born in Swansea. Married in Swansea. Lived in Royalston. Died in Brattleboro, Vermont
This Peleg Kingsley was born in Swansea on 3 September 1767. He married Anna Talbot Mason on 25 March 1789, in Swansea. He died 31 Dec 1815 in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont. His children were Elisha Mason (b.1790), Cynthia (b.1792), Polly (b.1794), Mason (b.1796), Philip (b.1799), Plina (b.1801), George Oliver (b. abt 1810), Francis P (b. abt 1812), and John (b. 1813). The six oldest children were born in Royalston, Massachusetts. The youngest three children, George, Francis, and John were born in Brattleboro, Vermont.
1790 US FEDERAL CENSUS in Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts
In the 1790 US FEDERAL CENSUS of Royalston (5), one Peleg Kingsley is listed as the head of household. Certainly, that was Peleg Kingsley Senior. However, the enumeration strongly suggests there are two adult males in a combined household with the families of Peleg Senior and Peleg Junior:
Peleg Kingsley Senior, head of household, residing in Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts in 1790 has a large family of eleven individuals: 2 males over 16 years, 2 males under 16 and 7 females. The two males over 16 years are likely Peleg Kingsley Senior and Peleg Kingsley Junior with their respective wives with adult and minor children. Two males under 16 would likely be Elisha Mason Kingsley, the infant son of Peleg Junior, and Samuel, the youngest son of Peleg Senior who would be about 13 years old. The seven females would include the third wife of Peleg Senior, Deborah, and the wife of Peleg Junior, Anna Talbot Mason. Additional females were the unmarried daughters of Peleg Senior who were named in the 1793 LW&T of their father: Phebe, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Mary. This accounts for six of the seven females.
After the death of Peleg Kingsley, Senior.
After the death of Peleg Senior in 1793, Peleg Junior functioned as the executor of his father’s estate conducting several land transfers in Worcester County in 1796, 1802, and 1803. In several deeds, Peleg Junior is identified as Peleg Junior of Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts. This is added support that Peleg Junior remained in Royalston after his father’s death, at least, until 1803.
The 1800 US FEDERAL CENSUS in Royalston, Worcester County, Massachusetts
Peleg Kingsley Junior and his family continued to live in Royalston. In the 1800 US Federal Census of Royalston (6), he is enumerated as Deleg (sic) Kingsley. The household includes 2 males <10 years likely sons Mason and Philip, 2 males 16-25 years (unaccounted, possibly employees), 1 male 26-44 years likely Peleg, himself) ; 2 females <10 years likely daughters Cynthia and Polly, 1 female 26-44 years likely wife Ann Talbot Mason, 1 female >45 years likely an unmarried sister of Peleg Junior.
The 1810 US FEDERAL CENSUS In Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont
Sometime between 1803 and 1810, Peleg Kingsley Junior moves his residence from Royalston, Massachusetts to Brattleboro, Vermont. In 1810, there is only one remaining Peleg Kingsley as head of household in New England and New York. That Peleg Kingsley is living in Brattleboro, Vermont with 15 members of his household. This suggests that Peleg Junior moved to Brattleboro between 1803 and 1810 and the last of his children were born there.
| Name | Peleg Kingsley |
| Residence Date | 6 Aug 1810 |
| Residence Place | Brattleboro, Windham, Vermont, USA |
| Free White Persons – Males – Under 10 | 3 |
| Free White Persons – Males – 10 thru 15 | 2 |
| Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 | 4 |
| Free White Persons – Females – Under 10 | 1 |
| Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 15 | 1 |
| Free White Persons – Females – 16 thru 25 | 1 |
| Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44 | 3 |
| Number of Household Members Under 16 | 7 |
| Number of Household Members Over 25 | 7 |
| Number of Household Members | 15 |
By 1810, Peleg Junior is likely the successful builder and contractor who built the church steeple in Northampton and bridges over the Connecticut River. His entrepreneurial endeavors made him known in the community and suggests some members of his 1810 household may have been servants or employees and not nuclear family members.
Probate Records of the late Peleg Kingsley of Brattleboro
When Peleg Kingsley Junior of Brattleboro died on 31 December 1815, he was 49 years old, a local militia captain, successful entrepreneur, and likely builder of bridges and municipal buildings. He left a farm and substantial estate as well as a widow and many children. The probate records support his connection to his son Mason Kingsley, and daughters Cynthia and Mary Kingsley.
Peleg Kingsley (1759-After 1803)
Born in Swansea. Married in Warren, Rhode Island. Died in Whitehall, New York.
This Peleg Kingsley was also born in Swansea in 1759 and probably died in the town of Whitehall, Washington County, New York between 1803 and 1810. He married Molly Cole in Warren, Rhode Island in June 1780. His children were Sarah, Supply, William, James, Olive, and Luther.
The 1790 US FEDERAL CENSUS in Swansea, Rhode Island
IN the 1790 US Federal Census, the family of Peleg Kingsley living in Swansea, Rhode Island [1]in 1790 is a small family: 1 male over 16 years, 3 males under 16 years and 1 female. Total household members were 5. These individuals included Peleg Kingsley and Molly Cole and their three sons born before 1790: Supply (1783), William (1785), and James (1788). Daughter Sarah, born in 1780, is not accounted for.
The 1800 US FEDERAL CENSUS in Whitehall, Washington County, New York
Peleg was living in Whitehall, Washington County, New York in the 1800 US Federal Census.[2] Peleg is 25-46 years old listed as having 3 males 0 to 10 years, 1 male 16 to 26 and 1 male 26 to 45. Also 1 female 10 to 16, 1 female16 to 26 and 1 female 26 to 45 years. The three males under 10 were probably son Luther and unaccounted others, 1 male 16 to 26 may be James, 1 male 26 to 45 was Peleg himself. One female 10 to 16 was daughter Olive and 1 female 26 to 45 was Peleg’s wife Molly Cole. It is consistent with what is known about Peleg Kingsley in Whitehall.
Absence of Birth, Marriage, and Death records
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the towns in Washington County, New York, including Whitehall and Westfield (later Fort Ann) did not record births, marriages, and deaths. There is no direct evidence.
Land Transfers
Indentures and transfers in 1834 and 1855 in Washington County among the children of Peleg Kingsley refer to lands acquired by Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall from Dr. John William and Edw Savage of Salem, New York as “contained in a deed given to Peleg Kingsley, the father of the above partys, by John Williams of Salem”. Washington County land records from 1787 to 1800 exist, however, no land deed recording a land purchase by Peleg Kingsley from Dr. John Williams and Edw Savage of Salem were found after an exhaustive search. (Interestingly, Dr. John Williams of Salem was awarded a military land grant of thousands of acres in Washington County for his service in the American Revolution. Before he died in 1806, he benefited from selling thousands of those acres to men immigrating from New England after the American Revolution including several Kingsleys: Zephaniah Kingsley of Fort Ann, Jeremiah Kingsley, and John Kingsley.)
An 1834 Transfer of Land previously owned by Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall by his children in Town of Whitehall. There are additional land deeds from the town of Whitehall in Washington County with Metes and Bounds descriptions such as “…the west line of Peleg Kingsleys land.”
Tax Assessments
Peleg Kingsley appears in the 1799, 1802, and 1803 Whitehall tax assessment rolls of real and personal estates.. He can no longer be found in the records after the 1803 Tax assessment of Whitehall.
Conclusion – The Evidence Speaks
- It is certain that there are two men named Peleg Kingsley in the US Federal Census of 1800. One was living in Royalston, Massachusetts and the other in Whitehall, New York. Both had wives and children. Descendants of both Peleg Kingsleys claim that Peleg’s father was Peleg Kingsley Senior (1735-1793) who died in Royalston, Massachusetts. Often the two men are conflated into one individual. However, the evidence is clear, Peleg was not a single individual who practiced bigamy with two contemporaneous wives and two families. Two unique individuals named Peleg Kingsley existed in 1800 – residing one hundred miles apart.
- Peleg Kingsley Junior (1767-1815) who died in Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont is the probable son of Peleg Kinglsey Senior (1735-1793). The younger Peleg first settled in Royalston, Massachusetts after his marriage. It is certain that after the death of his father in 1793, he remained in Royalston executing his father’s Last Will & Testament. It is probable, he remained in Royalston until he moved to Brattleboro, Vermont where he and his wife, Anna Talbot Mason died and were buried.
- Despite the many online trees showing Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall was the son of Peleg Kingsley Senior (1735-1793) it is certain that Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall was NOT the son of Peleg Kingsley Senior. Nor was his mother the first or the second wife of Peleg Kingsley Senior.
- A timeline that spans the lifetimes of the three Pelegs is below and shows three distinct individuals coexisting and overlapping in distinct locations and the probable relationship of Peleg Kingsley Senior to Peleg Kingsley Junior who died in Brattleboro Vermont in 1815.
- This proof argument can only propose the identity of the father of Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall. Leads have come to light and will be researched.
Remaining Questions and Future Research
There remain questions about Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall
- Who were the parents of Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall?
- Can atDNA, y-DNA or mtDNA investigation augment this investigation and support the conclusion?
- Who were the siblings of Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall?
- Which of his siblings, if any, migrated to Washington County?
- When and where did Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall die? Whitehall or another location farther west?
There remain questions about Peleg Kingsley Junior who died in Brattleboro, Vermont.
- Is this the same Peleg Kingsley who built bridges over the Delaware River?
- The Connecticut River in Westmoreland?
- The church steeple in Northampton, Massachusetts?
- If Peleg Kingsley Junior was the builder, this needs to be established.
There remain questions about which Peleg Kingsley served in the American Revolution.
- There is documentation about the service of Peleg Kingsley in Capt. Nathaniel Carpenter’s Company.
- That Peleg Kingsley may have been either Peleg Kingsley Senior who was 37 years old in 1776, or Peleg Kingsley of Whitehall who was about 17 years old at the time. This will require further research to determine.
A Timeline of the 3 Peleg Kinsgsleys:
| DATE | Peleg Senior/Elder | DATE | Peleg Junior/Younger | DATE | Peleg of Whitehall | DATE |
| 1735 | Born in Swansea | 1735 | 1735 | 1735 | ||
| 1739 | Death of father, Oliver Kingsley | |||||
| 1758 | 1st Marriage to Sarah Wood | 1758 | 1758 | 1758 | ||
| 1759 | Birth of daughter: Freelove | 1759 | 1759 | Born in Swansea | 1759 | |
| 1760 | Birth of daughter: Sarah | 1760 | 1760 | 1760 | ||
| 1761 | 1761 | 1761 | 1761 | |||
| 1762 | Birth of daughter: Belinda | 1762 | 1762 | 1762 | ||
| 1763 | Birth of daughter: Elizabeth | 1763 | 1763 | 1763 | ||
| 1764 | Birth of daughter: Phebe | 1764 | 1764 | 1764 | ||
| 2nd Marriage to Margaret Peck | ||||||
| 1765 | 1765 | 1765 | 1765 | |||
| 1766 | 1766 | 1766 | 1766 | |||
| 1767 | Birth of son Peleg, Jr | 1767 | Born in Swansea | 1767 | 1767 | |
| 1770 | ||||||
| 1771 | ||||||
| 1772 | ||||||
| 1773 | ||||||
| 1774 | ||||||
| 1775 | ||||||
| 1776 | Birth of son : Zephaniah born | 1776 | 1776 | 1776 | ||
| Abt 1777 | Birth of son: Lemuel | Abt 1777 | Abt 1777 | Abt 1777 | ||
| 1778 | ||||||
| 1779 | ||||||
| 1780 | 1780 | 1780 | Marriage to Molly Cole, Warren Rhode Island | 1780 | ||
| Birth of daughter; Sarah, Rhode Island | ||||||
| 1781 | 1781 | 1781 | 1781 | |||
| 1782 | 1782 | 1782 | 1782 | |||
| 1783 | 1783 | 1783 | Birth of son: Supply, Rhode Island | 1783 | ||
| 1784 | 1784 | 1784 | 1784 | |||
| 1785 | 1785 | 1785 | Birth of son: William, Rhode Island | 1785 | ||
| 1786 | 1786 | 1786 | 1786 | |||
| 1787 | 3rd Marriage Deborah Mason Royalston, Massachusetts | 1787 | 1787 | 1787 | ||
| 1788 | 1788 | 1788 | Birth of son: James, Rhode Island | 1788 | ||
| 1789 | 1789 | Marriage to Ann Talbot Mason | 1789 | 1789 | ||
| 1790 | US Federal Census in Royalston, Massachusetts | 1790 | Proble cohabiting in Royalston US Federal Census | 1790 | US Federal Census in Swansey, Rhode Island | 1790 |
| Birth of Son: Elisha Mason in Royalston | ||||||
| 1791 | 1791 | 1791 | 1791 | |||
| 1792 | 1792 | Birth of daughter: Cynthia in Royalston | 1792 | 1792 | ||
| 1793 | Death in Royalston, Massachusetts | 1793 | 1793 | 1793 | ||
| 1794 | 1794 | Birth of daughter: Polly in Royalston | 1794 | Birth of daughter: Olive in Whitehall | 1794 | |
| 1795 | 1795 | 1795 | 1795 | |||
| 1796 | 1796 | Birth of son: Mason in Royalston | 1796 | 1796 | ||
| Acquires land in Royalston | ||||||
| 1797 | 1797 | 1797 | 1797 | |||
| 1798 | 1798 | Royalston Direct Tax | 1798 | Birth of son: Luther in Whitehall | 1798 | |
| 1799 | 1799 | Birth of son: Philip in Royalston | 1799 | Peleg listed in tax assessment of Whitehall | 1799 | |
| 1800 | 1800 | US Federal Census in Royalston MA | 1800 | US Federal Census in Whitehall | 1800 | |
| 1801 | 1801 | Birth of son: Plina in Royalston | 1801 | 1801 | ||
| 1802 | 1802 | Acquires/Sells land in Royalston | 1802 | 1802 | ||
| 1803 | 1803 | Acquires land in Royalston | 1803 | Peleg listed in tax assessment of Whitehall | 1803 | |
| 1804 | 1804 | 1804 | 1804 | |||
| 1805 | 1805 | 1805 | 1805 | |||
| 1806 | 1806 | 1806 | 1806 | |||
| 1807 | 1807 | 1807 | 1807 | |||
| 1808 | 1808 | 1808 | 1808 | |||
| 1809 | 1809 | 1809 | 1809 | |||
| 1810 | 1810 | US Federal Census in Brattleboro, VT | 1810 | 1810 | ||
| Birth of son: George Oliver in Brattleboro | ||||||
| Sells sawmill on Connecticut River | ||||||
| 1811 | 1811 | 1811 | 1811 | |||
| 1812 | 1812 | A son, Francis, is born around this time | 1812 | 1812 | ||
| Makes land transfers in Brattleboro, VT | ||||||
| 1813 | 1813 | Birth of son : John in Brattleboro VT | 1813 | 1813 | ||
| Makes land transfers in Brattleboro, VT | ||||||
| 1814 | 1814 | 1814 | 1814 | |||
| 1815 | 1815 | Died, Buried in Brattleboro VT cemetery | 1815 | 1815 | ||
| 1826 | 1826 | Widow petitions court to sell real estate | ||||
| 1827 | ||||||
| 1828 | 1828 | 1828 | Lydia Bowen, probable mother buried in Ft Ann | 1828 | ||
| 1835 | 1835 | 1835 | “Lands of father Peleg” in land transfers | 1835 |