Leah Kellam (ca. 1752 – ca. 1814)

While no records document Leah Kellam’s birth, the 1800 U.S. census lists her as forty-five years of age or older, placing her birth no later than 1755.[1] Her parents were Isaac and Jemima Kellam. Isaac had a brother, William Kellam, who also had a daughter named Leah born April 22, 1750.[2] While the two Leahs are often confused, Isaac Kellam’s will identifies his daughter as “Leah Pain,” confirming that it was his daughter who married Levin Payne.[3]

Leah’s Ancestors

The Kellam surname is of ancient Norman origin, arriving in England with the Norman Conquest of 1066. The family derived its name from the village of Kelham in Nottinghamshire, a parish situated northwest of Newark. The name is rooted in an Old Norse expression meaning “at the ridges.”[4]

According to one genealogical source, Leah’s great-grandfather, John Kellam, was born in England and emigrated to Accomack County, Virginia, in the mid-seventeenth century, establishing the family’s American line.[5] I have not been able to confirm this claim.

According to some researchers, Leah’s mother was Jemima Chaille, possibly the daughter of Peter Chaille.[6] I have not been able to confirm this claim.

Leah’s Death

While there are no records of Leah’s death, she most likely died between August 23, 1813, and March 6, 1818. She was presumably alive on August 23, 1813, the date on which her husband Levin Payne executed his will and referred to her as his wife.[7] On March 6, 1818, Levin Payne married Elizabeth Jones, indicating that Leah had died by that date.[8] She is presumed to have died in Worcester County, Maryland, where she had spent her life.

Footnotes

[1] 1800 U.S. Federal Census, Worcester County, Maryland, p. 180, Levin Payne household. Ancestry.com. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7590/images/4440897_00187?pId=112179.

[2] "Maryland Births and Christenings, 1600–1995." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2010. Index entries derived from digital copies of original and compiled records.

[3] Maryland, Worcester County. Wills, Liber J.W., No. 4, 1769–1783, pp. 443–444. FamilySearch. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TBJ-S5RB.

[4] House of Names, "Kellam Family Crest." https://www.houseofnames.com/kellam-family-crest.

[5] M.K. Miles and Barry Miles, MilesFiles (https://espl-genealogy.org), "John Kellam," person ID I72597; accessed 6 March 2026.

[6] FamilySearch, Family Tree, "Leah Kellam: L4SD-48F," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/L4SD-48F : accessed 6 March 2026).

[7] Maryland, Worcester. Wills, Liber M.H., 1813-1822, pp. 491-493 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3QC-6SY1-M.

[8] Hudson, Millard F. Marriage licenses of Worcester Co. Md. 1795-1865. (Baltimore MD: Maryland Historical Society, 1927) 168 https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9BJ-N3FN-9.