The Kelly Family
The origins of the Kelly family are shrouded in mystery. It is the only branch of the family whose origins I haven’t identified. Of course I know that their roots are in Ireland but I know little else. Therefore I will have to start the Kelly history with a few suppositions.
Sometime in the late 18th Century, probably around 1785, four people were born in Ireland who would become the descendants of our Kelly family. Two would become the parents of John Kelly who was born in Ireland in 1806 and two would become the parents of Ann Lamb who was born in Ireland on September 29, 1808. Ann’s parents were Peter Lamb and Mary Gaffney. Unfortunately, this is all I know of John and Ann’s parents. My next assumption is that John Kelly and Ann Lamb were married sometime around 1830, had four children between 1832 and 1838, came to America approx. 1840 and had three more children. This assumption is derived from data found in the census of 1850. The data in question was recorded in July 1850 and is found in the National Archives, Record Group 29, Year 1850, State of New York, County of New York, Page 158R. It states that at East 28th. St., New York City, 18th. Ward, Dwelling 65, Family 97, the following people were found:
John Kelly age 42 born in Ireland
Ann Kelly age 40 born in Ireland
Edward Kelly age 18 born in Ireland
Ann Kelly age 14 born in Ireland
May Kelly age 12 born in Ireland
John Kelly age 10 born in New York
Patrick Henry Kelly age 6 born in New York
Mary Kelly age 4 born in New York
The above information is about all we know of the Kelly family except, of course, for John jr. who became my great-grandfather and whose life story will follow. Along the way we will hear of a few members of the family but unfortunately most of the information about them has been lost or at least not discovered yet. The search still goes on. John Kelly jr. was born in New York City on September 16, 1841. Most of the biographical information about him was found in a book written in 1914. It is the “History of Verplanck” by William Kelleher. In it he profiles a number of prominent citizens of Verplanck and John Kelly happened to be one of them. I repeat the biography verbatim as it is written in the prose of the times. There were no pictures in the original copy but I’ve added some where appropriate:
Start of Biographical Sketch:
“John J. Kelly, a noted boatman, was born in New York City on September 16, 1841, on Third Avenue, near Twenty_eighth Street. From his youngest years he possessed a great inclination to become a sailor.One morning, when he was about the age of ten, he started out for school as usual, and when part of the way met some of his companions, who were also on their way to school. The day was that of summer and very warm, so the boys decided they would rather swim instead of going to school. John was no exception, so he joined the boys and off they went for a swim. “Black Fish Rock” (at present Thirtieth St. and First Ave.) was then a dockage where the various boats landed with their cargoes. This morning the schooner “Anna M.” with our renowned Richard T. Wandell, or better known as “Capt. Dick”, (the father of our present George Wandell) as captain, lay at the dock. As the boys were swimming nearby one of the deck hands called John on board. He only too anxious, immediately responded to the request and went on board. The deck hand showed John all around the boat, and asked him to come along. Seeing his opportunity to satisfy his great desire he decided to make the trip. Without returning to bid his family farewell he made the trip and came to Verplanck.Upon his arrival at Verplanck he accepted a position with “Capt. Dick” as cabin boy or cook. He remained on the Anna M. for eight years, during which time he showed himself anxious to climb to the top of the latter and thereby acquired the position of mate.Leaving the Anna M. he went to the Henry Hill, of Greens Cove, under the employment of John Carey, for one year. From there to the Signal, under John Carrol, of Verplanck. From here he returned to New York and entered the New York police force, remaining there for several years. His first position was as patrolman, and at his retirement he had gained that of lieutenant. Thus, through his sturdy ambition he again distinguished himself. While in this last position he was employed on Police Boat No. 1, and again distinguished himself at a fire on Hunters Island, where an oil works had caught on fire. For his bravery he was awarded by General Schayler, then fire commissioner of New York City, the sum of two hundred dollars. He was an intimate friend of Ex-Sheriff Brennan, of New York City.
Returning to Verplanck he resumed his former position as a boatman. Shortly after his return re married, on January 6, 1869, Bridget M. Vaughey, daughter of James and Margaret Vaughey of Verplanck. He had eight children, five sons and three daughters: Anna, Theresa, James, Henry, John, Mary, Joseph, and Charles. Anna married George Boyle of Verplanck. Theresa married James Moran, residing at Verplanck. James married Frances Catherine Norman, of New York City. Henry, unmarried, a brick mason, residing at Verplanck. John, deceased, was a cigar maker in the employ of James F.Martin of Peekskill. Mary, deceased, died in infancy. Joseph married Mary Kerrigan, residing at Middletown, N.Y. Charles, unmarried, just returned from the service of the U.S. Army, now on the borderline at Sam Housten, Texas, during the present condition at Mexico. He was a cavalryman in Troop D, of the Third U.S. Cavalry.During these years Mr. Kelly owned and sailed the following Boats:In 1876 he purchased from Wadell & Co., of New York City the schooner Thomas J. Owens, built at Nyack by Peter Voris, about seventeen years previous to Mr. Kelly’s purchase. He brought the boat to Verplanck, where he used her in what was called the coast trade in the shipment of brick, etc., usually docking at the yard of Haight & Southard.
After five years he sold it to Sayers & Fisher, in South River, N.J. This concern rebuilt her and after twenty years in their service, took fire and was burned, one man perishing with her. Mr. Kelly has the topmast of Owens today, and it is acting as a pillar supporting one end of the porch at the rear of his home. Also he has the bowsprit, which he uses for a chopping block.
His first boat was the Robert Knapp. He owned this vessel in partnership with Patrick Gallaghan, who manufactured brick at Georges Island a few years ago, and has since died. They sold it to Francis Timmony and William Dunphy, who, after a few years resold it, where it was taken to Chesapeake Bay and used in oyster fishing. Lastly, he purchased the Edmund Cosgrove sloop form George Morton, of Croton (the father of the present Odell Morton of the Morton freight lines, Peekskill). During the five years he owned this boat he rebuilt and rerigged it into a schooner. He changed the name to John Kelly, after his infant son, just born. Some were of the opinion that Mr. Kelly named the boat after John Kelly, of New York City, then the popular leader of Tammany Hall. He sold the boat to Patrick Morrisey, of Grassy Point. Through the marriage of John King, of Verplanck, and Mr. Morrisey’s daughter, the boat became the possession of Mr. King. He rebuilt and changed the name to that of Mary Ann King, after his wife. She was purchased by a Mr. Broadie, of Peekskill, and sold again to Jacob Carpenter, of Sea Cliff, L.I., and was used as a sand boat on the sound. At the death of Mr. Carpenter the boat became the property of his wife and was sailed by his son, Thomas G. Carpenter, now residing in Verplanck. She was sunk at the Seacliff dock on August 27, 1912.
After selling the John Kelly, Mr. Kelly employed himself in various positions a Verplanck, until his absolute retirement a few years ago. He resides at Sixth St., Verplanck, and is enjoying good health and is a well preserved gentleman for all his years.
End of Biographical Sketch:
John returned to Verplanck to live after leaving the police force. He bought a house at what is today 150 Sixth St. To buy the house he obtained a mortgage of 900 dollars from his brother Patrick . This is the only mention I have of any of his brothers or sisters.
In 1888 John was plying his trade as riverboat captain when a strike shut down the brickyards in the Verplanck area. This put him out of work. At that time a group of deputy sheriffs was formed by Westchester County to handle any disturbances caused by the strike and John was asked to join. I assume this was because of his police background. I have his badge, a billy club and numerous pictures of him at this time. During the subsequent troubles caused by the strike John was arrested for hitting one of the strikers with his club but was later acquitted and continued as a deputy. This occurrence is mentioned in one of the journals of the Westchester County Historical Society.
As was mentioned above, John and Bridget had eight children. Of the eight, Mary (who was known as Mamie) died at the age of 15 months on Sept. 11th, 1883. The rest grew to adulthood. However, tragedy struck in 1906 when John Jr. contracted tuberculosis while tending to a sick neighbor. He was to die of the disease in April of 1906 but not before his mother also contracted the disease. She died on January 2nd, 1906 at the age of 59. John Sr. lived on in retirement at the house on Sixth St. until his death on November 25th, 1914.