The Ancestors of Timothy Mary Kelly

My second great grandparents, Tim Kelly and Ellen Judge, on their wedding day

100% Irish

To a lot of people in our family, Tim Kelly was known as “Dad Kelly”, and he must have been called “TM" by a lot of people as well because that’s the name on his gravestone. Patrick Kelly, Tim’s grandfather, was born in 1798 in County Galway, Ireland, where his wife, Margaret Ann Burke, was born in 1812. The two of them went on to have five children together, the first of whom was born in December of 1834 in Ireland. So in all likelihood, Patrick and Margaret were married in County Galway not too long before then. Their firstborn was Tim Kelly’s father, Michael. At age sixteen, he migrated to the United States with his parents and four siblings.

County Galway, Ireland

The Kellys definitely spent some time in Columbus, Ohio before coming to Perry County, Indiana. I can’t say for sure where they got off the boat in America in 1850. But for what it’s worth, if you ask Google Maps to give you the fastest route between New York City and Perry County, Indiana, it will take you right through Columbus, Ohio.

Tim Kelly’s father Michael Kelly is the man in both pictures

Tim Kelly’s mother Bridget Riley Kelly on the far right

Tim’s maternal grandparents, John Michael Reilly and Anne Regan, were both born in 1819 in County Cork, Ireland. They married relatively young and had a daughter named Bridget in 1838. When Bridget was ten, John migrated to New York City, the plan being for his wife and daughter to join him there as soon as possible. After two years, Anne and Bridget set sail for New York as well.

This picture apparently simply said “Bridget Kelly” on the back. A distant cousin of mine on facebook said she compared the faces with other pictures of Bridget. She swears Bridget Riley Kelly is the one in the middle, so I believe her.

Here’s a picture of my great grandmother, Blanch Kelly LaGrange, holding me. This is probably Christmas 1990 or 1991. Everyone else in the picture is my cousin or brother. Kelli Spence McNamara is holding Aubrey James Welp. Aubrey’s brother Tim James and my brother Jordan Faulkenberg are standing. Blanch’s paternal grandmother was Bridget, the girl who got lost in New York after her mother died on the ship coming from Ireland. My great grandmother was seven when Bridget died.

Sadly, Anne started feeling very sick on the boat and eventually died. She of course had to be buried at sea, leaving twelve year-old Bridget in the care of whatever family on the ship would look after her. When the ship arrived in New York, John Reilly went to meet his wife and daughter, not knowing his wife had died. Obviously, John didn’t find his wife Anne at this time, and actually he wasn’t able to find Bridget either - at least not immediately. She ended up staying with another family, presumably from the ship, until her father was able to track her down.

County Cork, Ireland

Before long, John Reilly and daughter Bridget ended up in Columbus, Ohio. According to Tim Kelly’s wife, this is where Bridget Reilly (also recorded as “Riley”) married Michael Kelly in 1857. The Mormon genealogy website says this wedding didn’t occur until 1862 in Perry County, Indiana. I haven’t found a marriage certificate to back up either claim, but either way, Michael Kelly and Bridget Reilly met in Columbus, Ohio and lived their married years in Perry County.

One of my favorite pictures: Tim and Ellen Judge Kelly, a bit older 

Bridget and Michael had a total of nine children, Tim being the fourth oldest. Tim’s father died of Typhoid fever in 1899, and his mother died of Pneumonia in 1916. The two of them are buried at the Holy Cross Catholic Church Cemetery in St. Croix, Indiana, along with both of Michael’s parents.

Tim and Ellen Kelly’s house is in the background. He’s one of these men - the one seated, I believe.