Hugh Kelly

341

Maureen Withey on 6th October 2020

1828 Census index. Hugh Kelly, age 45, Rolla, 1802, 7 years, catholic, Publican and Landholder, Baulkan Hills district. Holds 1600 acres, of which 100 are cleared, and 50 cultivated. Has 20 horses, and 750 cattle. Eliza Kelly, age 20, born in colony. Elizth. Kelly, age 6, born in colony. Josh Kelly, age 14, born in colony. - Note- the age of Josh, may have been mistranscribed in the Index.

71

Robin Sharkey on 25th March 2016

HUGH KELLY's MANY FAMILIES 1st FAMILY Wife MARY EVANS, formerly DYKES. No children. Death of Mary Dykes November 1820. 2nd FAMILY ESTHER HARLEY. born about 1795 in England, arrived per "Minorca" in Feb 1802 as child of free settler Thomas Harley who was given a land grant of 250 acres in the Baulkham Hills area - in fact in the same area as the land grant to Humphry Evans, called "There or Nowhere, halfway between Parramatta and Hawkesbury. So Hugh & Esther met through neighbourly proximity. In Syd Gaz of 17/9/1809, Esther's father Thomas was described as a settler near the "Half Way House" (an inn) at "There or No where", where Humphry Evans' land grant was by then being run by Hugh Kelly and his first wife, Mary Evans. Esther already had children when she cohabited with Hugh, neither of whom had fathers listed on their baptism registrations: Edward Harley born 1814, and Sarah Harley born 1821: On 25 February 1827 they were both baptised in the RC Church, with Hugh Kelly as their sponsor. As the Harleys were Protestant, possibly this was done by Hugh after Esther's death, or without her agreement ...? By the 1828 Census these two children were listed as the children of Esther's sister Bridget Harley, living at their grandfather Thomas Harley's nearby (also with 18 month old William, the child of Bridget baptised May 1827 as "Scopefield", Bridget then marrying john Schofield in 1829). By 1828 Hugh had a new third wife and child, so the first illegitimate children of Esther were probably more welcome at her father's house. HUGH & ESTHER'S CHILDREN: (1) Louisa or Elouise, In 1828 Census listed as age 8, BC, Protestant, and living with Thomas Ashford of Parramatta. Married in 1836 to Thomas Hart of the Windsor Rod, Described as "eldest daughter of the late Mr Hugh Kelly" Sydney Monitor, 23/7/1836 p 3. Louisa Hart died 1901 at Canowindra, see 'Canowindra Star' 18/10/1901, [NSWBDM d.o. Hugh & Esther] having been "born at Windsor NSW in the year 1822 and having lived in that district for 36 years" until the Harts moved to Canowindra about 1878. (2) Elizabeth, aged 6 in 1828 Census. Living with Hugh and new wife, Eliza Purcell. Married 1846 to Michael Finn of Hartley (see SMH 24/9/1846 p3) as " ... Elizabeth Matilda Kelly, second daughter of the late Mr Hugh Kelly of the Windsor Road." Died 1867 NSWBDM 5371/1867 d.o. Hugh & Esther. In 1825 Muster both Elizabeth & Louisa were listed as aged 2&1/2 years, children of Hugh Kelly of Parramatta, together with a third child: ... Mary Kelly listed in 1825 as aged 7. 3rd FAMILY wife - ELIZA PURCELL, born 1808 in NSW, daughter of Patrick Purcell & Margaret Taylor, of Minto. Were together by Nov 1827 when son Joseph Kelly must have been conceived: 1828 Census - Hugh Kelly aged 45 and "Eliza Kelly" aged 20 (1) Had son Joseph Kelly aged 4 months at 1828 Census. baptised 27 Aug 1828 at Windsor (registered in RC church records). Joseph Kelly died Queensland Nov 25 1811, aged 83 (Qld Regn 001023 page 13741) [Eliza Purcell in 1822 Muster - aged 14 yrs, child of Patrick Purcell. Patrick Purcell had arrived free on "Albion" in 1806 as the servant of Robert Campbell [NSW SR - Col Sec Incoming Corro, Letter Dated: 1813, Jul 1]. He married Margaret Taylor in NSW on 17 May 1807 at St Phillips, Sydney. Eliza was born the following year] Death of Eliza Kelly: Sydney Gazette Sat 12 Feb 1831 p. 2 On Saturday last, between 9 and 10 o'clock at night, Mrs. Kelly, the wife of Mr. Hugh Kelly, of the Half-way-house, Windsor-road, went into the store room to draw some spirits; on turning the cock, the spirits spouted briskly out, and Mrs. K. having a candle in her hand, the spirits became suddenly ignited and the flame set fire to her clothes. Her screams brought instant relief, and after much exertion the flames were extinguished, but not until Mrs. K. had been dreadfully burnt. A messenger was immediately dispatched to Parramatta for surgical assistance; Dr. Sherwin hastened to the spot, and remained with his suffering patient the whole night, using every means in his power for her relief; but after lingering in great agony until about one o'clock on Monday, she expired, at the early age of 22, and leaving four young children to lament a mother's loss. She was the third wife whom Mr. Kelly has had to follow to the grave. Her funeral took place Wednesday, and was most numerously attended. 4th FAMILY: MARY ANN MORAN Possibly Mary Ann Moran, BC, aged 13 in 1828 Census, daughter of Charles Moran of Prospect. by 1831 she would have been aged 17. (1) Daughter Frances Ann KELLY. born 1831 Married 1 Sept 1845 (aged 14) to James Harresky. per "Morning Chronicle Sat 6/9/1845 p3 - " ... eldest son of Mr. Daniel Harrisky, of Richmond, to Miss Frances Anne Kelly, youngest daughter of the late and much lamented Mr. Hugh Kelly, of the Windsor Road". Frances Harresky died 1911, Cowra (Cowra Free Press Sat 11 Mar 1911 p. 6)

71

Robin Sharkey on 25th March 2016

Hugh Kelly arrived on "Rolla" in 1803 with a sentence of 7 years after being convicted, aged around 21 per indents, at the Armagh Assizes on Thursday, 8th April 1802. OVERVIEW: Kelly gave himself a good start in NSW by taking up with the widow of his master, beneficiary of a 135 acre land grant. He had several marriages over his lifetime. He received his own land grant on the Windsor Rd in 1818 and also acquired further land, and established an inn on the Windsor Road known as "the Half Way House", later changed to "The Bird in Hand". The suburb of Kellyville is on his land, named after him. IRISH CRIME: "Armargh Assizes - At an Assizes held at Armagh on Thursday 8th instant [i.e. April] before the Hon. Baron George, the following persons were tried and found guilty: "Hugh Kelly and Ann McDermott were indicted for privately and feloniously taking out of an out-house of Denis Tierney at Ballintemple on 20th August last [i.e. 1801] sundry articles of wearing apparel, and found guilty of felony, to the value of 4810s 1/2d. Kelly to be transported seven years, and Ann McDermott to be imprisoned one month." per 'Belfast Newsletter' Tuesday 20 April 1802 page 3, column 1 _______________________ Hugh Kelly was highly successful in NSW. He obtained his Certificate of Freedom on 30th April 1809, but well before then he had an eye to progression. FIRST TEN YEARS: * By 1806 he was residing at the Hawkesbury, most probably co-habiting with the widow of his former Master, Humphrey Evans: * 1806 Muster employed by "Evans" ,with a ticket of Leave. FOR 1806 entry for Mary Evans, recorded as per "Rolla" "how employed": Land grant Humphrey Evans. 135 acres". Humphrey Evans first arrived NSW as a private marine in First Fleet, then joined the NSW Corps. He married a First Fleet convict called Mary Dykes. At expiry of his NSW Corps term, the Evans' returned to England but in 1801 wanted to come back. English Under Secretary Sullivan wrote to Acting Governor King in Jan. 1802 …….. "Among the persons who will proceed as Settlers in the ships about to depart for the Colony under your Government are Mr Charles Palmer, Humphrey Evans and W. Heath; ..." The Evanses probably left on "Perseus" in early February 1802 (or "Coromandel". In 1803 Evans got a 135 acre land grant at Baulkham Hills. It is possible Hugh Kelly was assigned to the Evanses early up on his arrival. * But Evans died in August 1805 when a tree he was felling landed on him. Mrs Evans was left with two children (Sydney Gazette, 4/8/1805 p 1) * Hugh Kelly stayed on with Mrs Evans, and entered a relationship with her. * August 1807 Kelly received £38 5s from Blaxland for 4 pigs, * 1808 Married Mrs Mary Evans. 1808 Mary had a daughter to him. 850/1808 V1808850 3. Neither could sign their names on the marriage register. * Hugh now had the 135 acres at his disposal. * By 1810 was supplying fresh meat to the Government store at the Hawkesbury. * April 1810 newspaper notice of delivery of his Certificate of Freedom. 1811- had a herd of cattle. Gave evidence against Hugh Devlyn who he knew 'very well' (one of the Wicklow mountain outlaws & State prisoner) that, on his way to Windsor, Devlin had asked him to say, should anybody enquire, that he had a black & white bullock of Devlyn's in his flock from about 12 months before which Devlyn had removed on a a specific date - even though he had never had any of Devlyn's cattle. this evidence would not have endeared him to Devlyn. [Syd Gazette, 24/8/1811 p 1] ____________________________________________