JohnsonFamily2/19/24 - Person Sheet
JohnsonFamily2/19/24 - Person Sheet
Notes for John Kelly
KELLEY The Kelly or Kelley family is ancient in Devonshire, England, where there is a small parish of the name from which the
family doubtless took their surname. According to Burke, the family "may look back beyond the Conquest and derive themselves
from the ancient Britons." The Devonshire branch has held the manor and advowson at the parish of Kelly at least from the time of
Henry II., according to Shirley, and branches of the family have also lived at Exeter and other places in Devonshire. The name was
spelled Kelleigh formerly and later became Kelly and Kelley. The name Kelly is also said to be of Norman origin, coming from the
name Le Sire de Cailly, although Burke's Heraldry shows that Cailly became Cayley. For centuries Kelly has been a common
surname in Ireland, being derived from Ceallach, the Irish word for strife, war. It is probable that the immigrant ancestor of this line,
John Kelly, was descended from some branch of the Devonshire family.
(I) John Kelly, the immigrant ancestor, was one of the early settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, where he is said to have been in
1635, coming from Newbury, England. Not much is definitely known of him after his arrival, and nothing is known of his life in
England. He received a grant in Newbury of a house lot of four acres near the Great River, "bounded by the River on the north, John
Pemerton on the west, by the way on the south, and John Merrill on the east." He also received at the same time, a planting lot of
four acres on the same neck of land, the date being doubtless the year 1639, when many other similar grants were made. The Great
river is the river Parker. John Kelly also seems to have had a house lot granted him in another part of the town which was mentioned
in a record of his son's grant. His house was on the north side of Oldtown Hill, and he does not seem to have used either of his
grants. He was so far separated from the town that the citizens took a vote that if he should be killed by the Indians because of living
so far from the others, "his blood should be on his own head." He died December 28, 1644. According to tradition, he was born in
Exeter, Devonshire, England. Children: Sarah, born February 12, 1641, and John, mentioned below. 194
family doubtless took their surname. According to Burke, the family "may look back beyond the Conquest and derive themselves
from the ancient Britons." The Devonshire branch has held the manor and advowson at the parish of Kelly at least from the time of
Henry II., according to Shirley, and branches of the family have also lived at Exeter and other places in Devonshire. The name was
spelled Kelleigh formerly and later became Kelly and Kelley. The name Kelly is also said to be of Norman origin, coming from the
name Le Sire de Cailly, although Burke's Heraldry shows that Cailly became Cayley. For centuries Kelly has been a common
surname in Ireland, being derived from Ceallach, the Irish word for strife, war. It is probable that the immigrant ancestor of this line,
John Kelly, was descended from some branch of the Devonshire family.
(I) John Kelly, the immigrant ancestor, was one of the early settlers of Newbury, Massachusetts, where he is said to have been in
1635, coming from Newbury, England. Not much is definitely known of him after his arrival, and nothing is known of his life in
England. He received a grant in Newbury of a house lot of four acres near the Great River, "bounded by the River on the north, John
Pemerton on the west, by the way on the south, and John Merrill on the east." He also received at the same time, a planting lot of
four acres on the same neck of land, the date being doubtless the year 1639, when many other similar grants were made. The Great
river is the river Parker. John Kelly also seems to have had a house lot granted him in another part of the town which was mentioned
in a record of his son's grant. His house was on the north side of Oldtown Hill, and he does not seem to have used either of his
grants. He was so far separated from the town that the citizens took a vote that if he should be killed by the Indians because of living
so far from the others, "his blood should be on his own head." He died December 28, 1644. According to tradition, he was born in
Exeter, Devonshire, England. Children: Sarah, born February 12, 1641, and John, mentioned below. 194