My 4th great-grandfather Oliver Kelley was born in Harwich, Mass., on New Year’s Eve--31 December-- 1795, the son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase. I wrote about Patrick and Dorcas here.
Oliver’s childhood in the large Kelley household (he had 10 siblings) would have centered around the sea as his father was a shipbuilder and many family members were mariners. His father was an astute businessman as he also became part owner of a grist mill, a carding mill and a cotton and woolen factory. Growing up in his North Harwich neighborhood, Oliver was surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins with the family even having its own cemetery.
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| Possibly Oliver's home in Harwich |
At age 19, Oliver married Priscilla Chase in September 1815 at Brewster. Note: His probate information states they were married 6 September but their marriage intentions were published on 8 September.
Brewster Vital Records: The intentions of marriage between Mr Oliver Kelley of Harwich and Miss Prissilla Chase of Brewster are here entered this 8th day of September A.D. 1815 and made public the Sabbath following. Joseph Smith T. Clerk
Priscilla was born Brewster 28 November 1796, the daughter of Richard Chase and Priscilla Snow.
Oliver and Priscilla had 10 children, born Harwich:
1. Stillman, b. 16 February 1816, m. Olive Howes Sears and lived in East Dennis where he died in June 1894. He operated a packet business between Dennis and Boston and later owned a store and a fishing business.
2. Oliver, b. 17 October 1817, m. Angeline Baker, died 22 March 1878. He was a master mariner. I wrote about Angeline’s tragic death here.
3. Lorenzo born 09 January 1820, married Fanny Small (one of my favorite names ever!) and died 31 January 1895 in East Bridgewater, Mass. He was a mariner.
4. Priscilla born 16 December 1822, married Zebina Doane, died 1896 in Somerville, Mass.
5. Richard born 11 August 1824, died before December 1840.
6. Valentine born 14 November 1828, married Rosana Eldridge, moved to Dennis Port and died there 18 March 1911. Valentine and Rosana are my 3rd great-grandparents and I wrote about them here.
7. Francis born 06 November 1830, married Betsey Howes and moved to Dennis where he died 09 March 1876. He was a mariner.
8. Mary Ann born 17 February 1834, married Anthony Megathlin, died 17 June 1915. Anthony was a sea captain and served as a Naval Officer during the Civil War, acting as master of the Winnebago and the Flambeau.
9. Rebecca, born in 1836, died in 1836, age 4 weeks.
10. Richard born 8 Dec 1840, died 05 January 1841.
In the 1850 Census Oliver, a farmer, is 44 (sic: should be 55) living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 53, sons Valentine and Francis (both mariners) and daughter Mary Ann.
In the 1870 census his is a 74 year old house carpenter, living with wife Priscilla in Harwich, next door to their son Oliver.
In the 1880 Census his is 84 years old living in Harwich with his wife Priscilla, 83, and their servant Elisabeth Long age 56. The family must have been comfortable financially as it was not very common for Cape families to have servants at that time. Oliver and Priscilla’s daughter Mary Ann Megathlin is living next door with her family.
In an 1880 map of Harwich, Oliver's house (as O. Kelly) is shown near Sand Pond, not far from railroad tracks, and near A. Megathlin, his son-in-law.
Priscilla died in Harwich on 13 July 1882, age 85, of old age.
Barnstable Patriot, 24 July 1882, page 3, Deaths: In Harwich, 13th inst. (current month), Mrs. Priscilla, wife of Oliver Kelley, aged 85 years, 7 months, 15 days.
Oliver died on Christmas Day, 25 December 1883, in Harwich.
Barnstable Patriot, 15 Jan 1884, page 1, Harwich: Mr. Oliver Kelley, the oldest man in town, died the 25th ult. (previous month), very suddenly, aged 87 years, 11 months.
Priscilla and Oliver are buried side-by-side at the Kelley Cemetery in North Harwich. They have identical marble stones, with raised decoration and an engraved "K" on top.
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| Oliver Kelley's gravestone |
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| Priscilla Kelley gravestone |
Barnstable Co. Probate, Oliver Kelley of Harwich, son of Patrick Kelley and Dorcas Chase, born 31 December 1795 Harwich, m. 6 Sept. 1815 Priscilla Chase in Brewster, d. 25 Dec 1883, Harwich, Case No. 8524, 1884. Spelling mistakes and "ditto" marks as written in records.
Next of kin:
Stillman Kelley of Dennis, son.
Oliver Kelley of Rhode Island, son.
Priscilla S. Doane, wife of Zebina S. Doanne of Somerville.
Mary Magathlin wife of Anthony of Harwich, daughter.
Lorenzo Kelley, Dennis.
Ella Chase, wife of Isaiah Chase, Brockton.
Emma Kelley, husband unknown, Brockton
Mary Kelley, Brockton
Grandchildren and children of Valentine Kelley, deceased (referring to Ella, Emma, Mary)
Francis H. and May H. Chase children of Francis H. Kelley deceased
___ was son of Oliver deceased, the eldest son of said deceased.
Dated 12 Feb 1884.
Appointment of Stillman as admin of estate late of Harwich, admin. bond 12 Feb 1884.
Inventory:
In the Town of Harwich
Brush land near flax pond 9.00
Woodland called Abner Hall piece 56.00
do called Leindry(?) Nickerson " 38.00
do Elijah Nickerson " 20.00
" Squaw Road " 50.00
" Tipper Bass " 200.00
Cedar Swamp called Dry Brook " 60.00
" near O.C.R. Road East Lot 14.00
" " " West Lot 20.00
Cranberry land North of O.C.R. Road 100.00
___ land near Marshall Kelley 21.00
Meadow called Tuttle point piece 5.00
" " Nickerson Island piece 5.00
Piece land called School House lot 8.00
Homestead with dwelling house and ___ all other
building thereon 266.00
Land south of homestead with dwelling
house and all buildings thereon
occupied by A. Megathlin 150.00
Cleared land with dwelling and ___
barn thereon occupied by
Lorenzo Killey 110.00
1,132.00
Personal estate
In parlor desk 3.00 clothing in desk 4.50
clock & looking glass 1.75 9.25
" Bedstead 50, 7 chairs 1.25 table & cover 1.17
dishes 2.00 4.92
" ___ and mats 1.000 Bedstead.50 clothing 1 2.50
Front bedroom bed & bedding 10 bureau &
clothing inside 5.00 15.00
" 4 chairs & stand 1 __ 1.25 dishes 1.50
knives & forks .50 4.25
Kitchen Desk 1.75, settee 1.00 Books 1.00
5 chairs .75 4.50
2 tables 75 __ & mats .50 bedstead & under bed
.75 2.00
Sundries in closet .25 Box s__ings1.00 looking
glass. .50 1.75
Pantry crockery 1.50 book room 1 large chest
& clothing 10.00 11.50
Book room table & cloth 50 store 2 5 chairs 50
lamp 50 3.50
" Sundries in closet 50 looking glass & pail
50 crockery 2 3.00
At Magathlins House 2 featherbeds 7, 4 pillows
150 bolster .60 9.10
" 4 quilts 1.90 Blankets sheets shirts &
pillowcases 3.33 5.23
Cash deposited in CC. Fire ___ Bank Harwich 114.84
Farm & carpenter tools 3, 2 wagons 2 5.00
contents of woodhouse 1.50 contents of corn
house 2.50 4.00
Contents of store 10.00 2 stores 3 13.00
Boxes and sundry articles in store chamber 2.00
Boxes chests and sundry articles in house
chamber 3.00
Chest & clothing 5 bed & bedstead 4 9.00
Chest & beding 3 2 boxes & contents & 2 chairs1 4.00
Bedstead & bed stead & chairs 1.00
2 boxes & contents 75 womens clothing 1 1.70
1 trunk and clothing 5.00
239.00
There is a wonder image of Oliver and Priscilla in the Dennis Historical Society of the two of them on his catboat at Herring River. Tom Leach, Harwich, Mass
ReplyDeleteTom, Thanks so much for letting me know about this! I was able to find it quickly in DHS' digital archive. Happy New Year, Chris
DeleteStillman Kelley is my great great grand father. I have visited his and Oliive's gravesites. Their daughter, also Olive, married my great grandfather, George Willard Green, who sold lumber from Michigan to the Cape through Stillman. Olive moved to Big Rapids, MI, where she adopted the children of his late wife, Mary Shaw Green. Mary is the sister of Rev. Anna Howard Shaw. Olive and George had three children, Willard, Frances, and Frank (my grandfather). This is documented in the "Kelley Genealogy", by Eunice Kelley Randall, 1962 & 1975. It can be borrowed here: https://archive.org/details/davidokilliaimmi75rand. Henry Kelley (B. 1938- ) is a treasure of Kelley Family history. We are all descended from David O'Killia, who was pushed from a ship off the coast of Cape Cod, after his parents died. The captain of the ship was later "drawn and quartered" in Traflagar Square, England, for robbing his passengers. Davis was an indentured servant from the time of his arrival at 14 years, to 21 years old. He married a Baker woman, if I remember correctly. Presently I am away from my library. Greetings, cousin, hope you have an opportunity to go over the book! Suzette Green
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzette, for sharing this information. I've found some mistakes in the Kelley genealogy, but Eunice Kelley Randall did an amazing job, something I can't imagine before the Internet and genealogy programs.
DeleteWhere did you find the information on the first David O'Killia being pushed from a ship? He married Jane Powell.
Typo, "David", not Davis.
ReplyDelete