Ella Kelley (1852-1888) married Isaiah Chase, lived Dennis and Brockton MA

Ella Frances Kelley was born 30 March 1852 at Dennis, the first child of Valentine and Rosana (Eldredge) Kelley. She was raised at what is now 280 Main Street in Dennis Port, with her four siblings. She is my great-great grand-aunt.

The house Ella grew up in on Main Street, Dennis Port. Imagine Main Street being a rural dirt road??

On 9 April 1872, at age 20, Ella married Isaiah L. Chase, son of Leonard and Sally (Nickerson) Chase. Isaiah was also born Dennis and was a mariner at the time of their marriage.

Probably Ella or her sister Rose Emma

Isaiah and Ella had three children: Arthur, Isaiah and Mary Ella. Their births are written in the Kelley family bible and the RLDS Church blessing records. Mary died as an infant.

In Dennis Source Records, Volume 1: Church Records, by Burton Derick: Records of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints (RLDS) Church, Dennisport, p. 573, original members lists Ella F. Chase, b. 30 Mar 1852, Dennis, baptized 19 May 1878. Isaiah was also one of the original members and eventually became a teacher, deacon and priest in the church.

RLDS Church in Dennis Port

I do not find Isaiah and Ella in the 1880 census in Massachusetts. There is another Isaiah Chase who married an Ella C. Eldredge and lived in Dennis, so that causes some confusion in researching this couple.

She died 17 October 1886 at Brockton, MA. She was just 34 years old. The cause of her death is uremia, which is related to kidney failure. Urea and other waste products that are usually excreted from the body remain in the blood. Her death is recorded in Brockton and Dennis Vital Records, as well as the family bible. She is buried at Swan Lake Cemetery in Dennis Port.

In 1887 Isaiah married, second, Caroline Godfrey. He is listed as a shoe operative in Brockton in the marriage record.

Isaiah L. Chase died 19 June 1892, age 45 years, 6 months, 15 days, from Hepatitis and effects of La Grippe. He died in Brockton and was buried N. Harwich. He was a shoe operative, born Harwich, to Leonard and Sally (Nickerson). His death is recorded in MA Vital Records in Dennis and Brockton. 

I would be thrilled to find a descendant of Ella and Isaiah!

Valentine (1828-1882) Kelley and Rosana Eldredge (1826-1911)

Valentine and Rosana were my great-great-great grandparents from Dennis Port, Mass. Valentine was born in Harwich, 14 November 1828, the son of Oliver Kelley and Priscilla Chase.

Probably Valentine Kelley

Rosana (sometimes spelled Rosanna/Roxanna and last name sometimes spelled Eldridge) was also born in Harwich, 4 December 1826, the daughter of James Harding Eldredge and Rosanna Wixon. Rosana’s birth is not recorded in Harwich Vital Records, but is given in her 1866 baptism record and her obituary.

Probably Rosana Eldredge Kelley

Valentine and Rosana were married by Rev. Lothrop of the West Harwich Baptist Church on 11 March 1852. On their marriage record, Valentine is listed as 23, a mariner, and Rosana was 24.

Rosana’s father James owned land on what is now Main Street in Dennis Port. When Rosana married, he had a half-Cape home moved to the property for them to start their lives together. It stayed in the family until 1991. It is currently located at 280 Main Street. (The house being moved to the property is according to their descendant Natalie Chase who lives across the street.)  Natalie also owns Valentine's family bible, which records many family birth, marriage and death dates.

Old photo of Valentine and Rosana's home

Valentine and Rosana's house in the 1990s

They had five children: Ella Frances, Oliver, Mary Ann, Rose Emma, and Valentine Elsworth. Imagine seven people living in that tiny house?! I descend through their daughter Mary Ann who married David Kelley.

You can see what I previously wrote about Valentine Elsworth Kelley here and Mary Ann Kelley here.I will write more about Valentine and Rosana’s other children in separate entries.  

Valentine is listed as a mariner or seaman in the 1855 and 1860 census. In the 1863 Civil War draft registration he is listed as a sailor.

Rosana was later a member of the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints. Valetine was not a member, but his name appears once in the Dennis Port RLDS records on 7 Feb 1879: "Charges being made against Bro. N.C. Eldredge as to his dishonest dealing with Valentine Kelley. The matter was investigated satisfactorily and Bro. N.C. Eldredge was released and acquitted from the charge.” N.C. is probably Valentine’s brother-in-law Nathan C., Rosana’s brother.

In an 1880 map of Dennis, V. Kelly is listed with N. Eldridge next door. N. Eldridge could be Nathan C., living in what was his father’s house.

Valentine is mentioned as deceased in his father's 1884 estate settlement, which named Oliver's next of kin.

On 8 October 1882 Valentine died in Dennis. He was 53 and died of cancer. He was listed as a laborer on his death record. Rosana died 18 Mar 1911 aged 84 yrs 3 mos 14 dys.  Rosana lived as a widow for over 29 years. They are buried side-by-side at Swan Lake Cemetery in Dennis Port. 

Valentine and Rosana's gravestones at Swan Lake Cemetery, Dennis Port

Barnstable Patriot, 17 Oct 1882, page 3:

Deaths

In Dennis Port, 8th inst., Mr. Valentine Kelley, aged 53 years, 10 months, 24 days.

Barnstable Patriot, 31 Oct 1882, page 2:

Brief Locals

The widow of Valentine Kelley has received a dividend from the Citizen's Mutual Aid Association of West Harwich and Dennis Port.

RLDS Church newsletter, the Saints Herald, 3 May 1911:

"Kelley--Rosanna Kelley was born December 4, 1826, at Harwich, Massachusetts. She united with the church September 26, 1866, at Dennisport. Baptized by Thomas Gilbert. She passed peacefully away March 18, 1911, after an illness of only one week with pneumonia. She leaves three children, many grandchildren and friends to mourn. Sermon by Elder I.B. Ames, at her late home. Interment at Swan Lake Cemetery."

Mary Burr(?) Howes ca 1603 to December 1695, Yarmouth, Mass.

Mary’s maiden name is often given as Burr, but I haven’t found any proof of that. We do know that she was born in England and married, first, Thomas Howes, with whom she had three sons: Joseph, Thomas and Jeremiah. I descend from both Joseph and Thomas.

The couple came to Boston circa 1637 with their three sons. It is said that Jeremiah was born on the voyage. Family tradition says they came on a vessel named the Mayflower, although not the same of Pilgrim fame. All the possessions of the family were carried in a huge oak chest. This "Mayflower chest" of the Howes family has been preserved and can be seen at the Josiah Dennis manse in Dennis. You can read my post on Thomas Howes here.

The Howes Chest (photograph: Howes Family Association)

They first settled at Salem (now Lynn) before removing to the village of Nobscusset in Yarmouth (now Dennis) in 1639. 

Thomas and Mary Howes were among the original settlers in Yarmouth. Thomas was an influential man and large land owner. He died in 1665, at about 73 years of age. In 1668 Mary married, second, Gov. Thomas Prence. She was about 65 years old and was his fourth wife. As 65 was quite an advanced age in the 17^th century, I think it speaks highly of Mary that a powerful man like Gov. Prence desired her as his wife.

Gov. Prence died in 1673.You can read my post on him here.

In addition to the required knowledge of cooking, spinning, candle making and other household skills, Mary had a special talent for healing. Her reputation had spread as far as Sandwich by 1660. About that time a minister named Thomas Dally was ill with consumption. He was sent to Mrs. Howes at Yarmouth for treatment, but she was unable to cure him.

Mary died 9 December 1695 in Yarmouth and was about 92 years of age. She had outlived her second husband by over 20 years. The records of Yarmouth contain this entry: "mis mary prince late wife of governer Thomas prince died upon the Ninth day of december 1695 and was Buried upon the leventh daye of ye said: 1695:"

Thomas and Mary (Burr) Howes Memorial Stone, Howes Burying Ground, Dennis

At the time of her death, Mary was living at the home of her son Jeremiah and his wife Sarah (Prence). Sarah was her daughter-in-law as well as her step-daughter.

The inventory of Mary Prince’s estate at Yarmouth was taken 23 December 1695

It by a ffether Bed & Bolster & Bed stead and Cord     05 16 06

It by 2 pillows and 2 pillow cotes to each pillow 00 18 00

It by a pare of Curtains 149 and best Coverlid 18s     01 12 00

It by one Coverlid more 16s   00 16 00

It by a white Blankit 2s and a grene Rugg and a pece   00 10 00

It by 2 Linning sheetes 1 5s and one other sheet: 6s:  01 01 00

It by 1 holland sheet 1 5s and one small sheet 4s 6d   00 19 06

It by 1 sheet 5s 6d and one pillow 3s   00 08 06

It by a Table Carpet     00 10 00

It by Six Napkins 4s and 2 Table Clothes 2s apiece     00 08 00

It by wooling yarne baskit & kiting needles  00 02 09

It by 3 Cushions 3s 6d 1 lether chair 6s Table 3s     00 09 06

It by 2 Chairs more 6s and silver beer boul 4£    04 06 00

It by 1 Iron Chafing dish 3s and Jugg 1s     00 05 00

It by a bell metel skillet 4s and a bason 5s 00 09 00

It by severals of pewter 00 06 04

It by a Still: 12s: and warming pan 4s  00 16 00

It by a Candle stick and Cup and 3 trays     00 02 07

It by a Brass pott and pott hooks  00 16 00

It by an old Brass kittle     00 02 06

It by a churn 32 and 39 tubs: 32   00 06 00

It by a Cow 2£: and by Sheep 1-7-6 03 07 06

It by a bed Bolster and Rugg  01 13 00

It by an old chest 52 by a cubbord at Prince Howses    02 15 00

It by a Cow at Jeremiah Howses     01 18 00

It by a old Bible 42 and small Bedstead: Is  00 05 00

It by a box Lock and key and an old Box Drawer    00 03 00

It by 1 flaggan 9s and I other flaggan 6s    00 15 06

It by a Bason and Ewer   00 11 00

It by 2 Large pewter platters at 7s: 6d apeice    00 15 00

It by one old pewter platter: Is: 4d: and by old pewter     00 11 04

It by a Brass Chafing Dish 2s 6d and Scales and weights: Is:     00 03 06

It by a morter and brass candle stick   00 06 04

It by a toster and Roster and Box Iron  00 06 06

It by a Tinning pan tuner and earthen poringer    00 01 00

It by an old skillet Radg and pan tinning 7 trays 00 04 06

It by a hair holter ladles sives spoon Iron spindle of a wheel   00 06 06

It by a fine holland sheet    00 15 00

It by yellow curtaines and vallances and fringes  00 05 00

It by a sheet: 6s: a brush gallipott and Basket   00 07 00

It by Cushions 2s: 6d: by Napkins and Table cloth 00 08 06

It by a diaper Table Cloth and by a box Drawer    00 05 00

It by 2 plate Spoons     00 18 00

It by a coubbord cloth and cubbord cushion   02 10 00

It by 3 glasses: 1s: 9d: a chest 6s :: 1 : trunk  00 11 09

It by a box: gd: a spitt gridiron & slice and peice of Iron 00 04 09

[p. 13] It by a Brass kittle: T£: and woollan wheel 32 01 03 00

It by an earthen pott: 6d: by pewter: 6d: and earthen pott: 6d:  00 01 06

It by a Broom: 6d: and 2 meale Baggs: 2s: 6d:     00 03 00

It by a pair of stocking: 42 & a pair of spectickles 1s: 6d:     00 05 06

It by a brass skimer: 6d: & a knife 4d  00 00 10

It by all sorts of wearing Apparel of all kinds   12 15 00

It by ye mill Due   01 13 00

It due in come: 5: bushels from Thomas and Jonathan Howes   00 15 00

more Debts due 00   00  10 06

It due by horse kind if they be alive

debts due from ye sd Estat: ffunaral charges 04 06 00

a Debt due to Jeremiah Howes Juner 07 08 00

it more Debt demanded as due  02 13 00

It more due    01 10 00

It more due    00 05 00

By us John Miller

Thomas Holland

mr Jeremiah Howes Ser of yarmouth made oath to ye truth of this Invintory before Barnabas Lothrop Esqr Judg of probate and Granting Administration in ye County of Barnestable December ye : 31th : 1695

Attest Joseph Lothrop Regster

Examined and duely compared with ye origanal and entered January ye 2d : 1695 : 6

Attest Joseph Lothrop : Register

The Prence-Howes Court Cupboard that is mentioned was owned by Mary Burr Howes when she married Thomas Prence and she brought it with her to live in Dennis. It stayed in the family until 1925 when a descendant sold the cupboard for $3,000 to Wallace Nutting. It is now on display at Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut.

Howes-Prence Court Cupboard (source: Wadsworth Atheneum)

Sources Not Noted Above:

Nancy Thacher Reid, Dennis, Cape Cod: From Firstcomers to Newcomers, 1639-1993, Dennis Historical Society, 1996

Simeon Deyo, History of Barnstable County, Massachusetts, 1890