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John Kelly and Catherine McKenny

Tyrone

I am looking for any information on John Kelly, b. @ 1839, County Tyrone.
Emigrated @ 1859 to New York City. Joined Company K, 4th US Infantry, July
19, 1859, New York City. Married Catherine McKenny, daughter of Frank
McKenny and Ann Barrett, January 1, 1866, St. Mathews Catholic Church,
Wasington, D.C. They had 11 children: Margaret Ann (1867-1943), Frank
Bernard (1868-1944), Hugh Patrick (1870-1924), Catherine Mary (1872-?), John
Thomas (1873-?), Rose Helen (1875-?), Mary V. (1876-?), Charles Jacob
(1878-1913), John Joseph (1880-?), Thomas Vincent E. (1882-1947), and
Gertrude (1886-?).

I am descended from Frank Bernard Kelly, who was one of the original 33
members of the United States Secret Service, established to serve and
protect the office of President of the United States of America.

Any information that anyone can provide in tracking down what parish my John
Kelly was from would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

Paul Kelly

http://rootsdigger.org

rootsdigger

6 replies

Hi Paul

There are 5 Paul Kelly baptism records 1839 Tyrone on www.rootsireland.ie/

I thought they might be repetitions but I went through the parishes and found there were 2 from Beragh Rgeistration District and 1 from each of Six Mile Cross C of I Magherafelt Reg Dist & Killeshill RC.

I'm not sure how to work out which one is yours; I assume the US marriage record doesn't have his parents' names.

Col

ColCaffIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Paul

My husband's ancestors are Rose Kelly (1837-1905) and John O'Brien (1837-1904) On investigation I found their headstone in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, NYC, NY.  The stone says that they were natives of Dromore Parish, County Tyrone.  I do not know if they were married in Ireland or after emigrating to the US.  They lived in Brooklyn, NY.  I have not been able to find any other info on the couple.

Marilynn

IrelandXO member

Hi Marilyn,

Thanks for your post. I was able to dig up the following. You may already have all this, but I am sending it anyway.

Birth of female Obrein, parents John Obrein, Roseanna Kelly
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F52D-VWT

1875 New York State Census, Kings County
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11821-128800-69?cc=1918735

1900 Federal Census, New York, Kings County, ED 192, Borough of Brooklyn
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12345-140735-12?cc=1325221

Probate for Rose Obrien
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-662-11300-42-17?cc=1466356&wc=…

 

Paul Kelly

rootsdigger

I had some of this info but not all.  It was also a reminder to go back and re-read what you already have.

I love that the 1900 census has the grandson's first name as O'Brien. This is my husband's father and that name changes many times over his lifetime.  Sometimes it is Brian other times it is Daniel. 

Thanks again.

Marilynn

IrelandXO member

I have attached an image of a passport application filed by Hugh Kelly, one of John Kelly's sons. Hugh states on the application that his father (John Kelly) emmigrated from Queenstown @ 1841. How can I confirm this? I have no idea if this date is correct or if Hugh was just guessing. The earliest record we have of John Kelly (Army enlistment, Civil War) is dated in July 9, 1859, when he enlisted in Company K, US Fourth Infantry, New York City. 

Are there records of Queenstown emmigration?

Paul Kelly

rootsdigger

Paul,

There are no records in Ireland of people who emigrated as such. (The authorities here had no special need for that information). There are many passenger lists, generally created for US immigration needs. Most of those are on sites such as Ancestry and findmypast. You could also check the Castle Island US immigration site.

Not all passenger lists have survived, and in addition many US bound emigrants went via Canada because it was considerably cheaper. Canada didn’t bother with passenger lists till the 1850s so if that’s the route he took, there may not be a record of his arrival c 1841.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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