by 
Captain James Kelley was my 5th-great grandfather on the Crosby side. He was born January 27, 1740/41 in Manchester, MA and died January 16, 1807 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
In 1765, Captain Kelley moved his family from Manchester, Massachusetts to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, becoming one of Yarmouth’s earliest settlers. With him he brought his wife, Margaret (Morgan) Kelley (1741-1804) and sons James and Samuel, who were age 5 and 1 respectively. He made his home in a small cove near the southern tip of Nova Scotia, in a place that was later named “Kelley’s Cove”.
Captain Kelley was one of Yarmouth’s earliest shipmasters (Captain) and he became the progenitor of captains. Four of his sons — James, Samuel, Robert and Israel — became ship’s captains and a fifth son, John, died in the West Indies while most likely a ship’s hand. Many of Captain Kelley’s grandsons, and later generations, also became captains. By 1910, twenty-four of his descendants (all bearing the family name Kelley/Kelly) had become ship captains. At least five of his daughters married ship captains.
And still the story is not half told, for among the Captains Hilton, Clements, Crosby, Hatfield, Hammond, Phillips, Lewis, Rose and MacCormack we find many descendants of Capt. James Kelley, sen.” ⁵
During the American Revolution many of the residents of Nova Scotia sympathized with the colonies. A large number of the inhabitants migrated from Massachusetts and other parts of New England to Nova Scotia and most still had family living in the United States. However, Nova Scotia was a British possession and in 1775 Parliament, sensing the division of loyalties, sought to ensure the loyalty of its citizens to the Crown and compelled them to sign Loyalty Oaths. On July 17, 1775, James Kelley signed an oath of allegiance to England. However, like many of the signers of such oaths, he did so as a necessity for carrying out commerce on the seas. Captain Kelley was engaged in commerce with the American colonies on a regular basis and continued to do so after signing the oath.
Officially, Nova Scotia was a British territory during the revolution, and as such was open for plunder. American privateers (essentially pirates that worked for a government) targeted Nova Scotia’s shipping and raided her harbors.
In February 1778, James Kelley and Seth Barnes petitioned the Massachusetts House of Representatives “praying” for relief from American privateers. In the petition the men explained that in the past they had given assistance to American prisoners that were captured by the Royal Navy. In March 1778, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a resolution recognizing James Kelley and Seth Barnes as being friendly to the United States and issued papers ordering that they should be allowed to pass “unmolested” by American privateers.
In May 1780 the British Frigate Blonde was wrecked on Seal Island near Nova Scotia. The ship carried 65 American prisoners who, after the wreck, were given permission to return home (the British sailors were also ship wrecked and in no position to tend to 65 prisoner of war.) Captain Kelley and two other captains transported the men back to Massachusetts — a twelve day voyage — at their own expense. The Massachusetts Governor and House were very grateful to the captains for the return of the men. As a gesture of their gratitude, the Massachusetts House resolved that the Commissary General should give James Kelley and the other captains enough rations for a twelve day voyage for 65 men. (The resolution was approved by John Hancock.)
After the American Revolution, Captain Kelley increased the number of ships he owned. Between 1787 and 1801 he bought five ships (The number of tons indicates the tonnage of cargo the ship could carry.):
- 1787 Schooner Prosperity, 30 tons
- 1790 Schooner Peggy, 50 tons
- 1796 Schooner Hetty, 36 tons
- 1800 Schooner Fish Hawk, 39 tons
- 1801 Schooner Nine Sisters, 94 tons
In 1797 the Schooner Peggy, under the command of Captain Peter Doucette, was bound for Yarmouth from St. Andrews, N.B. with a cargo of lumber when it was wrecked at Brier Island, N.S.; All hands perished.
During the later part of his life he served as a magistrate and was he was known as “the judge,” a title gained from the respect and deference paid to his judicial decisions.
Captain James Kelley died January 16, 1807 and was buried in Chebogue Cemetery in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia — the same cemetery as his wife Margaret (June 1804). In his will, dated 1806, Captain Kelley left two-thirds of his estate to his living children and named all 14 of them (including the married names of his daughters) in the document.
In the early 19th century James’ sons prospered and became ship owners, as well as captains. And, like their father, they found themselves having to cope with American privateers. During the War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain, Nova Scotia’s shipping and harbors were again open to plunder by privateers. In October 1814, the 117 ton Brigantine Queen Charlotte — of which Robert Kelley was the owner and Captain — was captured by an American privateer, and burned.
My lineage from Captain James Kelley & Margaret (Morgan) Kelley is as follows:
James Kelley > Margaret (Kelley) Clements* > William Clements > Jane (Clements) Crosby > John A. Crosby > Roy Crosby > Maurice Crosby > Me.
* married Captain William Clements
Sources:
- Yarmouth Herald. “Yarmouth Nova Scotia Genealogies”; Yarmouth, N.S., 1896-1910
- Poole, Edmund David. “Annals of Yarmouth and Barrington (Nova Scotia) in the Revolutionary War”; Yarmouth Herald, Yarmouth N.S., 1899.
- Lawson, J. Murray. “Record of the Shipping of Yarmouth, N.S.: Containing a list of vessels owned in the County of Yarmouth since its settlement in 1761, chronologically arranged.”; J & A McMillan Printers, St. John, N.B., 1876
- Campbell, Rev. J. R. “A History of the County of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia“; J & A McMillan Printers, St. John, N.B., 1876
- Brown, George S. “Yarmouth Nova Scotia: A Sequel to Campbell’s History”; Rand Avery Company, Printers, Boston, MA, 1888.
- Smith, Col. Leonard & Norma Smith. “Nova Scotia Immigrants to 1867, Vol. 1“; Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, 1992
- Find-A-Grave, http://findagrave.com
Each of the sources listed above can be found on the Internet, in their entirety, for free.
Note: Alternate spellings of Kelley associated with Capt. James Kelley, were: Kelly, Killey & Killay
Hello
I found your story about Captain James Kelley fascinating and well written!
My 3rd G Grandfather, Patrick Kelley was born in 1810 – Nova Scotia. He
migrated to New Brunswick, CA, settling in Caribou, Maine. He and my GG
Grandfather, John Benjamin B 1810, also in Nova Scotia, settled nearby in
Presque Ise, Maine. Both Patrick and John are listed as early settlers in
Aroostock County, Maine.
I have been trying to confirm the accurate family line for Patrick Kelley B 1810 –
Nova Scotia. i didn’t think there were that many Kelley families during the
early 1800’s that spelled their last name with an “E”. Do you have further
information about James Kelley’s ancestors or descendants? I’m told that
Patrick’s parents are John Patrick Kelley and Mary Catherine Whelan. However,
there are so many inacuracies for Patrick’s ancestral line, it’s a challenge to
sort out this genie ball of yarn!
Thank you again for this historical genealogy “picture” of a patriotic man. I would
hope that you could contact me at my email address listed below:
Thank you so much!
Sandy Loughman
Jacksonville, Florida
seasidesandy@yahoo.com
Sandy,
Thanks. I’m glad you found the article interesting. I have no Patricks in the Kelley line, but I have not dug too deep into it. Capt. James Kelley did have a son named John (b. 1771), however I have no record of him marrying or having children. The one entry I find for him is that he died, year unknown, in the West Indies.
Since writing the article I have learned additional information and will be doing a follow-up soon. I will let you know when it is done. Maybe there will be information that helps you.
Moe
Hi Moe,
I am hunting for the source of my great x3 grandfather William Kelley.
He was living in Dorchester township in 1827 with his wide Ellen (Clarke).
Could he possibly be part of one of the 14 children of Captain Kelley?
Thanks,
Denise
Hi Denise. I am also looking for info on William and Ellen Kelley. They are my GGGG grandparents. I live in NZ..and my GG Grandfather moved here in 1860 from Boston. He was James Kelley but had changed his name to Brown so he couldnt be traced. We have only just discovered who he really is.
I have been messaging all the Kelley DNA matches trying to find a contact. You are the first one. Please email me on dawndean@xtra.co.nz
Denise,
Sorry for the delay. I missed your message. Captain Kelley did not have a son name William. However, he did have 5 sons who lived long enough to have children. I would need more information about William to do a search. Approximate year/place of birth/death/marriage and any information about his wife. I did find some William Kelleys in the Yarmouth Genealogies, but I have no idea how old your William is. Also… Dorchester, Mass?
Hope this helps.
Moe
Hi Moe,
A few years later and a little bit more information. William Kelley was married to Ellen Clark.
They were on the Dorchester Township census ( now Antigonish NS) 1827 and list as Scottish and Roman Catholic.
This conforms their son Edward b 1818-1820 Antigonish NS d, 1897 Boston as per his death record lists his birth as Antigonish NS, father William ( b. Ireland) and Ellen Clark (b. Nova Scotia) and age at death at age 79.
Edward moves to Portland Maine and meets Mary Brown, have a son William birth January 27, 1838 Portland Maine and then marries March 28, 1838 in Portland Maine.
These events give a timeline as to when Edward moves from Canada.
On the 1910 US census in Massachusetts Edward’s son Edward lists his father as Canadian English.
I am beginning to question if possibly William was originally a loyalist moving to Canada from Massachusetts rather than from Ireland/Scotland.
Would this fit with the other William Kelley’s you know of in your research.
Thanks,
Denise
Hello Denise,
It certainly has been a few years. Wow!
William Kelley could have been a loyalist, but he would have been young (or the son of a Loyalist). He would have been a teen at the time of the Revolution, even if he was in his 50’s when his son was born. If so, that would make his wife considerably younger than him (just something to consider while researching).
I have a Loyalist ancestor that moved to Port Roseway, in N.S. (later re-named Shelbourne). There are a few good sites on the web for Loyalists that re-located to Canada.
So far, I have not come across any William Kelleys. I tend to stick to direct line research. I don’t research great aunts/uncles/cousins.
However, if I do come across any Kelley information I will definitely reach out to you.
Moe
Hi again Denise
Yes Edward did have a son born in 1839, James. I have just learnt that he took his mothers maiden name of Brown, and has a huge family here in NZ, ther home town was Waikouiti. Edward is my GGG Grandfather,
Cheers Dawn
I am also a descendant of Capt. James Kelley I found his dad was also James Kelley from Ulster Ireland. His mom was Sarah Pierce. My lineage is through his son Samuel Kelley, Daniel Kelley, Robert Perry Kelley, Robert Oscar Kelley, Arthur Flint Kelley and my dad Robert McLeod Kelley. I find all of this fascinating . Thank you for your article .
Regards,
Judy
Hi Judy
I have Capt James Kelley’s parents as James Kelly b 1714 and Sarah Allen, b 1718 both born in Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts.
Hi Judy. All these names seem to be on my mother side.. or a coincidence?? names are
Samuel Kelley ns canada b 11 jan 1764. Daniel Kelley ns canada b 11 may 1802. Daniel Morgan Kelley 1831 nc canada. Robert Perry Kelly victoria Australia 1862 Mona Kelley 6 dec 1903 Dandenong Vicoria. Aus ( Mona is my grand fathers Thomas Macpherson wife)
Have been trying to find info on Daniel John Kelley , or John Daniel Kelley, who settled in Nova Scotia. I think his wife’s name was Elizabeth. He had 2 daughters, that I know of. One named Joanne/Joanna who married a Sears and one named Mary Ann who married a Madden. I know that he had sons also but I haven’t been able to trace their names. I’m trying to track his ancestry. Do you have any of the names in your files? Thank you for any help that you may be able to give.
I thoroughly enjoyed your article. I am searching a line of my wifes. She was born and raised in NS. Her GGG grandmother was an Ellen Kelly, she married a George Longard. George is listed as being from Prospect on his daughters death cert. but that doesn’t seem so. In checking maps it seems Kelly and Longards lived in the Yarmouth part of the Province. Have you by chance come across a Eleanora Longard in your research? Abt 1840/43. Or an Ellen Kelly abt 1820 give or take? Thanks
Did you ever get a reply to your question? I am very interested as well. I am trying to trace the Longard side.
I am interested in the Maccormack connection.
Capt John Maccormack, married Elizabeth Kelley (dtr of Capt James and Margaret).
his son John A born 1810, married Lydia Kelley, born 1813 (dtr of John Kelley and Anna Crosby)
his dtr Rebekkah Jane born 1850 married John Henry Roberts born 1851 in Maine.
Capt John may have been son of Alexander MacCormack, master shipbuilder of Ballantrae, Ayrshire, Scotland
ring any bells??
Hi, I am writing to inquire the names of Captain James Kelley’s 14 children. I am a descendant of a Captain James Kelley Jr. (1760-1810), born in Manchester, MA (and died in Yarmouth, N.S., I believe) and married to Hannah Clements. It sounds like your James Kelley Sr. could be his father…
Hi Moe,
I have researched and discovered that Captain James Kelley was my 6th great grandfather which somehow makes us related. I found the article on Captain Kelley very interesting and thank you for giving us me a picture of what his life was like. Just awesome!
Hi Moe,
Could we be related??????? The following information I have researched and there is a lot of names the same hopefully it isnt to confusing. This could be another branch of the family.
What I have found is Captain James Kelley and Margaret Morgan were married and had a son Captain Robert Morgan Kelley,
Robert married Lydia Richan(Patch) they had a daughter Isabella Maria Kelley.
Isabella married Thomas Ogilvie Geddes.
Thomas and Isabella had a daughter Emily Jane Kelley Geddes who married Rev. Canon Francis Tremayne.
They also had a daughter Emily Helen Tremayne.
Emily Helen Tremayne married William Charles Lyall.
Emily and William had a daughter Edna Lyall and she married Leon Edson Marston.
Leon and Edna had a daughter Margaret Edna Marston and she married Ernest Arthur Hendsbee and they had a son Leon Earl Hendsbee
Cheryl
You may be very interested to look at a picture that is on the FB site (Old Photos of Rockville and her people). It shows a picture of a sign that was down in Kelley’s Cove for years in which John Patch in 1834 invented the screw propellor. I see in the names you posted the name Patch came up. Thought it could never be a coincedence that the name Patch, and Kelley would marry if not for the cove and all the history. Rockville is the next village after Kelley’s Cove, and is where the road is located to get to the Cove itself. Do a search on Face Book for this site above and have a look, if you have to be added, and I see it I will add you.
My husband and I moved to Nova Scotia a few years ago, we bought a house in what was originally Kelley’s Cove, however, when we arrived it had already been renamed Rockville. The house we had purchased was in desperate need of renovations. We decided that we needed to find our when the house was built and by whom. Our interest in the history of the house led us to the museum archives where we discovered that James Morgan Kelley, master mariner, was lost at see at the age of 25 years, he owned the house as the original owner from Sept. 1829 to Feb. 1831. Samuel Kelley, Sr. John Dennis Kelley, Jessie C. Kelly and Adel line S. (Kelley) LeCain are the remaining Kelleys who owned and resided in the house.
Wow, cool stuff.
I hope to visit there one day with my kids.
Thanks for reading and writing.
Moe
Could you email me a photo of the house?
I am the 7th great grand daughter of Capt. James Kelley(1st)). Are you in contact with any of the Kelley family in Yarmouth or Kelley’s Cove.
Do they have any photos, drawings or painting of the family member? Would love to see them!
Thank you!
Brenda Kelley, New Minas, NS
Very interesting. Over the years, I keep referring to this blog post.
I have a strong DNA connection to the Kelley’s of Jonesport, Washington County, Maine which is right across the “street” from Nova Scotia.
I have not found our common ancestor, though. Like other responses to this post, all I have is a strong feeling that my Kelley line originated as American Colonists who were loyal to the crown during the American Revolution and fled to Nova Scotia, but I can’t prove it.
My direct line of Kelley’s are from Nova Scotia. The furthest (farthest?) I can trace my Kelley line is to the Just name of my 3rd great-grandfather, James Kelley and his wife Mary Dickins.
Death records list this James Kelley as from Ireland but I believe it could very well be wrong based on several factors one of which is the whole loyal American colonists migrating to Nova Scotia during the American Revolution and, again, the DNA connection to Maine Kelleys.
Anyway, thank you for posting this article. It’s interesting. Perhaps one day I puzzle it all out.
Laura,
There are/were many Kelleys in N.S. but I believe James was the earliest and he has many kids! I have no information about James’ siblings (if any), but it is possible they could have joined him several years later.
The next comment (below) mentions Perrys. My Perry line in N.S. originates at the end of the Revolution. Samuel Perry was a true Loyalist, who fault as a privateer for the British. So noteworthy was his service that he was granted many acres in Shelbourne.
Good luck with the puzzle!
Moe
Laura,
I come from the long line of Kelley Sea Captains in Jonesport! I’d love to connect and share our trees as I’ve often wondered if there could be more to the lineage just next door in Nova Scotia. Feel free to email me.
seagriffin@hotmail.com
Hi Moe, I have a inquiry on the name Kelley. In my grandmothers family tree I have traced Kelley ..Samuel Kelley 11 jan 1764 NS canada.his son Daniel Kelly 11 may 1802 Ns Canada. grandson Daniel Morgan Kelley 1831 NS canada.
Robert Perry Kelley Born 20 july 1862 Victoria Australia.
Interestingly there is a marriage NS Canada of Robert Captain Perry 30 aug 1771 to Susannah Coffran 30 sep 1771 NS canada. Daniel Kelley 1802 marries Alisa Perry 1803 ns Canada.
So I have two names Perry and Kelley both with connection to ns Canada
The Kelley arrived in Australia 1862 and settled firstly in Chittern / rutherglen Victoria
Do any of these names Perry or Kelley are in your research?
andrew
Andrew,
James & Marget (Morgen) Kelley had a son Samuel Kelley b, 11 Jan 1764, d. 2 Jan 1854. According to my records Samuel married Hannah Dennis 16 Apr 1788. I have no further information on Samuel or Hannah.
I have Perrys in my tree. In fact there is a loop, where I descend from a brother and sister, and a few generations later their grandchildren married.
In the mid-1700s the English speaking population of N.S. was not that large. So families intermarried and also went to MA (and ME) often.
Good luck with your quest!
Moe
Hello, I am the 7th great granddaughter of Capt. James Kelley(1st). I have started a Kelley Family tree on Ancestry.ca. My ancestry follows his son Capt. James Kelley(2nd), to his son Israel Kelley, to George Israel Kelley, to George Christie Kelley, to Clifford Croskill Kelley and to my father Victor Ward Kelley. I am hoping to upload some photos and documents this winter on the family tree. I am looking for Kelley family photos to include of George Israel Kelley, his wife Azuba Jane Wyman, Azuba W Kelley, George Christie Kelley’s sister and Alma Jane Crosskill, George Christies wife. George Christie Kelley, Alma Jane and Azuba are buried in the Camphill Cemetery in Halifax. Photos can be emailed to me and I will upload them into the Kelley family tree so we can all see them. Other Kelley family photos are also welcome, weddings, documents, etc. Thank you, your Kelley ancestor, Brenda from Nova Scotia, age 58.
I am looking for my cousins from the George Israel Kelley line so we can share some history, facts and hopefully look at each others family photos and documents.
Other Kelley family from Capt. Kelley’s family line also would be great to hear from especially if you have some old family photos. We must get the documents and photo into a form that can be preserved for future historical records and family history. Many paper documents and photos are beginning to fade and soon will no longer be able to be read clearly. Would love for all of Capt. James Kelley’s 6 and 7th generation grandchildren to come up with a plan as to where and how we will preserve the Kelley family documents and photos. The Ancestry website and family tree is one good option but what should we do with the actual physical paper documents and photo’s we have in our possession today?
Hope to hear from you soon!
Brenda Kelley, New Minas, Nova Scotia
I have some information on Captain James Kelley and Margaret Morgan’s daughter, Annis “Annie” Kelley, and her descendants. It isn’t a lot of information because my grandmother didn’t tell me a lot about her family. I don’t know if she didn’t know or was just stubborn. What I do have is Annis married John Crosby in 1795 Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Their daughter Annis Jane married Nathan Huestis 1834 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Nathan and Annis jane’s daughter, Annis “Annie” Jane Huestis married George Jack in 1867, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Annie and George’s son, John William Jack (my great grandfather) married Beatrice Florence Baker in 1914 after the family moved to Massachusettes around 1905. They had three children and their daughter, Mildred Annis Jack (my grandmother) married Russell Marshall Conn (my grandfather). I was wondering if someone has information on Capt. James Kelley’s parents or any ancestors of the Kelley family. I’m also not sure if you have this information on Capt. Kelley’s daughter Annis and I have more details if you are interested.
I have a newspaper clipping of a story done about the invention of the screw propeller and how it was first used in a clipper ship built by the Kelley’s.
We are looking for our Kelley family which settled in Maryland in 1706. They came from County Cork in Ireland. Do you know where your Kelley’s came from?
My 6th great grandfather was Ezekiel Kelley b. 1770 in Maryland (on census). His wife was Catherine Speck born in PA. They married in PA in 1790’s; moved to Ross County, Ohio then Highland County, Ohio. We cannot find any information about Ezekiel in Maryland. Don’t know his parents, siblings, birth location. Does any of this sound familiar to you?
Hello. I am sorry, but the name is not in my database.
This is a wonderful article, a very enjoyable read. Do you happen to know what became of Capt. James’ son, Samuel, and who he married?
I am looking for Kelley line from my Great Grandfathers second wife.. Elizabeth Kelley Weston Blauvelt. My G Granfather was Abraham Ogden Blauvelt of Tusket Nova Scotia. His first wife, name was Amelia Walker. I am not getting any hints on Ancestry.com so I am wondering
If I have her name wrong? One person told me she was Elizabeth Kelley the second.
Any info would be appreciated!