This post is to give my family a brief overview of our shared direct ancestors. I will be posting stories about individuals and social history as well but I think an overview of the family is useful to be able to place the stories in context.
So I am going to start with my grandparents and work backwards as far as we have got in terms of the Kelly family (there is a separate post on the Wood family). I have taken the work done by my grandmother Ailsa, working with other members of the family, and built on it where possible. I have focused on going backwards and purposely have not included details of the living family.
My grandfather Stanley Francis (Frank) Kelly was born in 1918 in Liverpool. He lived in Redcar, Sheffield and settled in Sale.
He married Ailsa Joyce Wood in 1948 in Birkenhead and they had three boys.
My grandfather’s parents were Philip Kelly and Ada Williamson (his third wife).
My grandfather’s father: Philip Kelly
Philip was born in 1869 in Liverpool. He was married four times and had six sons and seven daughters. He died in March 1953 in Liverpool aged 83. He worked as a dock labourer and played for one season (and 3 non reserve games) for Liverpool Football Club in 1892 just before they joined the national league. His footballing career was cut short due to an injury.
Philip’s First Wife: Sarah Ann Owens
His first wife was Sarah Ann Owens who he married in 1893. They had three children. She died in 1898 three days after an oil lamp exploded beside her.
Philip’s Second Wife: Mary Elizabeth Rice
His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Rice who he married in 1903 with whom he had three children. She was found dead floating in the sea near Fylde in 1909.
Philip’s third wife: Ada Williamson
His third wife (my great-grandmother) Ada Williamson was 34 when she married him (age 43) in 1913. She had been working in service prior to their marriage. They had six children together; four of which survived childhood. She died in 1924 from cancer.
Ada Williamson’s parents were Henry Williamson 1843-1886 and Charlotte Jones 1841-1900; they married in 1865. Henry was born in Armagh, Ireland and was the ‘illegitimate’ son of James Williamson and Ellen Crozier. Ellen and Henry moved to Liverpool when he was a child. She was a dressmaker born in 1824. Henry worked as a labourer.
Charlotte Jones was born in 1841 in Liverpool and was the daughter of Edmund Reynolds Jones born 1806 in Bristol and Ann Brown born 1807 in Warrington. Ada was not catholic; unlike Philip’s previous two wives.
Philip’s Fourth Wife: Sarah Johnston
His fourth wife was Sarah Johnston; they married in 1927 and she died in 1936. They had no children.
Philip’s parents: John Kelly and Teresa Potter
Philip Kelly’s parents were John Kelly born in Liverpool and Teresa Potter born in Manchester. They had three children and were married in 1860. John Kelly does not appear on the census with his family and may have been a sailor. Teresa supported her children after his death as a tailoress and pawn broker and clothes dealer.
Teresa’s father William Potter was a horse trainer from Sussex and her mother Mary Brady was born in Dublin, Ireland where she and William were married in 1833. She was a waistcoat maker.
Philip’s grandparents: Philip Kelly and Sarah Harrison
John Kelly’s parents were Philip Kelly and Sarah Harrison. They had four children and they were married in 1833 in Liverpool. They came over to Liverpool before the Potato Famine but unfortunately we do not know from where in Ireland they came nor who their parents were.
For the Kelly line this is as far back as I have been able to trace, however I have been able to trace the Jones line back further of which I will tell more at a later date.
There are also many interesting stories within the family and much social history, beyond this simple line of who begat whom, which I hope will be the focus of this blog.