John Kelly of Newbury

John Kelly, of Newbury

• Birth: Abt 1610 of Exeter, Devonshire, England
• Death: 28 Dec 1644 in Newbury, Essex Co, MA

family

Parents unknown.

Name of wife unknown.

Children

• 1. Sarah, b. 12 Feb 1640/41 in Newbury, Essex Co, MA; d 25 Dec 1713 in Rowley, Essex, MA; m. 15 Apr 1659 in Rowley, Essex Co, MA to Thomas BURPEE; had issue
• 2.? Mary, b 12 Feb 1640/1 twin, in Newbury, Essex Co MA [repordedly d 1685 in Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., NJ; m. 1687 in Newark, Essex Co., NJ to John BELCONGER; had issue
• 3. +John, b 2 July 1642 in Newbury MA. Married 1) Sarah Knight 2) Lydia widow Ames

Biography

From Genealogical account of the descendants of John Kelly of Newbury, Massachusetts Giles Merrill Kelly. Published 1886 by Munsell] in [Albany, N.Y.

Among the earlier grants of land made in the town of Newbury, MA is the following: "To John Kelly a House Lot of four acres over the Great River, be it more or less bounded by the River on the north. John Pemerton on the west, by the way on the south, and John Merrill on the west, Abraham Tappan on the east, the way on the north and the marsh on the south." The date of this grant is not given, but it was probably made about the year 1639. [The 'Great River' is the river Parker]. A house lot seems at some time to have been assigned to him at a different locality. This appears from a later record, having reference to his only son, to whom was granted a lot of four acres, described as having the "Comon" on the west and south, and as "bounded with stakes being granted by the Towne for his father's House Lott." Neither of the two house lots thus assigned to the first John Kelly was accepted by him, or if accepted, was made use of; for when he built his house he located on the north side of Oldtown Hill, at a considerable distance from the community on the banks of the river Parker. It is said of John Kelly, that on one occasion, hearing a disturbance in his enclosure during the night, he sprung from his bed, and, without stopping to dress himself, rushed out of the house, and, with a club attacked and killed a wolf, which was making havoc with his sheep.

In Coffin's History of Newbury, a different account is given of the origin of John Kelly, the first who came to this county. It is there said that "his father emigrated from Ireland to Newbury, ENgland, became attached to a lady of rank; and having on one occasion by his courage successfully defended her father's house when attacked by robbers, obtained his consent to a marriage with his daughter." This statement is wholly unsupported by corroborative facts or historical references.

Sources

• from TORREY: KELLY, John1 (-1644) & _____ _____; by 1640(1?); Newbury {Hildreth Anc. 71; Salisbury Fam. 220; Pillsbury Anc. 165}
• "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QG1K-BQJ1 : 29 November 2018), John Kelley, 28 Dec 1644; citing Death, Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009724.
• Savage, James. "A Genealogical Dictionary of First Settlers of New England." (1860-62; reprinted: Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965). Notes vol. 3 p. 7: "Kelly, John, Newbury, among the first settlers, came, says Coffin, from Newbury in Berkshire, 1635, had Sarah, b. 12 Feb.1641; and John, 2 July 1642, d. 28 Dec 1644."
• Pope, Charles Henry. “The Pioneers of Massachusetts.” (Boston, MA: 1900; reprinted Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1965) Notes p. 265: "John [Kelly], Newbury, proprietor before 1640. Child Sarah born 12 Feb. 1640 (married Thomas Burkbee,), John born 2 July 1642, Mary (married April 12, 1666, John Belconger.) He died 28 Dec. 1644."
• Book, A Genealogical Account of the Descendants of John Kelly of Newbury, Massachusetts, U.S.A., Giles M. Kewlly, Initially published 1886; Reprint 1983 by The Anundsen Publishing Co, Decorah, Iowa, USA, Individual, Keith Anderson, 1643 Shivwits Dr., St. George, Utah, United States, 84790, 435-652-8033, Page number: 7-9
• https://ma-vitalrecords.org/MA/Essex/Newbury/aDeathsK.shtml "(KELLEY (Keiley, Kelly)) John, Dec. 28, 1644."

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• Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: May 29 2021, 15:35:21 UTC

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Set sail for the Colonies in 1633 or 1634 on the ship, James, which was part of the Winthrop fleet.