Person:Robert Kelly (17)

Robert Kelly was born in 1847 in Manchester in Lancashire, England, son of Mary Kelly, formerly Willis, and her husband John Kelly, a tailor. Robert's parents were from Ireland, and it appears that the family returned to Ireland whilst Robert was young; the family has not been found in the English censuses of 1851 or 1861. By 1870 Robert and his parents were living at 67 Upper Dominick Street in Dublin.

On 21st September 1870, aged about 23, Robert was married at the Catholic church of St Kevin, Harrington Street, Dublin, to Maria Reid, who was then nineteen. Robert and Maria had a son, John, born in Dublin the year after they married, although he may well have died young. By 1881, Robert and Maria had left Ireland and were living in Liverpool in England. Whilst in Liverpool, they had three daughters.

In 1882, Robert emigrated to America. Maria and the three girls followed him over in 1883. The couple would go on to have at least two more daughters in New York, where the settled in Manhattan in New York City.

Robert seems to have worked in a variety of occupations, variously appearing as a reeler, a dock labourer, printer, day labourer and store watchman.

In 1910 Maria returned to Ireland to visit her sister Rosanna. Robert stayed in New York, living initially with their married daughter Lydia and her family, whom he was living with at the time of the 1910 census, before being admitted to a home for the aged and infirm in October 1910. Robert died in Brooklyn in New York City on 29th May 1911, aged 63. Maria was still in Ireland at the time and did not return until August 1911. She outlived Robert by nearly six years, dying in 1917.

1. ↑ Births index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   b. Robert KELLY, December Quarter 1847, Manchester Registration District, Volume 20, page 718, mother's maiden name Willis

2. ↑ England. 1881 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands: . (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class RG11; Piece 3600; Folio 32; Page 62, 3 Apr 1881.

   Address: 48 Ascot Street, Liverpool, Lancashire
   Robert Kelly, head, married, male, 32 [1848/9], Labourer Dock, b. Manchester, Lancashire
   Maria Kelly, wife, married, female, 28 [1852/3], b. Ireland
   Julia Kelly, daughter, female, 6 [1874/5], Scholar, b. Liverpool, Lancashire
   Margaret Kelly, daughter, female, 3 [1877/8], b. Liverpool, Lancashire
   John Jones, lodger, widower, male, 52 [1828/9], Labourer Dock, b. Quebec, Canada

3. ↑ United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
   New York, New York, 0504 Borough of Manhattan, Election District 16, New York City Ward 20, page 29, 1 Jun 1900.

   Address: 244 East 34th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York
   Rented house
   Robert Kelly, head, white, male, b. Nov 1849, married 30 years, b. Ireland, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, immigrated 1882, naturalized, Printer, 1 month out of work
   Maria Kelly, wife, white, female, b. May 1854, married 30 years, mother of 16 children, 9 children still living, b. Ireland, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, immigrated 1883
   Julia Kelly, daughter, white, female, b. May 1876, single, b. unknown, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland
   Margaret Kelly, daughter, white, female, b. Nov 1879, single, b. England, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, immigrated 1883, Millener, 0 months out of work
   Maria Kelly, daughter, white, female, b. Nov 1881, single, b. England, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, immigrated 1883, Dress-maker, 2 months out of work
   Teresa Kelly, daughter, white, female, b. May 1884, single, b. New York, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, Cash-girl, 0 months out of work
   Ciddick [possibly mistranscribed Liddiar?] Kelly, daughter, female, b. Nov 1888, single, b. New York, father b. Ireland, mother b. Ireland, At school
   plus seven roomers and a servant

4. ↑ New York, United States. 1905 State Census
   County: New York / Borough: Manhattan / Assembly District 11 / Election District 7 / Image 17, 1 Jun 1905.

   Address: 432 33rd Street, Manhattan, New York, New York
   Robert Kelly, head, married, male, 56 [1848/9], b. Ireland, 22 years in US, citizen, Day Laborer
   Maria Kelly, wife, married, female, 51 [1853/4], b. Ireland, 22 years in US, citizen, Housework
   Margaret Kelly, daughter, female, 24 [1880/1], b. England, 22 years in US, citizen, Operator
   Theresa Kelly, daughter, female, 21 [1883/4], b. U.S., citizen, Operator Belts
   Lidia Hilliard, daughter, female, 17 [1887/8], b. U.S., citizen, Housework
   Charles Hilliard, son in law, male, 20 [1884/5], b. U.S., citizen, Cable splicer
   Robert L. Hilliard, grandson, male, 1/12 [1905] b. U.S., citizen, At home

5. ↑ United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624)
   Manhattan Ward 21 / Enumeration District 1248 / Image 1152, 15 Apr 1910.

   Address: 579 Second Avenue, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States
   Hillard, Chas, head, male, white, 22, married five years, born France, parents born France, immigrated 1890, naturalized, Chauffeur
   Hillard, Lydia, wife, female, white, 20, married five years, born New York, parents born Ireland
   Hillard, Robert, son, male, white, 4, single, born New York, father born France, mother born New York
   Kelly, Robert, father-in-law, male, white, 61, married 40 years, born Ireland, parents born Ireland, immigrated 1883, naturalized, Watchman - store

6. ↑ New York, Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830-1920.

   Record of Inmates, New York City Home for the Aged and Infirm, Manhattan Division, Required by Chapter 225, Laws of 1896
   Date Admitted: Oct 13 1910
   Name: Rob[er]t Kelly / Sex: M / Age: 62 [1847/8] / Color: W
   Civil State: Married
   Last Residence: Lodging House
   Birthpace: Ireland
   How long in U.S.? 38 y[ea]rs - How long in this State? 38 y[ea]rs
   Has the person been naturalized? Yes - If so, where and when? NYC 1891
   Occupation: Newsdealer
   Education: R & W
   Religion: Catholic
   Habits: Temperate
   Physical Condition: Fair
   Cause of Dependence: Destitution
   Birthplace of Father: Ire[land], John / Occupation, News Dealer / Habits, Temperate
   Mother: Mary Willis / Condition of Parents, whether Dependent or Self-Supporting: S.S.
   Is the person able to perform any Labor? Light
   Has the person ever received Public Relief? Yes - Where and when? Med[?] Hosp[i]t[a]l
   Has the person been an Inmate of an Almshouse or other Institution? No
   Names and Addresses of Relatives or Friends: Daughter Mrs Julia Nulty, 1620 68th St, B[roo]klyn NY

7. ↑ New York, United States. New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949 (FamilySearch).

   d. Robert Kelly, 29 May 1911, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, aged 57, son of John Kelly & Mary Willis