The Kelly family was one of the earliest to settle in Haldimand township. The settlement they helped build would eventually become the hamlet of Brookside. John Kelly received a patent dated May 17, 1822 for all 100 acres of lot 35 concession l in Haldimand township
The Kelly family established a halfway house on this property, which flourished in the 1830s, according to the book "Memories of Haldimand". Upon interviewing the present residents of lot 35, we found that the foundation for this establishment still exists.
Captain John Kelly and his wife Mary raised six children in Haldimand township. Four daughters named: Elizabeth, Martha Magdallin, Phoebe and Sarah plus two sons Aaron born c1807 and John Winchester Kelly born c1815. Captain John's first wife Mary died February 27, 1837. He married Hannah Norton wife of the late Caleb Norton of Colborne in 1838. Captain Kelly died after 1844 and Hannah died October 21, 1845. Daughter Phoebe married Calvin Hall, Martha married Dan Comstock and John Winchester married Louisa Almira Mallory. Sarah became Mrs. Watson and Elizabeth became Mrs. Fox. (I have not been able to determine where the title Captain came from).
John Winchester Kelly married Louisa Almira Mallory in 1839. Louisa's parents were Caleb Mallory and Rebecca Honneywell. Louisa and John had six children. Ira W. Kelly born c1839, Mary Aurilla born June 28, 1847, Sarah Magdalin born c1849, Madge S. born c1851, Harriet L. born c1853 and Frank J. born c1858. Mary Aurilla married Asa Choate of Hope township November 12, 1868, and Sarah Magdalin married Alexander McCutcheon October 10, 1878. Ira married Catherine. We believe she was Catherine Hinds born c1841, daughter of Charles, however, we have not been able to verify this.
There seems to be a mystery about this family. To date we have not been able to locate Ira and Catherine's marriage certificate, and John, Ira W. and Ira Leigh do not appear in the 1881 census. Louise is listed as a piano teacher, niece of the Hinds, and Sarah is listed as Katie with her Grandmother Louisa and her Uncle Frank J. To add to this mystery, my Mother, (daughter of Sarah Catherine) told me that Sarah was sent to live with her Grandmother Louisa, but because Grandmother could not look after an ailing son and a child, Sarah was sent to live with a Smith family in Markham in 1883, she was eight years old. Sarah claimed she never saw her brother or sister after that.
The 1891 census shows Sarah living with John and Sarah Smith in Markham, listed as a domestic servant. On April 08, 1896, in Markham, Ontario, she married Joseph Ogden, born August 18, 1867 in York, Ontario. On their marriage certificate she gives her name as Sarah Smith, so we wonder if they may have adopted her, but we have no proof.
Sarah and Joseph Ogden had seven children. James Leslie born February 07, 1897, Mary Ester born July 19, 1899, Henry born June 18 1902, Cecil born March 21, 1906, Nellie Iola born November 05,1908, Thomas Anthony born June 29, 1912 and Mildred Kathleen born July 26, 1917. They raised their children in the Island Lake, Ballantrae area.
Nellie Iola Ogden married Harold Ernest West on December 07, 1929 in Scarboro Junction, Ontario. They had four children. Harold Wesley, Shirley Mae, Frank Henry and Roy Ernest.
We are still working to solve the mystery of the disappearance of John and the two Iras and why Sarah was sent to live with the Smiths. Were they relatives of the Kellys?
We know that John Winchester Kelly died on December ll, 1899. Prior to his death, Louisa Kelly purchased "The Cedars" (Concession 1, lot 20 in Haldimand) on July 05, 1898. She lived there until her death December l2, 1904. There daughter Sarah McCutcheon purchased it December 28, 1904.
Hopefully, someone reading this will have an answer to our questions and we will be able to update.
Ira and Catherine had three children. Ira Leigh born c1865, Louise born c1867 and Sarah Catherine born October 3, 1874.