Person Page - 478

     John was born circa 1779 at Sussex, Delaware, United States.^1,2 He was the son of Daniel Kelly and Sally Clifton. He died in April 1868 at Greene, Georgia, United States.
     Biography of John Kelly:

The earliest record we have found of John Kelly is his name which appears on a list of Greene County registrants in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. He drew one blank thus indicating he was over 21 and unmarried at that time. He was more fortunate in the 1807 Land Lottery as he won 202 1/2 acres known as Lot No. 100 in District 21 of newly created Wilkinson Co. Georgia. In 1808 he was assessed for one free male and one negro. In 1809 thru 1815 he was assessed for the 202 acres in Wilkinson County he had won in the lottery and for one free male and one negro. The tax records from 1816 to 1822 have not survived. In 1825, he is assessed for 114 acres on the Oconee River in Greene County and 1 free male and six negros. In December of 1834 he was granted a land warrant by the County Court to resurvey 700 acres of “his own and his families headrights“ land. This land was likely headright land that he or his father, Daniel Kelly, had acquired after they came to Georgia in 1795. It required a new survey to reestablish its boundaries. The resulting survey shows 659 4/10 acres of land lying for over 1 mile along the Greene County bank of the Oconee River. Today this land is between what is now Old Salem Park and the Lake Oconee Parkway (State Highway 44). About 1/3 of this property is now underwater as part of Lake Oconee. On December 31, 1839, he sold this land plus bordering land he owned (744 acres) to Roma H. Ward.

These and other land transactions Deeds are as follows:
Grantor to Grantee Date Acres Book-Page
Estate of William McMichael to John Kelly Mar. 3, 1817 62 GG-12
John Kelly to Jesse Batchelor Feb 28, 1831 100 KK-421
Bank of State of GA to John Kelly Feb 12, 1836 600 MM-19
John Kelly to Elizabeth Perry Feb 29, 1836 -- MM-21
John Kelly to Roma H. Ward Dec 31, 1839 744 MM402

John is listed in the 1820 Census of Greene County Georgia which shows John Kelley as head of household containing 1 male 26-45 (John), 1 male 10-16 (son1) and three males, 0-10, (son2, Reuben B, James M.), 1 female 26-45 (his unknown wife) and one female age 10-16 (Elizabeth). The census also indicated he had 5 slaves and none of the household were unnaturalized foreigners.

He is also found in the 1830 Census of Greene County as head of household containing. 1 male 50-60 (John), 2 males 15-20 (son2, Reuben B.) 1 male 10-15 (James M.) one male 5-10 (son5), 1 female 40-50 (his unknown wife) and 1 female 5-10 (Nancy) plus 6 slaves marked. Daughter Elizabeth married Elihugh Hall on 21 September 1825 in Greene County and is very likely the female age 20-30 living in the household of Elihu Hall, who is enumerated on the next line of the census, to John Kelly, thus indicating she lived nearby or even next door.

He is found in the 1840 Census of Greene Co as head of household containing, 1 male 60-70 (John) 3 males 20-30 (son2, Reuben B., James M. and son5) and 1 female age 50-60 (his unknown wife) and 1 female 5-10 (Nancy) plus 7 slaves.

He is also found in the 1850 Census and 1860 Census of Greene County as follows:

1850 Census of Greene County Georgia
p. 78, Dw. 59, Fm. 59, District 143, 8 August 1850
John Kelly 71 M Penn
James M. " 38 M Ga
Nancy " 19 F Ga Idiot
Amand A. " 32 F Ga

1860 Census of Greene County Georgia
P. 524, Dw. 83, Fm. 83, 20 July 1860
John Kelly 80 M Farmer Delaware
Nancy " 29 F Ga Idiot
Jas. M. " 49 M Ga
Ann " 42 F Ga

These census records indicate that John Kelly was born 1779-1780 in Delaware or Pennsylvania. John's brother, James and Charles were definitely born in Delaware 1783 and 1785 respectively. We show John as being born in Delaware as we believe Pennsylvania is an error.

As there is no older females listed in the 1850 census this suggests that John Kelly‘s unknown wife had died prior to the 1850 census. In addition, these records suggest that James M. Kelly is the son of John Kelly as he and his wife were living with his father in his old age. James M. Kelly married Holly Ann Sayers on 10 November 1836 in Greene County Georgia. Holly Ann Sayers, Amanda A. of the 1850 census and Ann of the 1860 Census are the same persons and the wife of James M. Kelly.

These census records suggest that John Kelly had 5 sons. His first two sons and last son have not been identified by name and do not show up in the 1850 and 1860 census of Greene County.

The last record we have of John Kelly is a newspaper article describing the death of John Kelly as follows:
Thursday, April 16, 1868 - DROWNED - Mr. John Kelly, one of the oldest citizens of this county, was drowned in the Oconee River, one day last week. It is thought he fell from a bateau while fishing. Mr. Kelly was the grandfather of J. F. Hall, of our city. ["Greene County, Georgia, Newspaper Clippings" p. 218] [Ed. Note: J. F. Hall is the son of Elihugh Hall and Elizabeth Kelly, John Kelly’s daughter.].

     James was born in 1783 at Broad Creek Hundred, Sussex, Delaware, British Colonial America.¹ He was the son of Daniel Kelly and Sally Clifton. He married Mary Wyatt, daughter of Thomas Ballard Wyatt and Mary Susanna Needham, on 20 January 1808 at Greene, Georgia, United States.² He died before 2 November 1857 at Chattahoochee, Georgia, United States.³
     Biography of James Kelly:

James Kelly appears to be living with his father, Daniel Kelly, in 1805 as his name appears as drawing a single blank in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. This suggests he was over 21 and unmarried at that time. James Kelly, as well as John Kelly of Greene County, Georgia were more fortunate in the 1807 Land Lottery as James was granted 202 1/2 acres known as Lot No. 296 in District 21 (Armours Militia District) of newly created Wilkinson County. John Kelly was granted 202 1/2 acres known as Lot No. 100 in the same district of Wilkinson Co. Georgia. It is not known what James did with this grant, but it is unlikely that he moved onto this land.

On 20 January 1808, James Kelly married Polly (Mary) Wyatt in Greene Co. Georgia. They were married by James B. Holt who also performed the marriages of James’s siblings, Charles R. Kelly and Polly Kelly.

We next find James Kelly and his family listed in the 1820 Census of Jasper Co. Georgia. That census shows James Kelly - 1 male <10 (John) 1male 10-16 (James) 1 male 45+ (James) 1 female 16-26 (his wife Mary Wyatt)

A James Kelly, Sr. of Jasper County, Georgia is listed in the 1820 Georgia Land Lottery as having been granted Lot 191 in Section 7 (Kindalls Militia District) of Early County. It is not known if this James moved onto this land grant.

We next find James Kelly and his family listed in the 1830 Census of Jasper Co. Georgia. Jas. Kelly 1 male <5 (Williamson), 2 males 5-10 (Charles, William) , 1 male 10-15 (John), 1 male 20-30 (James), 1 female <5 (Nancy), 1 female 10-15 (Martha), 1 female 15-20 (Mary Ann) 1 female 40-50 (wife, Mary)

James Kelly is found next listed in the 1840 Census of Harris Co. Georgia. This suggests he moved out of Jasper Co. to Harris Co. between 1830 and 1840. The census reads: J. Kelly 2 males 5-10 (Williamson & George H.), 1 male 10-15 (Charles), 1 male 15-20 (John 1 male age 20-30 (James), 1 male 50-60 (James), 1 female <5 (Frances j. b. c1835), 1 female 10-15, (Nancy), 1 female 50-60 (Mary).

A very definitive census record of the James Kelly family is found in Muscogee Co. Georgia in 1850. This suggests that the family moved from Harris County to the adjoining county of Muscogee between 1840 and 1850. The 1850 Census of Muscogee Co., Georgia reads:

James Kelly 67 m Del
Mary Kelly 62 f SC
Charles Kelly m 25 Jasper Co. Ga.
George H Kelly m 17 Harris Co. Ga.
Frances J. f 15 Harris Co. Ga.

The 1850 census clearly shows that James was born in Delaware about 1783 which is consistent with his brother, Charles being born in Delaware about 1785. This census also lists the county in which the children were born.
On 2 September 1857, James signed his Last Will and Testament. An Abstract of that will is as follows:

Last Will and Testament of James Kelly
1. Request that all my debts be Paid.
2. I bequeath onto Amos Moore son-in law - $5 and full share of estate
3. I bequeath onto my two grandchildren, daughters of James Kelly deceased $5 each and each full share of estate
4. I bequeath onto Son-in law William W. Frazier - $5 and full share of estate
. I bequeath onto my two grandchildren Coleman Brown and Elizabeth F. Brown - $5 each and each full share of estate
6. I bequeath onto Son-in law Amos Brown - $5 and full share of estate
7. I bequeath onto daughter Mary Ann Tyler the wife of Asa J. Tyler and John W. Kelly my son and William F. Kelly my son, and my son Charles R. Kelly and my daughter Nancy A. Hughley wife of Henry Hughley and son William B. Kelly, and my son George H. Kelly and daughter Francis J. Frazier wife of William W. Frazier and my grandchildren, the children of Martha G. Moore, deceased: All the balance of my estate that I have not already disposed of to be equally divided to the said named heirs to wit: Ann Tyler John W. Kelly William F Kelly Charles R. Kelly Nancy A. Hughley William B. Kelly George H. Kelly Francis J. Frazier Martha G. Moore Executors': George H. Kelly and Ezekiel Matters.
Will signed: September 2, 1857
Signed: James Kelly
Witness by: John Harbrough
John A. Bubganner
J. J. McMaughton J.P.
Proved and filed in court 2 Nov 1857.

Based on the filling of the will we show his date of death as before 2 November 1857.

     Mary was born circa 1788 at South Carolina, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Thomas Ballard Wyatt and Mary Susanna Needham. She married James Kelly, son of Daniel Kelly and Sally Clifton, on 20 January 1808 at Greene, Georgia, United States.² She died on 10 July 1856 at Chattahoochee, Muscogee, Georgia, United States.³ She was buried in July 1856 at Muscogee, Georgia, United States.³

     Mary was born circa 1786 at Sussex, Delaware, United States. She was the daughter of Daniel Kelly and Sally Clifton. She married John Weathers, on 16 November 1808 at Greene, Georgia, United States.¹

     John was born circa 1790. He married Mary "Polly" Kelly, daughter of Daniel Kelly and Sally Clifton, on 16 November 1808 at Greene, Georgia, United States.¹

     Dorothy was born on 16 March 1924 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Norman Franklin Brannan Sr. and Ella Mae Harrelson.

     Elizabeth was born circa 1928 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Clyde Allison and Lula Essie Brannan.

     Joyce was born circa 1929 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Clyde Allison and Lula Essie Brannan.

     Bernard was born on 28 June 1931 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Clyde Allison and Lula Essie Brannan. Bernard died on 23 June 1962 at age 30. His body was buried at Philadelphia Cemetery, Suwannee, Florida, United States.²

     Gladys Brannan was the daughter of Horace A. Brannan and Jane Walker. She married Clarence W. Duckworth, on 5 August 1929 at Lafayette, Florida, United States.²

     Fulton was born circa 1906 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Alonza L. Brannan and Josephine Reed.

     Reed was born circa 1908 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ He was the son of Alonza L. Brannan and Josephine Reed.

     Elizabeth was born circa 1910 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ She was the daughter of Alonza L. Brannan and Josephine Reed. She married A. H. DeVane Jr. on 24 January 1928 at Live Oak, Suwannee, Florida, United States.

     Jessie was born on 18 March 1898 at Cherokee, Georgia, United States. She married John Franklin Brannon, son of John Brannon and Ardelia Roxanne Ross, on 7 September 1924.¹ Jessie died in 1984 at Suwannee, Florida, United States. Her body was buried at New Harmony Church, Suwannee, Florida, United States.²