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Contributed by: Russell James
WILLIAM WASHINGTON JONES KELLY
7 Apr 1814 to 3 Sep 1878
1802 Feb 4 Hanson Kelly and Susan Clark are married in New Hanover County, North
Carolina. Bondsman was Samuel Bludworth. Witness was Thomas F. Davis.
Source: Jean McCall Coleman Olin@puritanproject.com
1814 Apr 07 born in Wilmington, North Carolina to Hanson and Susan Clark Kelly
Some sources say 1791 or 1792, but they are wrong. Another William Kelly in
Escambia County who was alive at time of this William was the
one who was born in 1792.
Source (bad): gravestone marker put up by SCV says 1792
Source (bad): http://www.familysearch.org
Hanson was a port authority police officer in Wilmington and an importer/exporter.
182? Kelly family moves to Pensacola.
1830 Census, population schedule, Escambia County, West of Escambia River, page 61, line 14
Kelley, Hanson
3 males 5-10?
1 male 50-60?
2 females 10-15
3 females 15-20
1 female 30-40
2 slave males 0-10
1 slave male 24-36
2 slave females 0-10
1 slave female 24-36
1831 Nov 24 Hanson Kelly appointed postmaster of Pensacola
Source: “Postmasters of Pensacola, Florida, 1821-1962.” Archives Division, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Escambia County, Florida.
1832 Nov 11 admitted to the Bar in Escambia County
Source: Kelly family papers, Historical Resource Center, Pensacola, FL
1833 Hanson Kelly is listed for the first time in the Pensacola Gazette as postmaster. There are missing
years 1831-1832. In 1830, another man is listed as postmaster.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 18 January 1833, p. 3
Hanson Kelly is on the board of directors of the Bank of Pensacola
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 25 January 1833, p. 2
Hanson Kelly is operating an import/export business
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 25 January 1833, p. 2
1834 Jul 5 Mary Ella Smith born in Coosahatchie, Beauford District, South Carolina
Source: Confederate application of Mary Ella Kelly, A-12312
1835 Appointed auctioneer for Escambia County by Territorial governor
Source: Territorial papers
14 Nov Kelly began serving as clerk of the superior court of Escambia County until 1842
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 9 Jan 1836, p. 1 listed for first time as court clerk with the date of notice given as 14 Nov 1835.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 4 Dec 1841, p. 3
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 25 Dec 1841, p. 3
Source: Pensacola Gazette, Jan 1842
1836 Kelly listed as master in chancery for the superior court
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 18 June 1836, p. 2
1837 Jan 23 Signed a petition to Congress asking for the establishment of a steamboat mail
route from Pensacola to Mobile.
Source: Territorial papers
1840 Census, Florida, Escambia County, page 19, line 20
Found in the census in the household of his father Hanson Kelly
Hanson Kelly had one son 5-10, one son 15-20, two sons 20-30, one daughter 0-5,
Two daughters 20-30, and a wife 40-50. He also owned 3 male slaves 0-10, one
Male slave 36-55, 1 female slave 0-10, 2 female slaves 24-36, and one female
Slave 36-55.
Source: 1840 U.S. Census, population schedule, Florida, Escambia County, page 19, line 20.
1841 Feb 10 nominated to be justice of the peace for Escambia County by governor Reid and
served in this capacity until the 1850s.
Source: The Territorial Papers of the United States. Vol. XXVI. Page 259.
Source: Marriage Books C & D, Escambia County, Florida show that Kelly
married couples well into the late antebellum period.
Mar 27 Hanson Kelly ran for mayor against B. D. Wright. Wright won.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 27 Mar 1841, p. 4
Hanson Kelly’s import/export business included ownership of an ice house
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 10 Apr 1841, p. 2
Dec Secretary of a public meeting that asked the Postmaster General to establish a steam
ship mail route from Mobile to Pensacola. Hanson also attended this meeting. Benjamin
D. Wright was the chairman of this public meeting.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 11 Dec 1841, p. 2
1842 Kelly ran for senator for western district of Florida
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 8 Aug 1842, p. 3
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 8 October 1842, p. 2
article about him from Apalachicola Journal
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 15 Oct 1842, p. 2
lost election
1843 Was the curator for the estate of Ann S. Drake
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 15 April 1843, p. 4
1844 Sep Served as secretary of a public meeting called to express feelings toward the death of
Commodore Alexander J. Dallas.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 14 Sep 1844, p. 2
Elected to the Florida territorial senate from Escambia County
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 28 Sep 1844, p. 1 add in favor of Kelly
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 9 Nov 1844, p. 2
announcement of victory.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 21 Dec 1844 p. 2
1845 Listed as an eligible voter in the 1st statewide election from Escambia County.
Source: Statewide Election Returns, RG 156, S486, Florida State Archives.
May 26 elected to first Florida State House of Representatives from Escambia and Santa Rosa
counties as a Whig
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 4 May 1845, p. 3. Endorsed Kelly as Whig candidate.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 31 May 1845, p. 2. Announces election victory.
Legislature met in November and January at this time.
1846 6 Apr Elected alderman for Pensacola
Source: “Some Officials of the City Government of Pensacola.” Florida Historical Quarterly 3, no. 3 (January 1925), 32.
Served his term as Alderman concurrent with his term as state representative.
01 May Served as secretary of a public meeting called to form a company from Escambia and
Santa Rosa County to go serve in the Mexican War.
Source: Pensacola Free Democrat, 6 May 1846, p. 3.
Was Secretary of the Escambia Lodge No. 15 F & AM of the Masonic Order
Source: Pensacola Free Democrat, 01 Jul 1846 p.1 advertisement
Source: Escambia Lodge No. 14 F & AM
Was a member of this lodge’s “Christian” section until his death.
Source: Gene ???, secretary, Escambia Lodge NO. 14 F&AM, upon
viewing the gravestone marker of Kelly.
Elected to the Florida state senate from Escambia County
Source: Pensacola Gazette 10 Oct 1846 p. 2
Source: Pensacola Gazette 24 Oct 1846, p. 2.
Source: Tallahassee Floridian 21 Nov 1846, p. 2.
Legislature met in November and January at this time.
Was nominated by fellow senators to become the president of the Senate, but lost after a few
votes.
1847 Captain of Company A, Florida Volunteers, Mexican-American War
To training at Ft. Pickens
Apr Served as commanding officer of Ft. Pickens for one month
Source: Letter, Whiting to Totten, 22 Apr 1847.
1848 Mar Service in Mexico, mustered out in New Orleans
Source: Davis, T. Frederick.
“Florida’s Role in the War with Mexico.”
Florida
Historical Quarterly (1945).
Source: James, Russell D. “Florida Volunteers In the Mexican War, 1846-1848” Thesis, University of West Florida, 2002.
Source: James, Russell D. Too Late For Blood: Florida Volunteers in the Mexican War. Milton, FL: Cantadora Press, 2002.
1850 Census: page 127, household 81 Escambia County
KELLY Hansen 73 port master NC
Hannah 60 NC should be Susan
W.W.I. 34 lawyer NC should be W. W. J.
Frederick 29 NC
Blakely 23 NC probably Hanson, Jr.
1850 Elected Worshipful Master of the Escambia Lodge No. 15 F & AM
Photograph is in the Escambia Lodge No. 15 F & AM
1851 Jan 2 received bounty land warrant No. 50-160-1293.
Dec 30 married Pauline Virginia Mitchell
Source: Marriage Book C, page 68, Escambia County, Florida
Source: LDS website
Source: Pensacola Gazette 01/03/1852 page 3, says “purser Kelly”
Source: http://searches1.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/archives/fl/escambia/vitals/marriages/1521854.txt
Re-elected Worshipful Master of the Escambia Lodge No. 15 F & AM
Jan 2 Granted bounty land warrant No. 50-160-8036 for his service in the Mexican War.
1852 Daughter Pauline Virginia was born.
Mar 19 Used Mexican War bounty land warrant to locate land at the land office at Tallahassee
Land Office, Tallahassee, Florida. E1/2 of E1/2, Section 14, Township 2 North, Range 27 West in Santa Rosa County.
April 5 joined the Corps of Pursers of the United States Navy
Source: Confederate parole application letter LDS 1578753
Source: General Register of the United States Navy and Marine Corps….page 402
Source: National Archives. Military Service Records of W. W. J. Kelly as
purser in the U.S. Navy, 1852-1861.
May 21 ordered to sea service with the U.S.S. Perry
Source: Kelly family papers. “Chronological Biography of William Washington Jones Kelly, A. D. 1814-1878.”
Not clear when he joined the Navy but was given a rank of “major,” one
unique to the Purser Corps. Navy officers usually don’t have this rank.
Re-elected Worshipful Master of the Escambia Lodge No. 15 F & AM
1853 Sep wife Pauline Virginia Mitchell Kelly dies of yellow fever.
Source: Obituary in Pensacola Gazette 09/10/1853 page 3
Source: Kelly Mexican War Pension application says she died of yellow fever.
1855
Apr 03
returned to duty as the purser aboard the U.S.S. Perry
While he was in Navy, his daughter was cared for by family, probably a sister or
his parents.
May 11 Hanson Kelly died in this year intestate and his estate was handled by Hanson Kelly, Jr., who does
not show up on any of the census returns (may have been Blakely).
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 12 May 1855, p. 2
Source: Hanson Kelly probate record, Escambia County Clerk of the Court Archives, file number 0-616-CP-03
Source: St. Michael’s Cemetery book
Jun 25 Susan Kelly died.
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 30 Jun 1855, p. 2
Source: St. Michael’s Cemetery book
1856 May 18 Marries Mary Ella Smith in Pensacola
Married by Rev. Dr. Sparrow of the Presbyterian Church
Source: Mexican War pension application of Mary Ella Kelly, 15 January 1889.
Source: No record in Escambia County marriage books
Source: Pensacola Gazette, 24 May 1846, p. 3. Says “Major Kelly.”
Jul 18 Detached to settle accounts in Pensacola
Source: Kelly Family Papers
Sep 03 returned to duty at the Pensacola Navy Yard
Source: Kelly family papers
1856 Sep 23 detached from service at Pensacola Navy Yard to serve as purser on the U.S.S. Preble
Source: Kelly family papers. “Chronological Biography of William Washington Jones Kelly, A. D. 1814-1878”
1857 Sep 23 appointed to act as purser for the U.S.S. Preble
Oct 25 appointed to act as purser for the U.S.S. Southern Star as well as the Preble
Source: Kelly family papers. “Chronological Biography of William Washington Jones Kelly, A. D. 1814-1878”
Source: A letter to his sister from Rio De Janeiro laments his father’s passing and talks about the state of affairs aboard ship. The ship he was on is not enumerated in the letter.
1860 Census: Escambia County, page 16, household 368
KELLY W. W. J. 45 U.S.N. $1000 $10000 NC
Mary Ella 26 SC
Pauline V. 8 FL
Mary S. 3 FL
W. W. 2 FL
Fedrick NC insane
Kelly was probably the legal guardian of his brother.
Slaves 1 38 F Mul
1 30 F Black
1 19 F Black
1 31 F Black
1 28 M Black
1 19 M Black
1 4 M Black
1 2 M Black
1 1 M Black
Jun 7 buys lots 21 & 22, Sq. 26, Section 19, Township 2S Range 30W in Pensacola.
Source: Deed book P, page 130, Clerk of the Court Official Records Division,
Escambia County, Florida.
1861 Jan 21 Kelly resigned his commission as a purser in the U.S. Navy
Source: Confederate parole application and letter. LDS 1578753
Source: General Register
of the United States Navy and Marine Corps,
page 402.
Source: Biographical
Rosters of Florida’s Confederate and Union Soldiers,
pg. 1998.
??? Agreed to pay $20 toward the raising of two companies from Escambia County for 12
months service.
Source: “Secession in Florida—Pensacola on Its Own Documents, Letters, and
Other Papers.” Florida Historical Quarterly 16, no. 4 (April 1848), 283.
Mar 26 joins Confederate Navy and commissioned a paymaster with no regular rank.
1862 Oct 23 appointed as C.S.A. Navy paymaster at Savannah Station until 20 December 1864.
Source: Confederate parole application and letter LDS 1578753
Source: http://www.csnavy.org/csn64register.htm
Source: Florida a Hundred Years Ago, page ???
Family lived in Augusta, Georgia at this time.
Source: Confederate pension application A-12312
1864 Served in the Mobile Squadron of the Confederate Navy.
Was captured as a prisoner of war in the summer of 1864.
Oct 20 received as a Confederate prisoner of war at Washington, D. C.
Source: Kelly Family Papers.
1865 May 04 surrendered to the Union forces at Mobile
Source: Confederate parole application and letter LDS 1578753
Source: Biographical Rosters of Florida’s Confederate and Union Soldiers.
May 10 took oath of allegiance to the Union and was paroled in Mobile
Source: Biographical
Rosters of Florida’s Confederate and Union Soldiers
Source: Confederate parole application and letter LDS 1578753
Jun 30 Returned to Pensacola and wrote a letter to his sister on the state of the city, homes.
Source: Letter, 30 June 1865, Pensacola Historical Society, Pensacola, Florida.
Sep 11 Took the Amnesty Oath for Confederate Pardon
Source: Confederate parole application and letter LDS 1578753
Oct 28-Nov 7 Delegate from Escambia County for Florida Constitutional Convention. Served
on the Committees of: Executive Department; Right of Suffrage and Qualification of Officers; and Finance, Accounts and State Liabilities.
Source: Shofner,
Jerrell H. Nor Is It Over Yet:
Florida in the Era of
Reconstruction, 1863-1877. Gainesville: The University Presses
of Florida, 1974
Was a signer of the Reconstruction Constitution of Florida, representing Escambia Cnty.
Nov 19 elected 1st Lieutenant Governor of Florida
Source: http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/kelly9.html#RYA014WWQ
Source: Shofner, Jerrell H.
Nor Is It Over Yet:
Florida in the Era of
Reconstruction, 1863-1877. Gainesville: The University Presses
of Florida, 1974
Source: Shofner, Jerrell H.
Nor Is It Over Yet:
Florida in the Era of
Reconstruction, 1863-1877. Gainesville: The University Presses
of Florida, 1974.
Source: Guide to the Records of the Florida State Archives. Tallahassee:
Florida Department of State, 1988. pg. 299.
This source says that there are no records of the first set of
lieutenant governors of Florida.
Source: Kelly Family Papers, Pensacola Historical Resource Center
Source: The Florida Handbook, 1995-1996.
His only constitutional duty as lieutenant governor was to preside over the Senate.
Dec 20 takes oath of office as lieutenant governor
Not clear why he didn’t earlier, as the legislature was in session in November. He
did not preside over the Reconstruction Senate until the January term.
Source: Kelly Family Papers, Pensacola Historical Resource Center
1869 Accepts mortgage of property in lots 1, 2, & 3, square 37, city of Pensacola from James Brown,
who owed Kelly $150.
Source: Deed book R, page 446, Clerk of the Court Official Records Division,
Escambia County, Florida.
1870 Census, Escambia County, Pensacola, page 13, household 93, family 87
KELLY, Wm. W. J. 57 City Clerk $1000 NC
Mary E. 45 Keeping house SC
Pauline E. (?) 15 FL
Mary S. 13 FL
Annie P. 11 FL
Wm. W. J. 9 FL
Aaron S. 7 GA
Eliza P. 5 FL
His son Aaron S. Kelly was obviously born while the Kelly family was in George, when
Kelly was serving in the Savannah Squadron of the CSA.
Purchased land from Thomas Harrod in lots 6 & 7 Sq. 38, Pensacola.
Source: Deed book S, page 263, Clerk of the Court official records division,
Escambia County, Florida.
1871 Served as circuit court judge for the First Circuit of Florida
to Source: Memoirs of Florida
1874
Source: Confirmations of
County Elections in Florida Senate Journals
Source: “Judges for Escambia County.” Archives Division, Clerk of the
Circuit Court, Escambia County, Florida
This is the first time he served a two-year term.
Source: People of Lawmaking in Florida
1875 Jan 14 received a quit claim deed from Nancy M. Gregory for lot 173, Sq. 25, Pensacola.
Source: Deed book U, page 258, Clerk of the Court official records division,
Escambia County, Florida.
1878 Sep 03 died in Pensacola, Florida
Source: Confederate pension application of Mary Ella Kelly
Source: Mexican War pension application of Mary Ella Kelly
Sep 08 buried in St. John’s Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida
Source: St. John’s Cemetery plot books, book 1, page 14, section 1, lot 28, grave 9. Grave is at NE corner grave of NE corner lot of NE corner section of cemetery This lot in the cemetery is designated “Masonic” in the plot book.
This position of the NE is important to the Masonic order. He probably was well respected as a member and was thus given this plot.
Source: http://www.dataline.net.au/~tfoen/personnel.html
1880 Census, Escambia County, Pensacola, ED44, pp. 21, household 278, family 278
KELLY, Mary E. F 45 widow at home
Mary S. F 22 single at home dau
W. W. J. M 20 single laborer son
Annie V. F 19 single laborer dau
Aaron S. M 16 single at home son
Eliza F. F 14 single at home dau
K.S. M 9 single at home son
KELLY, Pauline Virginia F 26 single teacher other
found in the house of John and Mary E. Brosnahan pg. 101B
Dec 1 Virginia Pauline Kelly married John K. Humphreys.
Source: marriage license, book J, page 475, Clerk of the Court Archives,
Escambia County, Florida.
1885 Aaron Kelly was living at 1st & 9th Ave., Pensacola. Mary Ella not living alone, obviously.
Source: 1885 Pensacola City Directory
http://www.rootsweb.com/~flescamb/1885i_l.htm
John K. Humphreys was living on Alconiz & Wright Streets and employed as a mail clerk at the
post office.
Source: 1885 Pensacola City Directory, Pensacola.
1886 Mrs. Pauline Kelly Humphreys is listed as a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Pensacola
Source: 1886 Membership Roll, First Presbyterian Church, Pensacola.
1887 July 5 Mary Ella filed application WC-4038 for widow’s benefits for William’s Mexican War
service
Source: White, Virgil D., trans. Index to Mexican War Pension Files. Waynesboro, TN: The National Historical Publishing Company, 1989. pg. 289 .
Source: Mexican War pension application of Mary Ella Kelly, WC-4038
1889 Jan 14 Mary Ella lived at 530 E. Aragon Street, Pensacola. She was 60 years old at the time.
Source: Mexican War pension application of Mary Ella Kelly, 14 January 1889.
1893 Mary Ella Kelly living on the beach on E. Gregory Street.
Source: 1893 Pensacola City Directory, Pensacola, Florida
Aaron Kelly living at Frascati Garden and was a laborer.
Source: 1893 Pensacola City Directory, Pensacola, Florida
http://www.rootsweb.com/~flescamb/direcil.htm
1905 Mary applies for Confederate pension from Florida and the application is denied #D07643
Source: http://www.csnavy.org/fl/fla,pension.htm
Source: Confederate pension file of Mary Ella Kelly for William W. J. Kelly, #D07643
She failed to provide information about William’s oath of allegiance.
Lists children/grandchildren as:
Daisy E (?) 18
Annie Rowlie (?) 16
Nellie Owens 3
Catherine Boardman 7
Barbara Boardman 5
Sadie Boardman 25
1907 Mary applies again for Confederate pension from Florida and the application is accepted #A12312
Source: http://www.csnavy.org/fl/fla.pension.htm
Source: Confederate pension file of Mary Ella Kelly for William W. J. Kelly, #A12312.
1908 Aaron Kelly listed as a registered voter in precinct no. 13 (E. Palafox) for Pensacola.
Source: Pensacola Journal, 24 October 1908.
1909 Nov 9 Mary Ella Kelly receives a letter from the Florida Board of Pensions that she was never
entitled to a pension for William’s Confederate service because he took the oath of
allegiance to the United States.
Source: Letter to Mary Ella Kelly, Confederate pension file of Mary Ella Kelly for William W. J. Kelly, #A12312.
1921 Dec 16 Mary Ella Kelly dies. Buried in plot 2S, Section 16
Source: Bancroft, Janet, ed. Index to St. John’s Cemetery of Pensacola, Florida. 1995.