Brick Wall- Great-Grandfather John R. Kelly/Kelley YOB 1870 YOD 1903.

Question

John R. Kelly/Kelley (YOB 1870 YOD 1903) resided in Lauderdale County, Alabama. I am seeking information about his family, including his father, mother, and siblings. His wife's name was Eliza Jane Williams, who passed away in 1951. They had five children: William Lee Kelley, Margaret Kelley (Hughes), Mary Kelley (Hipp), John Sam Kelly, and Robert Owen Kelly. If you have any information about this family, please let me know.

I am not positive if the middle name is Robert.

Comments

I added a family tree to his profile

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I updated his profile and parents' profiles.

John Kelley: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Kelly-28326

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Julie,

I must respectfully disagree with you concerning the birth year and middle initial of my great-grandfather, John R. Kelly/Kelley. I have discovered information in census records, marriage records, and death records of his immediate family that confirm his middle initial is 'R' and his birth year is 1870.

Albert and Susan Kelley did have a son named John M, born in 1868, which has led me to recently question whether Albert and Susan Kelley are indeed my great-great-grandparents which I indicated this on my WikiTree.

I do appreciate your efforts.

David

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Hi David, you said, "I have discovered information in census records, marriage records, and death records of his immediate family that confirm his middle initial is 'R' and his birth year is 1870".

Census records: Only one census record of John contains a middle initial. That is the 1870 census, and the initial is an M.

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD8Y-S9G

Marriage records: John’s record in Ancestry’s “Alabama, U.S., Marriage Indexes, 1814-1935” does not include a middle initial. FamilySearch has a record in their "Alabama Marriages, 1816-1957" database with the R. initial, but as we cannot see it, we do not know if it is correct and not a transcription error. Both marriage records are transcribed. I have not seen the actual marriage record, have you?

Death records: The death records of his children Mary, John, and Robert do not contain a middle initial for John. Those records are attached to John's profile.

Are there other records that you know of that contain an R.? If so, can you cite them on his profile? Otherwise, the only historical record not transcribed is the census with the M.

If the census records are correct, it seems John was born before 1870 as most of his census records include a birth year prior to 1870. 

It seems his parents are Albert and Susan until there is a better candidate. Hopefully more records will become available to help confirm this further.

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Julie,

I did use an Alabama Marriage Index FHL Film Number 1025719 Reference ID p 229 which indicates John R. Kelley and Eliza Williams's marriage date on December 23, 1888. You are correct regarding the census records not reflecting a middle initial "R". There are multiple trees in Ancestry that do reflect a middle initial "R" for John Kelley.

I have struggled for many months trying to verify my great-grandfather's family history. I have found too many inconsistencies trying to prove Albert and Susan Kelley are his parents. 

Thank you.

David

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Understandable. Can you share the inconsistencies? Just the different birth years for John on the census records?

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Julie,

After reviewing the information over the past few days, I think I probably have followed the wrong path.  The more I review your information, the more I believe John M Kelley is my great-grandfather.  I will be taking a second look at the information provided.  Thank you for your assistance.