Margaret Thomson (Adamson) Kelly (abt. 1833 - 1913)

Born about 1833 in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of James Kelly — married 15 Nov 1853 in Res of James Adamson, Hanson St, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 4 Jan 1913 at about age 80 in Dutton Tce, Medindie, South Australia, Australia [uncertain]

Biography

Margaret Thomson Adamson was born in Dunfermline, Scotland in about 1833. Her parents were James Adamson and Elizabeth Beveridge

Margaret, her parents, James and Elizabeth and siblings, Adam, David Beveridge, John Beveridge, James Hazel, Magdalene and Elizabeth Beveridge set sail from London on 19 May 1839, aboard the ship, "Recovery" and arrived in Port Adelaide on 19 Sep 1839^[1]. Margaret was 5 years old.

The Adamsons lived at Hanson St (now the Southern part of Pulteney St) in Adelaide.

On 15 November 1853 Margaret married James Kelly at the residence of her father James Adamson in Hanson St, Adelaide^[2]. He was 30, she was 20 years of age.

They lived in a small slab cottage on the 80 acre Section 5248 near Inverbrackie, leased on 25 September 1852 from the South Australia Company. James' brother William leased an adjoining property Section 5247. The brothers called their property "Ettrick" and it was here that James and Margaret had their first child James Adamson Kelly in 1855.

In October 1856 James purchased a large section of land near Riverton from his brother-in-law Alexander Hay. He built a house called "Sunny Brae" where the family lived and farmed for 20 years before moving to "Marocara" near Giles Corner in 1878.

A further seven sons and two daughters were born to James and Margaret at Sunny Brae.

James was active in the development of the Riverton area and became a Justice of the Peace (JP) in 1875.

"Marocara" was a property of over 1000 acres and was named after the croaking of the frogs in the creek running through the property. James and Margaret farmed the property for 27 years until James' death, aged 82, in 1905.

Margaret survived her husband by 7 years. She moved to Dutton Tce, Medindie (in Adelaide) and was joined by her daughter Bessie when her husband died in 1906.

Margaret died on 4th January 1913 at Medindie^[3]. Both James and Margaret were buried in the Riverton Cemetery^[4].

Death Notice 6 Jan 1913^[5]

KELLY.— On the 4th January, at her residence, Dutton terrace, Medindie, Margaret Thompson Kelly (relict of late Mr. James Kelly, formerly of Marocara, Riverton), aged 79 years.

Research Notes

Birth/Baptism: Not found on Scotland's People or Family Search

Source

1. ↑ State Library of South Australia, Bound for South Australia, Presented by Diane CUMMINGS. RECOVERY from London May 19, 1839, arrived Port Adelaide on Sept 19th, 1839. http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Recovery.htm

   James ADAMSON 49

   Elizabeth (BEVERIDGE) ADAMSON 43

   James Hazel Beveridge ADAMSON 10

   Margaret Thomson ADAMSON 5

   Magdalene ADAMSON 4

   Elizabeth Beveridge ADAMSON 4

   David Beveridge ADAMSON 16

   Adam Beveridge ADAMSON 18

   John Beveridge ADAMSON 12

2. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Marriage. 1853; 16/279; KELLY, James; ADAMSON, Margaret Thomson; Adelaide. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
3. ↑ Genealogy South Australia: Death. 1913, 371/134, KELLY, Margaret Thompson, James KELLY (DH), Adelaide. https://www.genealogysa.org.au/
4. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155008634/margaret-thomson-kelly: accessed 21 March 2023), memorial page for Margaret Thomson Adamson Kelly (1834–4 Jan 1913), Find a Grave Memorial ID 155008634, citing Riverton Cemetery, Riverton, District Council of Clare and Gilbert Valleys, South Australia, Australia; Maintained by Doug Hooper (contributor 47401292).
5. ↑ Family Notices (1913, January 6). The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), p. 6. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59731389