Timothy Kehely : Short Biography

Timothy Kehely is believed to have been baptised 22Dec1821 at the townland of Kilronan/e, the son of Daniel Kehelly and Ellen Mahoney.
Sponsors were James Brien and Hanora Galloher. (From Mormon film of Dunmanway Church Records P4805.
The townland of Kilronan(e) is in the Catholic Parish of Fanlobbus and on the border of Civil parishes of Ballymoney and Fanlobbus -
it appears that St Patricks was the closest RC Church for the majority of Catholics from the western part of the parish of Ballymoney -
details obtained by descendant Gail Kehely and Researcher Sheila Macauley.)
Other documents, including marriage certificate and two shipping lists, argue that Timothy was born about 1818 - Parish Ballymoney!
Timothy sailed from Liverpool onboard the "Ganges" which was ultimately bound for Java, arriving in Fremantle, Western Australia on 15Oct1841.
On the Passenger List, Timothy was listed as a labourer and Roman Catholic and from County Cork.
He was paired with a Mary Boulger (Bolger) on a list of nine adult couples who all arrived on the "Ganges".
Mr John Schoales received a bounty for bringing these eighteen people to the Colony.
Altogether 110 emigrants and other people arrived per 'Ganges' - all in good health and condition.
There is a copy of the Reminiscences of a fellow passenger, William Wade, that tell of the voyage on the 'Ganges',
including the reasons for leaving Ireland, from May1841 to 14Oct1841.
Timothy Keeley was named on a list of people with letters undelivered at the GPO in Perth - dd 28March1843. His sister-in-law, Mary Bolger, was also on the list.
Timothy and Mary were married 28Dec1842 in Perth at the Registry Office by James McRenner.
Witnesses were Thomas Smith and Bridget Leavy. He was aged 24, she 26. Both signed their Marriage Certificate with an "X".
Being illiterate and probably with broad Irish accents resulted in Officials spelling both surnames in a variety of ways -
e.g. Bulger, Boulger, Bolger, Balcer  and even Byrnes.
Kehely became Keilly, Keilley, Kelly, Kealey, Kahley, Kahly, Kahaley, Kabley, Kehelly and Kelely! His marriage certificate states from Ireland only.
A daughter Mary Ann was born 27Oct1843, a son Daniel 9Mar1845 at 7pm, both in Perth.
Mary Ann's birth was registered on 27Oct1843 by Mary Kahley, wife of T. Kahley, who signed with her mark. Daniel's birth was similarly registered

From The Perth Gazette & Western Australian Journal newspaper dd Saturday 23Aug1845.
CAUTION. An unfortunate accident occurred a few days ago, by the drowning of a fine child named Kehely, two years of age, who was playing about an open well, and fell into it, and some time elapsed before the accident was discovered. As several accidents of this nature have occurred within the past few years, and we notice the circumstance to give a caution to parents, not to leave their wells uncovered.
The Kehely's second child Daniel was born 4Mar1845 so was only five months old when his sister died.
The death of Mary Ann not found on WA BMD online.

Timothy left per schooner "Victoria" as T. Keilly for Adelaide on 3Apr1845 arriving 22Apr1845.
With him was his wife Mary's sister in law, Mary Boulger/Bolger (she and her husband Michael, a stonemason, had also arrived per 'Ganges' in 1841).
Timothy was named in 'unclaimed letter list' in the Perth Gazette on 19Apr1945 and the Inquirer on 30Apr1845 as Timothy Keilley.
In a Biographical Index of South Australia is the entry -
KELELY, Timothy arr. by 1846 res. River Hutt (located near Penwortham in Clare Valley of South Australia) rel. R.C. m. Mary Byrnes (sic) ch. Ed. (1846) - believed to be Timothy Kehely, wife Mary and second son Edward b 1846c - (no details of birth or christening found for Edward - but he is named on Shipping Index Melbourne to Dunedin per 'Hussar' in 1863 and as a Military Settler in NZ with his brother Daniel and father Timothy in 1863).
A daughter Ellen Kahaley was born 9Sep1848 and baptised at Mt Barker, South Australia on 21Feb1849. Sponsors were Pat & Mary Hughes.
(Patrick Hughes b 1797c, arrived Adelaide pre 1842, d 12Sep1852, occupation - farmer and a Roman Catholic.)
From the South Australian Genealogist dd Apr1988 - Mt Barker Catholic Records.
Amongst the Parish Registers of the Catholic Church at Mt Barker is a small exercise book in which there is a census of the Catholics living in the district.
The book appears to have been commenced by Fr James Watkins in 1848c and continued by his successor, Fr Michael O'Brien in mid 1849.  
The list includes -  Timothy Kehely, Mary Kenely, Daniel, Edward & Ellen, 1849, Mt Barker. (No record of Edward's birth has been found)
There is also a list of those to Whom the priest Administered the Temperance Pledge.
The list includes - Timothy Kehely dd 24Jun1849.
Another daughter, Catherine was born 1Jan1850 and baptised at Clare. Sponsors were James and Mary Duggan nee Donovan.
(James Duggan arrived 1845 per 'Timbo' from Tasmania. He resided at Walkerville, Gawler, Penwortham and Little Para.
He was Roman Catholic. On 7Nov1847 he married Mary Ann Donovan at Adelaide. They had three children John b 1848, Arthur b 1850 and Mary Ann b 1852.)
By then the Kehely family lived at Penwortham, Clare S.A.
Information on the movements of the Kehely family from Ireland to W.A. and then to S.A. come from Biographical Indexes and various Shipping Lists, including the Hodge Index. No record has been found of the family from 1850 to 1863.
The Passenger List for the ship 'Hussar' which departed Melbourne 4Apr1863 with 233 1/2 passengers included -
T. Kelly, aged 45, Married, Irish
Mary Kelly, aged 44, Married, Irish
A?(Daniel) Kelly aged 15 (18), Single, Irish
E (Edward) Kelly aged 16, Single, Irish
E (Ellen) Kelly aged 11? (15), Single, Irish
C (Catherine) Kelly aged 10? (13), Single, Irish.
(Perhaps the ages of the children were put down for cheaper fares - see attached file entitled "1/2 an Adult")
The journey to Port Chalmers (Dunedin) took twenty eight days. The family was accommodated in 'fore' cabins. The Master was William H. Howland.
According to the Taranaki Military Settlers Nominal and Descriptive Roll Book, Timothy Kelly (sic) enrolled in No 1 Company, Reg No 133 on 1Sep1863 in Dunedin. The roll states he was born in Ballymony Parish in County Cork.
Timothy was designated a butcher, aged 40 years. He was five foot five and a half inches tall.
He had joined with Edward and William Kelly who had Reg Nos 132 and 134 respectively. His son-in-law Martin Costello joined 3 days later.
The Kellys and Costellos all sailed to Taranaki per 'Airdale'.
From the National Archives in Wellington there is information re conditions granted to settlers willing to perform such military services
together with details of land grants for same.
Timothy's Army Records report that he had Influenza and was discharged from hospital on 22May1865.
He was sick the next month 9Jun1865 and discharged from hospital on 15Jun1865.
He was report AWOL on 3Jun1864 from Omata Stockade having been absent since 31May1864. His pay was stopped for 4 days and his grog for 10 days.
On 4Jan1865 he was confined to barracks for being drunk when parading for escort at Timaru.
The next month he went AWOL again from Timaru Camp until 6pm 23Jun1865.
This time he received a punishment of 2 days stoppage of pay and 10 days stoppage of grog.
From PapersPast - Resident Magistrate's Court - Friday Dec 14 - Larceny.
Timothy Kelly, Daniel Kelly and Martin Costello of Oakura, were charged with having stolen at that place, on the 6th inst, nine pieces of timber, valued at 30 shillings,
the property of the Colonial Government. After hearing some evidence, the Magistrate remanded the accused til Friday next.
Nil further found!
There are photocopies of details of land grants to Timothy Kelly and his brother Daniel from the Lands Information Office in New Plymouth.
Timothy died 2Jul1883 at Manaia aged 70,of general decay. His death certificate states born Ireland with no details of parents known.
Timothy was buried at Manaia Cemetery. Although there is no headstone, his name and plot number are recorded in Cemetery records held at Manaia.
It has been observed that none of Timothy's family had a headstone - not Timothy, Mary, Ellen, Catherine or Daniel.
Edward's grave is yet to be found!
Details of the 5 children born to Timothy and Mary -
Mary Ann - born 1843 - died in infancy prior to 1845.
Daniel - born 1845 - died 1910 (hanged himself) the last surviving child of the family.
Edward - born 1846/47 - died accidentally 1865
Ellen - born 1848 - died 1891, 1 day after given birth to her last child, her 13th! aged only 43 years.
Catherine - born 1850 - died 1874 of pneumonia, married with two small children.