Background

It has been said that the first Irish migrants arrived at what is now Prince Edward Island as early as 1763.^[1]

Monaghan settlers who contributed a lot to the social progress of the island began to arrive in 1830. It has been referred to as a "planned migration" due in part to Reverend John MacDonald and his contact with the parish priest of Donagh, Fr. Moynagh,^[2]

The intention was that the Catholic Irish migrants would be able to lease land on the Revd. John MacDonald's estate. ^[3]

Prince Edward Island Stickers

• Catholic migration sticker pre 1879 from Ireland

... ... ... migrated from Ireland to Prince Edward Island.

Among the surnames of those Irish Catholics having their families in Prince Edward Island during the period prior to 1879 are Kellys.

This is a place to set out some of those Kelly mentions.

Kelly mentions 1830 - 1839

• Patrick Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Mary Kelly on 11 April 1830 at St. Dunstan's Basilica
• John Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Bridget Kelly on 5 July 1835 at St. Dunstan's Basilica
• Mary Kelly, name entry in baptism of son James Coady on 2 October 1838 at Vernon River
• Patrick Kelly, name entry in baptism of son Lawrence Kelly on 13 January 1839 at Vernon River
• Biddy Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Elenor Roache on 5 May 1839 at Vernon River
• Columbus Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Ann Kelly on 22 December 1839 at Vernon River
• Mary Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Ellen Coady on 22 December 1839 at Vernon River

Kelly mentions 1840 - 1849

• James Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Ann Kelly on 1 March 1840 at Vernon River
• James Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Bridget Kelly on 24 January 1842 at Vernon River
• James Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Bridget Kelly on 22 October 1843 at Vernon River
• John Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Bridget Kelly on 12 February 1848 at Vernon River

Kelly mentions 1850 - 1859

• Margaret Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Bridget Clarkin on 8 May 1859 at Vernon River

Kelly mentions 1860 - 1869

• Edward Kelly, name entry in baptism of daughter Agnes Kelly on 11 April 1869 at Vernon River

Kelly mentions 1870 - 1879

• Margaret Kelly, name entry in baptism of son Bernard Clarkin on 24 April 1870 at Vernon River

Census 1841

• Donald at Lot 67 was 1 of 5 in his household. He was a farmer aged 16-45, 1 male aged under 16, 2 female aged under 16 and 1 female 16-45 also recorded. He was on 70 acres of Leasehold land Rent in sterling was 3/10/0. He had 2 horses, 5 neat cattle, 5 sheep and 6 hogs. They also produced 20 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of oats and 400 of potatoes. All were RC, and of Ireland, 0 paid their own passage. 30 acres arable.

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• Edmond at Lot 57 was 1 of 5 in his household. He was a farmer most likely aged 45-60, 1 male aged 16-45 and 3 female 16-45 also recorded. He was on 100 acres of 1st best quality land held by fee simple. He had 1 horse, 7 neat cattle, 9 sheep and 7 hogs. They also produced 24 bushels of wheat, 75 bushels of oats and 200 of potatoes. All were RC, and 1 was a native of Ireland, 4 were of the Island and 2 paid their own passage. 18 acres arable.

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• Edward at Lot 29 was 1 of 5 in his household. He was a farmer aged 16-45, 2 males aged under 16, 1 Female under 16 and 1 female 16-45 also recorded. He was on 100 acres of 2nd best quality land with 1 year of a 999 year lease expired. Present rentpaid 0/0/3, Increasing rent per acre 0/0/3, Rent in sterling 0/1/0, rent in currency 0/1/1. He had 1 horse and 4 hogs. All were RC, and 4 were a native of Ireland, 1of the Island and 4 paid their own passage. 0 acres arable.

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• Edward at Lot 57 was 1 of 2 in his household. He was a farmer aged 16-45, and 1 female 16-45 also recorded. He was on 100 acres leasehold land. Rent in sterling 5/0/0. He had 1 horse, 3 neat cattle and 5 hogs. They also produced 10 bushels of wheat, 50 bushels of oats and 250 of potatoes. Both were RC, and of Ireland. 0 paid their own passage. 15 acres arable.

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• Francis at Lot 36 was 1 of 12 in his household. He was a land surveyor and one of 3 males aged 16-45, 4 males under 16, 3 females under 16 and 2 females 16-45 also recorded. He was on 200 acres leasehold land with 2 years of 999 expired. Rent in sterling 9/3/0. He had 1 horse, 3 sheep, 8 neat cattle and 8 hogs. They also produced 84 bushels of oats, 10 of barley and 200 of potatoes. All were RC, and 9 were of Ireland and 3 of the Island. 9 paid their own passage. 8 acres arable.

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• James at Lot 36 was 1 of 5 in his household. He was a farmer and either the male aged 16-45 or the male aged over 60, 1 male under 16 and 2 females 16-45 also recorded. He was on 100 acres leasehold land with 1 year of 999 expired. Rent in currency 5/0/0. He had 1 neat cattle and 4 hogs. They also produced 36 bushels of oats and 150 of potatoes. All were RC, and 4 were of Ireland and 1 of the Island. 4 paid their own passage. 10 acres arable.

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• James at Lot 45 was 1 of 7 in his household. He was a fisherman aged 16-45, 1 male under 16, 4 femailes under 16 and 1 females 16-45 also recorded. No land or produce detail. All were RC, and 2 were of Ireland and 5 of the Island. 2 paid their own passage.

Kelly family unions

Not Irish Kelly's

• Archibald at Lot 50 was 1 of 5 in his household. He was a farmer aged 16-45, 1 male aged under 16, 1 female aged under 16. 1 female 16-45 and 1 female over 60 also recorded. He was on 100 acres of 2nd best quality land with 8 years of a 999 year lease expired. Rent in sterling 0/0/9. He had 2 horses, 7 neat cattle, 12 sheep and 7 hogs. They also produced 20 bushels of wheat, 15 bushels of barley, 100 bushels of oats and 300 of potatoes. All were connected to Church of Scotland, and 1 was a native of Scotland, 4 were of the Island and 1 paid their own passage. 6 acres arable.

Sources

1. ↑ Early Immigration - Prince Edward Island Irish Settlers from page 9
2. ↑ O’Grady, Brendan. “A People Set Apart: The County Monaghan Settlers in Prince Edward Island.” Clogher Record, vol. 12, no. 1, Clogher Historical Society, 1985, pp. 23–47, https://doi.org/10.2307/27699208.
3. ↑ IGraham, J. (2003, December). Hands across the Atlantic. Retrieved from Irish Identity: http://www.irishidentity.com/geese/stories/atlantic.htm