Kelly History

James Kelly came out from Athenry in County Galway (Ireland) around 1845 and his future wife Nora came from County Clare around 1853. Sometime after they were married James and Nora purchased a 320 acre selection on the Dunmunkle Creek (near Minyip), site of the Kelly family farm until the 21^st century. Their claim was registered with the Lands Department on 1/8/1874.

James and Nora had two daughters and three sons, Pat, Tom and James (Jim).  Jim was the grandfather of your scribe. 

The farm was called “Sunrise” which coincidently is the same of a model of the stump jump plough that was invented by H V McKay (Sunshine), and tested on Kelly “Sunrise” land.

Pat and Tom lost their wives within weeks of each other in 1918 and Pat and Tom were to die within months of each other in 1945.

Your scribe, although Christopher James Kelly, is the fourth Aussie Kelly to be James, following his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

James and Nora rest under the highest monument in Minyip cemetery, surrounded by many family members who worshipped the ground that they walked on.

The Kelly land was eventually sold when Tom Kelly’s wife (101) and daughter (84) departed this world.  The estate was split among the many children (and subsequent beneficiaries) of Tom’s siblings.

Minyip is a special place for most of the Kelly family.

Your scribe is the last living male Kelly, descendent from James and Nora.