Death and Marriage Records in the 1875 NY Census

The 1875 New York State census is available at FamilySearch.org. Family Search made the images available before indexing them which worked to my advantage. (Some of the 1875 census has been indexed and is searchable, however Jefferson County does not yet show up in a search.) I had several families that I wanted to find in Adams, Jefferson, New York and so I started browsing page by page. I got lucky and found my great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother on image 7, page 13 of the 1st election district, Adams, Jefferson, New York.

Previously I had known that my great-great-grandfather, Michael Kelly had died between the 1870 and 1880 censuses. Now I had narrowed the date down to between 1870 and 1875. (Official death records were not kept in New York prior to 1881 so I will not be able to find a death certificate.)

I might have stopped paging through the census there, however there were many other relatives that lived in Adams so I continued on. Much to my surprise on image 23, page 45 was a record of Marriages that had occurred between 1 June 1874 and 1 June 1875.

The names, ages and previous marital status are included as well as where the wedding took place and who performed the ceremony. No members of my family were included but I was curious as to what else might be hidden in the census and continued to the next page.

Deaths were next and there was my great-great-grandfather on page 46, line 10. Recorded as Micheall Kelley, age 49. He was born in Ireland, worked as a general laborer and died 12 Nov 1874 of pneumonia.

If I hadn't continued paging through the census I never would have found what is most likely the only death record there is for Michael Kelly. Lesson learned!

The 1875 census also includes agricultural schedules. There are several pages for each group of names. My ancestors were not included but this could be treasure for others.

William Wisner Census Transcriptions

William Wisner Census Transcriptions

1820
Cicero, Onondaga Co, NY pg 96
listed just after his brother-in-law, Egbert Badgley
200010-100010-0-1-00

2m >10, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 26-45, William Wisner b 1783
1f >10, Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 26-45, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1820; Census Place: Cicero, Onondaga, New York; Roll: M33_67; Page: 183; Image: 195.


1830
Manlius, Onondaga Co, NY pg 386;
1210001000000- 0110010000

2m >5, Henry S Wisner, b 1826 & George A Wisner b 1829
1m 5-10, William Abner Wisner b 1824
2m 10-15, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 40-50, William Wisner b 1783
1f 5-10, Maryetta Wisner B 1821
1f 10-15, Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 30-40, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1830; Census Place: Manlius, Onondaga, New York; Roll: 100; Page: 386.


1840
Salina, Onondaga Co, NY pg 48;
1m 5-10, Marshall Wirt Wisner, b 1833
2m 10-15, Henry S Wisner, b 1826 & George A Wisner b 1829
1m 15-20, William Abner Wisner b 1824
2m 20-30, Prentice M Wisner b 1815, Anthony B Wisner b 1817
1m 50-60, William Wisner b 1783
1f 5-10, Margaret E Wisner b 1831
1f 15-20, Maryetta Wisner B 1821
1f 20-30 , Sarah Ann Wisner b 1817
1f 40-50, Elizabeth Badgley Wisner b 1791

Source Citation: Year: 1840; Census Place: Onondaga, New York; Roll: 316; Page: 48.


1850
Avon, Lake Co, IL
Family # 70

William Wisnener 67 m Farmer PA
Betsey 60 f NY
Prentice 33 m NY
William 30 m NY
Henry 45 m NY (s/b 25)
Wirt 17 m NY
Fanny 31 f (Fanny Reed, wife of Prentice)
James (?) 15 m (was not with family in 1840!)

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M432_114; Page: 156; Image: 313.

George H 2 m NY (s/o William A per 1860 census)

Source Citation: Year: 1850; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M432_114; Page: 156; Image: 314.


1860
Avon, Lake Co, IL, pg 428
Dwelling # 3176, Family # 3146

W Wisner 77 m PA farmer 2000/1000
Elizabeth “ 69 f NY
Henry “ 32 m NY
George “ 30 m NY
Ann “ 18 f Ohio (Julia Ann Barto, wife of George)

Source Citation: Year: 1860; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M653_193; Page: 823; Image: 429.


1870
Avon, Lake Co, IL, pg 6
Listed just after son-in-law, William H Hall
Dwelling # 39, House # 39

Wisner William 87 m w NY farmer 5500/400
“ Elizabeth 79 f w NY keeps house
“ George 22 m w NY farmer (son of William A Wisner & unk.)
“ Julia 16 f w Ills at home (daughter of William A Wisner & Muriam Hammond)
“ Henry 44 m w NY farmer

Source Citation: Year: 1870; Census Place: Avon, Lake, Illinois; Roll: M593_242; Page: 529; Image: 49.

A Break-through

I had a huge break-through on my Kelly line over the weekend and I've been a little obsessed with tracking down the lines to see where they lead. My great-grandfather, James Kelly was born in Adams, NY and moved to Ottawa, Ontario as a young man. From what I understand he was not a good person and my grandmother had very little to do with him so I had very little information to go on. Years ago I found the family on early census records but soon lost track of the line and put it aside. Those census records are recorded in my last post.

This article was what set things in motion:

The Watertown Herald, Dec. 26, 1896, pg 1

Suicide Caused by Drink
ADAMS, Dec. 25 - William Kelly. a man of about 40 years of age, who resided on Liberty street, committed suicide Monday afternoon about 2 o'clock. He had an attack of delerium tremens Sunday night, and after that time was watched closely, as he threatened taking his life. One of his neighbors was sitting with him, and left him alone about 10 minutes, but in that short time he ran to the barn and with a knife cut his throat. Dr. W. H. Nickelson was summoned, but he died soon after the arrival of the doctor. He was a son of Mrs. Mary Kelly and lived here all his life. He leaves a wife and five small children. Coroner Sias, of Ellisburg, was summoned.

He was probably only about 35 years old. His age on the 1870 and 1880 census were both consistant with an 1862 birth.

Next I looked at the 1900 census. In Adams I found only one Kelly widow with several children:

1900 Census, Adams, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 37A, family 355

Mary Kelly head b Jun 1861 ag 38 wd Eng Eng Eng
Phillip son Jan 1881 19 s NY NY Eng
Will son Jul 1886 13 s NY NY Eng
Mammie dau Mar 1890 10 s Ny NY Eng
Hazel dau Dec 1895 5 s NY NY Eng

There were only four children listed. A few pages later I found:

1900 Census, Adams, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 41B, Frank C Raymond’s Hotel
Bert Kelly servant Mar 1883 17 s NY NY Eng Occ – Porter

Certainly not proof that Bert was the fifth child but it seemed right so I kept digging. I found hundreds of references to Bert Kelly while searching the newspaper archives. I hit pay dirt with his obituary:

The Palladium Times, Oswego, NY, September 17, 1960, pg 5

Fulton Deaths

FULTON – Bert H. Kelly, 76, of RD1, died unexpectedly Friday night at his home.

Born in Adams, Mr. Kelly had lived at RD1 45 years and until eight years ago, when he retired, operated a dairy farm. He was a member of Hannibal Lodge 550 F. and A. M.

Surviving are his wife Mrs. Lelah E. Kelly; a son Carroll Kelly of Fulton; a grandson, (name removed); two great-grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Crowder of Jamaica, L. I. and Mrs. Fred Stife (?) of Watertown.

Funeral arrangements are being made by the Foster Funeral Home.

--------------------------------------

The Fulton Patriot, Sept. 22, 1960, pg 7


Bert H. Kelly, 76, of Fulton, ………. Suddenly Friday at his home.

Mr. Kelly had lived in the Fulton area 4? years and until eight years ago operated a dairy farm. He was a member of Hannibal Lodge 50 F and A M.

Survivors include his wife, Lilah E. Kelly; a son, Carroll Kelly of Fulton; a grandson and two great-grandsons; and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Crowder (Crawder?) of Jamaica, L. I. and Mrs. Fred Safe (?) of Watertown.

While still searching for Bert, I found his brother, William's obituary which ties the family back to William Kelly, Sr.:

Undated scrapbook article @ Old Fulton Post Cards abt 1956?

William D. Kelly

William Dwight Kelly, 70, husband of Lucy Barrett Kelly of 92 Erie St., died unexpectedly this morning at Oswego Hospital.

A Native of Adams, he was the son of the late William and Mary Liney Kelly and had lived in Oswego for the last 15 years. For the last nine years he was employed at Oswego Hospital in the maintence department. Mr. Kelly attended First Methodist Church.

Surviving with his wife are three sons, Philip and William Jr., both of Oswego and a step-son, Thomas Flemming of Syracuse; two daughters, Mrs. Catherine May and Mrs. Mary Huseby both of Oswego; two sisters, Mrs. Mammie Streiff, Watertown and Mrs. Hazel Crowder, Jamaica, L. I.; a brother, Bert Kelly, Fulton.

Burial will be in Rural Cemetery.

I will write more about what I found later.

Kelly Census records 1860-1880

My Kelly family's census records have been very frustrating. Didn't they know when they were born?? Or where they were born??!!


1st found on 1860 census in Adams, Jefferson Co, NY. Pg 74-75, family 638

Michael Kelly age 38 laborer b Ireland $0 r/e $50 p/e
Mary Kelly age 27 housework b Ireland
John age 6 b NC
James age 5 b NY
Phillip age 2 b NY
M A female age 7/12 b NY

John’s birth place definitely begins with N. second letter appears to be C but could be Y. James listing shows NY and Phillip & MA have “
-----------------------------------------------------
1870 census, Adams Center, Adams, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 53, family 513
surname looks like Killer or Keller

Michael age 40 day laborer b Ireland $800 r/e - $100 p/e
Mary age 33 keeps house b Ireland
John age 17 works on RR b Canada
James age 13 farm laborer b NY
Philip age 12 at home b NY
Mary age 10 school b NY
William age 8 school b NY
George age 3 school b NY

Michael only 2 years older than in 1860 !?

Mary only aged 6 years since 1860

John was b. Canada, 11 years older than 1860.

James only 8 years older than 1860

M A = Mary Ann
-----------------------------------------------------
1880 census, Adams Village, Jefferson Co, NY, pg 12,

family 122
Phillip Kelley age 24 laborer on RR b NY Fa b Ireland Mo b France
Anna M wife age 20 or 21 b NY Fa b Ireland Mo b Ireland
Mina dau age 2 b NY Fa b NY Mo b NY
Nettie dau age 1 b NY Fa b Ny Mo b NY

Family 123
Mary Kelley age 45 keeping house b France Fa b Ireland Mo b Ireland
John son age 25 blacksmith b Canada Fa b Ireland Mo bFrance
James son age 22 carpenter b NY Fa b Ireland Mo b France
George son age 21 at school b NY Fa b Irelnad Mo b France
William son age 18 laborer b NY Fa b Ireland Mo b France

Michael not present, did he die between 1870 & 1880?

Mary now 12 years older than in 1870 and b France? Why didn’t she give that before?

John only aged 8 years since 1870

James 9 years older than 1870

Philip married; also 12 years older than 1870

Mary missing. Did she marry, move out or pass on?

William now younger than George! But he aged 10 years

George has aged 18 years in last 10. Since he is still in school I’m betting this is a mistake. In 1900 he gave his age as 35.