Thomas Kelley : Short Biography

Thomas was born in Ireland most likely around 1815. He was a maker of gentleman’s riding boots, along with 2 of his sons. He married Mary Quinn and they had their first child Martin in 1834, followed by 7 more children: Mary, Bernard, John J., Margaret, Bridget, Catherine, and Anne. His son Martin emigrated first to NYC in 1860 where he stayed with a cousin, William Kelley, who owned a shoe shop there. He then made his way to Danvers, MA. His other 2 sons soon joined him in Danvers. Thomas and daughters emigrated to Danvers, then to Boston in the later 1860s. Thomas loved canary birds!