Milton Kelly Family


Before Camden

The Milton Kelly family’s Camden story is similar to many others, in that they came to Camden prior to World War I and left during the Vietnam years.

There were a number of Kelly families in Camden, typically of Irish descent, but ​this particular Kelly family ​can trace their roots through records all the way back to the 12th century in Exeter, Devon, England. As the family was an ancient and influential family in Devon, and one of the knighted families in service to the Crown, King James I called upon their sons to offer them land and concessions in his mission to colonize the New World. Around 1635, John Kelly, in his early 20s, sailed to Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony and became one of the original settlers of the newly created settlement or plantation called “Newbury,” ​marrying Nancy Bishop and ​​constituting the first generation of Kellys in America. As someone wrote, “the settlers of Newbury were not religious enthusiasts nor pilgrims who fled from religious persecution. They were substantial, law abiding and loyal English tradesmen, of that staunch middle class that were the backbone of England.”

The Kelly family flourished and expanded throughout the successive generations producing many branches and a number of famous people like Yellowstone Kelly, the Indian scout who served under General Miles during the “Indian Wars.”

​They produced pastors, ministers, soldiers, merchants, scientists, inventors, ​men of law, ​ statesmen and patriots​, ​as in the 5th generation ​the patriot Moses Webster Kelly who became a Colonel and commanded the 9th New Hampshire Regiment in the Revolutionary War. His son became the Honorable Judge Israel Webster Kelly who had fought in the Oxford War under Alexander Hamilton and whose wife Rebecca Fletcher was sister to Grace Fletcher who married the famous statesman Daniel Webster.

In the 7th generation, Captain Elijah Fletcher Kelly, who had married a Mary Barnes of Philadelphia, served in the Mexican War and was shipwrecked off the coast of Panama, where he contracted yellow fever. Captain Kelly died, leaving a widow with three children. These children first went to live with their grandfather the Hon. Israel Webster Kelly in New Hampshire and then when they got a little older, returned to their native city of Philadelphia where they lived in the household of Sarah Barnes, possibly a grandmother. One of the three children was Albert Livingston Kelly, who became a clergyman in the 1870s. He was the father of thirteen children, including Milton Adams Kelly, who moved moved to Camden around 1914.

For clarity’s sake, one must mention at the beginning that there were three Milton Kellys. Milton Adams Kelly was the first to come to Camden, arriving about the same time World War I was erupting in Europe. His son was Milton Edwin Kelly, who married Eva Roles in the early 1920s. The Roles family had built, owned, managed, and lived at the Roles Court Apartments on North 34th street above Rosedale Avenue. Milton and Eva Kelly had a son, Milton William Kelly, a veteran of WWII.

Milton Adams Kelly was born in Beverly, New Jersey on March 30, 1878 to Albert L. Kelly and his wife, the former Cecilia E. Walker. Albert Kelly was the son of Captain Elijah Fletcher Kelly, who died in Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1836 of yellow fever. Albert and his brother James were raised by relatives and were living in Philadelphia when the 1850 Census was taken. He married shortly before the 1860 Census was taken and moved to New Jersey after the birth of his son Ambrose in 1864. The 1870 Censes states that Albert was a “dealer in oils” and lived with Cecilia and their children in Beverly.

The 1880 Census shows the family still living in Beverly. Alfred’s occupation at this point was listed as “missionary.”

When the Census was taken in 1900 Milton A. Kelly was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 1456 North 11th Street with his father Alfred and brother Edwin. He was working as a boxmaker, most likely for the Walter B. Miller Co., located at 452 York Avenue in Philadelphia. The Walter P. Miller Co. was founded by in 1896 and manufactured paper boxes. By 1910 he had been promoted to foreman, and was superintendent of the factory by the time he registered for the draft in 1917 (or 1918).

Milton A. Kelly married Mary E. Skillman in Philadelphia shortly after the 1900 Census was taken. They were co-workers at the box-factory. Their marriage license was reported as being issued in the Philadelphia Inquirer on October 9, 1900. A son, Milton Edward Kelly, was born in 1903.

Sadly, Mary Kelly passed away on July 13, 1905, leaving Milton to raise their son. On October 9, 1909 Milton A. Kelly married to Charlotte Maretta Raynor at the home of her parents in Manorville, Long Island, New York. The 1910 living at 5231 Delancey Street in Philadelphia with wife Charlotte and son Milton E. Kelly. As noted above he had been promoted to foreman and was rising in the hierarchy of his company’s organization. A daughter Lillian came, and a son Edgar.

Milton Adams Kelly first shows up in Camden City Directories in the 1915-1916 edition. He bought a newly-constructed home at 3007 Carman Street in East Camden, not long after the 1914 Camden City Directory was compiled. The Kelly family would occupy this home for many years thereafter.

The 1920 Census lists the Kellys at 3007 Carman Street as does the 1930 Census. Son Milton E. was already working as a clerk in a retail store. The 1930 Census shows Milton A. and Charlotte E. Kelly at 3007 Carman Street with their teenaged children Lillian and Edgar. Milton A. Kelly was still working at the box factory, and Charlotte worked as a “playground teacher.”

As stated above, Milton E. Kelly married Eva Mae Roles shortly after the 1920 Census. The Roles family owned and managed a four building apartment complex, Roles Court, on North 34th Street in East Camden. Both were quite young, and they lived with his parents for a time after the wedding. A serious young man for his age, he worked at a department store and had advanced in the business by 1930. When the Census was taken, Milton E. and family, which by then included sons Milton W., 5, and William R., 20 months, were living at 3014 Carman Street, across the street from his parents. A daughter, Doreen, was born in 1938.

Sadly, Milton A. Kelly passed away on October 17, 1932. He was buried at Monument Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey near his parents and several of his siblings.


Related Photos


Related Articles

  • Milton E. Kelly – Anecdote

    This post was originally written in 2015. Milton E. and Eva Kelly had moved to a house at 3302 Rosedale Avenue by the time the 1924 Camden City Directory was compiled. On August 4 of that year, their first child, son Milton William Kelly was born. Another boy, William Roles Kelly came in 1928, and…

    Read More…

  • A Kelly Family History

    A Kelly Family History

    by William Roles Kelly My Paternal Grandparents My Maternal Grandparents: Milton A. Kelly and Charlotte R. Kelly I don’t remember a great deal about my grandfather, for he died in ’32 when I was barely 4 years old. But I do recall him as a smiling and gentle man. My memory is of a strong…

    Read More…

  • Milton Kelly Family

    Milton Kelly Family

    Before Camden The Milton Kelly family’s Camden story is similar to many others, in that they came to Camden prior to World War I and left during the Vietnam years. There were a number of Kelly families in Camden, typically of Irish descent, but ​this particular Kelly family ​can trace their roots through records all…

    Read More…