The Kelly Family
Thomas Kelly was an Irish barrister, judge and politician. He was born at Fidane, in County Galway,
third son of Edmond Kelly, or O'Kelly. He entered the Middle Temple in 1747 and was called to the
Bar in 1753. He spent some years in the West Indies. On returning to Ireland he went on the
Connacht circuit, where he sat as a judge of assizes. He married Frances Hickie, daughter of James
Jephson Hickie of Carrick-on-Suir. They had three daughters, Annabella, Harriet and Charlotte, and
one son Thomas.
He was a kindly judge but according to Barrington - he was an embarrassment,. "Kelly has been most
unfortunate in his judgments: scarcely one upon a dubious point which has not been set aside." His country
seat was Kellyville near Ballintubbert, County Laois, which he purchased circa 1777. He retired in
1801 and died in 1809 at his town house in Dublin.
Thomas Kelly married Elizabeth Tighe
born 1769 c1794 born circa 1774
Kellyville, Queen's County Rosanna, Rathnew,
died 14 May 1855 died 22 Jun 1857
Pembroke Place Pembroke Place
Thomas Kelly, only son, born 13 Jul 1769, followed in the footsteps of his father, he attended Trinity,
entered the Middle Temple but abandoned law and became a clergyman of the Church of Ireland
circa 1792. His evangelical preaching led to him being forbidden to preach in the established church.
His great desire, was, “Do all to the glory of God.” He married Elizabeth Tighe, of Rosanna, a lady of
considerable wealth which added to his own considerable fortune. Elizabeth was the daughter of
William and the heiress Sarah Fownes, and the sister of William 'Statistical' Tighe of Woodstock.
Thomas built several Chapels in which to preach. (Wexford, Portarlington, Carysfort and Athy).
Congregations in the Chapels in Dublin and Athy, considered Kelly their Pastor. He was a popular
preacher and crowds flocked to hear him wherever he went. A humble man, he used his personal
wealth to help the starving of Dublin during the famine. He established the Kellyites but is best
remembered for the hymns he wrote (over 700), both the music and lyrics, which are still sung
today. The family lived at Rathmines Castle from 1830 to 1833. Thomas died 14 May 1855 at
12 Pembroke Place, Dublin aged 86 years and was buried in the Kelly family vault in the grounds of
Ballintubbert Church. His obituary says of his preaching that it was 'excellent and of constant variety,
exhibiting mature thought, sound judgment and eminent faithfulness.' Elizabeth died at 12
Pembroke Place, Dublin on 22 Jun 1857 aged 83. A large mausoleum dedicated to the Kelly family
lies northeast of the church. A granite memorial remembers the Kelly family members interred
as well as Capt Richard Wingfield. Some of Kelly's published hymns are also inscribed on the
memorial.
1 Eizabeth Harriett Kelly of Rathmines Castle married the Hon Rev William "Willie” Wingfield,
of Castlemacadam, Rector of Abbeyleix and son of the 4th Viscount Powerscourt in
September 1830 at St Peter's, Dublin. William wrote Limericks and embraced
Evangelicalalism. Elizabeth died in 1856.
1 Elizabeth Isabella Wingfield, eldest daughter married Henry FitzGeorge Pomeroy
Colley. She died 18 Nov 1903 aged 72 at Mount Temple, Clontarf.
2 Emily Caroline Wingfield died 8 Sep 1917 at Shanganagh Tce., Killiney aged 71.
3 Richard Thomas Wingfield attained the rank of Captain, 52nd Light Infantry, 36th Regt
of Foot. He married Isabella Jane Guille, daughter of the Rev Edward Guille of Jersey.
He was involved in The Indian Rebellion of 1857–58, he died in 1870 aged 34 and was
buried in the Kelly Vault at Ballintubbert churchyard.
1 Lt Col the Rev William E Wingfield.
2 Frances Kelly married Rev Thomas Webber of Castlemacadam at St Peter's Church, Dublin
on 4 Sep 1832.
1 Charles Edmund Webber born 19 Jul 1834 at Upper Mount Street, Lieutenant Royal
Engineers.
3 Caroline Theodosia Kelly born circa 1817 at Laois died 18 Feb 1906 at 2 Eaton Square
Monkstown. She never married and left over 10K in personal estate.
4 Thomas B Kelly eldest son, was High Sheriff of Queens County. He bred race horses and
hunters and was a steward of the local race track. He died 14 Feb 1844 at Kellyville.
5 Edmund Kelly, second son was called to the bar in 1833.
6 William Kelly, third son died at Bangor North Wales in 1833.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – May 2019
Thomas Kelly was an Irish barrister, judge and politician. He was born at Fidane, in County Galway,
third son of Edmond Kelly, or O'Kelly. He entered the Middle Temple in 1747 and was called to the
Bar in 1753. He spent some years in the West Indies. On returning to Ireland he went on the
Connacht circuit, where he sat as a judge of assizes. He married Frances Hickie, daughter of James
Jephson Hickie of Carrick-on-Suir. They had three daughters, Annabella, Harriet and Charlotte, and
one son Thomas.
He was a kindly judge but according to Barrington - he was an embarrassment,. "Kelly has been most
unfortunate in his judgments: scarcely one upon a dubious point which has not been set aside." His country
seat was Kellyville near Ballintubbert, County Laois, which he purchased circa 1777. He retired in
1801 and died in 1809 at his town house in Dublin.
Thomas Kelly married Elizabeth Tighe
born 1769 c1794 born circa 1774
Kellyville, Queen's County Rosanna, Rathnew,
died 14 May 1855 died 22 Jun 1857
Pembroke Place Pembroke Place
Thomas Kelly, only son, born 13 Jul 1769, followed in the footsteps of his father, he attended Trinity,
entered the Middle Temple but abandoned law and became a clergyman of the Church of Ireland
circa 1792. His evangelical preaching led to him being forbidden to preach in the established church.
His great desire, was, “Do all to the glory of God.” He married Elizabeth Tighe, of Rosanna, a lady of
considerable wealth which added to his own considerable fortune. Elizabeth was the daughter of
William and the heiress Sarah Fownes, and the sister of William 'Statistical' Tighe of Woodstock.
Thomas built several Chapels in which to preach. (Wexford, Portarlington, Carysfort and Athy).
Congregations in the Chapels in Dublin and Athy, considered Kelly their Pastor. He was a popular
preacher and crowds flocked to hear him wherever he went. A humble man, he used his personal
wealth to help the starving of Dublin during the famine. He established the Kellyites but is best
remembered for the hymns he wrote (over 700), both the music and lyrics, which are still sung
today. The family lived at Rathmines Castle from 1830 to 1833. Thomas died 14 May 1855 at
12 Pembroke Place, Dublin aged 86 years and was buried in the Kelly family vault in the grounds of
Ballintubbert Church. His obituary says of his preaching that it was 'excellent and of constant variety,
exhibiting mature thought, sound judgment and eminent faithfulness.' Elizabeth died at 12
Pembroke Place, Dublin on 22 Jun 1857 aged 83. A large mausoleum dedicated to the Kelly family
lies northeast of the church. A granite memorial remembers the Kelly family members interred
as well as Capt Richard Wingfield. Some of Kelly's published hymns are also inscribed on the
memorial.
1 Eizabeth Harriett Kelly of Rathmines Castle married the Hon Rev William "Willie” Wingfield,
of Castlemacadam, Rector of Abbeyleix and son of the 4th Viscount Powerscourt in
September 1830 at St Peter's, Dublin. William wrote Limericks and embraced
Evangelicalalism. Elizabeth died in 1856.
1 Elizabeth Isabella Wingfield, eldest daughter married Henry FitzGeorge Pomeroy
Colley. She died 18 Nov 1903 aged 72 at Mount Temple, Clontarf.
2 Emily Caroline Wingfield died 8 Sep 1917 at Shanganagh Tce., Killiney aged 71.
3 Richard Thomas Wingfield attained the rank of Captain, 52nd Light Infantry, 36th Regt
of Foot. He married Isabella Jane Guille, daughter of the Rev Edward Guille of Jersey.
He was involved in The Indian Rebellion of 1857–58, he died in 1870 aged 34 and was
buried in the Kelly Vault at Ballintubbert churchyard.
1 Lt Col the Rev William E Wingfield.
2 Frances Kelly married Rev Thomas Webber of Castlemacadam at St Peter's Church, Dublin
on 4 Sep 1832.
1 Charles Edmund Webber born 19 Jul 1834 at Upper Mount Street, Lieutenant Royal
Engineers.
3 Caroline Theodosia Kelly born circa 1817 at Laois died 18 Feb 1906 at 2 Eaton Square
Monkstown. She never married and left over 10K in personal estate.
4 Thomas B Kelly eldest son, was High Sheriff of Queens County. He bred race horses and
hunters and was a steward of the local race track. He died 14 Feb 1844 at Kellyville.
5 Edmund Kelly, second son was called to the bar in 1833.
6 William Kelly, third son died at Bangor North Wales in 1833.
© June Bow & Karen Poff – May 2019