Can You Help Solve a Family Mystery?
Dear Editor:
I would be extremely grateful if your paper would consider helping me solve a family mystery. A great-uncle of mine Thomas Kelly left Scotland for Canada at the end of the 1920s or beginning of the 1930s, and was never heard from again by his immediate family.
THIS IS A PHOTO of Tommy, Maitland and David Kelly. It was restored and edited as the original circa 1913/14 photograph was torn in half and its surface emulsion was badly cracked. It was restored in December 2004.
 |
There were many rumours surrounding his disappearance. It was alleged that while on his way to a port in Canada to return home to Scotland the train crashed and he was killed. The other rumour was that he survived the crash and returned home to family in Canada.
I have uncovered four letters sent from different parts of Canada. The first letter I believe dates from around 1931. This letter was to his mother Catherine Kelly. The address that Thomas was staying at at this time was 18A John Street North, Hamilton, Ontario.
The next letter was to his brother David Kelly. This letter is dated March 13, 1931. His address at this time was 29½ King William Street, Hamilton, Ontario.
The third letter is not from Thomas but does mention that he has only been seen once and that he was struggling to find work, it also mentioned that he was on the radio. The letter is dated December 5, 1935.
Reading through the letter, I note that it was sent to Scotland for a Katie and Davey, I assume that this is Catherine Kelly and David Kelly, the parents of Thomas. The letter was written by somebody who resided at 432 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. There are a number of names in this letter, Nellie, Jeannie and the surnames Lundy and Stafford.
The fourth letter is badly decayed. From what I can make out and from three years of research, I believe the writer is a Nellie (Helen) Boyle the sister of Catherine Kelly (nee Boyle) who may have two sons Jack and Bobby and a daughter Mary. Boyle I believe is Nellie's maiden name, she may be associated with Lundy or Stafford. The address on this letter is badly faded and I can only make out Ontario RR.
Thomas Kelly was born in 1904; his parents were Catherine Kelly (nee Boyle) and David Kelly. His brothers were Maitland Kelly, David Kelly and James Kelly. His sister was Elizabeth Kelly. He also had a sister called Nellie (Helen) who died young.
Finally I would be eternally grateful if you would consider an article in your paper. It was a great sorrow for my grandfather never to have seen his brother again. I have made a promise to myself to track down Thomas and his resting place and any family still in Canada.
I have attached a photograph from 1913 that shows Thomas on the left with Maitland on the horse in the middle and David to the right. I hope that some of your readers may recognise this photograph or the names I have previously mentioned and can help me get to the bottom of this family mystery.
Yours truly,
Maitland Kelly
Taigh Breagha
17 Ardoch Way
Braco, Perthshire
Scotland
(011) 1786-880430
maitlandkelly@dsl.pipex.com
|
