Photocopy of 'Thomas Kelly and famaly's journal to America in the year 1827'

Date(s): 3 July 1827-17 January 1828

Creator(s): Kelly, Thomas

Scope & Content: The journal spans from 3 July 1827 to 17 January 1828. Kelly recounts his journey starting from Doolough, Jurby, sailing from Ramsey on the 'John Bull' and then sailing from Princes Dock, Liverpool on 23 July for North America (via the Irish Sea and north coast of Ireland to the Atlantic). He had a last glimpse of the Isle of Man on 24 July writing, 'came round the Calf saw the Calf lights and the Manks herring fleet just at night'. Not long into the journey his three year old daughter died, 'in evening our Isabella died and was but a short time very ill we laid her out in one of the berths till burial time next morning' (27 July). Thomas describes the weather conditions at sea, notes longitude and latitude and includes sightings of other ships. On 4 September the ship is at the mouth of the Hudson river. Kelly describes the forts on either side as they sail up river to New York, arriving 8 September, with a medical inspection on Staten Island. Thomas describes the port, streets and Washington Market House. The family later sail on to Albany and transfer to another boat up the Buffalo canal passing through Utica, Syracuse, Anadaga, Belleisle, Pelmine and Rochester. In Rochester they met some Manx people William Kneen, John and William Morrison, Hugh Quirk, John Joughin and Matthew Kewin. By 19 September Thomas had arrived in the town of Buffalo 363 miles from Albany; from Buffalo they sailed on to Fairport. Thomas hired oxen to take the family and their belongings to the village of Painesville where he bought a 72 acre farm, north of the Concord township, Ohio for $800 on 1 January 1828.

Administration / Biographical History: Thomas Kelly married Jane Boyde at Ballaugh Old Church in May 1815. He left the Doolough, Jurby in July 1827, along with his father, sister, wife, five daughters (Jane, Anne, Margaret, Isabella, Maria) and ten other Manx people (Quay, Quayle,Tear, Cannell).

Language: English

Extent: 38 pages (10 sheets)

Physical description: negative photostat

Item name: diary

Collection: Manuscript Archive

Level: ITEM

ID number: MS 05200

Retrieval number: MS 05200 C

Record class: Private

Access conditions: No regulations or restrictions are implemented on this material. Advance notification of a research visit is advisable by emailing library@mnh.gov.im

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