This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/QBC.2ACI/2267 Message Board Post: This letter was found my family papers trying to trace our Kelly ancestors. Letter from Wright K. Roberts to Justine Kastner All spelling and grammar is original. Culpeper Virginia July 11 1986 Dear Mrs Kastner. I am riting to give you all I know about the Kelly Clan. First let me say I am not related to the Kellys in any way. I was named Wright Kelly after a desendant of one Mr. Wright Kelly who was a friend + neighbor of my Mother + Father at that time. Which was April 13 1909. The first Kelly I know or heard of was a Mr. John P. Kelly who was a plantation + large Slave owner before the Civil War. Where he originated from and who he married I don’t know. He built a large mansion (3) stories high to live in. He also built a 5 story brick mill which was run by water power from the rapponic River. He also built a Flax Mill and shoe factory. Where they made all the clothing + shoes for his slaves. The large mill was built by his slaves right on the banks of the River. They cooked + made the Brick right on the Primisses, as to what year he arrived in Culpeper Co and Where he came from I do not know. Nor do I know his age at that time. But it must have been quite som! e time before the Civil War. I do know he had a son named Alex Kelly and this was the father of all the Kellys in + around Culpeper. This Mr Kelly had a large family of Boys and Girls how many I do not know. These are all dead and passed on. However there are some of his nieces and nephews living. One I know is a Mrs Maud Witt Who lives here at the (over) Baptist Retirement Home. At the time of Mr. Kellys days at Kellys Ford there was no bridge across the River only a Ford. I assume this is where the name Kellys Ford came from. The first bridge was built in the late 1800 and is still used to-day. My Mother + Father were married in 1895 My Father was a Wheel Right and a Blacksmith by Trade. They lived just around the bend of the road from Mr Kellys Mill + Mansion. In a log cabin. Later they moved into the old Mansion. My Mother + Father had (9) Children all was born in the log cabin except me I was the youngest of the family and I was born in the old Kelly Mansion. At the time of Mr Kellys stay at Kellys Ford They were running River Boats from Fredsburg to the towns up the River. This was before the Rail Roads between Alexandria + Culpeper were built. This is how Mr Kelly shipped and received his goods. Mr J.P. Kellys family graveyard is near Kellys Ford + some of the stone markers are still there. I have some Pic! tures of the Old Mill + House that I have saved +been able to save that I cherish a lot. There has been a lot of news paper articles about Kellys Ford over the years of which I have a few. I would suggest you check at the Culpeper Court House about land deeds. Wills + Estates. I am sure you would find more about your family roots than any other Place. I am quite a Civil War Buff and do a lot of Relick hunting and have been quite sesceful in finding Relick. I wish I could give you more help on your search for Relatives + desendates. (over to 3) In order to really find what you need to know you would have to go rite to the Culpeper Court House for records. As you can see I am not much of a letter riter and hope you will excuse my riting. If I have been any help to you now or later and care to rite later I welcome your riting anytime. In closing let me say I am very much Informed as to the Kelly Plantation Land + Mill site. If you might plan a trip this way and care to see the Country around Kellys Ford I would be more than glad to go with you and show you around. Anytime. If you might come this way. I suggest you make it in the fall of the year or early spring. Again if I have been of any help it has been my pleasure. If you have any comment and care to rite Please feel free to do so. Very Truly Yours andd a True Rebel WK Roberts Wright K Roberts Virginia Baptist Home Culpeper, VA