Index for Kells Family in B.C.
Margaret Stobbs Appleby, 3 Patricia Kells 5
Shirley Assman, 3 Paul Kells 5
Daphine McDaniel Bagby 5 Robert Kells 1, 4, 5, 6, 7
Pearl Barnaby, 3 Robert (Bob)
Henry Kells 3
Reba Alexandra Barbour 6 Robert (Bobby) Wood 5
Sarah Jane (Sadie) Bell 2,3 Ruth Kells 5
Sophia (Sophie) Bell 5 Ruth Irene Constance Kells
Rev. Wm Bell 7 Sarah Louise Kells 3
Nancy Isobel Blott 6 William Knapton 6
Lewis Carter 7 Janice Olivia, Lewis 6
Louise Carter 7 Gerald H Littler 5
John L.Carter 5,7 Kenneth Littler 5
John Collison 5 Wayne Lowdon 3
Lucetta (Lucy) Dickson, 1,4,5,6,7 W.H. McClughan 2
Joan Gilroy Fischer 5 Margaret J McMorran 7
Michael de Kells Flynn 3 Rose McMorran 4
Wilfred Flynn 3 Margaret Stockton Macpherson 6
Wayne Fraser 5 George Blair
Wendy Heald 6 Kathleen Laura McVicar 3
Alexander Johnston 6 Alice Grace Mortimer 3
Barbara Elaine Johnston 6 Robert Frederick Mortimer
Charles Andrew Johnston 6 Wm (Bill) Mortimer (Sr) 3
David Alexander Johnston 6 Wm (Bill) Mortimer (Jr) 3
Edith Mary Johnston, 6 William Myers 5
Emily Jane Johnston 6 Judy Nicholson 3
Everina Johnston 6 Keith O'Connor 3
George Barrie Johnston 6 John Fearson 1,4
George Blair Johnston 6 Barbara Ann Smith 6
George Halley Johnston 6 Joseph Smith 1
Goldie Hillhouse Johnston 6 John Speers 5
Halsey Daniel Johnston 6 Sophia Bell Speers 2,5
Helen Margaret Johnston 6 Violet A.H.L. Speers 5
Judith Liane Johnston 6 Anne Marie Taylor 3
Robert Halsey Johnston 6 Margaret Jean Terry 5
Wallace Alexander Johnston 6 Brenda Blaine Thorpe 6
Bertha Kells 4 Judy Walker 5
Beverley Kells 5 W.J. Walker 2
Birtha [Bertha?] Rose Eva
Kells 4 Ada Maud Webb 5
Dickson Wm Kitchener Kells 5 Anne Willis 6
Dickson Wood Kells 2,5,7
Mrs Dickson W Kells 5
Eva Kells 4
Everina (Eva) Kells 5,6,7
Frederick Kells 1,2,3
Frederick Ellis Kells 3
George Kells 4
George Henry (Harry) Kells 2,3
Henry Kells (Sr.) 1,2,4
Henry Kells (Jr.) 1,2,4,5,6,7
Karen Rosemary Kells 3
Keith Henry Kells 3
Kerry Frederick Kells 3
Janet Kells 5
Margaret Emily Kells 6
Mary Anne Kells 1,2,4
Mary Grace Kells 3
Owen Condon Kells 5
Henry KELLS (c1842-Oct. 9, 1918) (Sr.) blacksmith, farmer
b. Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
Mary Anne Kells (Sept. 10, 1859-Nov. 30, 1919)
b. Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan; Ireland.
Their sons -
Frederick KELLS (Feb. 14, 1883-May 1, 1971) farmer, millworker
George Henry (Harry) KELLS (Apr. 24, 1897-Dec. 16, 1946) logger
About 1860, Henry Kells (c1842-1918)(Sr.) arrived in B.C. [British
Columbia?] by covered wagon via the Oregon Trail from Smith Falls,
Ontario. He travelled with the Joseph Smith family who eventually
settled at Clinton and built the old Clinton hotel about 1861-2.
According to one story, the Smith's had originally started to build
at a hot springs on the Lillooett River north of Port Douglas
(on Harrison Lake), on the old route to the Cariboo. When they found
the Cariboo Rd. was being built through the Fraser Canyon they decided
to build at Clinton. Henry Kells, who was a blacksmith, built the first
stove used for heating the hotel - it is in the museum at Clinton. He
lived in the Clinton area for some years and is said to have driven stage
coaches &./or freight wagons from Ashcroft to Clinton for a time.
This Henry Kells (Sr.) was born at Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
I have not been able to find out who his parents were.
Previous to arriving in B.C. [British Columbia?] Henry Kells (Sr.)
is said to have visited the Pacific coast by sailboat via Cape Horn to S.
[San?] Francisco. He also spent 4 years in Ontario before making his trip
west with the Smith family.
Somewhere along the way, Henry travelled from Clinton to New
Westminster and the Fraser Valley. According to John Pearson's
in the Serpentine (Surrey) area in May 1874. From family history
we've been told he moved down to the coastal area from Clinton,
then was called back to the Cariboo to work for a time.
Henry Kells (Sr.) met Henry Kells (Jr.) a shoemaker, of New
Westminster in his travels. This younger Henry was born at
Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland. They did not consider that they
were related but were probably distant cousins. About 1880 a younger
sister, Mary Anne Kells (b. 1859) came to keep house for her brother
Henry (Jr.) in New Westminster. Henry Kells (Sr.) married Mary Anne
Kells about 1881-2.
MARY ANNE KELLS - was the eldest daughter of Robert Kells,
shoemaker, and his Wife Lucetta (Lucy) Dickson of Ballyconnell,
Co. Cavan, Ireland. Mary Anne was baptised Oct. 27, 1859, in
Ballyconnell church.
After Henry Kells (Sr.) married Mary Anne Kells, he worked at
helping to build the CPP through B.C. [British Columbia?] and
was present at the driving of the "last spike". Henry and Mary
Anne had a son, Frederick, born Feb. 14, 1883., in the old Royal
Columbian Hospital in New Westminster. Mary Anne and baby stayed with
her brother in New Westminster until Henry (Sr) completed
his work on the railway.
The little family moved to Port Kells permanently in 1886.
At first they lived on the bank of the Fraser River and Henry
cut wood for fuel for the passing sternwheelers. Later they
[moved?] about 1/2 mile south and began to farm. Henry and Mary
Anne Kells had one other son who reached maturity. He was George
Henry (Harry) Kells born April 24, 1897.
See item under Henry Kells (Jr.) re the townsite of Port Kells
1889-90 which was planned and laid out by the two Henry Kells.
Henry Kells (Sr) was very community minded and in 1892 gave
the land for the first Anglican Church to be built in Port [Kells?]
This was on Latimer Rd. (192nd St.) near the Fraser River. [Henry?]
also erected the building assisted by Mr W.H. McClughan, another
early settler in the area. This church was torn down in 1905 to make
way for a gravel pit.
In 1911 St. Oswald's Anglican Church was built in Port Kells
at the corner of what is now 96th Ave. and 190th St. Henry Kells
(Sr.) donated 8 - 30 foot lots for this church which was built
contractor and former Surrey reeve, W J. Valker, using lumber donated
by a local mill,
In earlier times, Henry Kells Sr. and his brother-in-law Henry Kells
Jr. donated some 16 acres to the new Westminster Southern Railway
which was opened through Port Kells in 1891. donation was to ensure
that there would be a railway station in Port Kells - it was located
at the intersection today of 190th and 94th Ave.. This railway
operated from the U.S.A. border to New Westminster via Halls Prairie,
Cloverdale and Port Ke11s.
Henry and Mary Anne Kells remained in Port Kells until their deaths Oct.
9, 1918 and Nov. 30, 1919 respectively. Both are buried in Christ Church
Anglican Cemetery at Surrey Centre, B.C.
Frederick KELLS (Feb. 14, 1883- May 1, 1971)
Henry and Mary Anne Kells' son, Frederick, grew up in the Port Kells
area attending the first Port Kells school when it was opened in 1891
near the intersection today of 96th Ave. and 204th St. in Langley
municipality. He also attended the Anniedale School in the Tynehead
area of Surrey for a time until the Fort Kells school was opened.
In 1906 Frederick married Sarah Jane (Sadie) Bell (Oct.8, 1885 - Feb.
22 1977) of Belfast. She had come to Vancouver to [live?] with her aunt
and uncle, Sophia Bell Speers and Dickson Wood [Kells?] (Dickson W Kells
was another brother to Mary Anne Kells).
Frederick and Sadie Kells lived on their farm on the bank of the Fraser
River for over 50 years. Fred was a farmer and millworker. During the
First World War he joined the 13th [Field?] Ambulance Corps of the CAMC
in May 1916 to 1918. and was on duty in France for many of the well-known
battles during. the years 1916 to 1918. During the Second World War
Frederick joined the Veterans Guard of Canada and was stationed in Alberta
and Saskatchewan at prisoner-of-war camps.
Frederick and Sadie Kells raised a family of 4 children -
A. Mary Grace Kells (b.July 26, 1907) who married Wilfred Flynn and had one
son, Michael de Kells Flynn (b.June 26, 194
B Robert (Bob) Henry Kells (b.Feb. 21, 1909) who married a widow with one
daughter - Margaret Stobbs Appleby (b.Apr. 28, 19[?], and had no other
children.
C. Sarah Louise Kells (b. Feb. 21, 1909) who married William (Bill?)
Mortimer Jr (b May 1910) had 3 children as follows -
a.Alice Grace Mortimer (b.Dec. 16, 1935) m. Wayne Lowdon & had 2 children.
b.William Bill Mortimer (Jr.)(Sept. 1937) who married Shirle Assman and
had 2 children.
c.Robert (Bob) Frederick Mortimer who married twice (1) [Annemarie?] Taylor
(Div.) and (2) Judy Nicholson & had 1 daughter.
D. Frederick Ellis Kells (Apr. 9, 1923) married Kathleen (Kay) [La-?]
Mc Vicar (Dec. 29, 1925) and had 3 children -
(a) Kerry Frederick Kells (born Jan 31, 1950)
(b) Keith Henry Kells (b.Jan 31 1950)
(c) Karen Rosemary Kells (B. Mar. 24, 1956) who married Keith O'Connor.
Many of these people live in the Vancouver-Lower Mainland are, (sic) the
others are scattered around B.C. [British Columbia?]
Frederick Kells died May 1st, 1971 and his wife Sadie on Feb. 22, 1977.
Both are buried in the Fort Langley Cemetery.
George Henry (Harry) KELLS (Apr. 24, 1898-Dec. 16, 1946)
Henry and Mary Anne Kells' younger son, George Henry (Harry also grew up
in the Port Kells area and attended the old Port Kells school. In June 1921
he married Pearl Barnaby. They had no children. Harry was in the logging
business in the Harrison Bay, Hope and Chehalis River area of Harrison
most of his adult life although he still maintained a home on his parents
old farm at Port Kells. Harry was killed in a logging accident at Chehalis
on Dec. 16, 1946. He is buried at Christ Church Anglican Cemetery at Surrey
Centre near his parents.
Henry KELLS (Apr. 17, 1853- ) (Jr.) shoemaker
b. Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
This Henry Kells was the eldest child of Robert Kells, shoemaker, and his wife Lucetta(Lucy) Dickson of Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland. He was baptised Sept.
30, 1853 in Ballyconnell Church.
Little is known of his early life or the exact date he arrived in B.C.
[British Columbia?] but sometime in the later 1870's he was a shoemaker in New Westminster, B.C. [British Columbia?]
When Henry Kells (Sr.) and his wife Mary Anne Kells moved to Port Kells
they were soon followed by her brother Henry Kells (Jr). He opened a store
and Post Office beside the Fraser River at what is now the foot of 192nd St.
in Surrey. He rowed across the river several times a week to Hammond to pick
up supplies and the mail for his post office.
In 1889, according to John Pearson's "Land of the Peace Arch", the two Henry
Kellses, brothers-in-law, formed a partnership and deposited a plan at the
land Registry office in New Westminster for a square mile of land to be
made into the townsite of Port Kells. The townsite was laid out in 1890.
The two Henry Kellses envisaged Port Kells as a future great freshwater
port. I enquired about the plan at the land registry office a few years
ago but they did not seem to have a copy o£ it. Since John Pearson did
not have a bibliography in his book, it is difficult to know where he
found these dates. Early maps of the Port Kells area do show the
subdivisions of the townsite and in fact they were still in existence
right up to recent times although people owned a number of lots in
order to have enough land for a small farm. Todav the area is now a
busy industrial park - except for the property occupied by St.
Oswald's Anglican Church and its cemetery.
In the late 1890's Henry Kells (Jr.) left the Port Kells district,
married Rose McMorran of Vancouver and moved to the Edmonton area
of Alberta. They had 3 children - Eva, Bertha and Georg Kells who
are all dead now. George Kells married around 1950 to a young woman
and had one child (named Birtha [Bertha?] Rose Eva Kells) but 1 have
lost contact with them. Eva and Bertha never married. I do not know
the date of Henry Kells (Jr.)'s death or where he was buried. He is
known to have lived in Duffield, Alberta in 1923,.
Dickson Wood KELLS (1868 - 1924) hotelkeeper
b. Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
Dickson Wood Kells was also a son of Robert Kells, shoemaker,
and Lucetta (Lucy) Dickson of Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
Dickson Wood was baptised Nov. 27th, 1870 in Ballyconnell church.
He emigrated to Canada in 1893 and settled in Port Kells with his
brother Henry Kells (Jr.).
In the late 1890's Dickson went to Vancouver to help his sister and
brother-in-law, Everina (Eva) Kells and John L. Carter, run the Carter
House Hotel on Water Street. On their deaths, Dickson W. Kells took
over the Carter House Hotel and continued to run it until around
1906-07.
In Belfast, North Ireland, Sophia (Sophie) Bell (1879-1928) had married
a John Speers who had a grown family by his first wife. When Sophia was
expecting her first child, John Speers died. After the birth of her
daughter, Violet A.H.L. Speers, in Feb. 1901, Sophia and baby left Ireland
to go to an older married sister in Stockton, California. She travelled to
Canada and across to Vancouver by the CPR. in Vancouver they stayed at
the Carter House Hotel while waiting for their boat connection to go to
California. In California, things weren't working out too well when
Sophie received a letter from Dickson Kells. He offered to pay her fare
back to Vancouver if she'd come and marry him. Sophie accepted and returned
to Vancouver to become Mrs. Dickson W Kells. They had a son Robert
(Bobby) Wood Kells Feb. 1, 1903, and another son. Dickson 'William Kitchener
(Buster) Kells July 14, 1904. A daughter Ruth Irene Constance was born in
1907 and in 1922 another son, Owen Condon Kells.
Around 1906-07 Sophie and Dickson Kells sold the Carter House Hotel and moved
to the Capilano Hotel - up the Capilano River about 3 or 4 miles above the
present Cleveland Dam. The site of the old hotel is under about 80 feet of
water now. During the First World War they sold this hotel and moved to
Langley Prairie where they were proprietors of the liquor store in what is
now downtown Langley City. Dickson Wood Kells died in 1924 and his wife
Sophia Bell Speers in 1928. Both are buried in Ocean View Cemetery, Burnaby.
Their family are as follows -
A. Stepdaughter Violet A.H.L. Speers (1901-1986) married 3 times and had 2
children.
B. Robert (Bobby) Wood Kells (Feb.1/03) m. Dec. 2/50 to Margaret Jean Terry
(Apr.27/19). No family.
C Dickson William Kitchener (Buster) Kells (July 14/04-July 14,/68) m. Ada
Maud Webb (b.1906) and had 2 daughters -
a. Beverley Kells (1929-1948)
b. Patricia Kells (June 5/31) m. Wayne Fraser & have 4 children. The
Frasers live Washington State, USA.
... Ruth Irene Constance Kells (Feb.26/07-June 22/76) m. Mar /28
to Ken Littler ([Mar.5/05-Feb.10/75) & had 1 son -
a. Gerald H Littler (Dec/28-Feb.24/70) m. twice, 3 children.
E. Owen Condon Kells (M ay 8/22) m. Joan Gilroy Fischer & Daphine
Bagby.
a Paul Kells (Dec.14/46) m. Judy Walker - 2 children.
b. Ruth Kells (Apr.15/48) 131. John Collison - I child.
c. Janet Kells (Aug. 24/49) m, Wm [William?] Myers - 1 child.
Owen and family all live in Ontario.
Everina (Eva) KELLS (1872-1903) CARTER
b. Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
Everina (Eva) Kells was also a daughter of Robert Kells, shoemaker,
and Lucetta (Lucy) Dickson of Ballyconnell, Co. Cavan, Ireland.
She was baptised at Ballyconnell July 7, 1872.
Everina(Eva) Kells is thought to have emigrated to B.C. [British
Columbia?] about 1890, possibly with her sister Margaret Emily Kells.
Both girls lived with their brother Henry Kells (Jr.) at Port Kells
for a time.
According to the records of Christ Church Anglican Church, Surrey
Centre, B.C., [British Columbia?] Everina Kells was aged 20 when she
was married to John L. Carter on Dec. 6th, 1892 by Rev. Wm. [William?]
Bell.
John L. Carter was the proprietor of the Carter House hotel on
Water St. in Vancouver. This hotel was originally owned by John's
brother Lewis Carter and his wife Margaret J. McMorran. Lewis retired
and turned the hotel over to his brother.
Tragedy seems to have followed John and Everina as the records of
Mountainview Cemetery Old Vault Section show. A boy born to John Carter
and Everina Kells was buried 11 March 1893 and a girl on 11 April 1894.
John Carter himself was buried there around 18 Feb. 1901 (aged 49 years).
A 4 year old daughter named Louise was buried 4 May 1902 and finally
Everina Kells Carter on 22 Apri1 1903
.
0n the death of Everina, her brother, Dickson Wood Kells took over the
Carter House Hotel until he sold it around 1906 or 1907.
