Monica Kelly

Monica Kelly, born ca 1855, was the daughter of James Kelly, a tailor, from Cork, Ireland - and Mary Ann Connor (O'Connor). She was married to James John Austin on the 26th of April, 1874, in the Parish Church of Islington. At that time her address was 10 Grove Road (see Marylebone parish maps) and James' address was 14 Half Moon Crescent.

She was christened at St. Martin in the Fields. She is age 6 in the 1851 Census - living with her family at 46 Warwick Street in the parish of Westminster (London, England). The Census indicates that she was born in Middlesex, UK. Monica had a sister (Mary A. in the 1851 Census) who, according to one family story, may have been Catholic nun.

The Frank King family (see photo below) stayed with Monica and her husband, James John Austin, at 8 Bertram Road, Enfield, prior to the family coming to Canada. The photo indicates some of the sadness, anger or confusion that is felt by various members of the family. Little Ellen King (to be my Grandma Almas) in the first row seems to have the open-faced eagerness of a child who has not yet sensed the sadness around and is eager for the adventures of life still ahead.

(counter-clockwise)

standing - centre: Frank King, Monica Kelly Austin, Lilian Maria Austin King (holding Alfred King), Ellen May King, James John Austin (note cigar), Irene Pretoria King

Monica visited her daughter, Lilian, in Burlington, ON around the time of Lilian's daughter - Irene King's birth. Ellen May (King) Almas (my maternal grandmother, and Lilian's daughter) remembers this visit of Monica Kelly. She moved across the lawn "like the Queen" - with regal bearing and self-possession. The family attended St. Luke's Anglican, in Burlington, at that time and Monica was soon on (now, perhaps, seen as racist and patronizing) 'the Indian list' due to her tendency to imbibe; and so she was precluded from having alcoholic wine at Holy Communion. She was a heavy smoker, as well, which must have made life in the little house a little 'close.' Family members (e.g. Irene King Boyd) remember her as a bit of 'a flapper' . . .

She is said to have had a 'falling out' with Lilian, just before Irene's birth - and left one day 'in a huff' and was never heard of again - apparently returning to England. (It is not known if James John Austin, her husband, was still alive at this time.) Perhaps the alcohol and the tobacco were contributing factors . . .

The children of James John Austin and Monica Kelly were:

1. James Austin - born ca 1875, St. Mary's Parish, Islington (London), England - married Annie (Unknown). Resided in South Africa. (James served in the Boer War and was later a policeman in South Africa.)

2. Charles William Albert Austin - born in 1877 at Westminster (London); christened 22 April, 1877, St. Martin's in the Fields, London - married ca 1899 to Florence Amelia Dartnell, in Strood, Kent. He was an 'engineers' labourer.'

3. Lilian Maria Austin - born 23 May, 1878, 187 High Holborn Street, London; died 17 September, 1956 - Hamilton, ON; - married 11 April 1899 at Edmonton (Greater London) to Francis King (b. Widford, Herts).

4. Monica (Minnie) Austin - born ca 1880 at Battersea, Surrey (Greater London). (1 year old in the 1881 Census - 101 Usk Road, Battersea) In the 1907 Barnardo-related document, she is 26, servant, at Stamford Hill. She was a Lieutenant in the Salvation Army.

5. Alfred Austin - born ca 1881 at Battersea, Surrey. (3 wks old in the 1881 Census - 101 Usk Road, Battersea)