Kelly, Margaret

Geoff LePage interviews Mrs. Margaret Kelly of Foxley River, PEI. Mrs. Kelly tells of a family tree from her grandfather, and of a fire that destroyed her house and family heirlooms from Ireland. She also talks about the arrival of an English landlord coming to control Lot Eleven. A drowning, a murder in Alberton, and a mysterious death are also mentioned. Additionally, Mrs. Kelly speaks about relations between the Irish and Scots, her grandmother’s family traditions, and a woman making clothes from scratch.

Interview

LePage, Geoff

Kelly, Margaret

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1983-07-11

Held by UPEI Library — SMI-ARCH 1983-001. Series 1

00:37:21

Introduction
Recalls that grandfather married twice. Notes that there was nothing from Ireland because the house burned in 1948 and everything was destroyed.
Talks about the house Martin Lynch built, now long gone. They moved to Lot 6. They had a log cabin.
Talks about early settlers, and Lot 11 Landowner (Warburton) who had 640 acres. Irish tenant farmers would work his land.
Recalls the story of one of the settlers who was lost in the woods (Mrs. Rafferty?). She died before they found her.
Remembers a murder in Alberton, the result of a drunk bawl. Mentions an individual who was hit over the head with a whiskey bottle and drowned when the tide came in.
Brief discussion with daughter/neighbour/friend whether she should stay or go.
No famous or infamous people in her family. Her relatives family were just farmers.
Talks about Joseph Murphy who took the 2 week trip from Ireland to Prince Edward Island. He married a Mrs. Callaghan who had two sons, they later had a son together.
Discusses how her grandparents met. Grandfather was a widower (lost first wife).
Talks about the Scotch population in Lot 16 (Grand River). Mentions the MacDougall's from Grand River. Does not remember any religious rivalry or rivalry between Scots and Irish.
Mentions again the murder in Alberton
Discuss the story of a neighbour name Brian who had a Negro boy (possibly adopted). The boy disappeared and it was suspected 'foul play'. Nobody reported the disappearance but the neighbours suspected that his guardian (a severe old fellow) killed him. At the same place the boy was killed they moved the house and when the house was on the runners a black dog ran out from where the house was... a "last-runner" for the mistreated boy. Ghost stories: light shining in the fields. Ghostrs were fore-runners / after-runners of abused people.
Recalling the story of an adopted girl name Emma who was physically abused.
Discusses customs observed. Grandmother always made porridge in the morning. Talks about lady who made clothes from scratch and mentions a neighbour who made clothes for the men out of sheep wool.
SIDE A ends
Talks about descendants; her mother was Johanna Lynch who married William Smith; and grandmother was (Mary?) Sullivan who married Patty (Patrick) Lynch. Her father's occupation was a cooper (barrel maker); he made crates for shipping oysters, and he later farmed. Her father often travelled to Rumford Maine where his brother lived.
Briefly talked about mother living with them (no nursing homes). Remembers thrashing grain by horse-power and horse-powered thread wheel. [Conversation is cut off].
SIDE B ends

Held by UPEI Library — SMI-ARCH 1983-001. Series 1