A 1905 ‘Men of Mark’ print; Henry Kelly Sr (1844-1909).
An original print from a 1905 fish trade publication. One of a series of ‘Men of Mark’ in the Grimsby fishing industry. The artist is “AEL”. The caption reads, “Partner in the well-known firm of Moodys and Kelly, wholesale fish merchants, steam trawler owners, fish salesmen and licensed auctioneers; has been associated with the firm for forty years, and during that period has conducted the active management of the fish merchants’ branch of the business; is a justice of the peace for the parts of Lindsey and a county alderman.” Henry Kelly was born in Lincoln in 1844, the son of Edward Kelly, joiner, and Judith Kelly (née Chapman). Judith was a single parent. He married Ann(ie) Elizabeth Kelly (née Moody) at Old Clee on 3rd October 1865. Annie Elizabeth Moody was the sister of another of our ‘Men of Mark’, George Moody. They had four children; Sarah J. Kelly (1866-1866), Walker Moody Kelly (1867-1896), Henry Kelly Jr (1871-1939) and Ann(ie) Elizabeth ‘Jr’ (1873-1926). In 1881 and 1891, the family lived at 14 Cambridge Street. By 1901, Henry and Annie were living at “The Knoll”, Alexandra Road, Cleethorpes. In March 1881, Henry Kelly became a director of the newly-formed Great Grimsby Steam Trawling Company Limited. Shortly afterwards, Frederick Walker Moody, George Edward James Moody and their brother-in-law Henry Kelly established Moodys & Kelly. The company went from strength-to-strength and expanded to take in the port of Fleetwood. Like George Moody, Henry Kelly became heavily involved in local politics and many other institutions. They were both instrumental in making Cleethorpes the town it is today. After Henry Kelly died on 29th December 1909, his son, Henry Kelly Jr, took on many of his father’s roles. Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum. Note: The Grimsby trawler ‘Frolic’ GY. 237 featured on the print belonged, at the time, to the Grimsby Steam Fishing Co. Ltd. After she had been sold on, she was sunk by a German submarine 90 miles off Aberdeen on 22nd February 1917. She was captured and sunk by gunfire. There were no casualties.
