Edmund Kelly facts for kids

Edmund Kelly (born May 23, 1818 – died October 4, 1894) was an important African-American Baptist minister. He was the first black Baptist minister to be officially recognized in Tennessee. Edmund Kelly escaped slavery in the 1840s and went to New England. After the American Civil War, he returned to Tennessee. He spent his life as a preacher and teacher in Columbia, Tennessee. He also often took part in big meetings for Baptist churches across the country.

Edmund Kelly's Early Life

Edmund Kelly was born in Columbia, Tennessee, on May 23, 1818. His father, also named Edmund Kelly, came from Dublin, Ireland. His mother, Kittie White, was an enslaved woman born in Columbia. His father wanted to buy their freedom, but he could not. When Edmund was six, his mother was sold away. Edmund and his sister stayed behind.

In 1833, Kelly worked for a school-master. He ran errands and served meals. Kelly understood how important education was. In secret, he traded candies with students for a speller, which is a basic English textbook. He also got lessons from them. When the lady of the house found out he was learning to write, she was upset. But since the students were children, nothing serious happened. Kelly kept learning, even though he never went to a formal school. He got married in September 1839.

Becoming a Minister

In April 1837, Kelly was baptized. He joined a missionary church in Columbia. He was raised Catholic like his father. However, he found the Baptist teachings more convincing. On May 19, 1842, he was given permission to preach. This was from the Mission Baptist Church in Columbia.

Later that year, on October 1, he was officially ordained. This happened at the First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tennessee. He was ordained to be an evangelist, which means a traveling preacher. His first job was at the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church in 1843. At that time, the church had only six members. This made him the first black Baptist preacher ordained in Tennessee. He is also known for starting the First Negro Baptist Church in Columbia in 1843.

Escaping to New England

Around this time, Edmund Kelly escaped slavery. He used the Underground Railroad to reach Massachusetts. He then worked to buy the freedom of his wife and four children. This cost twenty-eight hundred dollars. He raised money for this purpose in New England and in England. While in England, people advised him to buy his own freedom too. This was so he would not be captured under the Fugitive Slave Act.

His children included J. H. Kelly, who became a teacher in Columbia. Another son, W. D. Kelly, served in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. This was a famous African-American army unit during the US Civil War. In 1848, Edmund Kelly started the 12th Baptist Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

Life as a Free Man

As a free man, Kelly moved to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He became an important leader in the local church. He also played a big role in national American Baptist Conventions. In 1845, he and Thomas T. Allen became leaders. They led the new Second Baptist Church of New Bedford. Allen was the main pastor for three years. After him, William Jackson and Cummings Bray led the church.

In 1855, Jackson returned to lead the church again. In 1858, he left to start the Salem Baptist Church. Kelly took charge again, but only for a short time. In 1857, Kelly was preaching in Philadelphia. That year, he spoke at the American Convention of Colored Baptists in Boston. He also served as its president. He preached at the 1864 convention as well. At that time, he was still preaching in New Bedford. On May 10, 1864, he founded the Shiloh Baptist Church. This church was in Newport, Rhode Island.

Returning to Tennessee

After the Civil War, Kelly moved back to the South. He first went to Arlington, Virginia in 1866. There, he started the Zion Baptist Church. Then he moved back to Columbia, Tennessee. He continued to preach and teach there. Kelly was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. In 1869, he faced political disagreements in Columbia.

In 1870, he started a school for black children. This school was at D. T. Chappell's place, who supported his efforts. Kelly did not get regular pay for his teaching. Among Kelly's students was his young nephew. This nephew later became the father of Lyman T. Johnson, a civil rights activist.

Back to New England

After about six years in the South, Kelly had a disagreement in the church. This was about the use of alcohol. In 1873, he returned to New England. He moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. There, he started the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Around that time, he also started three other churches:

• Calvary Baptist Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts (1873)
• Calvary Baptist Church in Hartford, Connecticut (1874)
• Myrtle Baptist Church in West Newton, Massachusetts (1874)

Kelly attended the 1876 Conference of Baptist Ministers in Philadelphia. He wrote many pamphlets, which were praised by Bishop Daniel Payne. By 1887, he had returned to New Bedford, Massachusetts. He continued to teach and preach, even though he was getting old and had become blind.

His Final Years

Edmund Kelly died on October 4, 1894. He passed away in New Bedford, Massachusetts, due to a brain paralysis.