By Alva “Bobbie” Davies and David Lauder

Mary was born in a tent at Snapper Point, Mornington, about where the big hotel is now, in1842. She was the first white child born to permanent settlers on the Mornington Peninsula.

She married George Laudehr on 22/3/1860, and later, after her first husband died, she married David Beattie Kelly. They married in 7th December 1869 and they had 6 children the third of which was Amy Kelly.

—David B: 1870 M: Eliz Linda Harrris.
—Robert Herbert M: Edith. Dec’d.,
—Amy B: 1875 and who died in 1952 married John Polglase.
—Ethel B: 1878.
—Sydney B: 1886.
—Louisa: Dec’d

David and Linda Kelly had a granddaughter by the name of Lorinda Valda Goldbert. She married twice to a J. Redman and a J. Knuckey.

There were two Mary Louisa Wells born to Henry and Hannah Wells. The first one died on the ship coming from England. The other was born at Pt. Nepean in 1842.

The Kelly family lived in a house in Young st. Frankston called “Ethel Villa”.

David Kelly died on 19th May 1936. Mary died on 29th April 1926 at the home of her daughter Amy and son in law Harry Polglase. She is buried in Frankston Cemetery.

Polly married again, on the 17th December 1869, to David Beattie Kelly6. She died in Dandenong Road, Frankston on the 29th April 1926 of diabetes and senile decay. 7 She is listed as 84 years of age, which is correct, and was buried in Frankston Cemetery. The death certificate further records that she was married to George Laudehr at the age of 19 years and to David Kelly at the age of 27 years in St. Kilda.

In 1926, her children were listed on her Death Certificate as:

—George Frankston (Laudehr) 64 years
—Henry Gergon (Laudehr) Deceased
—Hannah (Laudehr) Deceased
—David (Kelly) 56 years
—Herbert (Kelly) Deceased
—Amy (Kelly) 51 years
—Ethel (Kelly) 48 years
—Sydney (Kelly) 40 years
—Louisa (Kelly) Deceased

George and Polly’s third child, Hannah Martha Matilda Laudehr was married to William Player on 15th December 1885 at the residence of her parents in Frankston.