Rosa's Cousins - Jennie Is a Mystery

The Shipman Family History listed one of Rosa's Cousins as Jennie Shipman (Conroy) Kelley. It listed her as a child of Lucy Ann Shipman Conroy who had married Patrick Conroy. Jennie was shown with a birth date of 1864 and a death date of 26 Dec 1926 and a marriage to William H. Kelley 22 May 1880.

I found a digital image of Jennie's death certificate from Michigan. The informant was her husband of 46 years, William Kelly. This certificate showed her parents as John Peters and Helen (unknown). What did this mean? Was Lucy not her mother? In Jennie's obituary, it stated that she died at the home of her uncle, William Shipman. William was Lucy's half-brother. In Lucy's obituary from 1914, it stated that one of her survivors was one daughter, Mrs. Jennie Kelley of Jefferson, Ohio.

What could the census tell me?

Looking at Jennie:

• In 1920 in Gladwin County Michigan Jennie and William had their son Waldo's family and a 92 year old man named John R Peters in their household. The relationship listed for John Peters was none.
• In 1910 in Ashtabula County Ohio the head of the household was their son Willie with his wife, Jennie and William and John P. Peters. Here John (age 82) was listed by Jennie's son as his grandfather.
• In 1900 in Crawford County Pennsylvania the Kelley household was Jennie and William and their 2 children: Wallie and Mabel.
• In 1880 in Ashtabula County Ohio there was a William H. Kelley age 26, single in the household of his parents.
• In 1880 in Ashtabula County Ohio there was a Jennie Peters age 16 in the household of John and Marion H. Peters. She was listed as adopted daughter.
• In 1870 in Ashtabula County Ohio there was a Jane Peters age 6 in the household of John and Helen Peters. The 1870 census did not list relationships.

Looking at Lucy:

• In 1910 in Clare County Michigan Patrick and Lucy were working in a household with their 13 year old son. Lucy was married 19 years, had had 3 children, 2 living. This would make her marriage to Patrick about 1891.
• In 1900 in Clare County Michigan Lucy was Lucy Conroy with Patrick Conroy and a 3 year old son Harry. Lucy was married 14 years and had 1 child. This would change the marriage date to about 1896. I haven't yet found a marriage record.
• In 1880, I haven't found Lucy. I not sure what name to search for.
• In 1870 in Tuscola County Michigan in the household of Joseph Shipman, Lucy's father, was a Lucy Bunsen, age 23. Some family trees have listed a marriage to a Bronson.
• In 1860 in Ashtabula County Ohio in Joseph Shipman's household was Lucy Shipman, age 13 and in 1850 Lucy was 3.

On August 23rd I wrote a post about Rosa's cousin Irene Chase who wrote her a letter in 1877 from Ashtabula County Ohio. In that letter (which I transcribed) Irene mentions visiting Jennie Peters. This very well may be the same Jennie.

Currently my conclusion is that Jennie was Rosa's 1st cousin and my 1st cousin 3 times removed. From the 2 obituaries, she was the daughter of Lucy and an unknown father. Patrick Conroy does not seem probable. Jennie was adopted by John and Helen Peters, whether this was a legal adoption I am not sure. As an old man, John was living with her family.

If anyone has more information I would love to hear about it.