Compiled from notes of Erika E. Alexander (abt 1970)
on file MIDDLETOWN PUBLIC LIBBRARY,
Submitted by Charles E. Fies 2000

1896 Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County "Daniel Shelly, a native of Switzerland, emigrated to America prior to 1740, and settled in Rapho township, Lancaster county, Pa. We have the names of only three of his children - one of whom, the principal proprietor of "Rich Island," known afterwards as "Shelly's Island", only have we data beyond the first generation. These children were: Christian, m. and left issue; Daniel, m. and left issue; and Jacob, m. and left issue." Christian was born in Switzerland about 1730; Daniel was born about 1737 and Jacob was born about 1740. Daniel Jr's first 4 children were born in York county (first child) and Londerry Twp, Lancaster county (next 3 children). His first child to be born on Shelly's Island was son Wendle, born 1781, followed by Susanna, b. 1783, and Daniel, b. 1790 (children 5,6,7).

Elizabeth Shelly

Wendel Shelley, Shelley Cemetery, Hill Island, Dauphin County, PA

Facing East side............Hill Island Shelley Cemetery...........Facing West side

Shelley aged 69

Maybe John Shelley


PP&L, owner of Shelley's Island, removed the
Shelley Island Cemetery stones sometime after the flood of 1972, to some
unknown spot. GPU/Metropolitan Edison owns the island, built picnic and
boating facilities, and then probably repositioned the stones.

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