Mill Brook Farm





  

    

            


        		Town of Stratford -         
	 		 
							
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					                            Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                                                 Town of Stratford -                     					

                     				

						

	
	

	  	  		

				
Date of Construction:    1860

				
Style/Design:    Maritime Vernacular Cottage

				
Architect/Builder:    Major John Picton Beete 

				
Integrity:    
-building on original footprint.

-original foundation.

-original chimney.

-verandah returned to original design in 1979.

				
Construction Methods:    
Foundation made from Island Brick and sandstone. Chimney original Island Brick.

				
Exterior Condition:    Excellent

				
Landmark:    
Prominent home of one of the original settlers of Southport. It was situated on a 200 acre farm.

				
Historical Context:    
Major John Picton Beete was a retired English officer from H.M. 21st & 25th Regiments who bought 200 acres in Lot 48 and built Mill Brook Farm. He used his influence as a landowner to have the community named Stratford, but despite the fact he was paying half the taxes of the district, and he offered to build a new school he was turned down and the village retained the name of Southport. In 1880, Major Beete sold the property to Edward Kelly and returned to England.




Edward "Yankee Ned" Kelly came to PEI from County Monaghan, Ireland in 1845 with his family. He settled first at Lake Verde where he was a farmer and brickmaker. He later became a land developer and was very successful, hence his nickname. Edward bought Mill Brook Farm from Major Beete in 1880. The farm was passed on to his son Joseph Kelly in 1906. Joseph had seven daughters and no sons, so the Kelly name continues on in the Rodgerson's, the Rowe's, the Hughes's, the Smallwood's, and the McCarron's.