 Unknown to him he had walked into a pre-existing feud the precise cause of which only became known to historians with the discovery of a manuscript in 2003 which gave the long missing Maori side of the story.In May 1819 Governor Macquarie confirmed Kelly's appointment as pilot and harbourmaster at the Derwent River.In December 1821 as master of the "Sophia" he assisted in transporting convicts to the newly established penal station at Macquarie Harbour, and in 1825 he helped to set up the secondary penal station on Maria Island.