William Jelly (January 14, 1835 – October 20, 1900)[1] was an Ontario farmer and political figure.

He represented Dufferin in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1880 to 1883 as a Conservative member.

He was born near Elizabethtown (later Brockville) in Upper Canada in 1835, the son of John Jelly, an Irish immigrant.

Jelly first settled in Amaranth Township then part of Wellington County and later moved to what is now Shelburne.

He became a large property owner in the area, built a hotel there and is generally credited as being the founder of the town.