James Donnelly was born on November 17, 1845 in County Wexford, Ireland (from whence came most of his father's family), the son and first-born child of Michael Donnelly and Honora "Nora" Winn Donnelly Williams, who were married on October 27, 1844 at Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Clontarf Parish, County Dublin, Ireland. He immigrated to America with his parents fleeing the Potato Famine. (With a million people dead and a million people fleeing Ireland, the population of Ireland was reduced by 25%.) They probably sailed in steerage aboard the ship Liberty from Liverpool, England to New York City, arriving April 8, 1847. (The passenger list shows a Michael and Nora Donnelly of the correct age and a John Donnelly of the correct age to be Michael's brother.)
The family settled in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey where his younger brother Thomas John Donnelly was born. James' father Michael died of dysentery at age 28 in 1850, when James was four years old and Thomas was almost one year old. His brother Thomas went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mary Winn Dardis (the sister of Nora Winn Donnelly Williams) and John Dardis, Jr. The Dardis family moved (between 1855 and 1860) to the Spencer Township area of Jennings County, Indiana to farm (before re-joining the Dardis family in Madison County, New York between 1870 and 1875). Mary and John Dardis were childless and may have left with Thomas for Indiana so as not to have to return Thomas to his birth mother. In any event James and his brother were separated during their childhoods. Thomas may have been told his mother abandoned him because there exists an inaccurate family story that Thomas' mother abandoned him, remarried, and left for Indiana. She in fact was in New Jersey, and it was Mary and John Dardis who left for Indiana.
James probably lived with his mother Nora and other Donnelly relatives in Newark as he grew up. Two years after Michael's death, James' mother married (with John Donnelly as a witness) Elisha Williams of Newark on August 16, 1852 at Saint John Roman Catholic Church and had more children: Elizabeth Williams Peer, Terrance Williams, and Honora Williams. (Honora died in childhood.) So James had at least three younger half-siblings.
In 1863, at age 18, James joined the effort to end slavery and unify the country when he enlisted with the 33rd New Jersey Infantry Regiment (Company C) of the Union Army during the Civil War. His uncle, John Donnelly, also joined the 33rd, Company B. The 33rd saw action at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Dallas, the Battle of New Hope Church, the Battle of Allatoona, the Battle of Marietta, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the Siege and Burning of Atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea to Savannah, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Battle of Bentonville. Sherman's troops affectionately called him "Uncle Billy." James was wounded at the Battle of Pine Hill, a relatively minor engagement, on June 14 - 15, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. He was honorably discharged out of the army in 1865 shortly after the war's end and returned to Newark where he may have worked as a hatter. The 33rd New Jersey Infantry was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865, in Washington, DC. The family of James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian have his Civil War discharge papers.
In 1880 James moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where many of his Donnelly family had immigrated, including a possible first cousin also named James Donnelly. On September 19 1886 in Toronto, he, a Catholic of Irish descent, married Mary McGinnis Donnelly, a Presbyterian of Scottish descent, and they became the parents of daughter Margaret Mary Donnelly Bubel. Margaret was christened Catholic. Mary McGinnis Donnelly died at age 30 of double pneumonia on May 5, 1889 in Toronto and is buried in Section E, Lot 49, Grave 1 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto at a grave site owned by her father. Her death record shows her religion at the time as the Church of England. After James' first wife's death, he ultimately, at age 45 in 1890, married Mary Waugh Donnelly, and they became the parents of four daughters: Gertrude Mary "Gertie" Donnelly McGilvery, Lillian May "Lillie" Donnelly Gould, Pearl Donnelly (who died of a brain hemorrhage at age 9 in 1906), and Nora Madeline Donnelly Hickey Markle (who lived to be 101, dying in 2000). For much of his working life in Toronto, James was a hatter or generally involved in the manufacturing of clothing. (There was a James Donnelly living in Newark, New Jersey in 1870 who was also a hatter. Was this the same James?)
James died in Toronto at age 79 on June 22, 1925 and was buried in Section 18, Row 41, Grave 119 at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Toronto, as was his second wife in 1931. They are buried in the same grave, him deep and her shallow. The graves seem to be unmarked. Upon his death the Canadian Government sent a "Report of Death of an American Citizen" to his brother, Thomas John Donnelly at 108 Stocking Street in Canastota, Madison County, New York. Even though brothers James and Thomas were separated as young children, that death report is proof either of their efforts to remain in touch or to reestablish contact. It is a testimony to the power of family.
DNA testing reveals the Donnellys are descended from the powerful Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland from the 7th to the 11th century AD. DNA testing also reveals James Donnelly and any direct male ancestors and descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
The Donnelly family crest that has been passed down for centuries among Michael Donnelly's ancestors and descendants shows three silver lilies (fleurs-de-lis) on a shield of black with the Latin motto, "Fortiter et Fideliter," or, in English, "Courageously and Faithfully." The black of the shield symbolizes constancy and faithfulness, and the silver of the lilies represents peace and sincerity. The fleur-de-lis symbols represent the Virgin Mary and the Irish Donnellys' sympathies with the Catholic rulers of France and Scotland. So, in addition to representing the Christian Trinity, the three lilies may represent the Catholic Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and France. In the Gaelic language of Ireland, "Donnelly" means "Dark Courage."
Thanks especially to James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian and to all the Donnelly family researchers for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. I hope someone will add James' photo to this site as well as photos of his wives and children.
The family settled in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey where his younger brother Thomas John Donnelly was born. James' father Michael died of dysentery at age 28 in 1850, when James was four years old and Thomas was almost one year old. His brother Thomas went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mary Winn Dardis (the sister of Nora Winn Donnelly Williams) and John Dardis, Jr. The Dardis family moved (between 1855 and 1860) to the Spencer Township area of Jennings County, Indiana to farm (before re-joining the Dardis family in Madison County, New York between 1870 and 1875). Mary and John Dardis were childless and may have left with Thomas for Indiana so as not to have to return Thomas to his birth mother. In any event James and his brother were separated during their childhoods. Thomas may have been told his mother abandoned him because there exists an inaccurate family story that Thomas' mother abandoned him, remarried, and left for Indiana. She in fact was in New Jersey, and it was Mary and John Dardis who left for Indiana.
James probably lived with his mother Nora and other Donnelly relatives in Newark as he grew up. Two years after Michael's death, James' mother married (with John Donnelly as a witness) Elisha Williams of Newark on August 16, 1852 at Saint John Roman Catholic Church and had more children: Elizabeth Williams Peer, Terrance Williams, and Honora Williams. (Honora died in childhood.) So James had at least three younger half-siblings.
In 1863, at age 18, James joined the effort to end slavery and unify the country when he enlisted with the 33rd New Jersey Infantry Regiment (Company C) of the Union Army during the Civil War. His uncle, John Donnelly, also joined the 33rd, Company B. The 33rd saw action at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Dallas, the Battle of New Hope Church, the Battle of Allatoona, the Battle of Marietta, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the Siege and Burning of Atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea to Savannah, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Battle of Bentonville. Sherman's troops affectionately called him "Uncle Billy." James was wounded at the Battle of Pine Hill, a relatively minor engagement, on June 14 - 15, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. He was honorably discharged out of the army in 1865 shortly after the war's end and returned to Newark where he may have worked as a hatter. The 33rd New Jersey Infantry was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865, in Washington, DC. The family of James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian have his Civil War discharge papers.
In 1880 James moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where many of his Donnelly family had immigrated, including a possible first cousin also named James Donnelly. On September 19 1886 in Toronto, he, a Catholic of Irish descent, married Mary McGinnis Donnelly, a Presbyterian of Scottish descent, and they became the parents of daughter Margaret Mary Donnelly Bubel. Margaret was christened Catholic. Mary McGinnis Donnelly died at age 30 of double pneumonia on May 5, 1889 in Toronto and is buried in Section E, Lot 49, Grave 1 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto at a grave site owned by her father. Her death record shows her religion at the time as the Church of England. After James' first wife's death, he ultimately, at age 45 in 1890, married Mary Waugh Donnelly, and they became the parents of four daughters: Gertrude Mary "Gertie" Donnelly McGilvery, Lillian May "Lillie" Donnelly Gould, Pearl Donnelly (who died of a brain hemorrhage at age 9 in 1906), and Nora Madeline Donnelly Hickey Markle (who lived to be 101, dying in 2000). For much of his working life in Toronto, James was a hatter or generally involved in the manufacturing of clothing. (There was a James Donnelly living in Newark, New Jersey in 1870 who was also a hatter. Was this the same James?)
James died in Toronto at age 79 on June 22, 1925 and was buried in Section 18, Row 41, Grave 119 at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Toronto, as was his second wife in 1931. They are buried in the same grave, him deep and her shallow. The graves seem to be unmarked. Upon his death the Canadian Government sent a "Report of Death of an American Citizen" to his brother, Thomas John Donnelly at 108 Stocking Street in Canastota, Madison County, New York. Even though brothers James and Thomas were separated as young children, that death report is proof either of their efforts to remain in touch or to reestablish contact. It is a testimony to the power of family.
DNA testing reveals the Donnellys are descended from the powerful Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland from the 7th to the 11th century AD. DNA testing also reveals James Donnelly and any direct male ancestors and descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
The Donnelly family crest that has been passed down for centuries among Michael Donnelly's ancestors and descendants shows three silver lilies (fleurs-de-lis) on a shield of black with the Latin motto, "Fortiter et Fideliter," or, in English, "Courageously and Faithfully." The black of the shield symbolizes constancy and faithfulness, and the silver of the lilies represents peace and sincerity. The fleur-de-lis symbols represent the Virgin Mary and the Irish Donnellys' sympathies with the Catholic rulers of France and Scotland. So, in addition to representing the Christian Trinity, the three lilies may represent the Catholic Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and France. In the Gaelic language of Ireland, "Donnelly" means "Dark Courage."
Thanks especially to James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian and to all the Donnelly family researchers for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. I hope someone will add James' photo to this site as well as photos of his wives and children.
James Donnelly was born on November 17, 1845 in County Wexford, Ireland (from whence came most of his father's family), the son and first-born child of Michael Donnelly and Honora "Nora" Winn Donnelly Williams, who were married on October 27, 1844 at Saint John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Clontarf Parish, County Dublin, Ireland. He immigrated to America with his parents fleeing the Potato Famine. (With a million people dead and a million people fleeing Ireland, the population of Ireland was reduced by 25%.) They probably sailed in steerage aboard the ship Liberty from Liverpool, England to New York City, arriving April 8, 1847. (The passenger list shows a Michael and Nora Donnelly of the correct age and a John Donnelly of the correct age to be Michael's brother.)
The family settled in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey where his younger brother Thomas John Donnelly was born. James' father Michael died of dysentery at age 28 in 1850, when James was four years old and Thomas was almost one year old. His brother Thomas went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mary Winn Dardis (the sister of Nora Winn Donnelly Williams) and John Dardis, Jr. The Dardis family moved (between 1855 and 1860) to the Spencer Township area of Jennings County, Indiana to farm (before re-joining the Dardis family in Madison County, New York between 1870 and 1875). Mary and John Dardis were childless and may have left with Thomas for Indiana so as not to have to return Thomas to his birth mother. In any event James and his brother were separated during their childhoods. Thomas may have been told his mother abandoned him because there exists an inaccurate family story that Thomas' mother abandoned him, remarried, and left for Indiana. She in fact was in New Jersey, and it was Mary and John Dardis who left for Indiana.
James probably lived with his mother Nora and other Donnelly relatives in Newark as he grew up. Two years after Michael's death, James' mother married (with John Donnelly as a witness) Elisha Williams of Newark on August 16, 1852 at Saint John Roman Catholic Church and had more children: Elizabeth Williams Peer, Terrance Williams, and Honora Williams. (Honora died in childhood.) So James had at least three younger half-siblings.
In 1863, at age 18, James joined the effort to end slavery and unify the country when he enlisted with the 33rd New Jersey Infantry Regiment (Company C) of the Union Army during the Civil War. His uncle, John Donnelly, also joined the 33rd, Company B. The 33rd saw action at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Dallas, the Battle of New Hope Church, the Battle of Allatoona, the Battle of Marietta, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the Siege and Burning of Atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea to Savannah, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Battle of Bentonville. Sherman's troops affectionately called him "Uncle Billy." James was wounded at the Battle of Pine Hill, a relatively minor engagement, on June 14 - 15, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. He was honorably discharged out of the army in 1865 shortly after the war's end and returned to Newark where he may have worked as a hatter. The 33rd New Jersey Infantry was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865, in Washington, DC. The family of James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian have his Civil War discharge papers.
In 1880 James moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where many of his Donnelly family had immigrated, including a possible first cousin also named James Donnelly. On September 19 1886 in Toronto, he, a Catholic of Irish descent, married Mary McGinnis Donnelly, a Presbyterian of Scottish descent, and they became the parents of daughter Margaret Mary Donnelly Bubel. Margaret was christened Catholic. Mary McGinnis Donnelly died at age 30 of double pneumonia on May 5, 1889 in Toronto and is buried in Section E, Lot 49, Grave 1 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto at a grave site owned by her father. Her death record shows her religion at the time as the Church of England. After James' first wife's death, he ultimately, at age 45 in 1890, married Mary Waugh Donnelly, and they became the parents of four daughters: Gertrude Mary "Gertie" Donnelly McGilvery, Lillian May "Lillie" Donnelly Gould, Pearl Donnelly (who died of a brain hemorrhage at age 9 in 1906), and Nora Madeline Donnelly Hickey Markle (who lived to be 101, dying in 2000). For much of his working life in Toronto, James was a hatter or generally involved in the manufacturing of clothing. (There was a James Donnelly living in Newark, New Jersey in 1870 who was also a hatter. Was this the same James?)
James died in Toronto at age 79 on June 22, 1925 and was buried in Section 18, Row 41, Grave 119 at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Toronto, as was his second wife in 1931. They are buried in the same grave, him deep and her shallow. The graves seem to be unmarked. Upon his death the Canadian Government sent a "Report of Death of an American Citizen" to his brother, Thomas John Donnelly at 108 Stocking Street in Canastota, Madison County, New York. Even though brothers James and Thomas were separated as young children, that death report is proof either of their efforts to remain in touch or to reestablish contact. It is a testimony to the power of family.
DNA testing reveals the Donnellys are descended from the powerful Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland from the 7th to the 11th century AD. DNA testing also reveals James Donnelly and any direct male ancestors and descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
The Donnelly family crest that has been passed down for centuries among Michael Donnelly's ancestors and descendants shows three silver lilies (fleurs-de-lis) on a shield of black with the Latin motto, "Fortiter et Fideliter," or, in English, "Courageously and Faithfully." The black of the shield symbolizes constancy and faithfulness, and the silver of the lilies represents peace and sincerity. The fleur-de-lis symbols represent the Virgin Mary and the Irish Donnellys' sympathies with the Catholic rulers of France and Scotland. So, in addition to representing the Christian Trinity, the three lilies may represent the Catholic Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and France. In the Gaelic language of Ireland, "Donnelly" means "Dark Courage."
Thanks especially to James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian and to all the Donnelly family researchers for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. I hope someone will add James' photo to this site as well as photos of his wives and children.
The family settled in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey where his younger brother Thomas John Donnelly was born. James' father Michael died of dysentery at age 28 in 1850, when James was four years old and Thomas was almost one year old. His brother Thomas went to live with his aunt and uncle, Mary Winn Dardis (the sister of Nora Winn Donnelly Williams) and John Dardis, Jr. The Dardis family moved (between 1855 and 1860) to the Spencer Township area of Jennings County, Indiana to farm (before re-joining the Dardis family in Madison County, New York between 1870 and 1875). Mary and John Dardis were childless and may have left with Thomas for Indiana so as not to have to return Thomas to his birth mother. In any event James and his brother were separated during their childhoods. Thomas may have been told his mother abandoned him because there exists an inaccurate family story that Thomas' mother abandoned him, remarried, and left for Indiana. She in fact was in New Jersey, and it was Mary and John Dardis who left for Indiana.
James probably lived with his mother Nora and other Donnelly relatives in Newark as he grew up. Two years after Michael's death, James' mother married (with John Donnelly as a witness) Elisha Williams of Newark on August 16, 1852 at Saint John Roman Catholic Church and had more children: Elizabeth Williams Peer, Terrance Williams, and Honora Williams. (Honora died in childhood.) So James had at least three younger half-siblings.
In 1863, at age 18, James joined the effort to end slavery and unify the country when he enlisted with the 33rd New Jersey Infantry Regiment (Company C) of the Union Army during the Civil War. His uncle, John Donnelly, also joined the 33rd, Company B. The 33rd saw action at the Battle of Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta Campaign, the Battle of Resaca, the Battle of Dallas, the Battle of New Hope Church, the Battle of Allatoona, the Battle of Marietta, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the Siege and Burning of Atlanta, General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea to Savannah, the Carolinas Campaign, and the Battle of Bentonville. Sherman's troops affectionately called him "Uncle Billy." James was wounded at the Battle of Pine Hill, a relatively minor engagement, on June 14 - 15, 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. He was honorably discharged out of the army in 1865 shortly after the war's end and returned to Newark where he may have worked as a hatter. The 33rd New Jersey Infantry was mustered out of service on July 17, 1865, in Washington, DC. The family of James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian have his Civil War discharge papers.
In 1880 James moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada where many of his Donnelly family had immigrated, including a possible first cousin also named James Donnelly. On September 19 1886 in Toronto, he, a Catholic of Irish descent, married Mary McGinnis Donnelly, a Presbyterian of Scottish descent, and they became the parents of daughter Margaret Mary Donnelly Bubel. Margaret was christened Catholic. Mary McGinnis Donnelly died at age 30 of double pneumonia on May 5, 1889 in Toronto and is buried in Section E, Lot 49, Grave 1 at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto at a grave site owned by her father. Her death record shows her religion at the time as the Church of England. After James' first wife's death, he ultimately, at age 45 in 1890, married Mary Waugh Donnelly, and they became the parents of four daughters: Gertrude Mary "Gertie" Donnelly McGilvery, Lillian May "Lillie" Donnelly Gould, Pearl Donnelly (who died of a brain hemorrhage at age 9 in 1906), and Nora Madeline Donnelly Hickey Markle (who lived to be 101, dying in 2000). For much of his working life in Toronto, James was a hatter or generally involved in the manufacturing of clothing. (There was a James Donnelly living in Newark, New Jersey in 1870 who was also a hatter. Was this the same James?)
James died in Toronto at age 79 on June 22, 1925 and was buried in Section 18, Row 41, Grave 119 at Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery in Toronto, as was his second wife in 1931. They are buried in the same grave, him deep and her shallow. The graves seem to be unmarked. Upon his death the Canadian Government sent a "Report of Death of an American Citizen" to his brother, Thomas John Donnelly at 108 Stocking Street in Canastota, Madison County, New York. Even though brothers James and Thomas were separated as young children, that death report is proof either of their efforts to remain in touch or to reestablish contact. It is a testimony to the power of family.
DNA testing reveals the Donnellys are descended from the powerful Irish clan of Ui Neill who claimed the High Kingship of Ireland from the 7th to the 11th century AD. DNA testing also reveals James Donnelly and any direct male ancestors and descendants are of the patrilineal clan of "Oisin" (pronounced "O-sheen") (Y-chromosome clade R1b). Oisin lived about 40,000 years ago in the Celtic area of Western Europe. Oisin was one of about seventeen men alive at that time from whom all people alive today are descended.
The Donnelly family crest that has been passed down for centuries among Michael Donnelly's ancestors and descendants shows three silver lilies (fleurs-de-lis) on a shield of black with the Latin motto, "Fortiter et Fideliter," or, in English, "Courageously and Faithfully." The black of the shield symbolizes constancy and faithfulness, and the silver of the lilies represents peace and sincerity. The fleur-de-lis symbols represent the Virgin Mary and the Irish Donnellys' sympathies with the Catholic rulers of France and Scotland. So, in addition to representing the Christian Trinity, the three lilies may represent the Catholic Celts of Ireland, Scotland, and France. In the Gaelic language of Ireland, "Donnelly" means "Dark Courage."
Thanks especially to James' great-great-granddaughter Jesse Christian and to all the Donnelly family researchers for so much of this information. Any errors, however, are mine alone. Please go to the "edit" link on this site with any corrections or additions. I hope someone will add James' photo to this site as well as photos of his wives and children.
Gravesite Details
Grave probably unmarked.
Family Members
Siblings
Half Siblings
