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The Black Donnellys
Originated in Northern Ireland and had a proud fighting tradition, one of the first clans to renounce Paganism and adopt early Christianity. Most of the family ended in 1880 when they were the victims of a family masscare. -
James Donnelly was born
More InformationJames Donnelly was born as a catholic in Northern Ireland, Country tipperary. -
Johanna Donnelly was Born
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Johanna was also born catholic in Northern Ireland, Country Tippeary. Growing up, faction fighting was a semi-ritualized national pasttime and epidemic. -
Starting A Family
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James and Johanna started having kids and ended up with seven sons and one daughter:
-James Jr (Dec 9th 1841) -John/Jack (Sep 16th 1847) -William (1844) -Patrick(April 15th 1849)
-Michael (Sept 1850) -Robert ( Nov 9th 1853)
-Thomas (Aug 30th 1854) -Jennie ( Oct 1858)
** Some dates may be different on website because of the different research. -
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Peace Bond
When the Donnelly's settled in Biddulph Township, they ended up 'squatting' on land that wasn't legally theirs. After a decade, the landowner sold the land to Michael Maher but the Donnelly's wouldn't leave since they had been working that land all their lives. Maher leased the land to Patrick Farrell for help evicting the Donnellys. The only thing Farrell got was half the land, while the Donnellys could keep the other half. James Sr. was mad about losing half his land so they made a peace bond -
Farrell's Murder
More Info One night when Farrell was drinking along side James Sr. and started getting aggressive and knocked James Jr. down. James Jr. struck back with a handspike, unintentionally killing Patrick Farrell. -
Jail Time
James Sr. fled as soon as the police were going to put him away. He lived in the bush and eluded the law for 10 months before giving himself up and going to prison. He was sentenced to be hung until Johanna Donnelly made a petition and got his sentence swtiched to 10 years in prison. (He got out in 7 due to good behaviour) -
Schoolyard
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After James Sr. got out of jail, he was grateful for the people that signed the petition for his sentence to be changed and so he ceded a corner of his farmland for five shilling so that the township could build a schoolyard. -
Boys At School
When the boys went to school they were taunted for their fathers inprionment and for their clothes. This made them quicker and harder with their fists, thus gaining more enimies. -
James Jr. Donnelly's Death
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James Jr. was born Dec. 8, 1841, and died of an unknown illness on May 15, 1877. He was 35 years old. -
Vigilance Committee
The vigiliance committee was a secretive group that formed and all the members in it had a grudge against the Donnelly's and blamed them fo all crimes that had ever been committed. -
Michael Donnelly's Death
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Michael was born in Sept. 1850, and died tragically after being stabbed during a fight in a hotel on Dec. 9, 1879.He was only 29 years old. -
John/Jack Donnelly's Death
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After the mob killed who was all at the Donnelly homestead, they walked over to Will Donnelly's home, hoping to kill him aswell. Instead of Will, John answered the door and was shot instantly. -
Donnelly Massacre
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A mob (mostly the vigiliance committee) came forth on this night and marched to the Donnelly residence where James Sr, Johanna, Tom, their cousin Bridget, and a farmhand Johnny O'Connor were asleep. The mob brutally killed everyone inside the house, except for Johnny who escaped, and then proceeded to burn the house down. -
William Donnelly's Death
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William Donnelly, born in 1844, and was nicknamed "Clubfoot Will" because he had a club foot. He died of natural causes on Mar. 7, 1897. He was 53. -
Robert Donnelly's Death
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Robert Donnelly was born on Nov. 9, 1852 and died by natural causes on June 14, 1911. He was 59. -
Patrick Donnelly's Death
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Cause of Death Unknown.
Patrick married twice, first marriage he only had one child who died two months after birth. His second marriage he had 6 children. -
Jennie Donnelly's Death
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Jennie Donnelly was the only girl of the Donnelly family. She married James Currie and had 12 children. Her cause of death is unknown.
