'DEATH OF MICHAEL DONELLY:
Michael Donelly, one of Northfield's old and respected citizens died at his home on Summer Street, Friday afternoon. He had been in his usual health ans was out Thursday, but Friday morning was not feeling very well and died in the early afternoon very suddenly, while talking to Mr. Starr who had gone to see him.
Mr. Donelly was born in County Cork, Ireland, 84 years ago (puts birth year close to 1832 or 1833 vice 1835 as from Census), having lived in this country about 60 years (fits with 1856 year of arrival). For 40 years he was a progressive farmer in Moretown, moving to Northfield 10 years ago to the home on Summer Street, where he lived until his death. Mrs. Donelly died three years ago (that's Katherine). The deceased is survived by a sister and brother in Ireland, and a large number of nieces and nephews.'
NOTES from last two paragraphs... Funeral at St Johns, Sunday afternoon, (18-Feb), Interred as Calvary Cemetery, among the pall bearers was Alfred Donelly and among those 'in from out of town' was a Miss Ethel Donelly.
On Michael's death certificate in Northfield, his parents were listed as John Donelly and Mary Cronin. This presents a problem if, in fact, Michael and John prove to be brothers. A common father name is fine, as is a common given name for their mother, but with two totally different surnames, a number of questions arise:
Michael and John had MANY land transactions in the Wheelock/Northfield, Vermont area. Michael lived in Moretown most of his life. Apparently, he and Katherine never had children, but were very close with John and Sarah's chidren, with 'Alfred' handling John's estate after he passed.
US Census 1900 - Vermont, Washington County, Roll 1695 Book 1, Page 167a, Moretown, Sup. Dist. 274, ED# 232, Sheet 1 B dwelling 22, family 23, Enumerated in Jun-1900 (no day listed!):
Donnelly, Michael, Head, W, M, Sep.1835, 64, M-34, Ire, Ire, Ire, 1855-44, Na, Farmer, -, -, yes, yes, yes, O, F, F, 21
', Catherine, Wife, W, F, Dec.1839, 60, M-34, 0, 0, Ire, Ire, Ire, 1849-50, yes, yes, yes
DWYER, Ernest, (boarder), W, M, Sep.1882, 17, S, VT, Ire, Can., Farm Laborer, 3, yes, yes, yes.
All could read, write and speak English, Ernest last attended school, 3 months before enumeration. Michael owned his farm.
On Ernest, looks like surname is Dunger or Dunzer (handwriting unreadable), Ernest apparently helped on the Farm.
US Census 1910, Vermont, WASHINGTON, Roll 1617 Book 1, Page 311b, Northfield Town, Enum. 30-Apr-1910, Sup. Dist. 301, ED# 232 Sheet 18B, Living on Wall Street, no #, dwelling 336, family 381, lines 92 and 93:
Donnelly, Michael, Head, M, W, 74, M1, 44, Ire, Ire, Ire, arr: 1856, Na, English, Laborer, Odd Jobs
', Katherine, Wife, F, W, 71, M1, 44, 0, 0, Ire, Ire, Ire, arr: 1849, English, None
Katherine could read and write, but Michael couldn't. Michael worked for wages 'W', still owned his farm.
By the census, Michael and Katherine never had any children (0/0). Since the land transactions between Michael and John did not occur until 1858, his arrival in 1856 or earlier actually helps that make more sense.
Something to consider, a Patrick 'Donnally' was born @1809 in Ireland, he was listed as father to Ann Donnally, b. @1835, Ireland, who married to Benjamin LeFevre, listed in 1880 US Census for Fayston, Washington County, VT. Could Patrick have father to Ann, and, perhaps, an uncle to John and Michael?
No listing of when Patrick and family might have arrived in US, though.
Michael Donnelly info:
1880 US Census for Moretown, Washington Co, VT:
DONNLLY: (no E)
Michael, w, m, 43, farmer, Ire, Ire, Ire
Hattie (for Catherine?), w, f, 40, wife, keeping house, Ire, Ire, Ire
Jeremiah, w, m, 19, son, at home, VT, VT, VT (SHOULD be VT, Ire, Ire, unless he was adopted)
Since Catherine was married to Michael in 1900 Census, listed as '0/0' AND, listed as a couple Jeremiah was SURELY either adopted or distant kin.
1870 for Moretown, VT (Donerly):
Michael, 35, m, w, farmer, 2000/750, Ireland
Kate, 31, f, w, keeping house, Ireland
COURTNEY, Thos., 14, m, w, farm laborer, VT
Name: Michael Donelly
Year: 1836-1917
Place: Vermont
Source Publication Code: 5900.10
Primary Immigrant: Donelly, Michael
Annotation: Most are time spans between date of birth and date of death; some are just date of death with place of burial. Place of origin, gravestone inscriptions, and name and location of cemetery may also be provided. Extensive historical data is also provided.
Source Bibliography: MURPHY, RONALD CHASE AND JANICE CHURCH MURPHY. Irish Famine Immigrants in the State of Vermont, Gravestone Inscriptions. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Co., Inc., 2000. 723p.
Page: 357
Property of M. Donley in Moretown, VT in 1873, From Moretown, on Rt. 100, take Moretown Mountain Road Following it east/southeast. Out of town around 4-5 miles there should be a right to 'Devil's Washbowl. RIGHT after the right hand turn, Devil's Washbowl bends hard to the right. RIGHT in that 'elbow', on the right as you follow the sharp bend, is where Michael Donnelly/Donley family lived in 1873.
Moretown Directory from 1883-1884:
Cannon Matthias, (Gouldsville) r 44, farmer about 100.
Donly Michael, (Northfield) r 41, farmer about 100.
NOTE: Map of Northfield shows location of Michael and John's properties in Norhfield, between 1890 and 1917. He was born in September 1835 at Ireland. He was the son of Daniel Donnelly and Mary (Cronin or Herlihy). Michael Donnelly emigrated in 1856 from Ireland to USA. He married Katherine (Catherine) Meehan in 1865 at Moretown, Washington County, Vermont, USA. Michael Donnelly died on 16 February 1917 at Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, USA, at age 81. He was buried on 18 February 1917 at Calvary Cemetery, Northfield, Washington County, Vermont, USA.