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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Waterford => Topic started by: Pat38 on Wednesday 19 December 07 22:23 GMT (UK)
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Hello
Does anyone have a Geoffrey Donnelly in their tree? He was from Passage East Waterford and was a seaman all his life and died in the Mercy Hospital Cork aged 65 sometime after 1918. I have received this information from an undated Newspaper Report in a Family Album so do not know the date he died. All I know is that he served as Master during the whole of WW1 as the Report notes certain events that happened during WW1 and he was on the Star and Maindy Lines. The Report also notes that he was Captain on the SS Maindy Court when it successfully navigated Tauranga Harbour in New Zealand and the Harbour was supposed to have also been called Donnelly's Creek in memory of the event.
I think he may have been my grandmother MARY ELLEN DONNELLY's brother. She was born in 1876/1877.
Hoping someone has information.
Regards
Pat Berry in Australia
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Would this be the family?
William Donnelly m. Frances Hearne
1. Mary Ellen born 8 July 1875 Co.Waterford
2. Geoffry born 27 Jan.1877 Co.Waterford (must have died young)
3. Geoffry born 28 Sept.1879 Co.Waterford
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Would this be the family?
William Donnelly m. Frances Hearne
1. Mary Ellen born 8 July 1875 Co.Waterford
2. Geoffry born 27 Jan.1877 Co.Waterford (must have died young)
3. Geoffry born 28 Sept.1879 Co.Waterford
Hello
Yes I think they may be the family. I found them on the LDS IGI some time ago before I was sent this Newspaper Report. Mary Ellen's father was William who was also a Seaman. She had a sister Fanny (probably Frances) who was 21 on the 1901 UK Census living at Prescot Lancashire England but I can't find her on the IGI. I found Fanny married Thomas Murphy in Prescot in 1901. I have just had news that Geoffrey was in New Zealand in 1922. If the Geoffrey who was born in 1879 is him he must have died around 1944. I didn't know where in Ireland my grandmother Mary Ellen Donnelly came from until this newspaper report turned up. My Dad always said he was from Waterford but I found that he and his brothers and sisters were all born in Liverpool England. It looks like it was his mother who came from Waterford.
Thanks
Pat
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I live in Cork, am 75. My mother nee Donnelly was from Passage East. I recall as a youngster Capt. Geoff Donnelly visiting us regularly in Cork. Geoff looked about the same age +or- as my grandfather who was born about 1865. At this time, late 1940s, Geoff was caretaker on a small ship I think it was a tender berthed at Union Quay, Cork,which used to go out to the liners at Cobh.
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Hello mefein
Thank you for replying to my message. Since posting the message in December 2007 I have found lots of information on Geoffrey Donnelly. I found that his name should be spelled JEFFREY DONNELLY and he was born on 1st March 1879 in Passage East, married MARY CATHERINE MOLONEY in 1908 and had a son WILLIAM JOSEPH. MARY C died in 1928 and then he married ELLEN DAWSON in 1928. Jeffrey died in 1944 in the Mercy Hospital Cork. He would have been my Great Uncle.
His sister MARY ELLEN DONNELLY born 1875 in Waterford married JAMES HIGGINS born 1870 in County Mayo and they became my Grandparents after they married in 1902 in Prescot Lancashire England. They had a couple of children in Prescot and then they went to Liverpool where Mary Ellen died in 1923 and James died in 1938 just a few months before I was born. I never knew my Grandparents. My Dad was PATRICK JOSEPH HIGGINS born 1908 in Liverpool.
I know MARY ELLEN had a sister FANNY born around 1880 as she was living with Mary Ellen in 1901 in Prescot and married a THOMAS MURPHY in Prescot later in 1901.
Jeffrey was a Seaman all his life and I have found a few of his voyages on Ancestry. I have his photo from his Seaman's record.
I have an obituary from a Newspaper which was found in a Family Album belonging to my Uncle which states that Jeffrey had cousins RICHARD DONNELLY, CHARLES MILLER, DAVID HEARNE & JOHN DONNELLY.
JEFFREY'S parents were WILLIAM born 1850 (Fisherman) died 1910 and FANNY HEARNE born 1847 died 1884.
I have found relatives I didn't know I had in Waterford.
Who was your mother's father? Was he a brother of JEFFREY, MARY ELLEN & FANNY?
I would love to hear more from you.
Regards
Pat Berry in Australia
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Pat
You said Jeff D. (1879-1944) had several cousins , my grandfather was Richard Donnelly (1868-1954), also Charles Mellor (not Millar) (1897-1975) my 2nd cousin once removed, also Dave Hearne (1906-1950) my 2nd cousin once removed, Dave Hearne's father was John and his father in turn was David who married Ellen Donnelly my greatgreat aunt, also John Donnelly, my uncle was John (Jack) (1902-1975), my great grandfather was John Donnelly known as Daddy Jack to all his grandchildren, and his father was either John, Joe, Tom or Jim take your pick.
I knew most of the mentioned. I met Bill Donnelly , Jeff's Son,I think he had a shop in Waterford.
I was never able to make a connection with Jeff.
I have 2208 names in my family tree and I hope you will be able to add to that.
The name of the small ship he looked after in Cork was the "John Joyce".
Can we communicate by email rather than through Roots Chat?
Who had you contact with at this end since you first started looking? I have loads of cousins in Waterford etc.
Dick
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Hello Dick
Thanks for your message.
I have sent my email address to your Private Message Inbox.
Regards
Pat
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Good Morning Pat or should I say cousin
My name is Ray Donnelly and Jeff was my Grandfather
My Fathers name was Bill and I have two brothers Geoffrey and Kevin
Geoff has a house in Passage and my other brother and myself live in Waterford
Geoff has a framed photo of the Maindy Court which was presented to Jeff by the Harbour Board in Tarangua
I am going to send my email details to your pm box if I can
All the best
Ray Donnelly
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Welcome to Rootschat, Ray, but new members usually need 3 posts to use PM system.
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Hello Ray
I have sent a reply and my email address to your PM Box. Hope you get it ok.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Pat Berry in Australia
Good Morning Pat or should I say cousin
My name is Ray Donnelly and Jeff was my Grandfather
My Fathers name was Bill and I have two brothers Geoffrey and Kevin
Geoff has a house in Passage and my other brother and myself live in Waterford
Geoff has a framed photo of the Maindy Court which was presented to Jeff by the Harbour Board in Tarangua
I am going to send my email details to your pm box if I can
All the best
Ray Donnelly
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Dear Ray
I just started looking yesterday for information regarding my Grandfarthers Shipping Co that went bust in WW2
I was wondering if it would be possible to have a copy somehow of the photograph that you mention of the Maindy Court. It would appear that my Grandfarther's ships all commence with the name Maindy. So far I have found the names of 7 but little else. So to discover a photo of one and to discover who the captain was too is great news.
I am new to this chat room and have no idea of how to use it or how it is possible for you to get my email. I put a posting up yesterday but nothing seems to have appeared, so I hope this one does!
Best wishes
Muriel
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Welcome to Rooschat, Muriel. After you've made 3 posts you'll be able to use PM (personal message) system to exchange email addresses and other personal information which can't be posted on the boards.
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Hello Muriel
There is a photo of the"Maindy Court" on the Ellis Island site which my cousin Tony sent them. The "Maindy Court" was built in Sunderland, England for British Flag. If your grandfather was on that ship you may find him on that site.
Here is a link to the website:- You will have to register to see the photo of the ship.
www.ellisisland.org
Pat Berry in Australia
Dear Ray
I just started looking yesterday for information regarding my Grandfarthers Shipping Co that went bust in WW2
I was wondering if it would be possible to have a copy somehow of the photograph that you mention of the Maindy Court. It would appear that my Grandfarther's ships all commence with the name Maindy. So far I have found the names of 7 but little else. So to discover a photo of one and to discover who the captain was too is great news.
I am new to this chat room and have no idea of how to use it or how it is possible for you to get my email. I put a posting up yesterday but nothing seems to have appeared, so I hope this one does!
Best wishes
Muriel
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Hello Muriel
If you go into wwwellisisland.org/search/shipimage.asp you will see the maindy court and can purchase the photo on line it also says that jeff was the "the asossiated passenger
lovely to hear from you and looking forward to hearing from you again
Ray
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Muriel
I have just seen that pat berry 9my newly found cousin has given you that info anyway no problem getting into site i assure you
all the best again
ray donnelly
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Dear Pat and Ray
Thank you so much for that information, next job ordering one!
I wonder if your relative Captain Geoffrey Donnelly knew my Grandfather, Thomas Jenkins, which to me would be exciting as he died aged 49, before my parents were even married, from a brain tumour. My Grandfather had the ship built and owned it with his partners Richards and Evan. As far as I can see they owned 7 ships over a period of time till WW2, so he may have known the captains.
Do you know what dates Geoffrey Donnelly was the captain of this ship?
Thanks again
Muriel
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Hi again Muriel
To the best of my knowledge it was 1922 when he discovered "Donnellys Creek"
so how long before and after he skippered the ship i dont know but will try to get further info for you
Norman Wisdom also served on the ship for a short time it was mentioned on a tv program last fri. night and that is why i googled the ship on sat.and came into contact with pat in oz who is jeffs neice
asurprise as we didnt even know that he had a sister
All the best
Ray
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Hi Ray
Thanks for all that. I too looked up Maindy Court as a result of the same program having made a possible connection with the name of the ship and my G/Fathers shipping Co. and knowing that they were based in Cardiff.
IF you look up on the website that your new found cousin........ which I think is fantastic.... sent and look at the ships original manifest then look at it in text, there is an option to do this, it would appear that your Grandfather was on the ship from Gibraltar to New York in 1917 and also departed from New York.
It would seem that the ship was built in 1917 and as your G/Father is first on the list I assume that he was captain then.
Thanks for all you help
Muriel
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Hello Muriel
Just noticed your message. I will get back to you with the dates that Jeffrey Donnelly was Captain of the "Maindy Court". I have a few of his voyages. I have also seen the name Thomas Jenkins somewhere.
Regards
Pat Berry
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Hello Muriel
I have had a look at the voyages I had for my Great Uncle Jeffrey Donnelly and the only ones I have on the Maindy Court are the two that are on Ellis Island. They are 1917 & 1924. We know that he went to Tauranga, New Zealand in 1922 on the Maindy Court from a Newspaper Report.
In 1908 he was on the Abberton and 1931 he was on the Euphorbia.
I also looked on Google for Norman Wisdom as we have not seen that show here. I found that the show you watched in Ireland was on "You Tube" so I watched it from there and saw the picture of the Maindy Court. Norman Wisdon had a hard life.
Regards
Pat
Dear Pat and Ray
Thank you so much for that information, next job ordering one!
I wonder if your relative Captain Geoffrey Donnelly knew my Grandfather, Thomas Jenkins, which to me would be exciting as he died aged 49, before my parents were even married, from a brain tumour. My Grandfather had the ship built and owned it with his partners Richards and Evan. As far as I can see they owned 7 ships over a period of time till WW2, so he may have known the captains.
Do you know what dates Geoffrey Donnelly was the captain of this ship?
Thanks again
Muriel
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Dear Pat
Thanks for that it is great finding out about family!
I am off to my Mothers 83 birthday for a few days so will have a better look when I am back, where I hope to find something there perhaps too.
thanks again
Muriel