Custom House Burning - Part 1 / John Wilson

[Private 1st class]

Hi look forward to seeing the photo.

[Gavdonnelly]

Ms. Smoketoomuch,

You say your grandfather got Teeling, O'Malley and Donnelly out. Just wondering if you know if the Donnelly you are referring to is Thomas Donnelly.

I've been researching my Great Grandfathers efforts during the war of independence and I got his pension application from the Department of Defence and some other documents from the Cathal Brugha barracks in Rathmines with a list of activities he was involved in like the LNWP Hotel and the Customs House. But what I haven't got is any actual stories passed down which are more interesting and more informative.

He was a section leader in F Coy 2nd Battalion. So is this Donnelly, Thomas Donnelly and do you have any other details about him. Thanks

[Gavdonnelly]

Greaghglass,

Is read your post a few days ago and for some reason Charles McCabe's name stood out. So I went through the files I have on Thomas Donnelly and his name came up. I only have a few details but here they are.

Thomas Donnelly was a section leader in the F Coy 2nd Battalion and he names Charles McCabe as his Comdt between 1st April 1919 and the 31st March 1920. Charles's address was 29 Ellesmere Avenue, North Circular Road.

The documents I have relate to Donnelly's application for pension and following a meeting with the pension board he was asked to submit more info in writing. He listed various activities and details and one of them is listed as follows.

'Charlie McCabe, Christopher Fitzsimons and myself took part in and got to seize a rifle in the Town Hall, Clontarf, the three of us were armed. I recieved a smith and wesson revolver to go on this from John Ward, that would have been about 1920'.

That's it i'm afraid. Hope it helps

Gavin

[Ms. Smokestoomuch]

I'm afraid that was Simon Donnelly.
I've no idea if they were related. He lived on Wexford St. Dublin 1911 according to wikipedia.

[greaghglass]

thanks very much for that, this is fantastic ,keep them coming my father in law is in hospital at the minuite so this cheers him up no end,still working on photos

[seanod]

Sorry for delay Greaghglass. Were Charles McCabe's parents called James and Mary J?

[seanod]

There was a large family of McCabes in Manchester and the parents were called James and Mary J but there doesn't seem to have been a Charles (but then people were sometimes called by names which weren't their official name). The only Charles McCabe I can find was born in 1877 in Salford. His mother was called Ellen and she was remarried to a stepfather called Lees. How old was Charles McCabe in 1921? I don't suppose he could have been in his forties. If you can provide me with any information - names of his siblings, date of birth, other names used, I might be able to narrow it down.

[greaghglass]

thanks seanod,i have found out that charlie was born in 1899,his father was james mccabe,a police man ,his mother was may goodwin ,he had a brother frank and two sisters elsie and mary.incidently his brother frank was involved in the rising and went to live in the usa.

[seanod]

Hi Greaghglass, Unfortunately I still can't find them using those names. It is possible that they moved on somewhere else after the 1901 census - if they were in Ireland at the time of the census they won't show up there, as it hasn't been digitised yet. However, it does seem strange that the index of births for England and Wales isn't showing a Charles McCabe in Lancashire for 1899 or the years around. Perhaps he was born somewhere else?