This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Noakes, Peacock, Styles, Blair, O'Donnell, Wilkinson, Peters, Shorter, Wickham, Tompsett Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/oI4.2ACIB/756 Message Board Post: Looking for info on James O'Donnell, b. 1860 Piltown, Kilkenny, Ireland, d. 1942, Sydney, Aust. M1 Miss Carroll 1880 (New Zealand?), M2 Ellen Ahern 1891 (Sydney), M3 Nellie Senhour 1911 (Sydney). Emigrated from Ireland to New Zealand 1880. Emigrated from NZ to Australia 1884 He married his first wife, Miss Carroll, in New Zealand. I believe she was born there, but can't find any record.. They had three children, Elizabeth (1884), Millicent (1888) and an unknown male. He was a widow when he married my ggrandmother, Ellen Ahern. He had four children by her, James, Olive Jane (m. Kenneth Charles Styles), John B. (also played Rugby for Australia) and Thomas. I believe he committed Ellen to a mental institution prior to dissolving their marriage so that he could marry Nellie Senhouse, his third wife, in 1911. He was an educated man from an Irish family of insurgents who also happened to be race horse-breeders, trainers and owners. On his marriage license to Ellen Ahern his occupation is listed as Journalist. Two of his brothers, Andrew (Chicago) and Patrick (NYC), and his sister, Mary (m. Ed Farrell)(Denver, Salt Lake City), immigrated directly to the US. Another brother, John, was forced to escape Ireland after cutting an ear off an English soldier. John joined James but not sure whether it was NZ or Aus - dates conflict. John moved to Chicago in the 1880s Rugby History: Canterbury 1882 (Christchurch); Otago 1883 (Invercargill). Member of the New Zealand rugby team Represented NZ against Aust 1884, Represented New South Wales 1884-86, 88. Represented Australia 1899 Prior to his departure for the 1884 tour a sensation arose when he was arrested in Clinton, NZ and returned to Invercargill, NZ under a fugitive warrant, apparently indebted to several tradespeople who had a strong suspicion he did not intend returning to New Zealand. They weren't far wrong! Apart from the above, I know nothing of his life in New Zealand. Unfortunately, I am not even certain of when he arrived or on what boat.

Louise: In response to your post, your James may be related to my O'Donnell's (also known as Daniel's the British Version). My John Daniel born abt 1813 in Ballehennebury Kilkenny d March 16, 1896 in Killonery Kilkenny. He married Catherine Joy in the parish of Piltown in 1854. She was born 1834 Tybrochny Tipperary. Killonery & Piltown is literally a stone throw away from Tipperary. Children: Patrick Daniel 1854-1906 d Brooklyn NY USA Richard Daniel 1855-? d Australia (Dick) Margaret Daniel 1856-1944 raised two generations in Killonery Michael Daniel 1857-? d Brooklyn NY USA William Daniel 1859-1937 d Killonery (returned from US) John Daniel 1861 d Ire Edmund Daniel 1862 d Queensland Australia (Ned) Peter Daniel 1864-d USA Ellen Daniel 1865-1880 age 14 Killonery James Daniel 1867 d 1908 Bklyn NY Catherine Daniel 1871-d Boston MA Mary Daniel 1872 d 1951 Brooklyn NY The family name was changed back to O'Donnell in 1902. This John was the son of Michael who was the son of John all forced to use the British version of the name. This did seem to be something exclusive to Tipperary/Kilkenny counties until I received a question from a man in Philadelphia PA who's family came from Galway and had the same oddity. It was explained to him as "we took the soup" whether that is our case or not I have not determined yet. Edmund (Ned) b1862 died in Queensland had children John O'Donnell, Maurice O'Donnell& Margaret O'Donnell (no dates on them no mothers name) then names seem to follow the Irish naming pattern. He was skilled in a Mill accident and his wife went on to remarry. Richard (Dick)1855 was considered contrary by the family. Rarely ever heard from but was in Australia. Piltown is a very small parish (from what I hear) so they were probably cousins. The family still retains the family farm purchased in 1850 in Killonery Kilkenny. Doreen McKenna Powers Pocono Mtns, Pennsylvania USA -----Original Message----- From: gc-gateway@rootsweb.com [mailto:gc-gateway@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of louisemwn@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2001 1:59 PM To: ODONNELL-L@rootsweb.com Subject: James A O'Donnell - Piltown, Kilkenny, Ireland > NZ > Australia