Hi,
I am looking for more information on my husband's great-grandfather, Thomas
John Donnelly, raised by John and Mary Dardis. What is the connection
between the Donnelly and Dardis families? Thomas John Donnelly was the only
child of Michael Donnelly and Honora "Norah" Winn Donnelly Williams, both
from Ireland. Thomas was born in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey on July
28, 1849 and christened at Saint John Roman Catholic Church in Newark.
Thomas' father Michael died a few days before Thomas' first birthday.
As a baby or young child (sometime between the ages of 1 and 10), Thomas
became the foster child of John and Mary Dardis, a childless couple from
Ireland. After his father's death, Thomas moved first to the Spencer
Township area of Jennings County, Indiana where he farmed with his Dardis
family. Later (between 1870 and 1875), John and Mary Dardis and Thomas
joined the rest of the Dardis family in Madison County, New York.
A family tradition says that somehow Thomas lost contact with his birth
mother. Two years after Michael's death, she married Elisha Williams of
Newark and had more children. Thomas had at least three younger
half-siblings of whom he probably was not aware.
At age 32 Thomas married Honora "Norah" Heffernan Donnelly from Tipperary,
Ireland on October 18, 1881 in Cazenovia, Madison County, and they had seven
children: Helen Donnelly Dietz, Mary Donnelly Barrett, Nora Donnelly,
Catherine Donnelly, John Dardis Donnelly, Thomas James Donnelly, and Dorothy
Donnelly Heintz. They lived in Canastota, Madison County. In Indiana Thomas
had farmed with his foster parents John and Mary Dardis.
For most of his life, however, Thomas John Donnelly was a railroad conductor
first for the New York Central Lines Railroad and then the Lehigh Valley
Railroad. Thomas began work with the Lehigh Valley system February 28, 1882,
as a trainman. On April 1, 1884 he was promoted to be a conductor and March
1, 1895 a passenger conductor, a position he held until his death. He died
on March 14, 1928 in Madison County at age 78 after years of failing health.
His funeral Mass was at Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church in Canastota. His
nephews were pall bearers. He is buried in Saint James Catholic Cemetery in
Cazenovia. Officials and employees of the Lehigh Valley railroad gave him a
tribute seldom, if ever before, accorded a Canastota citizen when they went
there on a special train to attend the services. Every station on the Lehigh
between Canastota and Cortland is said to have been represented among the
party of railroad men.
John Dardis, Jr. was born in Ireland in 1814 the son of John Dardis, Sr. and
Mary Wade Dardis and the brother of Andrew Dardis. John Dardis, Jr. and his
wife Mary Dardis came from Ireland to America, and for more than a decade
they were farmers in the Spencer Township area of Jennings County, Indiana
before returning to Madison County, New York to join other Dardis family
members. Unable to have birth children, they adopted Thomas John Donnelly,
the son of Irish immigrants Michael Donnelly and Norah Winn Donnelly, after
Michael's death. In the 1870s the Dardis family returned to Madison County,
New York, and John became a tanner like his father. John, Jr. died in 1887
in Madison County at age 73. He is buried in Saint James Catholic Cemetery
in Cazenovia, Madison County, New York. Mary was born in Ireland in 1815.
Mary died in 1876 in Madison County at about age 61. She is buried in Saint
James Catholic Cemetery in Cazenovia, Madison County, New York.
I would appreciate any help in figuring out the connection between the
Donnelly and Dardis families. Where they related? Did John and Mary Dardis
get Thomas John Donnelly in New Jersey or Indiana? Are there any photos of
John and Mary Dardis? Why did the Dardis family leave Indiana for New York?
Thanks,
Sharlotte Neely Donnelly
donnelly(a)one.net