Donnelly, Patrick

[ Patrick Donnelly Later in Life, By Permission of Ray Fazakas, Unknown, Private Collection of Ray Fazakas  ]Patrick Donnelly was born in Canada in 1849 (some sources say 1850). In 1871 Patrick married Mary Ryan, whose family had connections to Biddulph Township. As a young man Patrick moved to London to learn the trade of blacksmith and carriage/wagon making. Away from home, Patrick did not become entangled with the law nearly as much as did his brothers. Patrick eventually moved to Thorold where he was a wagon maker and a husband and father. Away from the Donnelly homestead, he escaped death at the hands of the mob that killed his parents, niece and two of his brothers in 1880. James Feeheley confessed his participation in the murders to Patrick, but nothing came of the confession. Patrick died in 1914.

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