James Donnelly - Lucan, Ontario
N 43° 11.284 W 081° 24.227
17T E 467189 N 4781779
A replica of the original tombstone is located in the Lucan Area Heritage and Donnelly Museum, it includes the five members of the Donnelly family that were murdered February 4 1880.
Waymark Code: WMRC73
Location: Ontario, Canada
Date Posted: 06/07/2016
Views: 6
The Donnelly's were an Irish family who emigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1842. James Donnelly his wife Johanna and three family members were murdered by an armed mob in Lucan, Ontario and their farm was burned down, the conclusion of long-standing conflict between the family and other residents. No one was ever convicted of the murders, despite two inconclusive trials and an eye witness to the crime.
The family was buried in St. Patrick's Cemetery, where the tombstone sat for 75 years. In 1964 a book by Thomas P. Kelley, with a picture of the tombstone on the cover reignited intrest. Due to unwanted attention, the tombstone itself had become a tourist attraction.
The Donnelly tombstone was then taken down in 1964 by St. Patrick's church authorities due to vandalism.
William Donnelly’s grandson, William Lord, the only remaining family member claims that the original tombstone was buried and it was the wish of the family that it never be returned to Lucan. The family eventually replaced the tombstone with one that leftout the words "murdered" beside each name.
Coordinates for the gravesite at St Patrick's:
N43 10.512 W81 22.253
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