John Alfred O'Donnel/l born Jersey - father Private in 47 foot

[Jamjar]

I have a death certificate for John Alfred O'Donnel/l with a birth date around 1823.

It has father: Hugh O'Donnell as Private 47 foot

Mother: Eliza - no maiden name.

It says John was born 'Jersey' and arrived Australia in 1958

Where would his birth have been registered?

Where do I begin looking for his parents information, e.g. marriage?

Where was John between birth and 1958?

I don't need any information on the Australian side.

I have posted it on this board as I couldn't decide if it should be on the Isles, Military, or possibly Ireland boards.

Jamjar

[KGarrad]

His birth was before Civil Registration in Jersey, which began in 1841 (I think?).
Jersey is not a part of the United Kingdom, and therefore has it's own records system.

So you will need parish records.

Have you tried the British Army BMD records on Ancestry?

You might also try search.jerripediabmd.net?
But I'm not finding any O'Donnell there

[Jamjar]

Thanking you.

Yes, I didn't think of the fact that his birth wouldn't be recorded, silly me. 

I don't have Ancestry access.

I'm hoping there will be a military mention somewhere.

Would they be on a '41 census in UK, or would they have still been in Jersey and on that one?

Jamjar

[KGarrad]

Regiments posted to Jersey didn't stay for long.
So the family are unlikely to be on the Jersey 1841 census.

Does your local library have access to Ancestry?



The 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot saw service in the First Burmese War in 1824 to 1826.
But were back home in 1829.
By 1850 they were in the Ionian Islands.

see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/47th_(Lancashire)_Regiment_of_Foot

[Jamjar]

No library where I live, or nearby.

No hurry, though, I'll be travelling next month so if no one comes up with anything I can visit a library then.

Was it common for military folk to take their wives with them?

Jamjar

[ShaunJ]

There is an army pensioner named Hugh O'Donnell in St Helier, Jersey,  in the 1841 census. Born Ireland circa 1786. He has a wife Mary aged 40 ( much younger - a second wife perhaps?) and a number of children including a son John aged 9.

Army pension records show that he was from 101st Foot and was admitted to pension in 1817. I can't find his discharge papers to confirm whether or not he had previously served in 47th Foot.*

There is an 1849 merchant seaman's ticket for a John O'Donnell born in Jersey on 5 May 1833.


* now found his 1817 discharge papers indexed as Hugh Donnell. Born Drumkirin, Leitrim circa 1786, enlisted in the 101st in 1806. So it appears that he never served in the 47th Regiment.

[Jamjar]

Thank you, Shaun.

That 9 year old John is about 10 years too young to be my John.

Could there be more than one Hugh who had been in Jersey and in the 47th?

There is a court report of a seaman John O'Donnell being attacked in Sydney around 1858, which is when he claims to have arrived in Australia.

Jamjar

[Jamjar]

Shaun, these are John's children. Do any match the family on the '41?

Alfred Allen
Ellen Kalka      My goodness, Kalka was the name of a creek on their property. 
Hubert Belmont
Francis William 
Elizabeth Jane 
Arthur Hugh 
John Robert 

Jamjar

[ShaunJ]

Yes - there is a Hubert, aged 14 in the Jersey family:

Commercial Street, St Helier:

Hugh O'Donnell  55 Army P
Mary O'Donnell     40
Hubert O'Donnell 14
Mary O'Donnell   10
John O'Donnell   9