Finding what happened to William Donnelly b. 1841 Sydney Australia

[janjim]

Hi,
I am trying to find any information on William Donnelly b. 1841 in Sydney or Balmain.  His parents Simon and Eliza Donnelly had arrived from Hog Island, County Clare,  Ireland the previous year on board the "Premier".     Simon Donnelly was a Sailmaker at Balmain Sydney, he came to Australia registered as a Farm Labourer arriving with two children, Mary Donnelly b. 1937 and Joseph (legendary Boat Builder at Balmain) b. 1839.  They had several other children after their arrival, first child William whom we believe was also a Boat Builder at Balmain.     Cannot find any records of his death, there is one marriage to Henrietta Cummings, but we do not believe this is the correct William Donnelly, he is from another family.
There is much history on Joseph Donnelly his older brother who was a famous Boat Builder.
If anyone can assist with our William Donnelly, would really appreciate their help.
Best regards
Jan

[judb]

Find-a-Grave has this burial, but I can't see it on the NSW BMD index so can't verify any other details to see if this is the correct person.

William Donnelly
BIRTH 1841
DEATH 1 Jun 1869 (aged 27–28)
BURIAL
Gladesville Asylum Cemetery, Gladesville, Hunter's Hill Municipality, New South Wales, Australia
PLOT 335
MEMORIAL ID 191590699 · View Source

Quite a lot about the hospital and its cemetery is available on Google, but couldn't see anything specific about William although many of these burials were, apparently, in unmarked graves.

Judith

[~MERLIN~]

Find-a-Grave has this burial, but I can't see it on the NSW BMD index so can't verify any other details to see if this is the correct person.

William Donnelly
BIRTH 1841
DEATH 1 Jun 1869 (aged 27–28)
BURIAL
Gladesville Asylum Cemetery, Gladesville, Hunter's Hill Municipality, New South Wales, Australia
PLOT 335
MEMORIAL ID 191590699 · View Source
Judith

William DONELLY age 28yrs
Died: RYDE
District: RYDE
Reg: 5942/1869

https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/deaths

[judb]

Well found Merlin - I actually put that name in and then, before pressing, corrected it to the other spelling - should have just pressed 'Search"!

Unfortunately no parent names which isn't unusual with a death in an institution, so still no confirmation that this is the correct person.

Judith

[janjim]

Thanks Judith, I saw that death on Ancestry, but just wasn't sure if this was our William.
Wonder if there are any records elsewhere we can check the name of parents.

Jan

[cupoflife]

Not sure if related?
https://search.records.nsw.gov.au/permalink/f/1ebnd1l/INDEX2942209
Details
Number INX-106-98605
Title: Donnelly William
Index Name: Index to Colonial Secretary Letters Received
Description: Asylum
Name: William
Surname: Donnelly
Index Number: 106
ECommerce: Category G
Start Date: 01/01/1866
End Date: 31/12/1866
Citation: [4/575] Letter no 66/2815

[wivenhoe]

The death certificates for Timothy DONNELLY and wife Eliza, when and where did they die and - how are their children accounted for  eg  alive, deceased?

Can you confirm please...the missing William is son of Timothy DONNELLY and Eliza SCALES?


The children born in Sydney have parents Timothy DONNELLY ......and Eliza SCALES, and Timothy is son of Simon?

[cupoflife]

SMH 7 June 1866 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13132363
Also https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166660496
William Donnelly, 32, boat builder, was taken into custody under warrant on the information of Timothy Donnelly, his father, on the ground that he was suffering from derangement of mind, and likely to commit some offence for which he would be liable to be indicted. The father, who is a sailmaker, residing Duke-street Balmain, stated in evidence that prisoner returned from California about six months ago, and, being in bad health, he was sent to the hospital. Being discharged from that institution he came home, but being very strange in his conduct, repeating numbers for a long time, suddenly calling out "fire," making grimaces, and throwing his arms about in a wild manner, it was feared that he might do himself some harm. He one day ran into the fire, and seemed to have no idea of what he was doing. Another son, about 17 years of age, is now an inmate of Tarban Creek Asylum. Prisoner was sometimes tied down in bed. Two legally qualified medical practitioners, Dr Egan and Dr Shaw, had examined prisoner, certified to the unsoundness of his mind, and recommended that he be sent to a lunatic asylum. He was committed to Darlinghurst gaol until discharged in due course of law.

[judb]

What a sad and distressing story to be reported publicly in the newspaper, with the additional mention of the brother.
So it seems likely that the 1869 death is the correct one, although the father’s name doesn’t match that given by the OP.

Judith