Folk Figure. Born the seventh child of Johannah Magee and James Donnelly in Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada, and raised a member of the contentious Donnelly clan. During the 1870s, Thomas and two older brothers begin to farm of their own. In 1873, he began working as a stage driver for his brother William's company. They were suspected of a long and violent feud with a rival coaching firm, and in 1876, he was found guilty of assault. The stage line closed the following year. In 1879 the new constable and long-time Donnelly enemy promised to rid the township of the Donnellys, and tried to arrest Thomas on old charges. Warned by his brother, Thomas escaped. In the early hours of 4 February 1880, some 30 men invaded the Donnelly homestead, a constable put Thomas in handcuffs just before the house was invaded by vigilantes. When he demanded they produce a warrant, he was beaten and he tried to make a break. A witness testified the Donnellys ran into the kitchen ahead of their pursuers, where Thomas was apparently beaten to death with a shovel before the house was fired. The invaders also butchered his father, James, mother, Johannah, and a visiting cousin, Bridget. The recovered bodies were so burned and reduced that they were buried in one casket. After two trials, none of the accused murderers were ever convicted. The gravestone erected by a surviving son was removed and replaced in 1964 so the word "murdered" was not included.
Folk Figure. Born the seventh child of Johannah Magee and James Donnelly in Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada, and raised a member of the contentious Donnelly clan. During the 1870s, Thomas and two older brothers begin to farm of their own. In 1873, he began working as a stage driver for his brother William's company. They were suspected of a long and violent feud with a rival coaching firm, and in 1876, he was found guilty of assault. The stage line closed the following year. In 1879 the new constable and long-time Donnelly enemy promised to rid the township of the Donnellys, and tried to arrest Thomas on old charges. Warned by his brother, Thomas escaped. In the early hours of 4 February 1880, some 30 men invaded the Donnelly homestead, a constable put Thomas in handcuffs just before the house was invaded by vigilantes. When he demanded they produce a warrant, he was beaten and he tried to make a break. A witness testified the Donnellys ran into the kitchen ahead of their pursuers, where Thomas was apparently beaten to death with a shovel before the house was fired. The invaders also butchered his father, James, mother, Johannah, and a visiting cousin, Bridget. The recovered bodies were so burned and reduced that they were buried in one casket. After two trials, none of the accused murderers were ever convicted. The gravestone erected by a surviving son was removed and replaced in 1964 so the word "murdered" was not included.
Bio by: Iola
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