Bella DONAGHY, 18911978 (aged 87 years)

Name
Bella /DONAGHY/
Given names
Bella
Surname
DONAGHY
Birth February 16, 1891 39 22
Note: DOB from baptismal register.

DOB from baptismal register.

Irish birth registrations record her DOB as 16 March 1891 in Adnagappary.

Birth of a sisterBridget DONAGHY
about 1893 (aged 1 year)
Note: Age and location of birth based on information in the 1901 Irish census.
Death of a maternal grandfatherHugh McCOLE
November 18, 1893 (aged 2 years) Age: 66
Cause: Debility, no medical attendant for 8 years.
Birth of a brotherHugh DONAGHY
March 6, 1895 (aged 4 years)
Note: Birth date taken from civil registration. Derrybeg church records have him born 27 Feb 1895.
Death of a brotherHugh DONAGHY
April 15, 1897 (aged 6 years) Age: 2
Cause: Debility from birth.
Note: Not reported until 16 Nov 1897 when his grandmother Margery McCole advised authorities.
Birth of a brotherJames DONAGHY
January 8, 1898 (aged 6 years)
Death of a brotherJames DONAGHY
April 24, 1898 (aged 7 years)
Note: Death reported by Cecily Donaghy who was reported as wife of 45 year old farmer who died following a…

Death reported by Cecily Donaghy who was reported as wife of 45 year old farmer who died following a month of bronchitis without medical attention. It would appear that somehow there was a language misunderstanding between Cecily and person taking her information and given her illiteracy she was unable to read anything written and advise of mistakes. Death was recorded by the Assistant Register whose name was not found in other death registrations and may have been unfamiliar with the local dialect. Cecily reported 2 of the other children who died very young. James is not in the 2 census returns. In 1911 she reported having had 4 children die following birth which is consistent with James being one of them. James does not appear in other death records.

Birth of a sisterMary DONAGHY
March 17, 1899 (aged 8 years)
Note: Derrybeg church records indicate birth was 24 Feb 1899.
Death of a sisterMary DONAGHY
July 31, 1899 (aged 8 years) Age: 5 months
Address: Bronchitis 1 week, no medical attendant.
Birth of a sisterAnnie DONAGHY
August 21, 1900 (aged 9 years)
Note: Derrybeg church record reveals birth occurred on 24 Jul 1900.
Death of a sisterAnnie DONAGHY
January 5, 1901 (aged 9 years) Age: 5 months
Address: Bronchitis 7 days, certified.
Birth of a sisterFanny DONAGHY
September 16, 1901 (aged 10 years)
Note: Derrybeg church records reveal birth occurred on 9 Sep 1901.
Birth of a brotherEdward DONAGHY
January 1, 1903 (aged 11 years)
Note: Derrybeg church records have birth at 18 Nov 1902.
Birth of a brotherCharles DONAGHY
November 9, 1907 (aged 16 years)
Death of a maternal grandmotherMadge BOYLE
January 13, 1909 (aged 17 years) Age: 84
Cause: Senile decay
Birth of a sisterMaggie DONAGHY
April 19, 1909 (aged 18 years)
Note: Derrybeg church records has birth at 5 Apr 1909.
MarriageView this family
1911 (aged 19 years)

Note: Marriage not found and unlikely to have occurred. However, Bella had a baby in 1912 who was brought…

Marriage not found and unlikely to have occurred. However, Bella had a baby in 1912 who was brought up by her mother.

Birth of a daughterMary DONAGHY
May 12, 1912 (aged 21 years)
Departed Londonderry for New York
Departed from Londonderry on the "Caledonia" for New York on 7th September, arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 16th September.. Occupation stated was laundress. Contact in New York was a friend, Mrs Mary Boyle of 356 Lexington Ave, Brooklyn New York.
September 1912 (aged 21 years)

Birth of a brotherHugh DONAGHY
March 6, 1913 (aged 22 years)
Civil marriageWilliam DONAGHYView this family
July 29, 1913 (aged 22 years)
Address: 50 Eramsus St - William 1163 Flatbush Av - Bella
Note: Married after applying for a license.
Death of a brotherHugh DONAGHY
August 29, 1913 (aged 22 years) Age: 6 months
Cause: Marasmus - malnutrition
Death of a husbandWilliam DONAGHY
before May 1921 (aged 30 years)
MarriageJohn James FITZGERALDView this family
May 11, 1921 (aged 30 years)
Birth of a sonJohn Joseph FITZGERALD
April 2, 1922 (aged 31 years)
Death of a husbandJohn James FITZGERALD
October 28, 192416:30 (aged 33 years) Age: 37
Address: 132 St Mark's Place, Brooklyn, New York
Cause: "Acute cardiac dilitation when he attempted to get out of bed" and lobar pneumonia.
Burial of a husbandJohn James FITZGERALD
October 31, 1924 (aged 33 years)
Address: 132 St Marks Place Brooklyn, New York
Note: Section 20, Row S

Section 20, Row S Grave 313 to ---

MarriagePatrick J HARRIGANView this family
July 20, 1927 (aged 36 years)
Note: Previous license records also exist for them at the same location for 20th January 1926.
Birth of a sonEdward Patrick HARRIGAN
November 15, 1927 (aged 36 years)
Birth of a sonJames HARRIGAN
between 1928 and 1929 (aged 37 years)
Census April 1930 (aged 39 years) Age: 37
Address: 367 Bergen St Brooklyn Borough Kings County New York
Note: Bella appeared in the census with spouse, a letter carrier, and 3 sons between the ages of 1 and 8.…

Bella appeared in the census with spouse, a letter carrier, and 3 sons between the ages of 1 and 8. Bella was mistakenly listed as being born in the USA whereas her spouse was born in Ireland, arriving in 1904. He also identified as being a veteran of "WW". Eight lodgers were also identified at the same address.

Death of a brotherCharles DONAGHY
September 2, 1936 (aged 45 years) Age: 28
Address: "On Carspairn to Daley Rd near Knockgrey Lodge gate".
Cause: "Natural causes, collapse from excess of alcohol."
Note: Death certified under wrong name (Donoghue) but certificate records correct information about Irish…

Death certified under wrong name (Donoghue) but certificate records correct information about Irish home and parental names, apart from surname. Death registered by police constable 2 days following death. No record of inquest found in newspapers. Several later articles in Irish papers indicating police were connecting his death with Donaghys in Carrickataskin. Death record amended on 21 Sept 1936 to indicate that his usual residence was Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland.

Death of a fatherEdward DONAGHY
September 17, 1936 (aged 45 years) Age: 84
Cause: senile decay
Census April 1940 (aged 49 years) Age: 46
Address: 367 Bergin St Brooklyn, New York USA
Note: Bella was listed with her spouse, a letter carrier, and 4 sons aged between 12 and 23, none of whom…

Bella was listed with her spouse, a letter carrier, and 4 sons aged between 12 and 23, none of whom was identified as employed. Both parents were born in Ireland and Patrick, spouse, owned his property.

Left Cobh, Ireland and arrived at New York
Sailed from Cobh (Queenstown) in County Cork on the Washington on November 15th arriving in New York on November 22nd with 2 pieces of luggage and classified as an Irish born US citizen. The Bergin St address was recorded.
1948 (aged 56 years)

Death of a husbandPatrick J HARRIGAN
after April 7, 1950 (aged 59 years)
Note: Bella recorded as (wid) and living in at 623 East Madison in Lancaster in the 1960 Lancaster City Di…

Bella recorded as (wid) and living in at 623 East Madison in Lancaster in the 1960 Lancaster City Directory.

Residence April 9, 1950 (aged 59 years)
Address: 367 Bergen St Brooklyn New York USA
Note: Living with spouse, a government letter carrier, and their 21-year-old son, James who was unable to…

Living with spouse, a government letter carrier, and their 21-year-old son, James who was unable to work. Eight lodgers were also listed in the same property in the 1950 census.

Returned from Ireland by boat
Left Cobh, County Cork on board the MV Georgic on 10th July arriving in New York on 19th July. Bella's address was 48 Sterling Place, Brooklyn, another leafy street.
1953 (aged 61 years)

Death of a motherCecilia aka Sheila aka Sile McCOLE
February 26, 1955 (aged 64 years)
Note: Cecilia is reported to have died in the area around February 1953. However, she does not appear in…

Cecilia is reported to have died in the area around February 1953. However, she does not appear in registrations of death nor is there a tombstone. It is known that records were not entirely accurate and I have noted a number of mistakes in her children's records. However, there was a newspaper report of her death in 1955. Jan 2026 A death certificate now found showing that Sheila died at the County House, a place for babies, unmarried mothers, infirm and elderly in Stranorlar in 1955 in accordance with the newspaper report.

Burial of a motherCecilia aka Sheila aka Sile McCOLE
February 28, 1955 (aged 64 years)
Note: Some interesting local information found in the remainder of the article.
Death notice for Sheila Donaghy

Note: Finally found a record of death. Nothing found in civil death records.
Death of a brotherEdward DONAGHY
February 13, 1957 (aged 65 years) Age: 54
Address: Post mortem held 16 Feb.
Cause: cardiac failure
Death June 9, 1978 (aged 87 years)
Note: Bella's DOB in the US Social Security Death Index is the same as that in the Derrybeg parish registe…

Bella's DOB in the US Social Security Death Index is the same as that in the Derrybeg parish register.

Family with parents
father
18521936
Birth: about 1852Donegal, Ireland
Death: September 17, 1936Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
mother
Cecilia & Eddie
18681955
Birth: August 23, 1868 41 45Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
Death: February 26, 1955County House, Stranorlar, Donegal, Ireland
Religious marriage Religious marriageNovember 13, 1888St Eugene's Church, Limavardy, Londonderry, Ireland
2 years
herself
18911978
Birth: February 16, 1891 39 22Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: June 9, 1978Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
3 years
younger sister
2 years
younger brother
18951897
Birth: March 6, 1895 43 26Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: April 15, 1897Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
3 years
younger brother
18981898
Birth: January 8, 1898 46 29Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: April 24, 1898Carrickataskin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
14 months
younger sister
18991899
Birth: March 17, 1899 47 30Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: July 31, 1899Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
17 months
younger sister
19001901
Birth: August 21, 1900 48 31Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
Death: January 5, 1901Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
13 months
younger sister
1901
Birth: September 16, 1901 49 33Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
16 months
younger brother
Cecilia & Eddie
19031957
Birth: January 1, 1903 51 34Carrickataskin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
Death: February 13, 1957Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
5 years
younger brother
19071936
Birth: November 9, 1907 55 39Carrickataskin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
Death: September 2, 1936Scotland
18 months
younger sister
1909
Birth: April 19, 1909 57 40Carrickataskin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
4 years
younger brother
19131913
Birth: March 6, 1913 61 44Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
Death: August 29, 1913Carrickataskin, Donegal, Ireland
… … + Bella DONAGHY
herself
18911978
Birth: February 16, 1891 39 22Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: June 9, 1978Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Marriage Marriage1911
17 months
daughter
19121979
Birth: May 12, 1912 21Carrickataskin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Ireland
Death: August 30, 1979Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Family with William DONAGHY
husband
18831921
Birth: 1883Donegal, Ireland
Death: before May 1921Probably USA
herself
18911978
Birth: February 16, 1891 39 22Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: June 9, 1978Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Civil marriage Civil marriageJuly 29, 1913Borough Hall, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA
Family with John James FITZGERALD
husband
18861924
Birth: April 7, 1886 51 43Coppenagh, Graingue, Thomastown, Kilkenny, Ireland
Death: October 28, 1924132 St Mark's Place, Brooklyn, New York (home)
herself
18911978
Birth: February 16, 1891 39 22Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: June 9, 1978Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Marriage MarriageMay 11, 1921Borough Hall, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
11 months
son
19221985
Birth: April 2, 1922 35 31Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Death: January 15, 1985Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Family with Patrick J HARRIGAN
husband
18891950
Birth: 1889Ireland
Death: after April 7, 1950Unknown, probably New York
herself
18911978
Birth: February 16, 1891 39 22Ardnagappary, Donegal, Ireland
Death: June 9, 1978Aptos, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Marriage MarriageJuly 20, 1927Borough Hall, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA
4 months
son
19271991
Birth: November 15, 1927 38 36Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Death: October 28, 1991Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
2 years
son
19282015
Birth: between 1928 and 1929 40 37Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Death: December 22, 2015Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennslyvannia, USA
Birth

DOB from baptismal register.

Irish birth registrations record her DOB as 16 March 1891 in Adnagappary.

Marriage

Marriage not found and unlikely to have occurred. However, Bella had a baby in 1912 who was brought up by her mother.

Marriage

Married after applying for a license.

Marriage

Previous license records also exist for them at the same location for 20th January 1926.

Census

Bella appeared in the census with spouse, a letter carrier, and 3 sons between the ages of 1 and 8. Bella was mistakenly listed as being born in the USA whereas her spouse was born in Ireland, arriving in 1904. He also identified as being a veteran of "WW". Eight lodgers were also identified at the same address.

Census

Bella was listed with her spouse, a letter carrier, and 4 sons aged between 12 and 23, none of whom was identified as employed. Both parents were born in Ireland and Patrick, spouse, owned his property.

Residence

Living with spouse, a government letter carrier, and their 21-year-old son, James who was unable to work. Eight lodgers were also listed in the same property in the 1950 census.

Death

Bella's DOB in the US Social Security Death Index is the same as that in the Derrybeg parish register.