Samuel Donnes (abt. 1815 - 1873)

Born about 1815 in Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece

Husband of Mary (Ferrens) Donnes — married 4 Jul 1840 (to 24 Mar 1853) in Sydney, Australia

Husband of Catherine (Riely) Donnes — married 21 Feb 1857 in Sydney, Australia

Descendants

Died 19 May 1873 at about age 58 in Tarilta, Victoria, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joan Gray [send private message]

Biography

Samuel DONNES was born on Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. His father Constantine Donnes (Antonatos) was born about 1780 in Greece.

• Death: 19 May 1873 Tarilta, Victoria, Australia
• Burial: 21 May 1873 Vaughn, Victoria, Australia

• Occupation: Mariner Before 1840 Ionian Islands?
• Occupation: Miner From 1855 Castlemaine District, Victoria, Australia
• Occupation: Boarding House Proprietor 1844 To 1845 Sydney NSW Australia
• Residence: Parish of St James 1840 Sydney NSW Australia
• Residence: Frazers Lane 1841/42 Sydney NSW Australia
• Residence: Essex Lane 1842/43 Sydney NSW Australia
• Residence: Cumberland Street Sydney NSW Australia
• Residence: Fryers Creek 1855 To 1873 Victoria, Australia

On the NSW BDM Samuel's surname is spelt Dones and Catherine is listed as her surname Riely. They were married in 1854.

"The sea has offered Greek-Australians employment opportunities in a variety of spheres. Many, like Samuel Donnes (Antonatos) and John Peters, both of whom arrived in Sydney during the 1830s, became mariners on coastal or river vessels, while others remained in port as wharf labourers. By 1916, there were thirty-three Greeks reported to be working on New South Wales coastal shipping alone." (From Faces beyond the Greek cafe)

Individual:

The surname Donnes shows in many different forms in the family records of Marriage, Birth and Death Certificates... Donnes, Donnas, Dones, Dennis, Donnish, and Downs.

We do not know his correct name but the surname is assumed to be Antonatos, a surname found on the Island of Kefalonia. I travelled to Kefalonia in 1993 to discover more about Sam Donnes, but was unable to confirm anything. However, I am convinced his surname WAS Antonatos, after hearing the surname pronounced by Greek people, and to an untrained English - speaker any of the above surnames could be a guess by the authorities of the time to interpret Antonatos. From Fay Tuckey.

Sources

• http://faytal.tripod.com/page2.html

• https://www.kythera-family.net/en/people/life-stories/my-greek-grandfather-samuel-donnes

• Marriage 2 NSW BDM Index 136/1854 V1854136 100 DONES SAMUEL married RIELY CATHERINE (LD) (LD=Roman Catholic Sydney, St Mary's)

• Death VIC BDM Index DONNES Samuel (parents) — & — Reg. year1873 Reg. no5713 (age 58, born CEPH, Spouse: Catherine Riley)

• My Greek Grandfather, Samuel Donnes

• https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:1:M4QM-X5J

Acknowledgments

Special "Thank you" must go to Lorraine Symes and Fay Helen Tuckey who have done all the work for these records and much more.

Thanks to Joan Gray for starting this profile.