John Donnell (abt. 1660 - bef. 1745)

Born about 1660 in York, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died before 19 Feb 1745 before about age 85 in York, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jeffrey Martin [send private message]

Biography

JOHN DONNELL
b.c.1660
m.1. ?Mary ______
m.2. 28 Sept. 1694 York, Hannah Milbury^[1]
m.3. after 1712 Sarah Young (m.1. Henry Brooking, 2. John Linscott)
will 29 Mar. 1738-19 Feb. 1745/6

John inherited the homestead of his father which had been the property of Edward Johnson including Hancock wharf and part of the golf course to Lindsay Rd. He apparently lived on Organug Rd. at Sewall's Bridge. Like his father John was a turner, examples of their work is on display at the Old York Historical Society Museum.

Chair Made by John Donnell- OYHS

"I John Donnell of York in the County of York in New England... bequeath to my well beloved Wife Sarah Donnell one third Part of all my Personal Estate for ever the use of my Dwelling House & a gardon too Rods Square Fencd with a bord fence whare She Shall chuse it the ceaping of one Cow & Six Sheep Winter & Summer for Life & eight Bushels of indion Corn & too Bushels of Rie one Hundred weight of Pork & one Hondred weight of Beaf and eight Cords of Wood Corded up at her Door Annualy for life to be payd by Son Thomas itum I bequeath to each of my Daughter viz Abigail Elisabeth Rebeckah Mary and Jemimah five Pounds a Piece in Province Bils of the new tenner or lawful Silver Munny to be Paid by my Son thomas and too thirds of my Personal Estate to be Equely devided among them I order my Son Thomas to pay all my Debts & bury me decently itum I bequeath to my only Son Thomas Donnell and his Heires and Assigns for ever all my Real Estate he Paying and alowing all the Leageses above Mentioned and I appoint my said Son to be the Sole Executer to this my Will and do by these Preasents Revoke and make void all former Wills Signed Sealed And Declared by the sd John Donnell to be His last Will and Testament March 29 1738
John donnell
In the Preasence of us
Joseph Holt
Saml Sewall
William duning
Henry Ingraham"

John Donnell's Will

"An Inventory of all and Singular the Goods Chattels Rights an Credits of Mr John Donnell late of York... this Seventh Day of April 1746...
Im his wearing apparrell...........2=17=6
Im one hat 10/ to two Canes 12/.1=2=0
Im old iron ware...........................1=3=0
Im one Bead and Beden..............4=0=0
Im a old fier Shovell & toungs.....0=5=0
Im one Cow...................................4=0=0
Im an old fearry boat.................1=10=0
Im forty five acres of Land at Seven
pound ten Shill pr Acre.........337=10=0
Im three acres of Salt marsh at ten
pound pr acre.............................30=0=0
_________
£382:7:6
John Woodbridge
Benja Holt............. Aprisers
Norton Woodbridge" ^[2]

Inventory of John Donnell's Estate

Research Note

Several secondary sources list John Donnell’s daughter Abigail as the wife of Joseph Young, however, primary sources confirming this have not been found. Joseph did have a wife Abigail and they would have been married about 1697 so if this Abigail was the daughter of John then she would have had to have been the child of an earlier marriage, not the daughter of Hannah Milbury as stated by several authors. My guess is that Abigail Young’s maiden name was guessed at, as the only unattached Abigail in York at the time would have been the daughter of John Donnell. Too bad John didn’t list the married names of his daughters in his will! Also, looking at Joseph’s land transactions I can’t see where he had any dealings with the Donnell family and didn’t receive any property through his wife Abigail. So, a question mark remains next to Abigail.

CHILDREN

• I. Abigail-b.c.1680, ?m.c.1697 Joseph Young (will 1 May 1734 York)
• II. Thomas- m.1. 1730 Elizabeth Harns 2. 1739 Miriam Preble
• III. Elizabeth-
• IV. Rebecca-
• V. Mary- m. 1. 1727 Anthony Baker, 2. 1733 Wymond Bradbury Jr.
• VI. Jemima- d. 27 April 1786

Sources

1. ↑ York County, Maine Probate Records, No. 1, 1687-1707, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89JS-L9ZH-V  : 7 April 2021), FHL microfilm 007600380, image 114.
2. ↑ York County Registry of Probate- Docket No. 4497

• Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- p.199