Name | Alice May (May) Donnelly | |
Suffix | Arrived in Otago in 1867 as a child | |
Born | 5 Nov 1862 | Carlsruhe, Victoria, Australia ![]() |
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Gender | Female | |
Emigrated: | c 1867 | from Australia (Queensland?) to Otago, New Zealand ![]() |
May joined the Otago Early Settlers' Association and on her membership application form had to provide her year of arrival and the name of the ship. Toitu Otago Settlers Museum cannot trace her original membership application. However as her death and year of arrival (but not the name of the ship) was noted in the Association's minutes in 1937, we can be fairly confident that she thought she arrived in Otago with her mother Rose in 1867, but could not remember the name of the ship. We know: 1. from the letter written by May's uncle James Galbraith to her half-brother James Belliss, that after arriving in Otago from Australia, Rose, May and James stayed for a short time with James Galbraith and family before going up to the diggings. 2. from the reports of her mother Rose's death in the Dunstan Hospital, that Rose had spent the winter of 1868 (Jun-Aug) up at Campbell's Gully and that before that she has been resident at Blacks (Ophir), Central Otago. 3. May's father William Donnelly had "absconded" from the Carlsruhe/Kyneton area in Jun 1863 and that the family may have gone to Queensland before Rose and May moved to Otago. Accordingly, either Rose and May arrived in Otago in 1867 in time to live at Ophir and then go up to Campbell's Gully for the winter of 1868, OR Rose's recollection was wrong and they arrived perhaps in 1866, or earlier. I feel sure Rose's recollection was likely that "I arrived in Otago when I was [5] years old". Perhaps her recollection was wrong and Rose, May and James arrived earlier? | ||
Residence: | Oct 1868 | After her mother Rose's funeral, May's uncle, James Galbraith takes May (age nearly 6) back with him to Dunedin ![]() |
James was then living with his wife and young family in his Pier Hotel, cnr Crawford and Jetty Streets, Dunedin. May as young child must have been truly amazed at the sumptuous modern surroundings of the Pier Hotel compared to her home up at Campbells Gully diggings just a week or so earlier. | ||
Legal: | 11 Aug 1869 | James Galbraith appointed legal guardian of his nephew James Belliss and niece Alice May Donnelly, the surviving children of his deceased sister Rose Donnelly ![]() |
Residence: | 1870 | The farm of Charles Hammond (father-in-law of May\'s uncle, James Galbraith) at Merton, Otago ![]() |
Age 7, May moved into the care of Charles Hammond at Merton [year calculated from her Intention to Marry record] | ||
Education: | 3 Mar 1871 | May wins a school prize at Merton school ![]() |
The annual examination of the Merton District School took place on the 3rd inst, in the presence of a large number of parents and visitors, who watched the performances of the classes, which were conducted by the teacher, with great interest. At the close, several gentlemen expressed themselves as highly pleased with the result of the past year\'s work, as evidenced by the manner in which the pupils had acquitted themselves. Prizes were awarded to.those who had distinguished themselves; The following is part of the prize list:—... Third division — Alice M. Donelly, 1; Sarah Hunter, 2. [Otago Daily Times 8 Mar 1871] | ||
Education: | 1873 | Enrolled at St Dominic's School in Dunedin, alongside her Galbraith female cousins ![]() |
[source: Family information] We must assume May boarded (with her uncle, James Galbraith, presumably using money from her mother's estate to pay the boarding/school fees) DOMINICAN CONVENT BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR YOUNG LADIES. THE Course of Instruction comprises an English Education in all its branches, French, German, and Italian Languages and Literature, Music, Singing, Plain and Fancy Work, Drawing, Painting, etc., etc. For Terms and further particulars, apply to the LADY SUPERIORESS, DOWLING STREET, DUNEDIN. Visiting hours from 2 to 4 p.m. Private Lessons in the Languages and Accomplishments are also given at the Convent. [New Zealand Tablet 3 May 1873] | ||
Event: | 13 Nov 1882 | Presentation to May by the Sabbath School of Merton, Otago ![]() |
MERTON. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) November 13th. Presentation.— A very pleasing ceremony took place here on Saturday last, at the schoolhouse, when Mrs A. Donald was presented with a handsome workbox and writing-desk from the scholars attending the Merton Sabbath school, Mrs Donald has been a teacher in the school for over three years, and has gained the affection of every scholar therein, which the present testimonial will show. The teachers, scholars, and a few wellwishers of the school were present. The meeting was opened by singing a hymn, after which the chairman (the Rev. A. J. Finlayson) engaged in prayer. The Chairman addressed the scholars, and pressed upon them the great importance of laying well to heart the instruction given to them by their teachers. Mr Allan, the superintendent of the school, stated that a great want was felt owing to the backwardness of Christians in not coming forward to assist in the school, the teachers at present being only two male and two female, with an average attendance of from 40 to 50 scholars. The Chairman, in a few appropriate remarks, and in the name of the school, handed to Mrs Donald the testimonial, which had the following inscription beautifully engraved on the lid: To A. M. Donnelly. Marriage present from Sabbath-school, Merton; 25th October, 1882 - Mr C. Hammond made a few remarks to those present, approving of the sentiments evinced in the manner in which the testimonial had been got up, and asking the scholars always to learn their lessons well:- for what was learnt young was not forgotten when old.- The Chairman then closed the meeting with praise and prayer.[Otago Witness 18 November 1882] MERTON. FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. November 20th. Presentation. -On Saturday, November 11th, Mrs Alex. Donald was presented with a Victoria workbox and writing-desk, combined, on behalf of the Sabbath school here. As I observe a full account of the presentation in last week's Witness, I need not say anymore about it. On Wednesday, November 15th, Mrs Donald was again called upon, and the Rev. Mr Vanes, Wesleyan minister, presented her with a silver teapot and brooch on behalf of the congregation who worship in the school on Wednesday evenings, Mrs Donald having led the singing there for a considerable time. Mr Donald returned thanks for the handsome present, and gave them all a cordial invitation to tea, to try the new teapot. [Otago Witness 25 Nov 1882] | ||
Event: | Oct 1932 | Alexander and May celebrate their Golden Wedding ![]() |
GOLDEN WEDDING. DONALD — DONNELLY. — On October 25, 1882, at Merton, by the Rev. A. M. Finlayson, Alexander Donald, of Omoa, Lanarkshire, Scotland, to Alice May Donnelly, of Merton. Present address: 4 East avenue, St. Kilda, Dunedin. [Otago Daily Times 25 Oct 1932] | ||
Event: | 1937 | May must have been a member of the Otago Early Settlers Association ![]() |
OTAGO EARLY SETTLERS - MEETING OF COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the committee of the Otago Early Settlers’ Association was held yesterday afternoon... The following deaths were recorded during the month: ... Mrs Alice Donald, St. Kilda (74), arrived 1867... [Otago Daily Times 14 Jul 1937] | ||
Died | 3 Jun 1937 | 4 East Avenue, St Kilda, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand ![]() |
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Buried | 5 Jun 1937 | Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand ![]() |
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Person ID | I17 | Donald |
Last Modified | 29 May 2022 |
Father | William Donnelly, Civil Engineer and surveyor in Kyneton, Victoria, b. c 1831, County Limerick, Ireland (possibly at Ballybricken, Caherelly, Co Limerick) ![]() ![]() | |
Relationship | Birth | |
Mother | Rosannah (Rose) Galbraith, Hotelier in Victoria, & Otago Goldfields, b. c 1827, Ballinasloe, Galway, Ireland ![]() ![]() | |
Relationship | Birth | |
Married | 6 Nov 1859 | St Francis RC Church, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ![]() |
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Family ID | F16 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Family | Alexander Donald, Farmer at Omimi, Seacliff, Otago, b. 5 Mar 1856, Porter's Lodge, Woodhall estate, Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland ![]() ![]() | |||||||||||||||
Married | 25 Oct 1882 | in the home of Mr Charles Hammond, Merton, Otago, New Zealand ![]() |
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Children |
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Last Modified | 22 May 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Family ID | F8 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Photos | ![]() | May Donald c 1889 (courtesy Richard Sutherland) |
![]() | Alex and May Donald and their three eldest children - Rose (eldest), Charles and Anne c 1889 (courtesy Rich Sutherland) | |
![]() | Badly damaged photo of May Donald and daughters: standing l to r Anne and Rose, sitting l to r , Alice, May, Janet. Likely taken at Omimi (courtesy Rich Sutherland) | |
![]() | May Donald nee Donnelly c 1889 courtesy Rich Sutherland, colourised by Helen Innes |
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