Family:Peter Donnelly and Eliza Cole (1)

Peter Donnelly was born in Ireland about 1800 and died 22 February 1880 at his residence on Montgomery Street in Belleville. He married Elizabeth Cole on 15 December 1826 at the Second River Dutch Reformed Church. She was born in New Jersey about 1801 and died sometime after 1888. She is very likely the 82-year-old Elizabeth Donnelly who died 15 February 1892.

Peter Donnelly was naturalized on 1 July 1834. The first deed that has been located for him is one dated 15 October 1832. Peter Donnelly “of Bloomfield” bought for $50 a plot of land “at Belleville” but “being in the township of Bloomfield” from Solomon I. Isaacs and his wife Elizabeth of the city and state of New York. This is identified in the deed as “Lot #169 on Isaacs Street.” This Solomon Isaacs was a co-owner, with Harmon Hendricks, of the copper mill at Soho. It was at this time that Solomon sold his part in the copper mill. This lot was contiguous to one owned by one Murtaugh, who was, judging by his name, another Irishman.

On 11 June 1835, Peter Donnelly bought another piece of land in Bloomfield. This 4 65/100 acre piece of land, bought from John H. Farrand and his wife Isabella W. of Bloomfield for $100, was at the intersection of the branch brook and the Morris Canal. In 1848, he added to this piece of land a piece contiguous to it. By deed dated 17 July 1848, “Peter Donally” of Belleville bought of Robert Baldwin and his wife Mary D. of Newark, for $650, 90/100 acres of land to the east of the land bought in 1835. On the same day, according to this same deed, Robert and Mary Baldwin sold a piece of land contiguous to this one to Peter Kahoe [Keogh?]. On 9 October 1849, Peter Donnelly and Peter “Kohoe” jointly bought another piece of land contiguous to both of their lots, containing four acres and situated to the east of the Morris Canal.

His death is listed twice in the 1880 Mortality Schedules. According to the Bloomfield schedule, he died from a fractured rib. This report, taken from physician returns, mistakenly gives his birthplace as N.J. His death is also reported in the Belleville returns, which give his birthplace correctly as Ireland, and says he died of pneumonia. At the time of his death, he was living on Montgomery Street.

Elizabeth Cole Donnelly was living with her son Frank’s family in 1880.

While the religion of Elizabeth has not been definitely determined, there are Coles who appear in the registers of Saint John's R.C. Church, Newark. According to the 1880 census, she was born in New Jersey of a father born in New Jersey and a mother born in New Jersey or New York (the writing is unclear.) This would make it highly unusual if she were born to Catholic parents. Her nephew, son of her brother Morgan, is named Wesley. The Methodist church in Belleville was particularly strong, having been organized in 1791. (The first church would be built in 1803.) Hugh, the son of Peter and Elizabeth, would marry a Methodist, and convert to Methodism himself. This may indicate that she herself was born to Methodist parents. Also, she is not found buried with her husband in the Catholic cemetery. However, William Cole, son of Morgan Cole and Bridget Reilly, was baptized at St. Peter's R.C. Church in Belleville on 3 November 1872, having been born on 10 October, as was his sister Mary, born 8 October 1874, and baptized 1 November 1874.

1. ↑ Belleville, Essex, New Jersey, United States. Register of baptisms, births, marriages, memberships of the Dutch Reformed Church at Second River, New Jersey, 1794-1848
   p. 76, 1929.
2.   1870 U.S. Federal Census.

   Peter Donnally household, 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Woodside, Essex Co., NJ, Dwelling 189, Family 196
   
   Donally, Peter, 65, MW, Wks. in Copper Wks., $1500/real estate, $200/personal estate, b. Ire., cannot write, cit.
   --------, Elizabeth, 57, FW, Keeping House, b. NJ, cannot write
   --------, Edith, 5, FW, at home, b. NJ
   --------, Robert, 20, MW, Wks at Mason, b. NJ
   --------, Hettie, 19, FW, at home, b. NJ
   --------, Mary, 1, FW