He was born in Belfast, Ireland, on 14 February 1844 (4, 10). He was 18 years old when he was enlisted (7, 10 [66 in 1910]).
His parents immigrated to the United States when he was very young (4), in 1857 [?] (10). They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4). By 1910, he was a naturalized citizen (10).
He received "a fair common school education" (4).
He was living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, when he was enlisted (7).
The 118th Pennsylvania's regimental history refers to his "honest and kindliness", which made him popular, and to his "splendid courage" (4).
He was enlisted and mustered into service on 7 August 1862 (1, 4, 5, 7). He was enlisted at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7). He was mustered in as a private in company D of the 118th Pennsylvania (5, 7, 11). (According to the pension index card, he also served in company C (11).)
He was promoted to sergeant on 19 January 1864 (4).
He was promoted to first lieutenant on 1 May 1865 (2, 4, 5, 6, 7).
On 2 June 1865, he was transferred from the 118th Pennsylvania infantry to company H of the 91st Pennsylvania (1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9). He served in company H of the 91st PA (1).
On 13 June 1865, he was assigned to company H (3; see 9).
He mustered out, as first lieutenant, on 10 July 1865 with his company (1, 2, 4, 7).
In 1865/66, he married Julia [unknown surname] (10). In 1910, she had had twelve children, nine of whom were then alive (10; see also 4).
On 5 September 1889, he applied successfully from Georgia for a pension (8, 11).
In 1905, he was living in Atlanta, Georgia (4).
In 1910, he was living in Black Hall District 530, Fulton County, Georgia (10). He was living with his wife Julia, and children James, Thomas, Robert, Annie Donnally, and Annie's daughter Alice (10). He was a commerical traveler [?] for a wheat house (10).
He died on 23 June 1911, at Atlanta, Georgia (11).
On 8 July 1911, his widow, Julia F Donnelly, applied successfully from Georgia for a pension (8, 11, 11).
1 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'Ninety-first regiment', volume 3, pages 186-233. (In the roster)
3 special order 34, HQ 91st PA, 13 June 1865
4 "Sketches", in History of the 118th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Corn Exchange Regiment, from their first engagement at Antietam to Appomattox, to which is added a record of its organization and a complete roster. Fully illustrated with maps, portraits, and over one hundred illustrations. With addenda.. By the Survivors' Association 118th (Corn Exchange) Regt., P.V. Philadelphia, PA: J. L. Smith, Map Publisher, 1905. Page 647. (James J Donnelly)
5 Bates, Samuel Penniman. History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5. Harrisburg: B. Singerly, state printer, 1869-71. 5 volumes. 'One hundred and eighteenth regiment'. Page 1324. (In the roster) (James J Donnelly)
6 company H, list of commissioned officers (James J Donnelly)
7 Civil War Veterans' Card File, available at the Pennsylvania State Archives, searched 13 March 2005 (James J Donnelly)
8 pension index, by name (James J Donnelly)
9 consolidated morning report, 91st Pennsylvania, 13 June 1865 (Lt Donnelly)
10 1910 US census, Georgia, Fulton County, Black Hall District 530, supervisor's district 5, enumeration district 122, microfilm series T624, film 193, page 34 A = 3 handwritten (James J Donnally)
11 pension index, by regiment, 91st PA Infantry, company H (James J Donnelly)
[I did not find an entry for him in the Ancestry index to the 1890 veteran's census (searched May 2007)]
[I did not find an entry for him on Rootsweb WorldConnect (searched June 2007)]
| line | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 |
| street | South [?] Town Road | ||||||
| house nr | |||||||
| dwelling nr | 61 | ||||||
| family nr | 61 | ||||||
| name | Donnally, James J | - Julia | - James J | - Thomas F | - Robert E | Donnally Mrs Annie [?] D | - Alice |
| relationship | Head | Wife | Son | Son | Son | Daughter | Daughter |
| sex | M | F | M | M | M | F | F |
| color | W | W | W | W | W | W | W |
| age | 66 | 61 | 38 | 26 | 19 | 40 | 14 |
| marital status | M1 | M1 | S | S | S | Wd | S |
| #years present marriage | 44 | 44 | |||||
| mother of # children | 12 | ||||||
| mother of # living children | 9 | ||||||
| birthplace | Ireland | England | Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | Georgia | Pennsylvania | Georgia |
| father's birthplace | Ireland | England | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Ireland | Pennsylvania |
| mother's birthplace | Ireland | England | England | England | England | England | Georgia |
| immigrated | 1857 [?] | 1857 | |||||
| naturalized/alien | Na | ||||||
| speaks English | English | English | English | English | English | English | English |
| occupation | Commercial Traveler [?] | None | Clerk | Electrician | Plumber | Teacher | None |
| nature of industry etc. | Wheat House [?] | Rail Road | [illegible] | [illegible] | Public chool | ||
| employer etc. | W | W | W | W | W | ||
| out of work 15 Apr 1910? | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| # weeks out of work 1909 | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| can read | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| can write | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| school since 1 Sep 09 | Yes | ||||||
| owned/rented | O | ||||||
| owned free or mortagaged | O [sic] | ||||||
| farm/house | H | ||||||
| nr on farm schedule | |||||||
| civil war vet | |||||||
| blind | |||||||
| deaf & dumb | |||||||