Ellen O'Donnell

     (For a brief history and context on the Holmes family - which this person is an extended member of - see this page)

NOTE: The information on this page is my research to date and is subject to change as I become better informed. I very much welcome any corrections or additional info you might have - my email address is at the bottom of this page. Whilst historical facts are not copyright, my writing about these facts are. If you wish to use any text from this site on Ancestry or on any other website, please ask me first - Tim Hill.


Ellen O'Donnell was likely born circa 1799 at Limerick.² She was the daughter of Michael O'Donnell and Eliza (?)¹ Ellen O'Donnell may have been born circa 1806 at Kilmallock, County Limerick. Her date of birth is unsure as in 1865 her death notice had her at age 65 (or born about 1800).^3,4

She married William Hyde Holmes, son of Robert Holmes and Elizabeth (?), between 1814 and 1817 at Limerick..^5,6,2

Ellen and her husband William emigrated with their nine biological and adopted children (and a man who was to later marry one of their daughters ) from Liverpool on 27 October 1841 on the 'Champion.^1,7,8,9' After a voyage of 108 days Ellen and her husband William arrived at Sydney on 12 February 1842 with their large family. During the voyage 5 sailors committed mutiny but were eventually released by the Attorney General.^1,7,8,9
When she and her husband were brought out they came with nine daughters and one son, some of whom they said were adopted. It listed her calling as a farm servant (although on another document it apparently had her as a domestic servant), her religion as Episcopalian and that she could read and write. It's also likley that she understated her age by eight or nine years to appear as a more youthful emmigrant. With this in mind, is it possible that the older children were said to be adopted to fit this story?¹ She presumably lived with her spouse William at Princes Street in The Rocks, in Sydney, in 1843. It is not clear that the entry refers to this family, but is a reasonable speculation given that Bridget and her husband claimed to live in this same street ten years later.¹⁰

The family soon became parishioners at St. James' Church of England, thought of as the principal church in the city and one which "the congregation usually includes the family of the Governor, and a large proportion of the leading members of society. It is also decidedly the favourite resort for the more aristocratical among the votaries of Hymen". How this sat with the Holmes family isn't known, but perhaps it sat well with William and Ellen as they contemplated the future for the eight young women under their charge. With space to seat a congegation of 1500, it would have made for a bustling centre of the community.¹¹

Members of the protestant Holmes family who had come from Kilmallock, County Limerick, perhaps read with apprehension how Daniel O'Connell, 'The Liberator', mobilised hundreds of residents in support of Ireland's independence.¹²

It was reported in a South Australian paper on Wednesday, 29 August 1849 that the Irish town of Kilmallock, County Limerick, was entirely deserted. This was no doubt an exaggeration, but perhaps indicates the extent of migration from that place in recent years.¹³ Ellen and William lived in January 1851 at Sydney. in Macquarie street.¹⁴

Ellen, as the mother of the bride, along with William may have attended the wedding of Bridget and Henry Hugh Hill, a worker in an ironmonger's shop, at St. James' Church of England on Monday, 20 January 1851 at Sydney.. Others who may have attended include . Bridget and Henry went on to have four children together.^14,15

Ellen, as the mother of the bride, along with William may have attended the wedding of Albina and William Patrick McMunn at St. James' Church of England on Monday, 17 January 1853 at Sydney.. Others who may have attended include . William and Albina went on to have some 10 children together.^16,17

On Thursday, 1 May 1856 they began paying William an annual pension of £75.10.0 that continued up until his death.¹⁸ Ellen and William lived in May 1862 at Parramatta, New South Wales.¹⁹

On 7 May 1862 her adopted daughter Bridget died in Ballarat.²⁰

On Tuesday, 1 September 1863 their daughter Maria married Henry Hugh Hill, the widow of their deceased daughter Bridget. The wedding between a widow and his deceased wife's sister may have been a practical arrangement, but it was regarded by many as deeply morally suspect within the Church of England. She presumably lived with her spouse William at 132 Bourke Street, in Sydney, in July 1864.²¹

Her husband William died 1 July 1864 at the approximate age of 70, leaving her a widow.

Ellen died on 11 January 1865 at Sydney. The cause of death was listed as vomiting of six weeks duration; a doctor had visited the day before.^6,22 Her body was interred on 13 January 1865 at Sydney.²³