Bridget O'Donnell was the first child born to my great-great grandparents, James O'Donnell and Margaret Fitzgerald. James and Margaret were married in 1844, at St. Bartholomews Catholic church, in Kildorrery Parish, one year prior to Bridget's birth. The young family lived with Margaret's father, Thomas Fitzgerald, in the townland of Tankardstown. The Townland is a short distance from the village of Kildorrery, County Cork.
Margaret and James emigrated to Canada in 1848, during the "Great Hunger" of 1847-1850. They settled in Clairville, Ontario. Margaret gave birth to eight more children, between 1848 and 1859. The siblings were named (in birth order): Ellen, John, Thomas, Mary Anne, James (my great-grandfather), Michael, David, and William.
James died in July of 1888. He was pre-deceased by Margaret, who had died in April of the same year.
