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Record #15925
Name :
: William DONOVAN (1882 - )
  aka : Willie Donovan


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 1882 (approx.)

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
:
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / Burial
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 7 Aug 1897
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Vancouver

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Barnardos
NotesIn 1897, W. J. Donovan, 14, arrived at Quebec, Canada, along with a group of 137 Barnardo children en route to Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Toronto Star
Wednesday, October 30, 1929

CONVICT ON TICKET SEEKS DEPORTATION

Spent Twenty-Two Years in Prisons--Saw Action in Two Wars

Special to the Star by Staff Reporter

Hamilton, Ont., Oct. 29.--Willie O. Donovan, who claims to be an English "ticket-of-leave" with the record of having spent 22 of his 47 years in prison, is not too pleased with the prospect of a rigorous Canadian winter and he appealed to Inspector of Detectives J. R. Crocker to-day for deportation. He is being held pending communication with Scotland Yard for a check-up.

He told the Inspector of an adventurous career which began when he was sent as a Barnardo boy to a farm near Dunnville and has since progressed through two wars, three penitentiaries and "bush-bound" Northern Ontario.

"I served 22 months with the 14th Hussars in South Africa, and was honorably discharged," Donovan said. "Then I got in bad in England and was sentenced to five years in Dartmoor in 1905 for burglary. I was there when the only successful break was made from the Moor by two convicts, who jumped aboard a freight train, but found it going the wrong way and were caught at Land's End."

A week's leave from the horrors of war brought him back to England an old pal, Donovan related, and the subsequent conviction for 22 burglaries during the week took him back to the solitude of a prison for thirteen years. A titled English social service worker became interested in him when eleven yeas of his sentence was served, he said, and he once more gained freedom on "license." The lady went further and got him work as a coal trimmer on the Laurentic, but while he was still on parole he claims he deserted the ship at Montreal. "I broke my arm when I jumped from the boat," Donovan said, "and I had to nurse it myself for fear I would be caught. I worked my way to Northern Ontario and for the last fourteen months have been working in railway and lumber camps near Sudbury."

"I have been going straight," he said. "The game isn't worth the candle. I have been in tight places and 22 years in jail has taught me to go straight. If I can get back to England I will go to [illegible] for the rest of my days."

Donovan jibed the inspector on Canadian police methods, claiming that if he were wandering the streets in England carrying a pack he would be questioned by every "Bobby." 
ContributorsCreated : 2012-01-22 20:07:15 / From original database

Last Updated : 2012-01-22 20:09:14 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  78 Entries        
Surnames starting with:   D »DANC »DAVA »DAVM »DAWS »DEEG »DERR »DICK »DIXO »DONI »DOUS »DREW »DUFF »DUNS » DZZZ
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
25991 DEWBERRY, Archie1892ENG,     Mar 1903 : Canada CAN Barnardos  
21058 DONIE, J1885ENG,     Apr 1898 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
9341 DONISON, Rebecca1905ENG,     Jul 1914 : Corinthian CAN Barnardos  
18561 DONNAN, Alick1886ENG,     Aug 1904 : Bavarian CAN Unknown  
22377 DONNELLY, James1891ENG,     Aug 1906 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
4989 DONNELLY, John 1909ENG, YKS, Hull Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
15857 DONNELLY, John1873ENG,     Sep 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Colonization Fund, London  
26951 DONNELLY, John Hoult1926ENG, NBL, Tynemouth Nov 1938 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
14828 DONNELLY, John J.1873ENG,     Sep 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
26952 DONNELLY, Mary Agnes1930ENG, NBL, Tynemouth Nov 1938 : Themistocles AUS Fairbridge Homes  
22370 DONNELLY, P1888ENG,     Oct 1899 : Bavarian CAN Southwark Catholic Emigration Society  
19607 DONNER, Alex1886ENG,     Jun 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
15025 DONNIGAN, Patrick1883ENG,     Sep 1898 : Numidian CAN Westminster Catholic Society  
26907 DONOGHUE, Peter1932ENG,     Mar 1939 : Strathnaver AUS Christian Brothers  
16009 DONOUGH, Margaret1875ENG,     Jun 1883 : Sardinian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
14268 DONOVAN, Alfred1888ENG,     Sep 1901 : Parisian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
16260 DONOVAN, Daniel1871ENG,     Jun 1883 : Sardinian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
16066 DONOVAN, Dennis1871ENG,     Aug 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
11289 DONOVAN, Frank1885ENG,     Apr 1896 : Mongolian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
14186 DONOVAN, Henry1889ENG,     Jun 1901 : Corinthian CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
14853 DONOVAN, John1870ENG,     Jul 1885 : Sarmatian CAN Cardinal Manning (now Nugent Care)  
20953 DONOVAN, P1928ENG,     Aug 1938 : Otranto AUS Christian Brothers  
14080 DONOVAN, Robert1886ENG,     Oct 1900 : Numidian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
13527 DONOVAN, Timothy1873ENG,     Jul 1887 : Sarmatian CAN Canadian Catholic Emigration Committee  
20727 DONOVAN, Timothy1894ENG,     May 1908 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
15925 DONOVAN, William 1882ENG,     Aug 1897 : Vancouver CAN Barnardos  
16422 DOOLEY, Florence Ellen1905ENG, STS, Burton upon Trent Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
16421 DOOLEY, Harold Leslie1907ENG, STS, Burton upon Trent Sep 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Barnardos  
16281 DOOLEY, John1871ENG,     Aug 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Board of Guardians (Various)  
22378 DOOLEY, William1910ENG,     Aug 1924 : Montcalm CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
18839 DOOLIN, Richard1880ENG,     Apr 1895 : Sardinian CAN Liverpool Sheltering Home  
17198 DORA, Phillips1901ENG,     May 1911 : Tunisian CAN MacPherson Homes  
13128 DORAN, George1886ENG,     Apr 1895 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
5839 DORAN, James1898ENG,     Jul 1910 : Corsican CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
22371 DORAN, William1895ENG,     Sep 1906 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
5371 DORE, Ernest1910ENG,    , Reading Aug 1925 : Montnairn CAN National Childrens Home  
19147 DORER, Ellen1888ENG,     Aug 1901 : Parisian CAN Barnardos  
6882 DORKINS, John1890ENG,     Jun 1906 : Tunisian CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
8746 DORLING, Gordon S.1913ENG, LND Apr 1928 : Andania CAN Waifs & Strays karenhemmingham  
20034 DORN, Frederick1875ENG,     Jun 1886 : Lake Superior CAN Barnardos  
7302 DORNAN, Mary Margaret1887ENG, LAN, Liverpool May 1892 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
11844 DORNES, John 1875SCT,     Apr 1885 : Hanoverian CAN Quarriers  
15073 DORRIGAN, James1882ENG,     Sep 1896 : Mongolian CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
25058 DORRINGTON, Margery1897 Mar 1910 : Tunisian CAN Barnardos  
27493 DORRINGTON, William1865 Aug 1872 : Sarmatian CAN Macpherson Homes  
8919 DORSEY, Joseph1903ENG, WAR, Birmingham Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
9050 DORSEY, Thomas1900ENG, WAR, Birmingham Mar 1911 : Sicilian CAN Barnardos  
15751 DOSSON, Edward1901ENG,     Jul 1912 : Corsican CAN Catholic Emigration Society  
3714 DOTT, Sarah1891SCT, LKS, Glasgow Jul 1910 : Southwark CAN Quarriers dottsNdashes  
26977 DOUBLE, James1918ENG, LND, Kensington Jan 1928 : Barrabool AUS Fairbridge Homes  
20068 DOUBLE, John1874ENG,     Jun 1886 : Lake Superior CAN Barnardos  
23578 DOUBLE, Wm1908ENG,     May 1924 : Demosthenes AUS Barnardos  
27505 DOUBLEDAY, Herbert1866 Aug 1872 : Sarmatian CAN Macpherson Homes  
21968 DOUGALL, James ENG,     Apr 1925 : Athenia CAN Quarriers  
25349 DOUGALL, Jane1886SCT,     Jun 1897 : Sarmatian CAN Quarriers  
25797 DOUGALL, Rose1875 Jun 1891 : Norwegian CAN Quarriers  
13825 DOUGHERTY, Mary Ann1876ENG,     May 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
13739 DOUGHERTY, Mathew1875ENG,     Sep 1887 : Circassian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
5878 DOUGHTY, Arthur G.1896ENG,     Oct 1904 : Southwark CAN Barnardos  
5880 DOUGHTY, Charles1889ENG,     Aug 1906 : Dominion CAN Barnardos  
11997 DOUGHTY, Elsie May1914ENG,    , Walsall May 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Middlemore  
19712 DOUGHTY, J A1887ENG,     Jun 1897 : Labrador CAN Barnardos  
23902 DOUGLAS, Albert1917ENG,     May 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Middlemore  
22704 DOUGLAS, Albert E.1892ENG,     May 1905 : Southwark CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
23903 DOUGLAS, Alfred1912ENG,     May 1921 : Minnedosa CAN Middlemore  
22961 DOUGLAS, C.1889ENG,     Apr 1908 : Lake Champlain CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
23041 DOUGLAS, Frederick1900ENG,     May 1905 : Southwark CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
14343 DOUGLAS, George1891ENG,     Jul 1901 : Numidian CAN Barnardos  
5759 DOUGLAS, John Alfred1901ENG,     Jun 1911 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
11967 DOUGLAS, Lindsay1883ENG,    , Hampstead Apr 1895 : Vancouver CAN National Childrens Home  
5676 DOUGLAS, Madge1896IRL,     Jul 1910 : Virginian CAN Louisa Birt  
2915 DOUGLAS, Oliver Stephen1903ENG, WAR, Atherstone Jun 1911 : Carthaginian CAN Middlemore  
5352 DOUGLAS, Ralph1915IRL,    , Dublin Apr 1929 : Duchess of York CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
7424 DOUGLAS, Rex1911ENG,    , Oxford Sep 1922 : Montcalm CAN Unknown Catholic Group  
23089 DOUGLAS, Walter1896ENG,     May 1905 : Southwark CAN Fegan Homes for Boys  
27090 DOUGLAS, Wilfred Henry1917IRL,    , Belfast Jun 1929 : Largs Bay AUS Fairbridge Homes  
23271 DOUGLASS, Jimmy1863ENG,     Jul 1872 : St. David CAN MacPherson Homes  
15315 DOUGLASS, Mary Ann1875ENG,     Sep 1884 : Sarmatian CAN Liverpool Catholic Childrens Protective Society (now Nugent Care)  
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
Surnames starting with:   D »DANC »DAVA »DAVM »DAWS »DEEG »DERR »DICK »DIXO »DONI »DOUS »DREW »DUFF »DUNS » DZZZ
Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  78 Entries