(1824-15 Dec. 1893), sergeant-at-arms. (Lt. Col. Macdonell) Born in Cornwall, Ont. From 1858, he was lt.-col. of the 4th Battalion of Stormont militia. He was sergeant-at-arms to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada from 1854 to 1867, and he was sergeant-at-arms to the Canadian House of Commons from 1867 to 1892. He died in Ottawa, and is buried there in Beechwood Cemetery. An obituary stated, “He was a man of powerful frame, and during his youth and manhood his strength and prowess were famous in Glengarry,” the reference being presumably to athletic contests. He was married 9 Sept. 1852 to Amelia Chesley (d. at Winnipeg 5 Oct. 1902), the daughter of S. Y. Chesley of the Indian Dept., who was a government agent at St. Regis and MLA (1841-1844) and mayor, Cornwall.

     See also the note in entry for Alexander McDonell (1807-1887) the contractor. Donald William was not a Glengarrian, but he was of GC connections. For a Glengarrian sergeant-at-arms, see W. J. Franklin.

Ottawa Citizen (QF) & Ottawa Journal (death notice) both 16 Dec. 1893 * Wilson, MN, 231 * The Canadian Parliamentary Companion 1885 p. 81 * Boss 37 * information kindly supplied by Mrs Helen Whyte, Ottawa Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society * S. Y. Chesley: his life, Dictionary of Canadian Biography, X, 163-164