Jacob Donnell

Jacob Donnell, son of Mrs. H. B. Donnell, sister of Clarice Almira Donnell, and student of the beloved Anne Shirley, appears in Anne of Avonlea as a student, and in later books as a carpenter.

Attendance to the Avonlea School
Jacob Donnell's attendance to the Avonlea School was quite the interesting experience. On the first day, Jacob announced his name plainly as "Jacob Donnell, ma'am". But as Anne had finished up, a vision that 'looked like a head-on collision between a fashion plate and a horror show' appeared before her! Mrs. H. B. Donnell, as this besilked and beplumed lady informed her, had come to call on Anne. Mrs. H. B. Donnell told Anne in no uncertain terms that the name 'Donnell' was said 'Donnell', accent on the last syllable. Also, Mrs. H. B. Donnell informed Anne that Jacob Donnell was not to be called Jacob, but rather, St. Clair !!

Anne had a slight bit of trouble convincing Jacob to answer to St. Clair, but once she explained the situation, the lad readily assented. When anyone else called him St. Clair though—they had to reckon with Jacob's fists!

Later Life
Jacob Donnell, in later life, employed himself as a carpenter.

Etymology
Jacob's father, Mr. H. B. Donnell, wanted to call his son Jacob after his bachelor brother. Mrs. H. B. Donnell, who would have preferred St. Clair, allowed her son to be called Jacob. However, when 'my innocent boy was seven years old, what do you think, Miss Shirley? My husband's brother actually got married and had three brothers. The audacity!'—, Mrs. H. B. Donnell insisted on St. Clair. Later, though, Jacob re-earned his long wished for name.

Appearances
Anne of Avonlea