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Part 9

ROBERT DONNAN

Ballydesoline, County Down, Ireland

Grandchildren came to New Haven, Conn.

1780 - 1934

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In a letter from Richard Donnan, 2240 West Madison St., Chicago, Ill. dated
January 1922 he spoke of meeting a James Donnan, 306 St. Johns St., New Haven, Ct
when he was east, so I wrote him and will quote his answer; also one from his
sister as the best way to record some of the facts in connection with this family
as I have not been able to bring it down to 1934.

"New Haven, Conn., Feb. 20, 1922

I received your letter of the 26th of January, inquiring of my ancestors;
well, that is very little I can tell about as I was the youngest of the family of
5, four boys and one girl. My father and mother died before I remembered them and
we had all scattered from one another, and have never been together since at one
time; and as my other brothers are all dead, but my sister the oldest of the family
and her name is Margaret Howard Davidson, a widow now living at 146 Jefferson St.,
Hartford, Conn. and I believe she could tell more about our ancestors than I could.
I have had a few letters and he is from the same county in Ireland, but I could
not place him as the name of our place in Ireland is Bailydesoline, County Down,
(he is referring to Richard Donnan) and there is a lot of Donnans there, but all
I can tell about our ancestors that they were all Scotch descent. I would have
written sooner but I have been sick for three weeks but am getting well again.
Hoping to hear from you again.
Very truly yours, James Donnan 306 St. John St.,New Haven, Conn"

On February 23rd, 1922 I wrote to Mrs. L. H. Davidson, Hartford, Conn. and
quote her answer.

"146 Jefferson Street, Hartford, Conn., May 3, 1922

I received your letter of February 23rd; also the one dated April 28th and
am sorry that I was not able to reply sooner as I have been miserable all winter,
but I surely intended to write and give you all the information I can. You will
pardon me I hope, but when I see the name Donnan in this country I surely take
notice, for it is not a common name here. We claim to be of Scotch origin, but we
came to North Ireland, I think just before my Grand Fathers time. He was Robert
Donnan, married Margaret Howard and settled in the County of Down. He was a farmer.
They had six sons named Robert, John, Edward, Alexander, Samuel and James,
no daughters. Samuel was my father; they were all in the trade but Robert; he remained
on the farm. My father married in England, lived there a while and then went back
to the north of Ireland. I and my brother John were born in Belfast, and three
boys were born in Larne, County Antrim. You will see on the map is close to Scotland.
We were quite Scotchy as children. There were six of us, one boy died and is buried
in Belfast, his name was James, first born, and the James in New Haven was the
youngest. John, Robert and Samuel are dead. This perhaps you will find a rambling
letter, but I hope you will excuse it. We lost our parents when we were young so
naturally wandered away from the rest of the family. I am in this country the most
of my life. I left Ireland when I was about 16 and lived in England and Wales
but always spent my vacations with my relatives in Ireland. If you can get in
touch with my cousin, Robert's son, he would be able to give you more than me as
be was born and brought up near the old homestead and is still there. His address
is Alexander Donnan, Sunnyside, Sumer Hill, Warrenpoint, County Down, Ireland.
Alex is a good fellow and I have been looking for a letter from him since Christmas.
There were many of the Donnan families in Warrenpoint outside of us. I have
a cousin married to a Donnan, I think they were related, but distant; and there
were Donnans in Rosstrevor, on Carlingford Lough, near Warrenpoint. Have not
heard from Alexander lately, you know of all the trouble there and lots of
it near Warrenpoint and Newry.

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If I could talk to you I could tell you more in a little while than I can
write. If you were not so far away. I have a friend in Schenectady who has promised
to come after me in their car if I should be able to go I surely would look you up.
You see I used to live in Middletown, Conn. where I was all my married life. Have
one son and two daughters. My son is married and lives in Haverhill, Mass and has
two children. My girls have worked in Hartford for some years, so when their father
died two years ago, I moved up here, but when you lose your partner and you are
getting along in years you don't feel at home in a strange place. The girls used to
commute and that was hard in the winter time. The oldest, Elizabeth, has been in
the same place for nearly 10 years; she is a bookkeeper and stenographer, and Rachel
is a stenographer. This is more like a personal letter, but pardon it, you are a
Donnan. I will write to my son Samuel Davidson and perhaps he will be able to
hear from Alexander Donnan, I know he could tell you a whole lot more than me as
he is there. I will end by saying the Donnans were all Scotch Presbyterians, good
living, quiet, peaceable people; so if there is anything that I have not said you
can write again and I will be glad to enlighten you farther, but write to Warren
point. With kindest regards,

Truly yours,Margaret H. Davidson"

This interesting letter from one who was not well is appreciated very much.
From the two letters I have made up a chart, not complete, but failing to hear from
her son Samuel at Harverhill, Mass (letter being returned), wrote to his mother
again and the letter was returned, so I presume her sickness proved fatal. Had
hoped to be in Hartford and New Haven this year to bring the chart down to 1934 but
have not been able to accomplish it. Have written to James, Robert and Samuel, New
Haven, Conn., but as yet no answer.

"Silver Locks"