How interesting O'Donnell! Of course, all these Patricks, Helens, O'Donnells and Browns don't necessarily mean there is a link but it's definitely worth following up. If you have any links or more info I would be delighted to receive it and/or to let you know what documentation I have.
I have just got an address for a cousin of my late father who is in his seventies. I plan to write to him this week to see if he can fill in any gaps. My James first turns up on the 1891 Scottish Census in Burntisland - aged 28 and lodging in a flat in High Street, Burntisland. He is working as a Shale Miner and his birthplace is Ireland, Donegal. A lot of Irish men found work at Shale Works - there was another big one near Edinburgh and they often moved around. In 1891 James was sharing a room with another Irish man called Peter Reilly. Funnily enough they are living in the same building as the Uncle and Grandmother of Agnes Hope Chalmers who he marries round about this time!
James marries Agnes and they have at least 6 children (Isabella, Ellen, Jane, Patrick, Christina and Agnes) possibly another 2 boys called John and Robert but I haven't found anything to back that up yet. Agnes is my grandmother and she had one son, John, my Dad.
Wouldn't it be great if your Johnny turned out to be my James brother! I'm desparate to find out where my Donegal family comes from.
All the best
Sarah