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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Down => Topic started by: DPSmith on Monday 19 January 15 22:50 GMT (UK)
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Hi,
I'm desperately trying to trace a family that I know came from the Ballywalter area of Co. Down. The details I have are:
William Donnan married Jane McMaster (c. 1826 ?) and had the following children:
Jane (born c.1827)
Hannah (born c.1829)
Mary (born c.1831)
Francis (born c.1832)
William (born c.1837)
William also had a brother John Donnan who had at least two children (in Balligan I believe):
James (born c.1827)
Francis (born c.1831)
If anyone can find any records of these births or marriages it would be helpful and much appreciated.
Many thanks,
Dan
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Hi,
Have you tried the Ros Davies site? See http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~rosdavies/SURNAMES/D/DonDoo.htm
Regards
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Hi,
Thanks for the link. I hadn't come across that site before. I can't seem to find the family I'm looking for on there but I have found little more info on John Donnan elsewhere. I know he married three times (although I haven't found any record of where the marriages took place):
1 Hannah McWhirr (or McWhirk) around the mid 1820s
2 Rachel Cleland between 1834 - 1852
3 Ellen ... between 1852 - 1875
Two of his sons travelled to Australia and on the passenger lists put their religion as "Church of Ireland" and native place as "Balligan". So I know I'm in the right area, just haven't managed to track down any baptisms or marriages yet.
Thanks,
Dan
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There's this marriage in 1853 for John Donnan (son of Francis) and Ellen Mathews-
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FGXK-216 (Newtownards registration district)
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Thanks aghadowey. That marriage looks promising. It was in Inishargy, which fits in with John living in Balligan. I'm guessing the age of 21 for bride and groom just means they were of full age and not that they were actually 21.
The name Francis would fit for the father as both John and William had children called Francis and several further generations of William had children called Francis too.
It might also mean that they were related to Francis Donnan from Inishargy mentioned several times in kingskerswell's link above. He appears to have had several children around the 1820s, so could be a brother of John and William.
I feel the answers are so close! Thanks for the help so far. Anymore pointers are greatly welcomed!!!
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Hi,
The Donnan/Mathews marriage took place in Kircubbin Presbyterian Church.
Regards
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Please would tell us where you got the information about William and his brother John Donnan.
I started by looking at at Ros Davies website first for her list of Donnan, Donnin, and Donnon and then to educate myself about the areas mentioned so far. Ros Davies tells us “Balliggan Balliggin in the civil parish of Inishargy 21; 62/65 4km SW of Ballywalteretc etc
Ros Davies has the map showing the civil parish of Inishargie and its townlands.
Ballygarvan Townland
Ballyobegan Townland
Fish Quarter Townland
Glastry Townland
Gransha Townland
Horse Island Townland
INISHARGY Parish and Townland
KIRCUBBIN Village and Townland
Mid island ? may be included
Nunsquarter Townland
Roddans Townland This is sometimes included under Ballyhalbert parish
Rowreagh Townland
Scady Rocks Townland information is scarce
Sheelahs Island Townland
South Sheelahs Island Townland [part of Sheelagh above]
An overview notes, the other adjoining northern parish of Greyabbey and the southern adjoining parishes of Ardkeen and Ballyhalbert., with the importance of the civil parish in finding further records, but also the key towns of Kircubbin in Inishargy and to the north Newtownards & Donaghadee ,and Portaferry to the south
Donnan, Donnin, and Donnon Family history
There is a Donnan family tree, in the Blackwood Family History manuscript trees Collection in the LinenHall library, Belfast. But which line is it,, will it include yours? Write to make prior contact with the Library . A minimum charge of £2 will normally be made in respect of overseas enquiries. A4 photocopies b&w are 20p. The Library may be able to assist those with more extensive research requirements on terms subject to negotiation with the Librarian. Contact the Library on info@linenhall.com or Telephone 028 9032 1707. Their address is The Linen Hall Library,17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT15GB, Northern Ireland, see their website for contact details or use Email:info@linenhall.com. The volume reference for DONNAN is Vol 91
Ros Davies ‘Donnan’ entries can be expanded for example on
www.familysearch.org I confined myself to see what was available for the surname in their Ireland Births and Baptisms, 1620-1881 and narrowed that down to PRESBYTERIAN Church records ,KIRCUBBIN,DOWN,IRELAND and found three males of the same first name having children
HUGH DONNAN [there could be more than one Hugh]
children
William Donnan christening: 1 September 1811 father: Hugh Donnan
Robert Donnan christening: 5 October 1814 father: Hugh Donnan
John Donnan christening: 29 September 1816 father: Hugh Donnan
James Donnan christening: 20 December 1820 father: Hugh Donnan
Rachael Donnan christening: 14 March 1823 father: Hugh Donnan
JAMES DONNAN [there could be more than one James]
Children
Jane Donnan christening: 28 May 1807 father: James Donnan
Margaret Donnan christening: 1 March 1810 father: James Donnan
William Donnan christening: 15 March 1810 father: James Donnan
Mary Donnan christening: 12 June 1812 father: James Donnan
James Donnan christening: 14 February 1815 father: James Donnan
Sarah Donnan christening: 19 December 1817 father: James Donnan
James Donnan christening: 14 February 1815 father: James Donnan
WILLIAM DONNAN
Children
William Donnan christening: 4 March 1807 father: William Donnan
I stopped at this convenient point realizing one needs to exhaust the records which Ros Davies lists as Kircubbin Presbyterian Records available are baptisms 1778- 1826, marriages 1781-1845; North of Ireland FHS (www.nifhs.org) has baptisms 1778-1921 & marriages 1781 -1920; www.familysearch.org have baptisms 1778-1826 on batch #C700361; graveyard attached, gravestones UHF Vol 12 ; oldest stone 1800; email me Ros Davies for a gravestone look-up. Of course there are many more records on familysearch.org, but I am trying to cut corners at this stage so I moved to
Ulster Historical Foundation { also operates a membership association called the Ulster Historical and Genealogical Guild} website is http://www.ancestryireland.com Some of their indexes are free. I deduced from their Donnan entries
Anthony Donnan b bef~1773
Children
Jane1793
Margaret1794
Eliza1795
William 1799
John 1800
Anthony 1801
James 1803
Jane 1804
William1805
William 1809
Alexander 1810
Robert Donnan b bef~1793
Children
James McCormick 1813
Francis 1817
Francis Donnan b bef~1783
Children
Mary 1803
So that’s as far as I can go.
Good luck JimG
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Wow, thanks for all the hard work and info, it's really appreciated.
William and Jane Donnan are my 3 x great grandparents and the info I have so far came about as follows:
William and Jane moved to Sunderland, England around 1837-1840. In 1840 they had a son Samuel in Sunderland whose birth certificate gives Jane's maiden name as McMaster. UK Census records show they had at least 5 children in Ireland: Jane (born c.1827), Hannah (born c.1829), Mary (born c.1831), Francis (born c.1832), William (born c.1837). One of Hannah's census records states Co. Down as her place of birth.
In 1857 William's daughter Mary (now wife of Robert Atcheson) emigrated to Australia and the Passenger List gives her parents as "William and Jane Donnan living in Sunderland", her native place as "Ballywalter" and her relations in Australia as "cousins James and Francis Donnan".
Passenger Lists for James and Francis Donnan give their parents were "John and Hannah, mother deceased and father from Balligan" and native place as "Balligan". Their ages on the Passenger Lists indicate James was born c.1827 and Francis c.1831.
There is a headstone inscription in Ballyhalbert cemetery which was erected by John Donnan for two of his wives, Hana Donnan alias McWhirr (d. 6/10/1834) and Rachel Donnan alias Cleland (d. 1/7/1852).
I'm not too sure whether John had a third wife. In 1875 an Ellen Donnan died in Belfast and a newspaper article says she was a widow of John Donnan of Balligan. The death index indicates she was born around 1827 (much younger than the John Donnan above) so could be a different person. However I do know the John Donnan I'm looking for had at least two wives, Hana and Rachel.
A letter from my great aunt written long ago says: "My father used to tell me that one of his forbears had to leave Ireland in a hurry because he was caught brewing whisky in the hills, that the name had been O'Donnell (O'Donnain?) and they came from County Down".
I've spent a lot of time searching online for the baptisms and marriages but can't seem to track any of them down.
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You have done well. You mention a headstone inscription in Ballyhalbert cemetery . Which cemetery, there are two I think, a village one and the Cof I one?
PRONI says the church records for Ballyhalbert are findable under ST ANDREW’S or BALLYHALBERT, CO. DOWN
C.I. Ballyhalbert (St Andrew’s) (Down diocese)
Baptisms, 1846-76; burials, 1855-1922.
MIC583/15
M. Glastry
Baptisms, 1870-c.1878; circuit schedule book, 1870-78.
Baptisms, 1879-; marriages, 1864-.
D2687
In local custody
N.S.P. Moneyreagh
Marriage notices, 1989-91. MIC1B/13
P. Glastry
Baptisms, 1728-1966; marriages, 1750-1914;
communicants’ roll, 1860-63 and 1871. MIC1P/111
R.C. [see under ARDKEEN
Ros Davies shows Inishargy
21:63/63 Presbyterian
in Glastry townland ;originally known as Ballyhalbert Presbyterian; click here for a photo and more information
with hindsight The Presbyterian chhrch in Glastry townland seems possible and has records
I cant help more Keep going
JimG
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Hi, DPSmith. I have that info as my daughter in law is a descendant of Mary the 3rd child. They have her mother down as Jane Sneddon Blackwood .Mary and family arrived I NSW I 1857 I have seen another line of the family , descendants of Francis the 4 child on GENI by a James Barrow BEM. I note you state that Jane’s maiden name is Mcmaster. Looking forward to your reply. Penny Rees
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Hi Penny. Thanks for the reply! I’m a descendant of Francis Donnan. Mary and Francis had a younger brother Samuel born in 1840. He was the only child to be born in England so I ordered his birth certificate. His mother is listed as Jane Donnan formerly McMaster. I haven’t found any Northern Ireland birth records for the other children so can’t be sure if Jane McMaster was also their mother. I have noticed that several people have Jane’s surname as Sneddon Blackwood though. Do you know where this name has come from? Is it on any certificates that you know of? Kind regards, Dan
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Civil registration of births only started in Ireland in 1864.
So, before that date, church records (if they are in existence) will need to be found, and you will need an idea of location (parish if not actual townland) and religion.
KG
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Hi no I don’t know where it came from but I can try to find out. Have you viewed the work done by the James on Geni. He has all the family tree of Francis I think down to himself. I think the problem is that a lot of records have been lost or destroyed which is unfortunate. My interest is that i’m Stitching a sampler going back through all the women beginning with my new grand daughter that was born back in April. I’ve done some for all my 3 boys and both my other grand daughter. It’s a lovely thing to put on the wall instead of all the pages in a file.
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Hi Dan , what was the address they lived at when Samuel was born. I have seen the 1861 census with Jane as head of the family so the men could well be at work. RegardsPenny
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Hi KG, thanks for the info. I’m fairly sure the Donnan family was from Ballywalter or Balligan in County Down. I’m hoping to visit sometime soon so can hopefully check for church records in person. Fingers crossed they still exist.
Congratulations Penny on your new granddaughter. That’s a great idea for the family! And something really nice to keep for the future. I haven’t seen James’ work yet but I will definitely have a look this weekend. If I do manage to visit County Down and find any more information I will post it here for everyone to see!
Samuel was born 18 August 1840 and they were living at Bill Quay, Heworth, Gateshead. Father is listed as William Donnan occupation Bottle Worker
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......from Ballywalter or Balligan in County Down.
Balliggan is in the Civil Parish of Inishargy, and very close to the town of Ballywalter.
https://www.townlands.ie/down/upper-ards/inishargy/balliggan/
KG