Jane Donnell

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: Rev War: Guilford Court House, Guilford Co, North Carolina
• Residence: Bef 1791, North side Cumberland River, Guilford Co, North Carolina
• Residence: 1791, Wilson Co, Tennessee

Notes:

Not clear which of the brothers is his father, but the letter from John Foster Doak regarding Robert Donnell made reference to Rev. Samuel Donnell, cousin of his father"
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William Donnell, the father of Robert, was also an elder in that church; and while in North Carolina, his family enjoyed the ministry of the Rev. Dr. Caldwell, by whom all the children were baptized in infancy. He served his country in the war of the Revolution, and was engaged in the battle of Guilford Court House when General Greene drove the invading army of Cornwallis from North Carolina.
...
the first man that drove a wagon from Sumner County, Tenn., to Lexington, Ky., whither he went to obtain salt for his own family and other emigrants. On coming to a stream that could not be forded, he took his wagon apart, and crossed, in a canoe, swimming his horses.
...
The next year (following 1797), young Robert had the misfortune to lose his father. He died of fever, in the fifty-first year of his age-leaving a widow and seven children-three sons and four daughters. Their names were:
William, Samuel, Robert, Mary, Sally, Martha, and Jane. The father was a man of exemplary piety, and one of the first elders of the "Ridge" congregation. He was noted for his kindness to the poor and needy. The following incident, illustrating this trait of character, occurred the year before he died. William Donnelson, after riding several days, without success, in search of corn, to relieve the
wants of his family, called on William Donnell, and made known his distress. "What have you give for corn?" inquired Mr. Donnell. "Cash in hand, sir," was the reply. "Then," rejoined the other, "you can surely find it in the country. I have some corn to spare, but am keeping it for those who are unable to pay for it in money." After much persuasion, however, he consented to let Mr. Donnelson have three bushels. When the corn was measured, three dollars were laid on the table, being the current price at the time. Mr. Donnell took up one dollar, and pushed the other two back, saying, "One is all I will take."
The above incident has been furnished by the Rev. Samuel McSpedden, brother-in-law of Mr. Donnelson.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnwcogs/famhist/donnel01.html

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conflicting children names:

From: "Raymond D. Donnell"
Subject: Re: [DONNELL] Re: Donnell in Tenn.
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 20:34:39 -0500

William Donnell, known as "Cap't. William, or Capt'n Billie, to separate him form the other William Donnells in the area. His military a service in the Rev. War was as a Private, is no known to have had a daughter named Martha.
The children from two marriages were Wm.Jr., James, Robert, Adnah, Eliel, Josiah, Thomas, Mary, Cynthia, Adeline, Jane L. and Margaret.

http://newsarch.rootsweb.com/th/read/DONNELL/2001-12/1008466479




Residence:
from letter of John Foster Doak "Mr. Donnell's family moved to this country the year before my father. Both families lived for a time on the north side of Cumberland River."
(see letter attached)

Residence:
from letter by John Foster Doak (see attached)
"My father, Grandfather Foster, Alexander Foster, and Mr. Donnell's father all bought land previous to their leaving
North Carolina, on Spring Creek, which was then a part of Sumner County. The tract purchased contained twelve hundred and eighty acres. None of the parties had seen the land; and to prevent difficulty in assigning to each one his portion, after personal examination, it was mutually agreed that the decision should be made before the families reached Tennessee. On seeing the land, each member of the company took possession of his own without a murmur, though the poorest part of the tract fell to the share of William Donnell."
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~tnwcogs/famhist/donnel01.html

William married Mrs. Elizabeth (..) Doak about 1808 in Wilson Co, Tennessee. Elizabeth was born on 27 Nov 1775 in North Carolina; died on 2 Sep 1850 in Wilson Co, Tennessee. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1753, North Buffalo, Guilford Co, North Carolina

Notes:

The four [Donnell] families that located near North Buffalo Creek (now Guilford County, North Carolina) must have been closely related. Thomas, Sr., and Robert, Sr., who came in 1753, were brothers; James, Sr., who came in 1760, and Robert, II, who came in 1771, may have been nephews of Thomas and Robert, Sr. In 1790, the Donnell families had a great reunion, and one of the old men laughingly asked, "What do you suppose has become of the "O" we cast overboard at sea, by this time?"
This would indicate that they all came overseas together, and the name was O'Donnell in Ireland. They were all descendants, or related to, Donald I (861-863), King of Scotland. The writer was told by the late Dr. John McDonald, editor of the Toronto, Canada, that the Donnells, O'Donnells, Donalds and McDonalds were all of the same blood with a common ancestor."
History of Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Her People, Greensboro, N.C. by Reverend S. M. Rankin, p. 42 & 43.
http://susanleachsnyder.com/Genealogy/Generation9RobertDonnell.html