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Archiver > ROOTS > 2008-01 > 1199987159


From: "GD Wells" <>
Subject: [ROOTS-L] Donaldson names
Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 11:45:59 -0600


I have a letter written to my mother by her friend whose maiden name was Donaldson. I will copy what she says about her grandparents and great-grandparents. None of these names fit with my families. I know no more about these people than what she has listed. The lady who wrote of her ancestors has been dead a number of years. She had no children.

Richmond, VA
Jan 2, 1975
Great-grandfather, John Donaldson came to Washington, D.C. directly from Glasgow, Scotland. His mother was with him but do not know if he was married at the time or not. Neither do I know who he married (but I do know this--his mother lived to be 107 years old and when she died the Dr in D.C. did an autopsy on her and said there was not a diseased organ in her body --she just wore out.) My great-grandfather had four sons --- all born before the War Between the States. Their names are as follows --Robert, Walter (my grandfather), Thomas Charles, and the youngest called Babe (never knew him by any other name --never saw him either as he disappeared as a young man and was never heard of again.) Three of the boys, Robert, Walter and Babe came
south after the Civil War --Robert settled in Laurenburg, S.C. --lived to a ripe old age --died in the 1940s or early fifties. Walter (grandfather) was a rolling stone and believe me gathered no moss --but as he pointed out to my grandmother (Frances Bythia Howard from S.C.) a settin hen lays no eggs. They had 13 children and raised them all but one daughter who died in infancy.
My grandfather died before I was born. I understand he was an industrious man and could do almost anything --- very thrifty. Had to be to feed a dozen kids. Most of the children were born in different states -- My mother in Baltimore, Md. An aunt in Little Rock, Ark. one in Anniston, Ala. another in Cordele, Ga. and guess some in N.C. and S.C. Babe as I said disappeared as a young man so can't tell you a thing about him except that he was quite a musician -- self taught -- greatly in demand for all the dances. In fact, he disappeared after a big dance. Thomas Charles lived all his life in Washington, D.C. Died in Stafford County, VA in Jan. 1956 at the age of 95.
These boys were raised by their grandmother who lived to be 107 so guess the mother must have died soon after the birth of the last child, Babe.
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I hope these names will help someone out there searching for Robert, Walter, Thomas Charles and Babe!!
Gloria Donaldson Wells


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