William DONALDSON [30309]

  General Notes:

William is described as being a farmer of Carry (Tearry).

1999. Visit to Muff by J R Fenn (nee Donaldson) .
Prior to departing, information from Griffiths Valuation 1848 - 1864 searched at the Auckland Library (page 34 fiche 10) 7/23 Composition of Tythes, which revealed that William Donaldson leased some 75 acres on various titles at Townland Carnamoyle 195, Diocese of Derry, co Donegal. See map.

Valuation Office Dublin provided a copy of an 1855 map of the County Donegal, District of Inishowen showing land areas. From this we traced Williams main holding at Tearry (the locals refer to it as "Carry"), Iskaheen, approx 4 kms from Muff.
The present owners are, Charlie & Phyllis Rutherford, address C/- Muff Post Office, Co Donegal. Their present farm house was built about the turn of the century "from stones from the old Donaldson house, a long, low building", which was sited on the road frontage some 20 metres below. They also said the area was called "Donaldsons" until fairly recent times.

The land is on the Inishowen Peninsular, near the village of Muff, gently sloping to the south with views over Lough Foyle.
The Rutherfords recalled the existence of a water wheel on the property which supported later information that the Donaldsons operated a "Scutch mill" to beat and separate the woody parts of the stalks of linen flax.

Mr Rutherford referred the writer to John Brown, Elder of the Presbyterian church of Knowhead, 1.5 kms south west of Muff, where the Donaldson family worshipped. Photographs were taken of this church which was rebuilt in 1865 on the site of an earlier one.
Brown had only limited Church records from the 20th cent in his keeping.

Mr Brown referred the writer to John Calvan Porter, of "Malburn Ture", Iskaheen, brother-in-law of Josephine Porter, granddaughter of William Donaldson [1]. Mr Porter is an elderly man with a good memory who has lived at his address all his life. He informed us that William Donaldson [1] had died intestate and the assets were sold and distributed to the family, this was confirmed later by Josephine & Mervyn Porter. He said "an old lady in Muff had a book about the Donaldsons", he did not know what had become of it. John Porter also said that the Burns family took over the scutch mill when it was sold.

William's date of death is estimated from Valuation notes of 1881 which read "representatives of William Donaldson".

A Historian at the Public Records Office, Belfast advised that many people died intestate and often families consented to estates passing on to family members as a going concern. This appears not to have been the case with William [1] assets.

  Research Notes:

Details of land held by a William Donaldson.
Griffiths Valuation: 1848 - 1864. Pg 34 fiche 10, 7/23 Composition of Tithes.
Map references: Valuation Office Dublin 1999.
County Donegal, RD Inishowen, ED Kilderry, Barony Inishowen West, Parish Muff, Townland code 2, System No 12466, Townland name Carnamoyle, CSO Code 62398, Area 294, CSO Ref 51592, Map Refs 29,30,38,39. (OS Ref 39 Type Archive on the top of the map.)
Lot No's. Occupier Lessors Description Area
16A,a,B,C,D. Wm Donaldson Andrew Thompson Hse Offices Land 36A1R35P
16D a Patrick Gill Wm Donaldson House ?
16D b, Joe Wilson snr Wm Donaldson House & garden 15P
17 Wm Donaldson Thos Lynch Land 1A 3R
18A. Wm Donaldson Thos Lynch Land 11A 25P
18B Wm Donaldson Andrew Thompson Land 4A 2P
18Ba Sam Dinsmore Wm Donaldson House & garden 13P
See map



From the Parliamentary Gazetter 1844: Concerning Parish Records.
Templemore, a Parish containing the chief part of the City of Londonderry co Londonderry Ulster. Ancient name was Derry or Derry-Columbkill. The perpetual curacies of Muff, Burt, and Inch in the Barony of Innishowen co Donegal, formally constituted part of the Parish of Templemore (until 1809), but are now separate Parishes.
Templemore is a Rectory in the Diocese of Derry, the Presbyterian Parishes in the Templemore area were Ballyarnet and Londonderry.

William married Catherine Margaret WILLIAMSON [30320] [MRIN: 10702].