Donnell Families
Including my line from NC to Madison/Carroll Co., TN (early 1800's)

DONNELL SURNAME DISTRIBUTION IN THE U.S. (Provided by Hamrick Software)

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The color of each state indicates how frequently you will find someone with this surname in each state. For instance, if a state is colored red, then 1 in 100 people (or more) in that state have the surname. Similarly, yellow means approximately 1 in 300 have the surname, green means 1 in 1000, and blue means 1 in 10,000 (or less).

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The picture above was taken in the summer of 1901 and the old man at the center of the photo is George Washington DONNELL (1826-1901) my 3rd Great-Grandfather. The little girl that is standing to the far right is my Great-Grandmother Kate Loretz Waynick (b. 1893) (who eventually married my great-grandfather Norris F. Warlick). Granny Kate had mentioned the reason why she and Witt were looking so glum and were bare-footed was because "they were having fun wading and playing in the creek and were told they had to come over to get their picture made with Grandpa Donnell"!

From information handed down to me - the following individuals in the photo are as follows:
Back Row: Brooks and Joe ROWLETT, D.L. and Eddie WAYNICK, Ellis ROWLETT, C.P. and Annie WAYNICK.
Seated: Sid ROWLETT, Raymond RONE and Harris WAYNICK.
2nd Row: George Washington DONNELL (1826-1901); on his lap are Charlie DONNELL and Mildred MASON. Standing on his left: Alliene MASON, Harold DONNELL, Ray MASON, Kate WAYNICK and Witt ROWLETT (to far right).
Seated: Emma C. RONE, Ola Askew WILLIAMS, Faye ROWLETT, Mattie ROWLETT and Herman RONE (asleep).

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The photo above was a gathering and Family Celebration of the descendants of George Washington DONNELL, which was celebrated on Sunday, October 5, 1997. The gathering was in honor of Alliene Mason Key's 100th birthday and William Wadford Donnell's 90th birthday. Alliene Mason Key is the only one of George Washington DONNELL's grandchildren in the "original" photograph that was still alive at that time. The celebration was enjoyed by all!!!

Our ancestors have always pronounced our Donnell surname with emphasis on the first syllable like " DON-al"... or like "Rosie O'DONNELL".

All of the following "early" Donnell information was researched and provided to me by Raymond Donnell formerly of Burlington, N.C. (rest in peace Raymond...):

The first Donnells in central N.C. came as part of the Nottingham Company of Presbyterians who began to arrive in a predetermined area then in Anson Co. in 1750. Some 23,000 + acres had been set aside by agreement between the Nottingham Presbyterian Church, Chester, PA and land representatives of Lord Granville.
In 1771 the area was broken up to form Guilford and in 1785 the northern part of Guilford was formed into Rockingham Co. In that final formation, some of the colonists wound up in Rockingham Co. These people established two principal churches ca. 1756, Buffalo (on North Buffalo Creek) and Alamance in the southern area, (lying on the waters of Big Alamance Creek).

In the earliest group of settlers were supposedly the brothers Thomas Donnell, Sr. and Robert Donnell, Sr. with wives and families. By 1760 James Donnell, Sr., a nephew came from Cecil Co., MD after the death of his father William, who is considered to have been an older brother of Thomas and Robert. By 1771, a fourth Donnell joined the group. Robert Donnell (II) with family from York Co., PA. A fifth family was in the area during the Rev. War, headed by William who removed with family to Wilson Co., TN ca. 1804. This William's relationship has yet to be determined. He and his descendants have caused many research problems for the unwary.

Thomas Sr. and wife Jane Latham (whose line I am most probably descended from) had these children:

1. James Donnell, b. 1744, PA.
2. Hannah Donnell, b. 1746, PA.
3. John Donnell, b. 1-4-1748 in PA.
4. William Donnell, b. 1749, Lancaster, PA; died 22 Dec. 1822 in Guilford Co., NC - his will and his wife Nancy's will did not mention children - possibly they did not have any children that lived to adulthood. (Per Margaret D. Lambkin of San Antonia, TX).
5. Robert Donnell, b. 7-26-1752.
6. Thomas Donnell, Jr., M.D.,, b. June 1755.
7. Andrew Donnell, b. 4-17-1757.
8. George Donnell, b. 7-4-1759.
9. Jane Donnell, b. ca. 1761.
10. Latham Donnell, b. 1763.
11. Alexander Donnell, b. ca. 1764.

John Donnell (b. 1748), the son of Thomas and Jane Latham Donnell (above), served as a Captain and later as a Major in the Revolutionary War. He married twice. His first marriage was to Hannah MEEK. They had five children and she died. John remarried to Elizabeth DENNY, and they had ten children (their third child was a daughter named Mary, and their fourth child a son named John, Jr., (b. Jan. 30, 1789 in Guilford Co., N.C.; died Aug. 20, 1882, Spring Creek, Carroll Co., TN).

Mary, the daughter of Major John married her first cousin, John Donnell (born aft. 1779, NC), son of Andrew, brother of Major John. They had four known children, all born in N.C.:

1. Adlai Donnell
2. Benitha Donnell
3. Elizabeth Ann Donnell
4. John Denny Donnell

John (son of Andrew) moved his family to Fall Creek, Wilson Co., TN. At his father's (Andrew) request he disposed of 640 acres of land awarded Andrew for his military service, which was by then in Madison, Co., TN.

John, Jr., (son of Major John Donnell), moved his family of nine children to the Spring Creek Community near the Carroll/Madison County line in west Tennessee in 1835. Two more children were born near the Madison/Carroll Co. line, TN later. (***He was known as John Donnell, Sr. in Madison/Carroll Co., TN, being the first of that name in Madison/Carroll Co. - hence a little confusion).
John, Jr. (known as John, Sr. in Madison/Carroll Co., TN), - who was the son of Major John Donnell, married Jane S. McGaha (b. 1790, N.C.).

The children of John Donnell, Jr. (John, Sr. - in Madison/Carroll Co., TN) and his wife Jane S. McGaha were:

1. Samuel Donnell, born ca. 1811, N.C.
2. Elizabeth "Betsy" Donnell, born ca. 1812, N.C.
3. Reuben Donnell, born ca. 1814, N.C.
4. Levi Donnell, born ca. 1816, N.C.
5. Adam M. Donnell, born 3-9-1817, N.C.
6. Jane Donnell, born ca. 1820, N.C.
7. John Donnell, Jr. (as he became known in Madison/Carroll Co., TN), was born Feb. 2, 1824, N.C. He married Adeline Barham, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Barham. He died March 27, 1895 and is buried in the Donnell family cemetery in Spring Creek (Carroll Co., TN).
8. George Washington Donnell, born 11-25-1826, N.C. (See information below - He was my G-G-G Grandfather).
9. Robert Donnell, born ca. 1836 in TN.
10. Levina Donnell, born ca. 1838 in TN.

George Washington DONNELL was born Nov. 25, 1826 in N.C. He married Josephine Ellis, daughter of John W. Ellis and Miriam Norval, in 1859.
The children of George Washington DONNELL and Josephine ELLIS were:

1. Leonora Smith DONNELL was born Dec. 10, 1860 in Madison Co., TN; she died March 16, 1908, and is buried in Lavinia Methodist Church Cemetery. She married Edward Slater Waynick, Sr. (1859-1942) on Dec. 12, 1882 in Gibson Co., TN. (They were my G-G Grandparents).
2. Emily Jane "Emma" DONNELL (b.1861; d. in California?), married Babe Rowlett. They settled in California (no further information on this line).
3. Ann Eliza "Annie" DONNELL (b. 1863) married James Rone and had these "known" children: Raymond, Herman and Emma C. who married a Mr. Green. Annie remarried a second time to a Mr. Askew and had a daughter named Ola. (That is all I have on this line).
4. John Baxter DONNELL (1865-1951) is buried in Browns Cemetery in Madison Co., TN. He married Bertha "Birdie" Woolfolk (1869-1952) on Dec. 27, 1883. Their "known" children were: Harold Baxter, Sue Edwyn, William Wadford DONNELL.
5. Aramitta "Mittie" DONNELL (b. 1868) married Doak Mason and had the following "known" children: Allien, Ray, Millard, and Doris MASON.
6. Robert George "Wiley" DONNELL who married (I don't have his 1st wife's name) - He and his first wife had the following known children: George Mae, Charlie, and Mary Della.
Robert married a second time to Allie M. DOAK about 1899 and had the following "known" children: Charles W., and Robert W. Donnell.
7. Joseph Askew DONNELL (b. 1904) who married Iantha Reida about 1902 and had the following "known" children in Madison Co.: Anita and Virginia Donnell.
8, Jane DONNELL born before 1830, married a Mr. Justice.

FYI - SUMNER CO., TN 1830 CENSUS
:

(634)DONNELL, JOSEPH (no data available) 0-0
(635)DONNELL, THOMAS 2100030001-00001

MISCELLANEOUS DONNELL INFORMATION

The following DONNELL information was found in "The Goodspeed History of Tennessee", Obion Co., 1887 and can also be found on the Obion Co. TNGenWeb page created by Jane Powell.

R. A. DONNELL, M. D., a resident and practitioner of the Twelfth District of Obion County, Tenn., was born on the 1st of August, 1831, in Middle Tennessee, Marshall County. His father, Archibald Donnell, was a native of North Carolina, born January 17, 1784. He came to Tennessee at an early day and died in this State in 1841. The mother's maiden name was Martha RUSSELL. She was born in North Carolina, February 23, 1788, and died January 15, 1873, in Obion County. After finishing his education, Dr. Donnell began teaching school and followed that calling about eight years. In January, 1864, he began the study of medicine under Dr. L. J. RICE, of Marshall County, and entered on the practice of his profession in the county in January, 1868, continuing very successfully up to the present date. Susan Mary KIRK became his wife February 28, 1868. She is a daughter of Anderson and Julia Kirk and is the mother of four children: Thomas Jefferson, Victoria, Clara and Lillie. The Doctor has made his own way in life and may be considered one of the self-made men of the county. He is a stanch Democrat in politics.

DONNELL COUSINS ONLINE...

  • 25 Sept. 2000 - Visit K. Melvin's Donnell webpage (http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4235/Donnell.htm)
    This webpage has quite a lot on the Donnell-Foster families of Wilson Co., TN.

  • 01 May 1999 - Tom Moody (thomasmoody@ime.net) of Maine is seeking info. on his ancestor James D(avidson) Donnell who was born in Wilson County, Tennessee and moved to Hickory County Missouri in 1841. In 1865, after the war, James D. and the two living sons moved from Misouri to Hunt County, Texas.

    James D. Donnell appears to have had four brothers:
    - Alfred Porter Donnell,
    Dr. Leander Donnell,
    Dr. Samuel Donnell and
    Amzi Donnell, a blacksmith.
    The latter three are reported to have stayed in Missouri.

    James D. and Julia Donnell moved to North Prairie, Missouri in 1841. Julia Donnell died March 17, 1852. Their three sons all served in the civil war:
    1. Thomas Franklin Donnell ( Sept. 21, 1838 - March 8, 1906) was married to Fanny Robertson (daughter of R.I. Robertson) in Jan. 1861.
    2. W(illiam) or W(illard) L. Donnell (W.L.) married Sally Robertson, a sister to Fanny. Letters to my family from children of Millard Donnell indicate that the heirs of Thomas and W.L. Donnell were very wealthy. A letter from this cousin states that these Donnells lived in Eliasville, Texas.
    3. (Wilson) "Leo" Donnell ( ? - 1863) (also referred to as Wilson Leo Donnell). My ancestor is Leo Donnell ,who I understand died of measles while a Civil War soldier in Little Rock, Arkansas) is blieved to be buried there. Family legend has it that after he died his wife came by horseback with her two small sons to Maine. His wife's name was Melissa A(nn) Palmer (born 1839), also known as Ann M(elissa) Palmer. (She seems to have been known as Melissa while in the south, but always referred to as AnnM. here in Maine). The two sons of Leo and Ann M. Donnell were Millard F(ilmore) Donnell and William Donnell.
    The reason Ann Donnell came to Maine was that she was from here originally and most likely returned to the area she knew. I believe she was an orphan. I find an Ann M. Palmer,age 10 years, in the Maine 1850 census living with a family named Joel Chapman.(later in 1870, her son Millard would be living with that same family). Ann remarried two more times and had a number of children by her second husband Jacob B. Eugley. Her third husband was James Marr.
    When Millard F. Donnell came of age he moved to Texas, where he had uncles living, but William remained here in Nobleboro, Maine and was my great-great grandfather.

  • 16 Mar 1999 - John and Rebecca "Becky" Vermeer (vermeer@bigfoot.com) are researching the line of John M. Donnel (1801-1845) and married E Jarnagan and resided in TN.
    Their son William Lewis Donnel b. 22 Jan 1820, Rutherford Co, TN mar. 6 Jan 1842, in Shelby Co, IL to Mary Royse, (1825-1899). William died 15 Nov 1903, Shelby Co, IL.
    Son of Wm. Lewis and Mary Royse Donnel was: George Washington Donnel (b. 12 Feb 1855, Ridge Twp, Shelby Co, Il,; d. 17 Dec 1908 Reedley, Fresno Co, CA) mar. 18 Mar 1883, in Tower Hill, Ill. to Sarah Lizzie Neil, (1860-1946), Selma, Fresno Co, CA. Lived 1884-1888 in Kansas. Oakland OR 1890. Moved to CA in 1892. Moved to Selma CA Mar 1899. 1901 to Fresno. 1902 District Missionary for San Joaquin Valley.
    Be sure to visit Becky's Genealogy Page.

  • 17 Nov 1997 - Barbara Eberly (beberly@wcu.campus.mci.net) says her Donnells came to Texas from Miss from Guilford Co, NC. In Guilford, Daniel Donnell m. Mary Ervin son of Robert (Robin) Donnell and Mary of the Buffalo Creek community.

  • 7 Oct. 1997 - Phil Mason (TaylorPMas@aol.com) is a cousin of mine through our Madison Co. TN Donnell/Waynick family! He is a descendant of Edward Slater Waynick, Jr. who married Sara Almedia Tomlinson. He is also researching Mason families and also John Tomlinson of Spring Creek who married Sarah Williams. They were the parents of Sara Almedia Tomlinson who married an Edward Slater Waynick, Jr.

  • 7 Oct. 1997 - Robert Woolfolk (RWOOLFOLK@compuserve.com) is a cousin of mine through our Waynick and Donnell lines. He is also researching Woolfolk.

  • 12 Jul 1997 - Brian Donnell has just begun his Donnell research... more later.

  • 4 May 97 - Vanessa Wood (in England) has the following information on her MD to Wilson Co./Sumner Co., TN Donnell family:
    My ggg-grandfather was John S. Donnell of Wilson and Sumner Co., TN. I have had a really hard time tracing him. Both he and his wife list their place of birth as MD on the census. I was excited to see MD mentioned in the information that Raymond Donnell contributed. I have been searching my family for several years and have never seen MD mentioned before. I call my Donnells the mystery family... I have yet to find any one else that is related to them. I would appreciate it if you would be able to add this family to your website.

    1 JOHN S. DONNELL b. ABOUT 1786 Born in MD d. 1852 Wilson/Sumner Co., TN
    ...m. ELIZABETH? b. ABOUT 1785, b. in MD; d. ABOUT 1854 Wilson/Sumner Co., TN
    ....2 RICHARD "DICK" FRANCIS DONNELL b. ABOUT 1813
    ....2 HENRIETTA DONNELL b. ABOUT 1813
    .......m. 09-FEB-1837 DANIEL ESQUE b. ABOUT 1806
    ........3 FRANCIS ESQUE b. ABOUT 1839
    ........3 ELIZABETH J. ESQUE b. ABOUT 1841
    ........3 ANN C. ESQUE b. ABOUT 1843
    ....2 REBECCA S. DONNELL b. ABOUT 1818
    .......m. 15-JAN-1846 SAMUEL GOURLEY b. ABOUT 1818
    ........3 WILLIAM GOURLEY b. ABOUT 1847
    ........3 LUPHELIA GOURLEY b. ABOUT 1848
    ....2 ANN ELIZABETH DONNELL b. ABOUT 1818
    .......m. 30-DEC-1847 ANDREW H. HALBERT b. ABOUT 1811
    ........3 JOSEPH HALBERT b. ABOUT 1838
    ........3 REBECCA HALBERT b. ABOUT 1841
    ....2 MARY ELLEN DONNELL b. ABOUT 1820 d. AFTER 1880
    .......m. 26-NOV-1847 JESSE THOMAS BLACKMORE b. ABOUT 1822 d. AFTER 1880
    ....2 LOUISA JANE DONNELL b. ABOUT 1825 d. AFTER 1870
    .......m. 02-AUG-1845 THOMAS W. GREGORY b. ABOUT 1823 d. AFT. 1870
    ........3 JAMES "DAVIS" GREGORY b. ABOUT 1846
    ........3 ELIZABETH GREGORY b. ABOUT 1848
    ........3 JOHN GREGORY b. ABOUT 1852
    ........3 EMMA "E. M".GREGORY b. ABOUT 1854
    ........3 ELLEN GREGORY b. ABOUT 1856
    ........3 ALLACE GREGORY b. ABOUT 1858
    ........3 DAVID GREGORY b. ABOUT 1858/1859
    ........3 EDWARD GREGORY b. ABOUT 1862
    ........3 THOMAS WASHINGTON GREGORY b. 25-AUG-1864 d. 25-SEP-1931
    ...........m. 13-OCT-1886 BETTIE PRYOR b. JUL 1861 d. 1909
    ...........m. WILLIE ANN PRYOR b. ABOUT 1873 d. AFTER 1932
    ....2 JAMES "DOCK" DONNELL b. ABOUT 1827
    ....2 THOMAS DONNELL
    ....2 JOHN DONNELL

    NOTE THE FOLLOWING ORIGINAL DONNELL/Danall/Darnell DEED FOUND AND FOR SALE (2-4-97):
    Pam, a friend of Mrs. Billie McNamara (Billie is the coordinator for the TNGenWeb project) has come across an original deed in a store in Norfolk, VA that wants $20 firm for it - description as follows:
    The original deed is signed by William Danall/Darnell/Donell, dated 11/24/1868, selling 26 acres in Madison Co. (TN) for $3058. This is per the clerk, who had a hard time with it. Please contact Billie if you are interested in purchasing this document.

  • Raymond D. Donnell formerly of Burlington, N.C. 27217-1726 worked on the Donnell line for years and provided me with most all the "early" Donnell information above. I wish he had published his life's work.

    Tom McBryde of 6507 Huckleberry Cove, Austin, TX 78746, has quite a lot on his Donnell ancestors - maybe someday we'll figure out "exactly" how we're related! So many Donnells!

    One of Tom McBryde's relatives is: Margaret D. Lambkin, 52 Donore Sq., San Antonio, TX 78229-2179. She has quite a lot on her Wilson Co., TN Donnell ancestors as well. Try writing to her via "snail-mail" if you'd care to share Donnell information with her.

    19 May 1997 - Lori has Donnell ancestors (I believe from Wilson Co., TN). Lori has the following on her Donnell ancestors:
    I have Adlai Donnell (the family spelled it Adly) you have him mentioned as Andrew's son. I have him being born Nov 29, 1782, but have also seen his birth year as 1785. He was married to Mary Donnell (according to my family records), but another source says he was married to his first cousin Nancy Donnell. Anyway.. Adlai had a daughter Nancy, born about 1817 in NC. She married Jeremiah Arnold who was born about 1807 in VA. They married March 19, 1846 in Wilson County, TN. "Jerry" was a farmer. They had 3 kids, one of which was Elizabeth ARnold, born Feb 7, 1847 in TN. She died in DeKalb County, TN in 1906. She is buried at the New Union Cemetery in DeKalb County..

    Orlando J. Miller, M.D. of 1915 Stonycroft Lane, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 has Donnell ancestors from Wilson Co., TN. I will add his e-mail link here at a later date.

    Sources of Donnell information provided here:

    My sources of information from John Donnell (Jr. b. 1789, N.C. - or Sr. as he was known in TN) were:
    My own research covering Madison, Carroll and Gibson Co., TN only, Cemetery records and headstones, census records, marriage records, and court house records in the counties mentioned.
    Genealogy Notes written by my great-grandmother (Kate Waynick Warlick).
    Conversations with my relative Lanier Exum Donnell.

    My sources of information for all siblings, parents and ancestors of John Donnell (Jr. - b. 1789, N.C. - or Sr. as he was known in TN) were:

    Written documentation from Raymond D. Donnell (Donnell Researcher) of Burlington N.C. (1995-96) and "A Genealogy of Donnell, Langford and Other Families" by Charles E. Donnell, M.D., Plainview, Texas (1949) - which I've been told contains "numerous errors".

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    This page was created on 2 December, 1996
    and last updated on 29 December 2005.