 Catherine GibsonBorn Northern Ireland, died sep 1784 Maysville, Ky Married 1764 (19 or 20 years married) to:  James Donnell, son of Thomas Donnell and N.N..Born 1739 Big Spring, Cumberland County, Penn, died sep 1784 Maysville, Ky, 44 or 45 years Children: 1. Thomas DonnellBorn 11 Jun 1765 Carlisle, Pa, died Dec 1833 Decatur, Ind, 68 years Excerpt taken from "THE DONNELL FAMILY: A HISTORY AND GENEALOGY OF THEDESCENDANTS OF THOMAS DONNELL, OF SCOTLAND. BY CAMILLA DONNELL and EMMA A. DONNELL THE WILLIAM MITCHELL PRINTING CO. GREE?? INDIANA 1912 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE FAMILY OF THOMAS DONNELL. 12 THOMAS DONNELL4 (James,3 Thomas,2 Thomas1), born June 11, 1765, atCarlisle, Pa., was the oldest child of James and Catharine Donnell. Heand his sister Elizabeth undoubtedly received the ordinance of baptismfrom Dr. Duffield before his parents took their first journey into thewilderness of the upper Shenandoah valley, when he was only two yearsold. Something of the rugged life of that region must have lingeredalways in his memory, for he was ten years old when the family undertooktheir second journey northward and over the Alleghenies to the newerfrontier of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He must have told hischildren of the hazardous flight from the Indians to the safer bounds ofDr. Powers' Congregation, when he was twelve years old. He may have evena more rueful recollection of the Doctor's semi-annual catechizingvisits. Later, he may have had a share of Indian fighting, for his nameappears in the list of Pennsylvania rangers, paid for service, about thistime. Whatever the feelings of the older flatboat voyagers down the Ohio, inthe spring of 1784, we may be sure the adventure was enjoyed by a boy ofeighteen. So, too, was the rebuilding of the old Ruddle Station, capturedfour years before by the Indians, which was re christened Hinkson. Therewas plenty of hunting and scouting to be done in succeeding years. Butvery likely young Thomas was a good deal sobered by the tragic death ofhis parents, leaving him the head of a very helpless family. In thespring of 1788 he returned to Pennsylvania, and on June 16 of thefollowing year, at the age of twenty-four, he married Nancy Barr. Thereis a tradition that his suit was not favored by the bride's parents; thatThomas cut the Gordian knot by riding to her home and saying: "Nancy,will you go with me, or stay here." Nancy mounted behind him and went, intrue Lochinvar style, never to see her home or kindred again. It may givecolor to this story that her father James Barr was a prominent man on thefrontier, a lieutenant of militia, member of the convention of July,1776, and afterwards of the State Legislature. The Kentucky frontiersmanmay not have been to his liking as a son-in-law. In the fall, the youngcouple voyaged down to Maysville in a flatboat, reaching Hinkson inDecember, 1789, and settling on a farm near the mouth of Taylor's Creek,in February following. There they lived more than thirty years, and their eleven children wereborn there. In September, 1823, with all his family not previously settled inIndiana, Thomas Donnell removed to Decatur County and settled on land hehad entered the year before, and by some believed to be the first landsettled in the county, having been occupied by John Fugit in February,1819. The farm has remained in his family ever since, now owned by hisgreat-grandson, Luther Donnell Hamilton. Three months later Mr. Donnelland his wife became charter members of the Sandcreek, now Kingston,Presbyterian Church. They lived ten years in the new home, with most oftheir children settling around them. Mrs. Donnell's death was tragic.Wandering from her home in April, 1833, in a fit of mental aberration,she was found next morning, in the woods, dead from exposure. Her husbandsurvived her only a few months, dying in December, 1833. It is said hecontracted the pneumonia that caused his death while carrying onhorseback a contribution of fresh meat to his pastor, in the kindlypioneer fashion. Gone for nearly eighty years, with only a few survivinggrandchildren, it is not surprising that almost nothing is known of Mr.Donnell's personal characteristics. Robert A. Hamilton is probably theonly person living who has even a faint recollection of his appearance.He recalls him as taller and stronger than most men of his age. In hisyouth he must have been like his fellow pioneers of Kentucky, whom Byrondescribed: "And tall and strong and swift of foot were they, Above the dwarfing city's Pale abortions." 2. Elizabeth DonnellBorn 17 Mar 1767 Pennsylvania 3. Samuel DonnellBorn 23 Nov 1769, died 29 sep 1850, 80 years 4. Margaret DonnellBorn 1772 Virginia 5. Martha DonnellBorn 1778 Pennsylvania 6. James DonnellBorn Jun 1780 | |||