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 James Donovan
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| bpa |
Posted on 11/11/2009 11:51
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 Senior Member  Posts: 134 Joined: 11/11/2009 |
I am looking for help on where to find more information on James Donovan. He was my gt-gt-grandfather. There is already a minimal entry for James Donovan on your database id #2227. On the census of 1911 - his age is 79 (which is not reliable), occupation "Retired Naval Officer" born in Cork. On the marriage cert of one of his daughters his occupation is "Coastguard service". There is an account of James Coree (also a coastguard for a while) life which provides additional details on James Donovan. http://www.downcountymuseum.com/template.aspx?pid=168&area=1&textsize=3 .Confirming your details, an 1880 Belfast directory lists James Donovan as Chief Officer at Glenarm http://www.lennonwylie.co.uk/PDAntrim1880.htm . Also according to this site's Navy Lists he was Chf. Officer at Glenarm 1877-80 and Kingstown 1881-2. I know that James Donovan had at least 3 daughters in 1866, 1876 born in Cork and 1884 born in Dublin. One daughter married in 1895 stated on the wedding cert that her residence was Dingle and father James Donovan was a Coastguard Officer. at the time James Donovan would be about 63. This ties in with the James Coree narrative that Daniel Coree (b. 1887) was brought up in Dingle with his grandfather James Donovan until James Donovan's retirement The following is a summary of my best guess of James Donovan's life. Born about 1832 in Co. Cork Enlisted possibly around 1850-1860 if he joined at about age 18-28 Married no later than 1866 Daughter Margaret born 1866 - location not determined yet. Daughter Kathleen born 1876 - Co. Cork Chief Officer at Glenarm 1877-1880 Chief Officer at Kingstown 1881-1882 Daughter Josephine born 1884 - Dublin Daughter Margaret marries James Coree 1886 - Dublin James Donovan is in Dingle possibly from around 1890 as Daniel Coree is in his care. Daughter Kathleen marries Patrick Hayes 1895 - Dingle Daughter Josephine marries John Nugent 1910 - location no determined. James Donovan in 1911 is retired and living in Bruff, Co. Limerick with daughter Josephine Nugent. Where the children were born might be an indication of where James Donovan was currently stationed but it is not conclusive as I know from tracing other family members. It was not unusual for a daughter to return to her parents to have support when the child was born. It is likely that there were more children so I am trying to find where he was stationed to narrow down the searches. I assume that even if he was assigned to a ship that he could be back onshore reasonably often. I would appreciate any help on where to look especially to confirm that he was stationed in Dingle around 1890-1895.. I have downloaded from Kew ADM 139/184 which is a record for a James Donovan (cs no 18324) who signed up for 10 years in 1855 and gave a date of birth of Feb 1833 ( Queenstown ) but later amended to 1830. He served on various ships Vengence, Salamander, St. Jean D'Acre, Indus, Bacchante, Hawke, Fredk William, Valiant, Vanguard(Clogher head). His rating starts a a B2C and ends as a Botmn. The first entry is for 1848 and the last entry is Apr 1870. Kew ADM 188/65 has the same CS 18324 for a James Donovan born Feb 1832 Queenstown. It has entries for Sept 77 until "Shore pensioned" in Feb 82. All the time the rating is Boatman so I have doubts that he is "my" James Donovan. If ADM 139/184 is "my" James Donovan, is it possible he got promoted to Chief Officer in 1870 and his record is continued in some other document. On his file beside his CS NO 18324 there is a scribble ONO 76552 - does this indicate a transfer from service to another ? Thanks |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 11/11/2009 15:26
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Hi, and welcome to the forum. I might be wrong, but I think the James Donovan you are looking for was born in Timoleague, Cork on 29 May 1838. I've used the records in ADM 175 and traced a good deal of his career to the point when he was promoted Chief Boatman in 1873. I know this man's record from 1873 is available online from the National Archives, so it might be worth downloading this to see if it ties in with what you already know. If I am right, you will then need to use the ADM 175 records to take his service history back from 1873, to his nomination. If you have a problem with this let me know, I can do this for you if you wished. On your question re 'ONO', this is just a notification of an 'Official Number' issued to all men then in the navy. The number you quote was issued in 1873, and ties in with the ADM 188/65 document. Regards Martin |
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| bpa |
Posted on 11/11/2009 15:55
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Senior Member Posts: 134 Joined: 11/11/2009 |
Thanks for quick response, I'll check out the Timoleague James Donovan and see if he fits. regards Bryan |
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| bpa |
Posted on 11/11/2009 17:45
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Senior Member Posts: 134 Joined: 11/11/2009 |
Timoleague 1838 - James Donovan (ADM 188/65) is a good fit. A summary of his record is as follows: 01 Jan 73 - 20 May 73 Vanguard CC - carlingford Cd Boatmn 21 May 73 - 30 Sep 75 ditto youghal Chf Boatmn 01 Oct 75 - 27 Mar 77 Iron Duke Chf Boatmn 28 Mar 77 - 31 Mar 77 ditto Ch. B. in Ch. 01 Apr 77 - 16 Jul 77 ditto - Five Mile Point Ch. B. in Ch. 17 Jul 77 - 04 Sep 77 Topaze ditto Ch. B. in Ch. 05 Sep 77 - 22 Sep 77 ditto Chf Officer (acting) 23 Sep 77 - 01 Jul 78 ditto Glenarm Chf Officer 02 Jul 78 - 21 Oct 80 Belleisle ditto Chf Officer 22 Oct 80 - 19 Jan 92 Kingstown Chf Officer 20 Jan 92 Limerick Dingle Chf Officer Traced Pens. 6/5/95 These locations match quite well with the known facts of a daughter born in Cork 1876, and in Dublin in 1884 and being in Dingle at the expected time. Thanks for the pointer - it saved a lot of time. regards Bryan |
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