Hi, I am a new subscriber to the list and I would like to post info about my ancestor who was a blacksmith fo Irish descent in SW Washington, D. C. Interestingly, he and his wife and two young children (one died young) were living in Staten Island, NY in 1885 (well, at least they had a daughter, Jane Cecile DONEGAN, baptized at St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church in Port Richmond, Staten Island in Oct. 1885 - I am awaiting some records from that church). I also posted an inquiry on the City-Directories list to see if a John DONEGAN popped up in that locale at that time, but no John, so far, from the three people who repsonded. [There was a Joseph who is listed as a "cutter" and in the D. C. directories, John's brother, Patrick, is listed as a granite cutter - connection or coincidence?) The later children of John and Mary were all born in D. C., so from 1888, they had left NY. The basics: John Dominic DONEGAN, b. Jul 1858 in Washington, D. C. (source: 1900 DC Federal Census), d. 25 Jun 1934 (source: St. Dominic's Catholic Church records), m. Mary Ellen HURLEY, prob. in NY (poss. Staten Island), b. Feb 1858, Ireland (source: 1900 DC Federal Census), prob. Co. Cork, d. 11 May 1924 (Newspaper death announcement). Their children: Stephen, b.? d.? (very young), b. on Staten Island; Jane Cecile, b. 13 Oct 1885, NY, d. 29 Apr 1964, Arlington, VA, m. Thomas SMITH; John, b. 02 Oct 1888, D. C., d. 02 Apr 1889, D. C. Ella Elizabeth (my grandmother), b. 16 Feb 1893, D. C., d. 08 Oct 1974, Cheverly, Prince Georges Co., MD, m. John Samuel DRURY, Jr. Mary Elizabeth, b. 18 Apr 1895, D, C., d. 1968, D. C., never married; William, b. 20 Oct 1897, D. C., d. 16 Jan 1923, D. C., never married. -------------- John's parents were Michael DONEGAN and Ellen SHEA. I have a copy of Michael's Declaration of Intent dated "18th day of November, 1868" at "aged about 36 years" to be a U. S. citizen, so he was born in Ireland. I do not know if he met/married Ellen in the U. S. or in Ireland. I don't think this Michael was a blacksmith, but cannot be certain! John had two brothers: Jeremiah, who went by "Jerry," and Patrick. D.C. Directory citations (supplied to me by another researcher): 1895 Donegan, Eugene Laborer 227 L Street, S.W. , Jeremiah Driver 337 H Street S.W. , John Blacksmith 234 I Street, S.W. 1896 Donegan, Jeremiah Driver 337 H Street, S.W. , John Laborer 323 H Street, S.W. 1897 Donegan, Jeremiah Driver 337 H Street, S.W. , John Blacksmith 234 I Street, S.W. , Michael Laborer 337 H Street, S.W. , Patrick L. Granite Cutter 323 ½ H Street, S.W. 1900 Donegan, Jeremiah Blacksmith 337 H Street, S.W. , John Blacksmith 234 I Street, S.W. , Patrick Granite Cutter 337 H Street, S.W. 1908 Donegan, John Blacksmith 907 3rd. Street, S.W. , Michael 907 3rd. Street, S.W. 1911 Donegan, John Blacksmith 615 H Street, S.W. 1913 No John listed for 1913 1918 Donegan, John D. Blacksmith 638 F Street, S.W. , Joseph 638 F Street, S.W. , Mary Tel. Opr. 638 F Street, S.W. , Jeremiah Driver 638 F Street, S.W. , Jennie 638 F Street, S.W. 1921 Donegan, John D. Blacksmith 638 F Street, S.W. , Joseph Watchman Same as above , Mary Clerk Same as above 1925 Donegan, John D. Blacksmith 638 F Street, S.W. , Joseph Watchman Same as above , Joseph F. Br. Mgr.Columbia Oil Co. residence 638 F Street, S.W. , Mary Opr. B&O RR 638 F Street, S.W. 1929 Donegan, Joseph Clerk 638 F Street, S.W. , Mary E. Tel. Opr. B&O RR 638 F Street, S.W. 1930 No Donegans listed in directory 1931 Donegan, Jerry Clerk 638 F Street, S.W. , John Same as above , Joseph Same as above , Mary Tel. Opr. Intl. Brotherhood of Electricians-Residence 638 F Street, S.W. 1937 Donegan, Mary E. Clerk 638 F Street, S.W. No John listed ---------------- Any connections out there? Kathleen in Ridge Manor, Florida - Genealogy: It's Relative!! [email protected] or [email protected] http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/o/w/Kathleen-E-Bowen http://worldconnect.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=katbowen Frodo Lives!