This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McDonald, Brownlee, Calhoun, Conroy, Hall, Tobin, Grable, Mather, Pelo, Robinson Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2RB.2ACE/8456 Message Board Post: To anyone researching the McDonald surname, I need your help in identifying several individuals. A McDonald family of Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties was involved in an apparent dispute over land, possibly having to do with the administration of the estate of a person who died intestate, in 1902-3. One of the listed individuals, Mary Ann McDonald Calhoun, was my great-grandmother. Both of her parents’ names are "unknown" on her death certificate; it is only recorded that both were born in Ireland. All that is known about Mary Ann’s family is that she had a younger sister, Lizzie or Eliza, whose photograph appears in the family album. I am seeking any information about the relationships of the following McDonald family members to one another. Please email or post if you have information about the individuals listed below: Catherine or Kate McDonald Conroy (Mrs. James Conroy) Ellen McDonald Brownlee (Mrs. Charles R. Brownlee) of Ogdensburg Margaret A. McDonald Hall (Mrs. Wilson Hall) Michael McDonald and his wife Nora (Tobin?) Mary McDonald Calhoun (Mrs. James M. Calhoun) James McDonald John McDonald Barney or Harney McDonald Patrick McDonald Mary McDonald J. W. Grable and/or Jerry Grable Mary Robinson John Pelo Winfield S. Mather Each person’s name appears in the newspaper article that follows: The Watertown Herald, 20 June 1903, page 2 COUNTY COURT—Jefferson County—Margaret A. Hall vs. Michael McDonald and Nora McDonald his wife: Kate Conroy formerly Kate McDonald and James Conroy her husband; Mary Calhoun formerly Mary McDonald and James M. Calhoun her husband; Ellen Brownlee formerly Ellen McDonald, and Charles Brownlee her husband; J. W. Grable if living, Jerry Grable if living, an infant; James McDonald if living; Barney McDonald if living; Patrick McDonald if living; John McDonald an infant; Mary McDonald; Wilson Hall husband of the plaintiff; Mary Robinson, John Pelo and Winfield S. Mather. In pursuance of a judgment in the above entitled action of partition, entered in the office of the clerk of the County of Jefferson, on the 9 day of June 1902, I, the undersigned Referee, in and by said judgment for that purpose appointed, will sell at public auction at the law office of Kellogg & Brown 10 ½ Washington Street in the City of Watertown, N. Y., on July 27, 1903, at 10 o’clock a. m., the land and premises in said judgment directed to be sold and therein described as follows: All that tract or Parcel of Land, situate in the City of Watertown, County of Jefferson and State of New York. Commencing at a stake 5 rods northerly from the south west corner of land deeded by Cyrenus Wright and wife to Lyman D. Doolittle and Timothy A. Smith, running from thence S, 78 deg. E 3 chs. 95 links to E. S. Sill’s land thence N. 10 and ½ deg. East 6 rods to a stake from thence N. 18 deg. West 3 chains and 25 links to a ----, from thence S, 10 and 1-4 deg. West 6 rods to a place of beginning. Also all that other tract or parcel Land situated in the City of Watertown, County of Jefferson, State of New York. Beginning 19 and 1-2 rods Westerly from the South West corner of Boon street in the center of Foster street, running North 18? And 1-2 deg. East 25 and 1-2 rods, thence North 79 and 1-2 deg. West ? rods, thence 12? ½ deg. West 25 and 1-2 rods to the center of Foster street thence S. 79 and 1-2 deg. East 3 rods to the place of beginning. Dated June 11, 1903. C. L. ADAMS Referee NOTE: The Halls and Brownlee’s listed above resided in Philadelphia, Jefferson, NY in 1900. While the above named McDonalds bear striking resemblance to a Pat McDonald family living in Ogdensburg in 1860 (see below), clearly many McDonald families of that era had children with the same or similar names. 1860 census, Ogdensburg, Saint Lawrence, NY: Name: Pat Mcdonald Age in 1860: 28 Birth Year: abt 1832 Birthplace: Ireland Home in 1860: Ogdensburg, Saint Lawrence, New York Gender: Male Post Office: Ogdensburg Household Members: Pat Mcdonald, 28 Margaret Mcdonald, 30 Catharine Mcdonald, 11 Patrick Mcdonald, 10 Thomas Mcdonald, 8 Mary Ann Mcdonald, 6 Margaret Mcdonald, 4 Eliza Mcdonald, 1 I have been able to find some additional information about several of the persons listed in the 1903 newspaper notice, as follows. Watertown Daily Times, Monday 7 Sep 1908 OBITUARY Mrs. Wilson Hall [Margaret A. McDonald Hall] Philadelphia, Sept. 7.---Mrs. Wilson Hall died at her house on Church street Thursday night at 8:30. She was [difficult to read, 29?] years old. She had been in poor health for years, but the past year was much better. Monday she contracted a cold which developed into pneumonia. Wednesday noon she became worse and her death Thursday night came with sorrow and surprise to her many relatives and friends. Mrs. Hall’s usually happy and congenial disposition won for her many friends. She was a devoted wife and mother. She is survived by a husband and two sons, Dexter and Leslie one sister in Ogdensburg Mrs. Charles Brownlee, and a brother. The funeral was held at her home on Church street Saturday at 1:30, Rev. A. J. Feishaw of Alexandria Bay officiating. Burial was made at Antwerp. NOTE: The sons mentioned above were Dexter John Hall of Watertown (1891-1980) and Leslie Wilson Hall who died in Clayton (1895-1973). The Adirondack News, Saturday, January 1, 1916 The Ogdensburg “Advance” says” Mrs. Charles Brownlee, aged 48 years, died at the City Hospital Tuesday morning at 1:30 o’clock. Her death was indirectly the result of injuries which she sustained eight weeks ago when an oil lamp was accidentally upset and ignited her clothing while she was alone in her home on New York avenue. Mrs. Brownlee had been a rheumatic invalid for several years and though unable to walk she managed to drag herself out onto a piazza and shout for help. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Race, who conduct a grocery store next door, heard her calls and went to her assistance, smothering the flames with comfortables. While her injuries were severe it was thought that she would survive them. Recently, however, complications appeared and she lost ground steadily until the end came. NOTE: A previous article in the Ogdensburg News dated Saturday, 6 Nov 1915 and entitled “Alone in House, Invalid Sets Clothes Afire,” details the accident described above. Charles R. Brownlee, born in about 1865 in Canada, removed after Ellen’s death to Rochester and remarried. He died after 1920. Ogdensburg News, 1916 BISHOP CONROY’S UNCLE, 91, DIES AT WATERTOWN Death of Old Resident of Watertown Occurred Friday Evening—Funeral Tomorrow Watertown, May 6.---James Conroy, a well known resident of this city and uncle of Right Rev. Joseph H. Conroy of Ogdensburg, died Friday evening about 9:30 at his home, 815 Academy street, following an illness of several months, aged about 91 years. Mr. Conroy was taken ill several months ago. He had remained in bed during the past three weeks. Death was due to advanced years. He was born in Ireland, son of the late James and Julia Conroy. He came to this counter when about 15 years of age in a sailing vessel, the journey requiring several months to complete. He came almost directly to this city, but soon after removed to a farm in the town of Rutland. He resided on this farm until 1845, when he became possessed with the gold fever and went to California, where he lived until 14 years ago, when he came to live in this city. Me married Miss Catherine McDonald, daughter of the late Patrick and Roseanne McDonald, 52 years ago, who survives him. He was a member of Holy Family ch! urch and was a member of South Rutland grange for many years. Besides his widow he leaves two sons, Charles E. Conroy, who conducts a grocery at 504 South Rutland street, and Fred Conroy of Tulsa, Okla., and two brothers, Dennis Conroy of Ogdensburg, and Thomas Conroy of Lockport. He has two nephews in the clergy, Right Rev. J. H. Conroy, of Ogdensburg, and Rev. Perry Conroy, a missionary priest. The funeral will be held from his late home, 815 Academy street, Monday morning at 9. and from Holy Family church at 9:30. Interment will be made in the family plot in Glenwood cemetery. Mr. Conroy had been retired from active work since his removal to this city 14 years ago. NOTE: a brief death notice in the Watertown Daily Times indicated that Catherine Conroy passed away on about 28 June 1918. Watertown Daily Times, 4 June 1926, page 4 col. 4 MRS. MARY ANN CALHOUN, 76, DIES AT HOME OF HER SON Mrs. Mary Ann Calhoun, 76, of 634 State street died Thursday evening [3 Jun 1926] about 8 at the home of her son, Anson F. Calhoun. Mrs. Calhoun has been ill for some time. She suffered a fractured hip last fall and was in the House of the Good Samaritan for about six months but returned to the home of her son last February and had been apparently enjoying good health. It was Thursday morning that Mrs. Calhoun was taken suddenly ill with a heart attack. During the day her condition improved slightly but she had a relapse late in the afternoon. Her condition became gradually worse until early in the evening, when she passed away. Mrs. Calhoun was born in Rome, [NY] Nov. 16, 1849. She had lived the greater part of her life in this city. She married the late James M. Calhoun many years ago. Mr. Calhoun died about 24 years ago in this city. She is survived by her son, Anson F. Calhoun with whom she made her home, and a daughter, Miss Bessie Calhoun of this city. The funeral serv! ices will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 from the home of her son. Rev. Hubert S. Wood, pastor of the St. Paul's Episcopal church, will officiate. Interment will be made in Brookside cemetery. NOTE: Anson F. Calhoun and the Winfield S. Mather listed in the 20 June 1903 newspaper notice were close neighbors on the Sackets Harbor Road/Arsenal Street Road beginning in 1928. There was a Michael McDonald who married Nora Tobin in Jefferson county on 23 Oct 1890; they may be the Nora and Michael McDonald mentioned. Any leads appreciated.