DONALDSON, William ¹

   Another name for William was DONALDSON, James.²

  General Notes:

In Griffiths Valuation 1848-1864 of Ireland, in the Valuation of Tenements documents for Northern Ireland, a William Donaldson is found in the parish of Ballyphilip, Ballygalget townland, in County Down, residing there in 1864. William Donaldson is listed as an occupier, and the immediate lessor is Andrew Nugent. The description of the tenement is 'House. Office and Land'. The area is just over 3 acres, and further information is given of the valuation of land and property. Ballygalget is situated in the eastern part of the Ards Peninsula, just over a mile from Ardkeen which is on the A2 road. Ballygalget was part of the Nugent estate. The Nugents seem to have been Roman Catholics. The Nugent Estate papers are house in Public Record Office of Northern Ireland in Belfast.
Note: It is possible from this source date that William Donaldson may have been the son of this William. More information is needed for confirmation either way. It is not a firm item of evidence as yet but a strong possibility.

A sponsor at baptism in 1855 for William Donaldson, son of James Donaldson, was someone called W. Donaldson. It may have been this man or possibly a son.

In the marriage certificate of James Donaldson to Sarah Jane Murray, the groom's father was recorded as William Donaldson, blacksmith, and his mother as Ann McGraw. Both were deceased. These are the names used as the main names here on the basis that the groom himself would be more likely to give accurate information about his parents than an informant after his death.

The 1888 death certificate of his son, also James Donaldson, recorded 'James' as a blacksmith by occupation. ^{1 2}

William married Ann McGRAW. (Ann McGRAW was born about 1800.)