Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 717 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Thomas Donaldson, Quaker: letters from America
Covering Dates: 1811-1932
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- Miscellaneous documents
Catalogue Description
Records deposited on long-term loan,8 August 1983
(Acc: 1455(D))
County Record Office,
County Hall,
DURHAM.
DHl 5UL
Telephone (0191) 3833253
Most of the letters in the following catalogue were written by Thomas Donaldson, a member of the Society of Friends, to his mother in Coupar Angus, Fife. He emigrated to the United States in 1811 and settled in Virginia where he introduced the spinning of flax and hemp into the United States. Early in 1814 he moved from Virginia to Mount Pleasant, Jefferson State, Ohio. In April 1815 he married Elizabeth Hough, a native of Virginia and later moved in 1816 to Alexandria, Virginia. The remaining letter is from Thomas's neice to her father, Thomas Blackwood.
Catalogue Contents
Ref: D/X 717/1
Letter from Thomas Donaldson, Mount Pleasant, Jefferson State, Ohio, to his mother, Coupar Angus, Fife, referring to his moving from Virginia to Ohio, his manufacture of linen, the lack of ministers of the Society of Friends in Ohio and his intended marriage to Elizabeth Hough of Virginia, 24 March 1815
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 717/2Letter from Thomas Donaldson, Alexandria, Virginia, to his mother reporting that he has been married and is visiting his new relations. He refers to America as 'this garden of eden... this land flowing with every thing the heart of man could wish', 26 April 1815
(2 papers)
Ref: D/X 717/3Letter from Thomas Donaldson, Waterford, Virginia, to his mother commenting on the latter's health, the ill-health of his wife, his sister's intention to travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia and promising his mother £20 next spring, 2 October 1816
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 717/4Letter from Thomas Donaldson, Waterford, Virginia to his mother referring to the success of the Society of Friends in Virginia, the birth of his son, Andrew, six weeks before, and his sister, Margaret's, journey, 29 December 1816
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 717/5Letter from Robert Storrar and Margaret Storrar [niece of Thomas Donaldson] Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, to Thomas Blackwood [father of Margaret Storrar], Pittenweem, Fife, concerning their farming and liking for the Irish, 27 August 1844
(1 paper)
Ref: D/X 717/6Miniature portrait of Thomas Donaldson painted by J. Dimmock, Glasgow, before the former's departure for the U.S.A., 1811
(1 painting, framed)
Ref: D/X 717/7Note compiled by G.K. [wife of Dr. A.J. Kirk, descendant of Jean Blackwood, nee Donaldson, sister of Thomas Donaldson] concerning Jean Donaldson's descendants, 11 January 1932
(1 card)
