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The MacDONALD/McDONALD Family of C19th/C20th Dudley, Tipton & Aston, Birmingham arriving from "foreign parts" i.e. Ireland or Scotland c1822

Seeking probable Irish or Scottish ancestry and modern day Black Country (Dudley), Aston or Greater Birmingham descendants of Luke and Mary McDONALD/MacDONALD
(probably born around the turn of the C19th in Ireland or Scotland and married there by c1821)
Known name variants include McDONNALL, McDONAGH, MCDONNER, McDONOUGH.
Family details are below.

The Clan Donald is of Celtic origins (Gaelic: MacDhomhnaill). At the height of power in the mid C15th, the Clan controlled most of the Western Isles, much of the western Scottish highlands, the NE parts of current Northern Ireland, and were known as Lords of the Isles. The Clan traces its origins to Somerled, an Irish/Norse warrior. Somerled's son, Reginald or Ranald, was given part of the kingdom (Islay & Kintyre) upon his father's death. His son Donald who succeeded as Lord of the Isles in 1207 provided the Clan name. There are nine distinct branches descending from Donald.

The Clan system was legislated against in 1746 and continually repressed. Many crofters (subsistence farmers) were evicted from lands in the period 1790-1845 to be replaced by sheep, during what is known as the Highland Clearances. It was mid way through this period that the first known members of my family appear on their travels, possibly looking for a new life away from the one they had known. The following map shows the concentration of the family name in Ireland.

From Scotland or Ireland came "Strangers on Travel"

Luke McDONALD, my 3xGGF, n. c1799-1806 (based on given age of 35 in 1841 and age at death) and Mary (possibly Mary Ann) n. c1803 (38, based on age in 1841) were probably married in the period 1817-22. Luke was an Agricultural Labourer (1841), Furnaceman (1844), Weaver (1853) and died 1.8.1853 at Wood St, Tipton in the Black Country of the West Midlands, England.

They arrived in the Black Country area by 1823 from northern places unknown (via Stone in Staffordshire where their son was born). They could have been travelling down from Scotland, or recently arrived from Ireland, perhaps via Liverpool or Holyhead. John MacDONALD c. 8.11.1822 s/o Luke & Mary MacDONALD at Stone, St Michael, Staffs. The 1822 record shows John to be son of Luke & Mary MacDONALD who were "Strangers on Travel". John was the informant at Luke's death in 1853 Tipton. No other family baptisms have been located.

The First Dudley/Tipton Family (1822-1853)

In 1841 Dudley the family were at Wolverhampton Street, without sons:

• John McDONALD (1822), or

• Patrick McDONALD (c1828/29 Dudley).

Present were:

• Luke McDONALD (c1826) "born in Scotland, Ireland or Foreign Parts", suggesting Mary at least returned to her place of origin to give birth to Luke after they arrived in Dudley ;

• James McDONALD (c1830);

• Mary McDONALD (c1832 Dudley).  No baptism for Patrick found at St Thomas's PC, Dudley up to 1835.

No references on 1851 name index in Dudley for the family, although believed to be in Tipton. Not located in 1861, either. Perhaps to be found under surname variants or in other parts of the British Isles.

• John McDONALD may be the one who married Harriet DAVIES at Dudley, 14.10.1850;

• James McDONALD may be the 48 year old confectioner in Tamworth, Staffs in 1881, however no birthplace was given on the census record]; 

• Fitting the right age, Luke MCDONALD (55) in 1881, Head of household at 21 Back of Bond St, Liverpool, was born in Ireland. I'd be pleased to hear from any descendant Liverpool families. Luke married Ann (46) between c1850 & c1870. Children: Luke (1870), 

The Second Dudley/Tipton Family (1849-1891)

Patrick McDONALD aka Patsy McDONNER on marriage, my 2xGGF, (n. 1828/9 Dudley), Coalminer, married Phebe/Phoebe WHITEHOUSE on 29.10.1849 at Dudley PC, both of Castle Street.

On census returns the above family were living in Tipton at 59 Waterloo Street (1871) and at 8 Watery Lane (1881). The family have not yet been located in 1851 & 1861 (but were apparently not in Tipton in 1861 according to the index). In 1871 the head of the family was given as "James". This appears to be either incorrect or is Patrick's brother (as the age matches), since the rest of the family matches the expected return. Patrick was elsewhere (thought to have died in 1876). It is likely that the census officer mistook James as the head (if he was resident there) and the rest of the family as his, or the other way around. However, in 1881 Phoebe was a 49 year old widow with the recorded surname MACKDONNAL.
Known children (all born Tipton) are: Hannah (c1854), John (c1857), George (c1859/60), Catharine (1861), Job (my GGF, (6.12.1865)), Sarah (1869), Thomas (1871), & Phoebe (1876). No further information is known except for Job, but it is assumed they lived, (married) and died in the Dudley/Tipton/Birmingham area.

The Third Family Moves from Tipton to Aston, Birmingham (1890-1900's) then
C20th MACDONALD Generations in Aston, Birmingham

Job MACDONALD married Agnes BODEN on 28.9.1890 at Tipton PC. Job died in 1935 & Agnes in 1947. Their children are believed to be (in family story order):

• Job MACDONALD (born 1891 Dudley; d. 1896 Aston);

• Agnes MACDONALD (possibly Agnes Daisy MCDONOUGH born 1896 Aston; d. 1896 as MCDONOUGH);

• Enoch MACDONALD (1895), possibly  m. Gladys MacDONALD and had a boy and a girl. They lived in the Perry Common area in the 1930's. Seeking their descendants;

• Samuel MACDONALD (1897), m. Clare M. PERKINS in 1925. The family lived on The Broadway, Handsworth, Birmingham in the 1930's & had children:

  • John MacDONALD, killed aged 12 when his bike got caught in tramlines (sometime pre WW2);

  • Patrick MacDONALD, history unknown;

  • Clare MacDONALD, history unknown

• Twin William Joseph McDONALD (1899/1900) is believed to have married Ivy but had no issue due to her epilepsy. They lived in Prestbury Road, Aston in the 1930's.;

• Twin Agnes Gladys McDONALD (1899/1900, d. 1901);

• Edith McDONALD (1904), m. Leonard Albert SANDERS (my maternal grandparents) in April 1927 at St James in Aston;

Job was interred at Witton Cemetery, Birmingham on 6.4.1935 and Agnes was interred on 29.4.1947. The family were found on the 1901 census in Aston Manor, Birmingham at 12 Court 6 House New Street. Job was a General Labourer. Unfortunately, the wife and children were only given initials - A for Agnes (32), sons ?J (should be Enoch - 6), S (Samuel - 4), W (William - 1), & daughter A (?Agnes -1). All children were born in Aston.

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