(Mary)(Mariead) Margaret LEE & Patrick DONOVAN

Margaret LEE was baptised on 20 September 1861, the daughter of William LEE & Ellen ENGLISH, The baptisnal record lists her name as "Mary", but that is probably a mistake for a couple reasons. First, there was another "Mary" born in 1868 and we know for certain she travelled to San Francisco and married Maurice BRIDE. (See the William Lee & Ellen ENGLISH link above for Margaret's brothers and sisters.) The first Mary listed as being born in 1861 is undoubtedly the 50 year old Margaret DONOVAN, per the 1911 Irish census record. We know this is the correct family since both the family in Ireland and the USA knew about their daughter "Sister Mel Marie" (aka Kate & Catherine) and her brother Father Michael Donovan. Both Sister Mel Marie and Father Michael Donovan travelled to San Francisco from Kansas at various times to visited their cousins in San Francisco.  

Margaret LEE(born @ 1866/65) and Patrick DONOVAN(born @ 1855/56) married sometime prior to 1885 and they had the following known children:

James DONOVAN. son, born about 1890, age 11, a  scholar.

Kate (Future Sister Mel Marie) DONOVAN,  daughter, born 15 August 1890,  age 10, a scholar.

Ellen DONOVAN, daughter, born about 1892, age 9, a scholar.

Maurice DONOVAN, son, born about  1894, age 7, a scholar.

Tom DONOVAN, son, born about 1896, age 5, a scholar

William  DONOVAN, son, born about 1898, age 3

Patrick DONOVAN, son, born about 1897, age 2

Maurice, DONOVAN, Brother, born about 1861.

All those above aged 7 and over can read & write.

The following comes from the 1901 census: Patrick DONOVAN, head of household, age 45, a Farmer, married, born in County Cork. Margaret DONOVAN, wife, age 35, married, born in Limerick, James DONOVAN, son, age 11, Scholar, born in Cork, Kate DONOVAN, daughter age 10, Ellen DONOVAN, daughter age 9,  Maurice, age 7, scholar, Tom DONOVAN, son, age 5, William DONOVAN, son, age 3, Patrick, son, age 2 Maurice DONOVAN, brother age 40, all born in Cork, except mother Margaret LEE Donovan. Margaret LEE was born in Limerick. (The family property is exactly on the Limerick Cork border.)

The following comes from the 1911 census:

Margaret DONOVAN, head of famly, age 50, widow, a Farmer, born in Limerick

Helena(Ellen) DONOVAN, daughter, age 18, no occupation listed

Thomas DONOVAN, son, age 15, Saddler

Patrick DONOVAN, son, age 12, Scholar

Bridget DONOVAN, daughter, age 10, Scholar

Michael DONOVAN, son, age 8, Scholar

Maurice DONOVAN, brother-in-law, age 60, Farmer

From the 1911 census in Labbamolaga East, Templemolaga, Cork, Ireland. All of the above were born in Cork, except Margaret was born in Limerick. (Margaret was born less than the mile away, just across the border into Limerick.)



This page last updated on 27 November 2022