James Donovan was a son of Joseph Donovan and Mary Burke of Leap, County Cork
James Donovan and Ann McGrath were married in the City of Boston in 1854. Extract from https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8979-7WDB?i=97&cc=2061550
Children included:
Joseph Donovan, (1855 - 1921)
Mary Ann Donovan, (1856 - 1943). married Michael Butler (1852 - 1923)
John A. Donovan, (1858 - 1945) married Annie T. Hurlihy (1862 - 1921)
Catherine Jane Donovan, (1860 - 1943). married Frank Driscoll (1859 - 1933)
Julia L. Donovan, (1862 - 1948). married Timothy Harnedy (1855 - 1904)
Hannah Donovan, (1864 - 1865)
Margaret E. Donovan, (6 July 1870 - 1921)
James Donovan, (1873 - ?)
Census 1860:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZCX-8XX
Census 1870:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDQS-4FW
Census 1880:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHXH-2T2
Census 1900: @ 27 Newland Street
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TD-G4R
Census 1910:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2KS-JYC
We quote from the writings of Thomas J Donovan:
"PART 2 - There is one record of a James' birth in Ireland, however, it is unreadable and could be someone else. The birth date that is relied on are from Massachusetts records. Our best records would point to 1830. Of the brothers, James is the only brother that we could find that applied for and was Naturalized (citizenship) in October 1868.
On his Petition for Naturalization, he listed his birth in 1830, the day and month were left blank. One can assume he did not know his exact date of birth. His allegiance from the final document, "that it then was (first filing), and still is, his bona fide intention to become a Citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, State, Potentate, and Sovereignty whatsoever---more especially to VICTORIA, QUEEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND, whose subject he has heretofore been." One of the witnesses was James McGrath, probably a relative of his wife, Ann.
From the Naturalization records, he reported that he arrived in Boston on 23 April 1951. In 1854 James was married to Ann McGrath (1835-1918) in Boston. Ann was from St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. She was born about 1835.
James and Ann originally lived in Boston and in 1860 James occupation was a porter. By 1865, they were living on Davis Place in Brookline, probably a couple of doors down from Jeremiah and John. It appears that they lived in Brookline for many years. During that time James was a laborer and a gardener. In 1900, James and Ann resided in Newton. John was listed as a day laborer at the age of 70.
In 1900, from the Federal Census, Ann reported 12 children were born and 6 were alive. By 1900, the 6 alive children were adults and living elsewhere. We were able to identify a total of 8 children. The six alive and two that were deceased prior to 1900. Of the 4 missing children, it is assumed that they died at a very early age. Also, no cemetery information was found on the four deceased children or the two children that were identified. We will review the 6 surviving children later.
On 15 August 1909, James died of a cerebral hemorrhage in Newton. His death was reported by his son John. Funeral from St. Bernard's Church, West Newton. Burial St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.
In 1910, Ann had moved back to Brookline to the household of her daughter, Julia (Donovan) Harnedy. On 20 May 1918, Ann passed away from arteria sclerosis-heart disease.
The grave site for James and Ann, son Joseph and daughter Margaret is in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury, Boston. (see attached picture of headstone, below)."
"PART 8 - The tree of James Donovan and Ann McGrath family:
Generation
1. Joseph Donovan (1795 - 1866) and Mary Burke (? - ?)
2. James Donovan (1830 - 1909) and Ann McGrath (1835 - 1918)
3. Joseph Donovan (1855 - 1921)
Mary Ann Donovan (1856 - 1943) and Michael Butler (1852 - 1923), then John J. Carney (? - 1929), no children
John A. Donovan (1858 - 1935) and Annie T. Hurlihy (1862 - 1921)
4. James Joseph Donovan (1888 - 1893)
William Ambrose Donovan (1891 - 1939)
Helen F. Donovan (1894 - ?)
Rev. John Francis Donovan (1897 - 1949)
Mary R. Donovan (1900 - 1949)
3. Catherine Jane Donovan (1860 - 1943) and Frank Driscoll (1859 - 1933)
4. Charles Dennis Driscoll (1888 - 1955) and Beatrice I. Dolan (1897 - 1963)
5. Norma Bennett Driscoll (1906 - 1989) and Frederick F Hall (?- ?) three children, then Gabriel Fox (1915 - 2001)
Marjorie F. Driscoll (1926 - 2013) and Bartholomew J. Connolly III (1921 - 1997) and two children
4. Robert Stephen Driscoll (1889 - 1943) and Margaret D. Johnson (1893 - 1973)
5. Robert S. Driscoll Jr. (1925 - 2009) and Phyllis J. Newman (1924 -2014) and one child
Bennett Frank Driscoll (1930 - 1994) and Marion Elizabeth Sacco (1932 - 2004) and four children
4. Driscoll (female) (1893)
Rev. Bennett Herbert J. Driscoll (1894 - 1941)
James B. Driscoll (1901 - 1946)
3. Julia L. Donovan (1862 - 1948) and Timothy Harnedy (1855 - 1904)
4. James Gerald Harnedy (1889 - 1964) and Mary J. Kurbyweit (1889 - 1964), then Helen T. Flanagan (1893 - 1985)
5. James Gerald Harnedy Jr. (1932 - ?) and Jane C. Diggins (1934 - 2017)
6. Sandra L. Harnedy (1954 - ?) and James Carr (1953 - ?) and two children
Susan June Harnedy (? - ?) and Michael R. Blackwell (? - ?), one son, then Robert J. Barbagallo (? - ?)
4. Mary Louise Harnedy (1890 - 1916)
William Francis Harnedy (1891 - 1969)
George Edward Harnedy (1895 - 1972) and Annie F. Dennehy (1895 - 1969)
5. Rev. John Timothy Harnedy (1927 - 1988)
Mary Harnedy (1931 - 2008)
4. Margaret Eleanor Harnedy (1897 - 1978) and William John Raulinaitis (1899 - 1964)
5. Mary Louise Raulinaitis (1919 - 2007) and John T. Hamilton (? - ?), then Joseph Francis Rooney (1920 - 2006)
William J. Raulinaitis Jr. (1923 - 1968) and Ruth Elizabeth Donahue (1923 - 1989)
6. William John Raulinaitis (1952 - 2008) and Mary Curley (? - ?) and three children
James Patrick Raulinaitis (1953 - 2011) and Linda Ella Dunkum (? - ?), and two children.
Ann M. Raulinaitis (1956 - ?) and ??? Torruellas (? - ?)
Michael J. Raulinaitis (1961 - ?)
5. Margaret Ann Raulinaitis (1931 - ?) and ??? Norcott (? - ?)
4. Helen Veronica Harnedy (1899 - 1981) and Arthur Edward Clasby (1899 - 1984)
5. Joan Marie Clasby (1928 - ?) and Arthur T. Roberts (1926 - 1995)
Edward Francis Clasby (1934 - ?)
Martha Ann Clasby (1940 - ?) and Cerow Marion Carlson (1931 - ?)
4. Julia Grace Harnedy (1903 - 1905)
3. Hannah Donovan (1864 - 1865)
Margaret E. Donovan (1870 - 1921)
James Donovan (1873 - ?)"
