Fanny Bonner : Short Biography

 Fanny Bonner is my GG Grandmother, mother of my Great grandmother, Annie Dougan.

( Annie emigrated with her extended family from Scotland to New Zealand in 1903.

 Fanny had also spent time in Hamilton Scotland from 1881,where she's found at 40 Austine Street, as a widow with her five youngest children. Jane and Bridget are seamstresses and John, Daniel and Michael are all coal miners. Daughter Annie was already living there at 46 Austine Street with her husband James Gallagher and their three children.

 Fanny was in a hard place by 6 August 1888 as she applied for Poor Relief which she was granted, then she was struck off the roll in March 1889.

 Fanny's husband,John Dougan, had died in Ludden, Buncrana, Inishowen, 24 April 1876. He was a labourer. Then 14 August 1877, a Nancy Duggan aged 100, died in Ludden. A  Fanny Duggan was present at her death. I think this possibly to be my GG Grandmother with her mother-in-law.

 So, sometime between August 1877 and the Scottish Census of 1881, Fanny took her five youngest children to Scotland.)

 I've traced Fanny's Bonner family in Donegal, back through her daughter Fanny Dougan who married Edward Doherty at Cockhill Chapel, Buncrana 25 August 1878. Edward was a farmer from Moyle, and Fanny a spinster from Ludden. Fanny was the only surviving child of Fanny Bonner's to stay in Ireland. 

 This small community in Moyle has intrigued me. There were sixteen homes in what was called Moyle, Buncrana; or sometimes Moyle, Ludden, Buncrana. In Census records of 1901 and 1911 it comes under Donegal, Buncranna, Ludden, Moyle. The houses had varying numbers of rooms from one to six, but all were built from stones which were likely whitewashed from the photos I've seen, and had wooden shingled or thatched roofs.

 House 1 was the only protestant family, the Logan's, who were Presbyterian, Martha Logan being the owner. Seven rooms occupied by six people.

 In House 2 was a very busy lady, Ellen Kelly, in her household of six. Her husband John owned the property. Ellen has amazed me. She was not only present at eight of her neighbour Fanny Doherty's twelve children's births, but was also found in so many births records from Buncrana. I suspect she was a midwife. I came across 'Ellen Kelly present at birth, Buncrana' with her mark many times. To see on her death record 'Farmer's widow and a dash for employment', belies the great work she did while she was alive. One of Ellen's household was her 86 year old sister-in-law, Mary, who was a spinner. John was a farmer. Son, Edward, a fisherman as was her son-in-law Hugh Duffy also. Her daughter Mary was a machinist. All bases covered for food, clothing and nursing as an extra plus.

 In House 3 was my Great Great Aunt Fanny who had given birth to 12 living children, according to the 1911 Census, and were all still alive at that time. Seems a wonderful feat to me, especially for that time. In the 1901 Census they had 13 people living in two rooms. One of the girls, Frances, (baptised Fanny!) was away at the time of the Census. Maybe she was working as she was almost seventeen. 

 Fanny's husband, Edward Doherty, also owned House 4. This one room was home to two elderly Doherty ladies, Unity a widow and cottier, and Sarah (Sally) a single housekeeper (and perhaps a midwife I suspect from also seeing her 'present at births'). Unity was unwell in this Census. Edward owned both homes in the 1901 Census, and only one in the 1911 Census.

 Edward and Fanny 12 children were born in Moyle, between 1879 and 1900, excepting Mary the eldest who is recorded as being born in Ludden.. Like her mother's children, nearly all of Fanny's children emigrated, one to Australia, and the rest to the United States.The children recorded Ed Doherty or Fanny Doherty, Moyle as their contact from 'home' on their entry paperwork to the US. Mick who went to Australia, had next of kin as Mother: Fanny Doherty, Moyle, Buncrana, Donegal, on his enlistment papers to the Australian Defence Force in 1915. As to where he was born, he wrote Parish of Buncrana, near the town of Londonderry, and in the County of Donegal.

 Only Joseph remained in Moyle. I cannot imagine the grief of nearly all my children moving so far away without the easy access to instant communication we have today. And especially thinking one might never see them again. Grandchildren become lost as well.

 Edward and Fanny were buried at Cockhill Church Cemetery, Edward dying 18 April 1926 and Fanny, 19 January 1941. They're buried in Section B, Plot 188. Their son Joseph is also buried with them, dying in July 1975.

 House 5's two homes were owned by Elizabeth Doherty.  Fanny's neighbour here was her Uncle Michael Bonner, who married Catherine Doherty. At the birth of their second son, Michael, 14 March 1873, Fanny Duggan was present at his birth. I think there is a strong possibility this Fanny is my GG Grandmother from Ludden. Possibly she was visiting her daughter Fanny in Moyle at the time. Michael was a retired fisherman as he was unwell with heart disease. He would pass away early the following year. Three of his sons were also fishermen. The youngest son, James, was a laborer at this 1901 Census, but soon would become a greenkeeper which led to him becoming a professional golf player the rest of his working life. There is no record I 've found of where he played, but it looks likely his home club would be Buncrana Golf Club.

Edward and Catherine had 

 The second house on the property was a one roomed home to Michael's elder sister, 82 year old Mary, who was an unmarried housekeeper, She was also recorded as present at a few births. Aunty Mary Bonner was present at the birth of Patrick Bonner, her brother Michael Bonner and Catherine Doherty's eldest son, 14 April 1871 in Ludden. She was also there to welcome two of  Edward Doherty and Fanny Duggan's daughters Ellen born 23 July 1888 in Moyle, and Bridget born 20 March 1890 also in Moyle. These were Fanny Bonner's granddaughters. Mary's great neices.

 In the 1901 Census there were 16 properties, 8 of them owned by Doherty's. Maybe more if some of the other men had married Doherty girls. Yet to be researched. But there's an interesting second page to the B1 form. Elizabeth Doherty had added two properties, 17 and 18, which are missing from the 1911 Census as far as I can see. House 17 is vacant. And House 18 is leased to the Lough Swilly Railways. I'm curious as to why.

 As for Fanny, she returned to Donegal from Scotland between 1898 and 1900, as she passed away in Moyle, 31 January 1900. Her granddaughter Mary who was nineteen, was recorded as being with her at her death. Fanny had been ill with influenza for about 14 days. Her death record said she was 63. But according to the Scottish Census of 1891, she would have been 77. Her daughter Fanny was pregnant at the time with her last child Patrick. He was to be born 22nd June that same year. It would have been hard for her. Maybe Fanny had gone back to help her. Also her  brother Michael was unwell with heart disease.

 Moyle was a place of great discovery for me, even though I think it's no longer there.

 There I found my Great great grandmother's older sister, Mary Bonner, and two of her brothers Michael in Moyle, and James in Ludden. Because James had recorded his father as Patrick, a shoemaker in Buncrana, on his marriage record, I also found my 4x Great grandfather Patrick Bonner whose death was registered in Ludden. He was a labourer at the end of his life and died of natural old age at 80. His son James was present at his death.

 It felt so good to know of Fanny's father and a couple of brothers and a sister, even though we're far away in time and distance.

 And to add to the happiness, my Mum's DNA has matches with both James and Michael's descendants. James had two wives, and Mum has matches with descendants from both families. So this confirmed our relationships.

 I found it wonderful to get a glimpse of their lives together as families and as a community. I loved how they were there for one another at births and deaths. I loved how the generations were all together while they were in Ireland through thick and thin, even including their unmarried elderly aunties.

I hope to one day actually get to Buncrana.

(I've made Fanny Dougan/Duggan nee Bonner's name in bold as it gets confusing with the two generations of Fanny's. Well there's actually three here!)