Before 2004, I knew precious little about John F. Roane’s wife, Mary Josephine Donahue (1863-1900), only that she died at age of 37, leaving six young children without a mother. From her birth and marriage certificates, I learned she was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on May 11, 1863, that her parents’ names were Patrick and Bridget, and that she was a first-generation American of Irish immigrants, the same as her husband.
The prospect of investigating every Donahue/Donahoe/Donohoe in Lowell (a much more common name than Roane) and trying to figure out who was or wasn’t connected, was daunting, --a lot of work for a person as inherently lazy as I am. Enter Pamela Elkas, a cousin I didn't know I had, descended from Mary Donahue's eldest sister, Margaret Donahue. Pamela and I exchanged our research and what's related here, for the most part, is the result of her hard work.
Patrick Donahue (1823-1874) and Bridget Fitzpatrick (1825-1913) were both born in the townland of Cloon in Ireland’s County Leitrim. Bridget arrived in Lowell in 1833, a very early date, as greater numbers of Irish came to the US during the famine years of the late 1840s. We don’t know exactly when Patrick arrived, but he and Bridget were married in Lowell on November 2, 1845. When Patrick died of consumption (tuberculosis) at age 56, his occupation was “Operative,” a term for mill worker. Part of what filled in those years was family, for Patrick and Bridget had nine children. Bridget lived to bury six of them.
Patrick Donahue (1818-1874) + Bridget Fitzgerald (1825-1913)
(1) Margaret Ann Donahue (1846-1900) + James RILEY (9 children)
(2) Peter C. Donahue (1849-1897) + Mary A. SULLIVAN (7 children)
(3) Francis Donahue (1852-)
(4) Andrew Donahue (1854-1855)
(5) Patrick Donahue (1856-1894) + Ann E. McEVOY (4 children)
(6) Ellen Donahue (1860-1863)
(7) Elizabeth Donahue (1860-1926) + Philip J. McLAUGHLIN (7 children)
(8) Thomas Donahue (1862-1931)
(9) Mary Josephine Donahue (1863-1900) + John F. ROANE (7 children)
My great-grandmother, Mary J. Donahue was also working as an “Operative” at the time of her marriage to John F. Roane in 1889. In the census taken in June 1880, I discovered that Mary had been working, at least, since she was 16. In that year she was employed in a suspender shop with her sister Lizzie. She lived on Keene Street with her mother Bridget, 50, brothers Frank, 25, Patrick, 23, Thomas, 19, and sister Lizzie, 20. Mary was only 10 when her father, Patrick, died in 1874. That was the same age her daughter Mollie would be when death came to snatch Mary away as the year 1900 came to a close.
Among the Donahue / Donohoe family’s, seemingly countless descendants, were two of Mary Donahue Roane’s grandnephews who became well known musicians in 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s. Charles P. Donahue (Abt 1903-1963) and Joseph F. Donahue (1910-1964) were both card-carrying members of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 83. Charles played the piano and Joseph played clarinet, saxophone and the flute. Though Joseph was known as the band’s lead singer, both had fine voices. The two were often featured singers in church for special masses.
As is the case with most musicians, the Donahue brothers both were forced to hold day jobs to support their families. Charles was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and was employed by Raytheon. Joseph was the assistant city clerk in Lowell at the time of his death. For many years before that, he worked in the Lowell office of the Internal Revenue Department.
The Donahue brothers were large, fun loving men, both members of many church, community and fraternal organizations. According to Charles Donahue of Cambridge, MA, son of Joseph F. Donahue, his father and uncle played at weddings, parties, and public affairs. They regularly worked with a third musician, Jimmy McCormack, and, on occasion, added additional members to the group. Charlie says in an e-mail, They were very good and gave much happiness to many thousands of people.