John Donelson
John Donelson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 17 March 1718[1] |
| Died | 17 November 1785 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | frontiersman, ironmaster, politician, city planner, explorer |
| Spouse | Rachel Stockley Donelson |
| Children | 11, Jane Donelson Hays, Mary Donelson Caffery, Rachel Jackson, plus another sister and seven brothers |
| Relatives | Andrew Jackson (son-in-law) Daniel Smith Donelson John Donelson Martin |
John Donelson (1718–1785) was an American frontiersman, ironmaster, politician, city planner, and explorer. After founding and operating what became Washington Iron Furnace in Franklin County, Virginia for several years, he moved with his family to Middle Tennessee which was on the developing frontier. There, together with James Robertson, Donelson co-founded the frontier settlement of Fort Nashborough. This later developed as the city of Nashville, Tennessee.
Donelson and his wife Rachel had eleven children, four of them girls. Their tenth, daughter Rachel, married Andrew Jackson who was elected United States president in 1828.
Career
[edit]Donelson served in the Virginia House of Burgesses. From about 1770 to 1779, he operated the Washington Iron Furnace at Rocky Mount, Franklin County, Virginia.[2]
He next moved to the Watauga settlements on the Holston and Watauga rivers in Washington District, North Carolina. They came into conflict with the Overhill Cherokee on the far side of the Appalachians. Because of armed conflict and flooding in his settlement, Donelson temporarily moved his family to safer areas in Kentucky.
Along with James Robertson who traveled the overland route, Donelson and a large number of pioneers traveled down the Tennessee and other rivers in excess of 1,000 miles to Middle Tennessee, where they co-founded Fort Nashborough, in 1780. This eventually developed as the city of Nashville, Tennessee.[1] A collection of his diaries are kept in Cleveland Hall, in Nashville.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Donelson married Rachel (née Stockley) (1730–1801) in 1744.[1] They had eleven children, including four daughters who married well and had descendants who became prominent military men and politicians.
Youngest daughter Rachel first married Lewis Robards in 1787; she later married Andrew Jackson of Tennessee. He was elected president of the United States in 1828. She died in December of that year, shortly before he was inaugurated in January 1829.[1]
Daughter Mary Donelson married Captain John Caffery, and two of their descendants served in national political office.
Family political legacy
[edit]Several of John and Rachel's descendants were elected to political office. Their great-grandson, Donelson Caffery II (1835–1906), served one term as a Louisiana State Senator and two terms as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana. He was elected to that office by the state legislature, as was customary at the time. In 1896 he was the first nominee for president of the "Democratic National Party" but declined the nomination.[4] In 1900, he was nominated to head the presidential ticket of the "National Party" but declined that nomination as well.[5]
The Donelsons' great-great-great grandson, attorney Patrick Thomson Caffery (1932–2013), served one term as a Louisiana State Representative (1964–1968), and two terms as a United States Representative from Louisiana's 3rd congressional district (1969–1973). He retired from Congress to resume the practice of law.[6][7]
Death and legacy
[edit]Donelson was shot and killed in 1785 by an unknown person on the banks of the Barren River. He was en route to Mansker's Station after a business trip.[8] One Jackson scholar says he was killed "by the Indians"[9]: 480 and Notable Southern Families states "he was shot from ambush, by an Indian, and killed."[10]
Donelson, Tennessee was named in his honor.
Descendants
[edit]John Donelson II and Rachel Stockley had 11 children together:[11][12][13]
1. Alexander Donelson (unmarried, no issue)
2. Mary Donelson m. John Caffrey
2.1. John Caffrey m. Catherine Smith
2.2. Rachel Caffrey m. George Walker
2.3. Sarah Caffrey m. John Walker
2.4. Eliza Caffrey m. Abraham Green[a]
2.5. Mary "Patsy" Caffrey m. John Knox
2.6. Nancy Caffrey m. John Jenkins
2.7. Sophia Caffrey m. Peter Aaron Van Dorn
2.7.4. Earl Van Dorn
2.8. Catherine Caffrey m. George Walker
2.9. Donelson Caffrey m. Lydia Murphy
2.9.1. Donelson Caffrey II
2.9.1.3. Ralph E. Caffrey
2.9.1.3.10. Patrick T. Caffery
2.10. Jane Caffrey m. Ralph E. W. Earl
2.11. Jefferson Caffrey m. Alec de Marat
3. Catherine Donelson m. Thomas Hutchings
3.1. John Hutchings m. Polly Smith
3.1.1. Andrew Jackson Hutchings m. Mary Coffee [6.7.1]
3.2. Lemuel Hutchings m. Owen
3.3. Christopher Hutchings
3.4. Rachel Donelson Hutchings m. James Smith Rawlings
3.4.1. John Hutchings Rawlings m. Sarah Jane Hays [5.1.1.]
3.4.2. Eliza C. Rawlings
3.4.3. Edwin Rawlings
3.4.4. Jackson C. Rawlings
3.5. Mary Hutchings m. Daniel Small
3.6. Jennie Hutchings
3.7. Elizabeth Hutchings m. Bryant
3.8. Thomas Hutchings II
3.9. Stockley Donelson Hutchings m. Elizabeth Atwood
3.9.1. Mary Catherine Hutchings
3.9.2. Elizabeth A. Hutchings m. Andrew J. Coffee [6.7.4.]
4. Stockley Donelson m. Elizabeth Glasgow Martin, no issue
5. Jane Donelson m. Robert Hays[14]
5.1 Stockley Donelson Hays m. Lydia Butler
5.1.1. Sarah Jane Hays m. John Hutchings Rawlings [3.4.1.]
5.1.2. Richard Jackson Hays
5.2. Martha "Patsy" Hays m. Dr. William E. Butler
5.3 Samuel Jackson Hays m. Frances Middleton
5.4. Rachel Hays m. Robert Butler
5.5. Narcissa Hays (unmarried, no issue)
5.6 Elizabeth Hays m. Robert I. Chester
6. John Donelson II m. Mary Purnell
6.1. Chesed Donelson (died in infancy)
6.2. Tabitha Donelson m. George Smith[b]
6.3. Alexander Donelson, "killed at Emuckfaw"[12]
6.4. John Donelson IV m. Eliza Butler
6.5. Lemuel Donelson m. Eliza White[c]
6.6. Rachel Donelson m. William Eastin
6.6.? Mary Eastin m. Lucius Junius Polk[d]
6.7. Mary Donelson m. John Coffee[15]
6.7.1. Mary Donelson Coffee m. Andrew Jackson Hutchings [3.1.1]
6.7.2. John Donelson Coffee m. Mary Narcissa Brahan[e]
6.7.3. Elizabeth Graves Coffee
6.7.4. Andrew Jackson Coffee m. Elizabeth Hutchings [3.9.2.]
6.7.5. Alexander Donelson Coffee m. (1) Ann E. Sloss (2). Mrs. Camilla Madding Jones
6.7.6. Rachel Jackson Coffee m. A. J. Dyas
6.7.7. Katherine Coffee
6.7.8. Emily Coffee
6.7.9. William Coffee m. Virginia Malone
6.7.10.Joshua Coffee
6.8. William "Billey" Donelson m. (a) Rachel Donelson [10.2],[16] (b) Elizabeth Anderson, (c) Martha Anderson
6.9. Elizabeth Donelson m. James C. McLemore
6.10. Catherine Donelson m. (a) James Glasgow Martin[17]
6.10.1. Elizabeth Anderson Martin m. (a) Meriwether Lewis Randolph,[f] (b) Andrew Jackson Donelson [8.2]
6.10.1a.1. Lewis Jackson Randolph
6.10.2. James Glasgow Martin II m. Mary Donelson [8.3.?. ]
6.10.3. Catherine Donelson Martin
6.10.4. Mary Donelson Martin m. Robert B. Currey
6.10.5. Emily Donelson Martin m. George W. Currey
6.10.6. Rachel Jackson Martin
6.10.7. John Donelson Martin, killed Battle of Shiloh
6.10.7.1. John Donelson Martin
6.10.7.1.1. John Donelson Martin
6.10.8. Andrew Jackson Martin
6.11. Chesed Purnell Donelson
6.12. Stockley Donelson m. Phila Ann Lawrence
6.12.1. John Lawrence Donelson
6.13. Emily Tennessee Donelson m. Andrew Jackson Donelson [8.2]
7. William Donelson m. Charity Dickerson
7.1. Mary Donelson m. Dr. Hamblen
7.2. Severn Donelson
7.3. Jacob Donelson
7.4. Martha Donelson
7.5. Elizabeth Hays Donelson
7.6. Milberry Donelson m. John McGregor
7.6.4. Donelson McGregor, killed at the Battle of Murfreesboro
7.7. Andrew J. Donelson, of Louisiana[18]
7.8. Rachel Donelson
7.9. Alexander S. Donelson
7.10. William Donelson II
7.?. I. D. Donelson, of Mississippi[18]
7.?. Others, married Bartons[18]
8. Samuel Donelson m. Mary "Polly" Smith[g]
8.1. John Samuel Donelson
8.2. Andrew Jackson Donelson m (a) Emily Tennessee Donelson [6.13], (b) Elizabeth Martin Randolph [6.10.1]
8.2a.1. Andrew Jackson Donelson[19]
8.2a.2. Mary Emily Donelson m. John Alexander Wilcox[19]
8.2a.3. John Samuel Donelson[19]
8.2a.4. Rachel Jackson Donelson m. Knox[19]
8.2b.1. Daniel Smith Donelson
8.2b.2. Martin Donelson
8.2b.3. William Alexander Donelson
8.2b.4. Kate Donelson
8.2b.5. Vinet Donelson
8.2b.6. Lewis Randolph Donelson
8.2b.7. Rosa Elizabeth Donelson
8.2b.8. Andrew Jackson Donelson
8.3. Daniel Smith Donelson m. Margaret Branch[h]
8.3.?. Mary Donelson m. James Glasgow Martin II [6.10.2.]
9. Rachel Donelson m. (a) Lewis Robards, (b) Andrew Jackson
9b.1. Andrew Jackson Jr. [born as 10.4.] m. Sarah Yorke Jackson
9b.1.1. Rachel Jackson m. John M. Lawrence
9b.1.2. Andrew Jackson III m. Amy Rich
9b.1.2.?. Andrew Jackson IV
9b.1.3. Thomas Jackson
9b.1.4. Samuel Jackson, died from wounds received at Chickamauga
9b.1.5. Robert Jackson
10. Severn Donelson, participated in James Robertson's Nickajack Expedition against the Cherokee,[20] was "fond of a dram and took several every day,"[21] m. Elizabeth Rucker
10.1. John Donelson[18] [two Johns? Twin w Rachel?]
10.2. Rachel Donelson m. William Donelson [6.8]
10.3. James Rucker Donelson
10.4. Andrew Jackson Jr. [adopted as 9b.1.]
10.5. Thomas J. Donelson [twin of 10.4] m. Emma Farquar
10.6. Samuel Donelson[18] m. (a) Elizabeth Eastin (b) Jane Roysler
10.7. Lucinda O. Rucker Donelson m. George W. Martin
10.8. Alexander Donelson[18] m. Kate Roysler
11. Leven Donelson (unmarried, no issue)
More about descendants
[edit]- ^ Son of Thomas M. Green Sr., brother of Thomas M. Green Jr. and Abner Green
- ^ Son of U.S. Senator Daniel Smith
- ^ Daughter of Judge Hugh Lawson White
- ^ Older brother of Leonidas Polk
- ^ Daughter of John Brahan, granddaughter of Robert Weakley
- ^ Son of Thomas Mann Randolph and Martha Jefferson (daughter of Thomas Jefferson)
- ^ Daughter of U.S. Senator Daniel Smith; Andrew Jackson helped the couple elope and father Smith was mad
- ^ Daughter of Secretary of the Navy John Branch
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Crabb, Alfred Leland (1957). Journey to Nashville: A Story of the Founding. New York: Bobbs-Merrill.
- ^ a b c d "National First Ladies' Library: Rachel Jackson". Archived from the original on 2012-05-09. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
- ^ Anne Carter Lee (September 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Washington Iron Furnace" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
- ^ History of Cleveland Hall. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
- ^ Anonymous (1912). The World Almanac and Book of Facts. Press Publishing Company, p. 218.
- ^ Havel T., James (1996). The elections, 1789–1992. The elections, 1789–1992, p. 77.
- ^ "Patrick Caffery Sr." Pellerin. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ "CAFFERY, Patrick Thomson." Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ John Donelson entry, Tennessee Encyclopedia
- ^ Owsley, Harriet Chappell (1977). "The Marriages of Rachel Donelson". Tennessee Historical Quarterly. 36 (4): 479–492. ISSN 0040-3261.
- ^ "Notable Southern families v.2". HathiTrust. p. 89. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ Jackson, Andrew (1980-01-01). "The Papers of Andrew Jackson: Volume I, 1770-1803". The Papers of Andrew Jackson: 417.
- ^ a b Remini, Robert Vincent (1977). Andrew Jackson and the course of American empire, 1767–1821. New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 978-0-06-013574-4.
- ^ "Notable Southern families v.2". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Everett, Grace (1944-02-14). "The Hays Family, Part II". The Jackson Sun. Madison County (Tennessee) Historical Society. p. 3. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ^ DeWitt, John H. (1916). "Letters of General John Coffee to His Wife, 1813-1815". Tennessee Historical Magazine. 2 (4): 264–295. ISSN 2333-9012.
- ^ "Emily Donelson of Tennessee, by Pauline Wilcox Burke v.1". HathiTrust. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ "Martin, Catherine Donelson". Tennessee Portrait Project. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b c d e f Clayton, W. Woodford (1880). History of Davidson County, Tennessee. J. W. Lewis & Company. ISBN 978-0-7222-4833-1.
- ^ a b c d "Andrew Jackson: Family History". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Witt, John Hibbert De; Provine, William Alexander; Sloussat, St George Leakin (1918). Tennessee Historical Magazine. The Society. p. 280.
- ^ Guild, Josephus Conn (1878). Old Times in Tennessee: With Historical, Personal, and Political Scraps and Sketches. Tavel, Eastman & Howell. p. 396.
External links
[edit]- City of Nashville biography
- John Donelson Journal – Transcription and scan of journal about 1779 river journey.
- John Donelson's "Journal of the Adventure" – in J.G.M. Ramsey's Annals of Tennessee to the End of the Eighteenth Century (1853).
- John Donelson at Find a Grave
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
- 1718 births
- 1785 deaths
- American city founders
- People from colonial Virginia
- People of Tennessee in the American Revolution
- People from Nashville, Tennessee
- House of Burgesses members
- People from pre-statehood Tennessee
- Family of Andrew Jackson
- 18th-century American politicians
- American slave owners
- North Carolina militiamen in the American Revolution
- Deaths by firearm
- American ironmasters
- Donelson family