Friday, May 22, 2015

52 Ancestors No.19: A Donivan Tragedy on the Chapleau River 1952

This is the nineteenth of 52 blog posts for the 2015 edition of the 52 Ancestors challenge. I have been blogging my family history for the #52Ancestors challenge since it began in 2014.

#52Ancestors asks bloggers to "have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.”
This week's blog post is about my husband's great grandmother's (Mary Donivan's) stepson Raymond Michael Donivan who died tragically with his son and son-in-law on the Chapleau (Ontario) river in 1952.

Ray Donivan, Lena Donivan,
Theresa Jane Donivan, and Mary Elizabeth (O'Leary) Donivan
Raymond's mother (Mary Ann McGahey) Donivan died giving childbirth in 1891 when Ray was only 4 years old. Ray's father Patrick Donivan married Mary Elizabeth (O'Leary) who lovingly raised Patrick's children from his previous marriage and from this second marriage came fourteen more children.


Ray Donivan (1888-1952)
Ray and half-sister Lena and cousin Mayme Hayes

 Sons and Grandsons - Standing in the back: Jack Boucher, Delbert Warren, Victor Donivan, Amby Donivan, Willie Donivan,. Standing near Gramma Donivan Mary Elizabeth (O'Leary) Donivan, Wilfred Donivan, Jack Donivan, James Quigg, Ray Donivan. The little boys are Jimmie Rice, Ed Boucher or Lloyd Boucher and Arthur Boucher.

Canoeing the North

From the Ontario watershed, all rivers flow north into James Bay. 

The tragic story of Raymond, his son "Donny" and his son-in-law Hilaire takes place on the Chapleau river. The details are captured in news articles below. ( All photos and news clippings belong to Ellen Quigg and are presented here with her permission.)

 Chapleau River: Topographic Map








Birch Street Catholic Cemetery, Chapleau, Ontario
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12 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 25, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Thanks for the page and the info. My father was Victor Donivan and this was such an enormous family tragedy.

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  2. CindiAugust 4, 2015 at 10:33 AM

    My husband's grandmother was Victor's sister (Bernadette (Donivan) Plaus and we visited Victor on our way to do the Missinaibi canoe route to James Bay. Victor never mentioned this canoe tragedy but it must have been on his mind as he watched us set off for our canoe trip - he gave us a delicious loaf of bread to take with us.

    Thanks for posting here!!

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  3. UnknownNovember 6, 2015 at 4:07 PM

    Thank you for posting this. I have been looking for info on this for years. I am the daughter of Ambrose Donivan. Our family have heard about this tragic story all our live's. How Dad and his brother Willy searched for year's to find something of the young Michael (Donny) to bring to their Mother and give her peace.

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    Replies
    1. CindiNovember 6, 2015 at 4:12 PM

      Thanks so much Dale for posting your comments here and sharing your connection to this very tragic story.

      Delete
  4. AjJanuary 18, 2020 at 7:44 PM

    My Grandfather was Willy. Married to Edna. We have an amazing Donivan Family tree book if you are interested

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    Replies
    1. CindiJanuary 20, 2020 at 7:35 AM

      How wonderful and yes! I am definitely interested!

      Delete
  5. UnknownJanuary 19, 2020 at 2:20 PM

    This is such a tribute to our family. I am the daughter-in-law to Teresa Donivan Behan. Cathy and Joys sister-in-law. My mother-in-law talked about her dad and baby brother so much. When we had our second son she said she wished that one of her children would call their sons after her dad. She said his name was Ray not Raymond just Ray. So we did, we called our second son Brendan Patrick Ray. Couldn't be more proud to make her wish come true. Thank you so much for the history

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  6. CindiJanuary 20, 2020 at 7:33 AM

    I am so happy that you found my blog and my tribute to the families effected by this Donivan tragedy. How great that Ray lives on in memory through your second son. And thank you for taking the time to comment on this post.

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  7. Laura-LeighJanuary 21, 2020 at 6:21 PM

    Hi, Cindi. My name is Laura-Leigh (Behan) Gillard. I am the Great granddaughter of Ray Donovan. His daughter, Theresa Irene Donivan was my Granny on my Dads side. Thank you so much for sharing this information. I’ve never heard about this tragedy before today. You've opened up a whole world of curiosity for me! I’m wondering if you have any more information on this side of the family. (Particularly about Ray’s wives or other children).

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    1. CindiJanuary 22, 2020 at 3:33 AM

      Thanks so much Laura-Leigh for taking the time to post your comments and I am so happy that you enjoyed this post. In terms of information on the Donivan family, my husbands grandmother was a Donivan. It was Ellen Quigg who shared the details about this tragedy were shared with me (with permission) and I have just noticed that I have not given her proper credit ... I will fix that today!

      Delete
  8. Laura-LeighJanuary 22, 2020 at 2:28 PM

    Thanks for taking the time to reply, Cindi.

    I’m wondering if Ellen would be open to me reaching out to ask a few questions about my Granny’s upbringing. (Assuming she would any such information).

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  9. UnknownFebruary 8, 2020 at 7:51 PM

    I just heard about this tragedy today from Cathy Behan. My mother (Mary Serre) lived in Chapleau until 1963 so I'm sure she knew about this. I feel for the family!

    ReplyDelete

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