Isabella Fraser Donlan: A Scottish Immigrant’s Story

Roots in Penicuik and Marriage in Fife

My grandmother, Isabella Fraser Donlan, was born on 19 November 1880 in Penicuik, Scotland – a hardworking town surrounded by coal mines and paper mills.

In 1903, she married my grandfather, John Donlan, in Lochore, Fife, Scotland. John immigrated from the Lissaniska, Mayo, Ireland area in 1903. When he moved, he changed his last name from “Donnellan” to “Donlan”. I discussed this name change with my Scottish cousin James Donlan. James thinks he did this to sound a little less “Irish”, since work was scarce and some Scots didn’t appreciate the Irish taking jobs in the Glencraig, Fife, Scotland area .

Like many Scots at the time, Isabella and John lived where work could be found. The early years of their marriage were spent near the mines, where daily life followed the rhythm of shifts underground. By 1925, with a large family in tow, they made the life-altering decision to immigrate to America.

The Journey to America

In 1925, my grandfather, father, and uncle Micheal arrived at Ellis Island. They immediately found jobs in Pennsylvania coal mines. After they worked and saved enough, they had Isabella bring the rest of the family over. In 1926, Isabella and the other eight children boarded the RMS Transylvania for the long journey to America.

Isabella Fraser Donlan’s Children

• John Jr. (1903–1905)
• Hugh (1905) – my father
• Michael (1907)
• Sarah (1908)
• David (1909)
• James (1911)
• Terrence (1914)
• George (1915)
• Josephine (1916)
• Fraser (1919)
• Philip (1923)

All of my grandparents’ children were born in Scotland before the family emigrated.

Isabella and her eight children arrived at Ellis Island on 29 June 1926. (I am really impressed by my grandmother Isabella’s ability to keep her younger children calm through the long crossing and the uncertainty of Ellis Island).

With the family reunited, they later settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Scranton was a city built on coal mining, where John and several of his sons could continue their trade.

Hard Years in Scranton and New Jersey

After several years in America, tragedy struck. In the early 1930s, my grandfather John was severely injured in a mining accident that left him an invalid. My grandmother became both provider and caretaker, managing the household while tending to her husband’s needs.

Despite the hardship, the family endured. Less than fifteen years after arriving in America, three of her sons served in World War II – a source of enormous pride for her (and her descendants).

Prior to World War II, Isabella and John moved to Newark, New Jersey. They lived in the Hyatt Court Federal Housing Project. Isabella’s daughter Sara and her family (James A., Isabel, Archie, Georgina and James Fife) lived nearby at 6 Roanoke Court. (Thanks to cousin Jimmy Fife for this information.)

Isabella’s children visited her quite often.

Becoming a Citizen

Isabella began the process of becoming a U.S. citizen when she was established in Scranton. She filed her Declaration of Intention, the first step, in 1936. After meeting the required waiting period, she completed her Petition for Naturalization in 1939.

Did you know? How naturalization worked back then

• The Declaration of Intention, or “first papers,” showed an immigrant’s intent to become a U.S. citizen.
• Immigrants had to reside continuously in the United States, usually for two years or more, before filing a Petition for Naturalization.
• The Petition, or “second papers,” included witnesses and proof of good character.
• After court approval, the applicant took the Oath of Allegiance and officially became a citizen.

This explains why the Declaration and Petition bear different dates: one for the intent, the other for the final step.

Isabella Fraser Donlan’s Legacy

My grandmother, Isabella Fraser Donlan, passed away on 5 August 1950 in Kearny, New Jersey. Isabella was buried next to her husband John.

She lived a life of quiet heroism, as she raised a large family, and cared for her injured husband. She held everyone together through decades of economic hardship and global upheaval.

Her story is more than a family memory. It’s a reminder of the strength ordinary people carry when history offers few easy choices.

If your family has a Fraser or Donlan connection, I’d love to hear from you. Share your story at Irish Scottish Roots so we can keep these histories alive.

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For more Scottish stories, click here: Stone Skimming Championships – Easdale Island, Scotland, Explore Scotland’s Top 5 Best Waterfalls, Scottish Porridge Making Championships: The Golden Spurtle.