Delmer Emily Doran
(From Marie Bilyeu family document found with Shelton family bible. Appears written ca. 1955; author uncertain.)
Doran Families
The early Dorans were Irish. The house of Doran is one of the oldest of Irish nobility. The Dorans reigned in Donegal when there were petty Kings in Ireland in the eighth century.
James and Margaret Gordon Doran are the first ancestors of whom we have a record. They came to America about 1764 and settled in Maryland. At the close of the revolution they moved to Washington County, Virginia, probably not far from Abington. James took 268 acres of land on Wolf Creek in 1774 and his son, Alexander, (our next ancestor in direct line) took 105 acres at the head of Cane Brake Springs, Iron Mountain.
Both James and Alexander served in the Revolution and both served at King's Mountain. In 1775 James took part in the expedition against the Cherokee Indians. Alexander also served in the War of 1812, supposed to have been a major. He entered the revolutionary army at the age of 14 or 15 under General Washington, as a teamster, driving a munitions wagon.
A Mr. Gordon, whose first name we do not have, was the father of Margaret Gordon Doran. Driven by persecution he fled from Scotland to Ireland. He and others were condemned to be hung because they were protestants. They escaped by a ball of yarn and a vial of equafortis. By these they destroyed the gates of the prison. Escaping at night, they reached the shores of Ireland the next day. Their property was confiscated, and Gordon's wife and son were turned out to starve. A shepherd took her to the mountains and concealed her until the persecution was over, then she was sent to her husband. A son, Alexander Gordon, came to America about 1764.
Mr Gordon, the father, opposed the marriage of Margaret to James Doran but the mother consented, and they were married 12 months befor the father knew it. A copy of the will of this James Doran is given.
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