Robert DONALD, Rockbridge, Virginia, 1845 - 1864
Robert DONALD was the son of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. John DONALD was the son of James DONALD and Jennie Jane MCCORKLE. He was the great-grandson of Matthew DONALD and Eliabeth LYLE who are members of families that originally settled in Rockbridge, Virginia
Three of Robert's brothers, James Calvin DONALD, John A DONALD, and Benjamin Matchett DONALD fought for the Confederacy in the Civil War, along with Benjamin. All of them spent time in Yankee prison camps. While the other three survived Camp Chase Ohio, I believe that Robert died in Elmira NY.
Benjamin was never married and died in New York, in Elmira, a Yankee prison camp.
I have been able to piece together a lot of the DONALD and LYLE family tree from a book published in 1912 about the LYLE's in early Virginia.
From: Lyle Family: The Ancestry and Posterity of Matthew, John, Daniel and Samuel Lyle, Pioneer Settlers in Virginia
Facts and Timeline for DONALD Robert
1845
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Robert DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, son of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. He is their sixth child, and their fourth son.
1847
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Samuel Wilson DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, son of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. He is their seventh child, and their fifth son.
1850
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Sarah M DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, daughter of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. She is their eighth child, and their third daughter.
1852
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Matthew Lyle DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, son of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. He is their ninth child, and their sixth son.
1858
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Margaret M DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, daughter of John DONALD and Nancy MOSES. She is John's eleventh child, and their fifth daughter. Margaret is Nancy MOSES' only child.
185x
Birth
Rockbridge, Virginia
Nancy C DONALD is born in Rockbridge, Virginia, daughter of John DONALD and Nancy MATCHETT. She is their tenth child, and their fourth daughter. I am not quite sure when she was born or died. Her mother died in 1854, it is possible she died in childbirth, but that would be a wild guess.