Capt. ROBERT DONALDSON EATON, of Grainger Co., TN
Last month (October 2005) I posted on both the Eaton and Chamberlain boards a tentative chronology for Capt. Robert Donaldson Eaton (1772-1854), who m. Jennet/Janet (Jenny) Chamberlain, the daughter of Ninian and Janet Chamberlain, of Jefferson Co. in 1803 and lived in Grainger Co., TN.Today I have posted followups to my original message regarding Capt. Eaton's "Donaldson" middle name.Here is the text of that followup:
I am wondering about the origin of Robert D. Eaton's middle name--DONALDSON. So far, I have been unable to find any connection between either one of his parents and the Donaldson family. So I ask the following question(s):
Might the origin of his "Donaldson" middle name . . .
1) have a bearing on the identity of his mother, who supposedly had the same name as his wife,"Jennet Chamberlain"? For instance, could her surname--if indeed that was her surname--have been the surname of a previous husband (prior to her marriage to Joseph Eaton, Robert D.'s father) instead of her maiden name? Or could the "Donaldson" have come from one of her parents?
2) somehow provide a clue as to the identity of his father Joseph Eaton's parents or grandparents?
No doubt, there are other possibilities as well. Any new information would be appreciated.