“But what is a home without a mother?
My dear mother and her daughters, the links that bound father and sons to their bush home, the magnets which for years, attracted three sons during their vacations from their work”.

…..as wrote, William Nassau Holmes in “My Mother”.

Jane Donaldson was of Scottish extraction, her maiden name evinces the fact.
Donaldson ancestors came from Scotland in the days of the Ulster Plantation, circa 1611– King James 1 of England and V1 of Scotland, a son of the ill starred ’Mary Queen of Scots’ in coming to the English throne found himself in possession of Ulster. [Latin– Ultonia] Ulter = on the farther side and ia = the land.
Hence land ….land farther on!
It was a forfeit paid to England by a rebel Irish chieftain in the days of Elizabeth.

James Donaldson b1770 the grandfather of Jane, fought at the Battle of the Boyne and the sword he used was in possession of Dr William Donaldson of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan (Jane’s uncle)

“Religion should extinguish strife,
And make a calm of human life,
But friends that chance to differ,
On points which God has left at large.
How fiercely will they meet and charge!
No combatants are stiffer”
Ackn. Cooper

Jane Donaldson was the true Ulster type. She had a soft voice and a pleasant accent also a happy disposition, a merry laugh and could enjoy a joke.
These were the attributes that were necessary to “pioneer” and to develop the family property…... Dilkhoosa.
She was a very determined, loyal and thrifty housekeeper, mother of a large family, which surely would have tested the endurance of most.
“Her form was that of a model and would have delighted the heart of a sculptor”
She would write "cheery" letters..... and was a tireless gardener who had huge beds of flowers.
There was an underground cellar, which was very inviting on a hot day. It was stacked with bottles and casks of the wines from products of the garden.
The wines were shared with many guests, who assembled for dances which were held in the large rooms and hallway of Dilkhoosa.

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“My Mother” was a document written by her eldest son, William.
Children born in date order, on next page….