In England the Doanes and Dones trace their ancestry to King John's reign, 1190-1216, when the family was seated at Utkinton, in Cheshire, which appears to have been its chief seat for many generations. According to the most recent chroniclers of Doane genealogy, the ancient form of spelling of the surname is not clearly known and from the same source it is learned that the name is supposed to have been derived from "dun" or "dune," meaning a stronghold or hill fortress, while the old patronymic Done in several old manuscripts appears frequently as Doane, Down and Downe. But however the name may have been written in olden times, it is quite evident that those who bore it were persons of more than ordinary distinction, and that in the mother country as well as on this side of the Atlantic the name has stood for eminent respectability and high mental attainments; and among those bearing the name previous to the beginning of the seventeenth century were men of high stations, whose achievements won for them royal recognition and favor and who were honored with coats-of-arms and other insignia of rank and honor. Says one chronicle: "Near to Tarporley we see indeed the ruins of a house, yet with no decay of the name or the owners thereof, and the ancient seat of the Dones of Utkinton I have heard was no little emulation until it pleased God, the heirs male of Utkinton failing were glad to knit with the Dones of Flaxyard, that so the union by marriage might make one greater name, as now in the person of the worthy Knight Sir John Done of Utkinton, a gentleman replete in many excellencies of nature, wit and ingenuity."
(I) John Doane, immigrant ancestor of the particular family under consideration here, is presumed to have been a descendant of the Dones of Cheshire, although nothing is known of his antecedent generations, neither have we any account of his birthplace, the name of his wife, nor the year of his immigration to New England. But we do know that he was one of the principal men in the affairs of the Plymouth colony, and from that fact it may be assumed that he was indeed "heir to a good birthright, that in some broad field education and friction had developed a manhood and strength of character that inspired the confidence of the Plymouth associates." In Mitchell's History of Bridgewater, it is mentioned that "Mr. John Done came over to New England about 1629, when history informs us that thirty-five of the Leyden company, with their families, arriving at Plymouth," while another record which speaks of the death of his daughter Abigail, says that he "came to Plymouth with his wife in 1630." It is known, however, that John Doane bore the title of "Mr." and that only those were so addressed who bore some distinction above the common station of their fellow-men. As John Done he was a freeman of Plymouth in 1633, and as early as January, 1632-33, he with others was chosen to sit in the council. He also sustained various other offices in the colony, one of the most important of which was that of assistant to the governor, but this he gave up in order to serve as deacon of the church. One other account states that in 1636 "Elder Brewster, Pastor Smith and Deacons Doane and Jenney of Plymouth, Jonathan Brewster and Christopher Wadsworth of Duxbury, James Cudworth and Anthony Annable, of Scituate, were joined to the governor and council for the preparation of a regular system of laws," etc.
Deacon John Doane acquired several parcels of land in Plymouth, but it does not appear that he became well possessed of lands and goods at any time during his residence there. He was active in the measures adopted in purchasing from the Indians the lands of Nauset, afterward Eastham, where he was one of the first colonists in 1645, and where also he was much engaged with affairs of the town, serving in various capacities, deacon of the First Church there, selectman for many years, deputy to the court for Eastham in 1648, and during four years afterward; and in June, 1663, he was authorized to perform marriage ceremonies and administer oaths to witnesses. He died February 11, 1685, and in his will, dated May 18, 1678, he stated his age as eighty-eight years or thereabouts. From this it would appear that he was born about 1590. His children:
- Lydia, born probably in England; married Samuel Hicks.
- Abigail, January 13, 1632, died Norwich, Connecticut, January 23, 1734-35; married Samuel, son of Rev. John Lothrop.
- John, born probably at Plymouth about 1635, died Eastham, March 15, 1708; married (first) Hannah Bangs; (second) Rebecca Pettee.
- Daniel, see forward.
- Ephraim, born before 1645, died Eastham, 1700; married (first) Mercy Knowles; (second) Mary Snow.
(II) Deacon Daniel Doane, son of Deacon John Doane, was born probably at Plymouth about 1636, died in Eastham, December 20, 1712. He removed with his father's family to Eastham in 1645, and he lived in that part of the latter town which afterward was set off to East Orleans. Like his father, he was a person of considerable consequence, both in church and town affairs, and fulfilled the duties of several important offices, such as deacon of the church, probably succeeding his father, selectman from 1691 to 1696, juror in 1677 and several times afterward, surveyor of highways in 1667 and four years afterward. He had lands granted him by the town and acquired other tracts by purchase, so that he became possessed of a good estate in lands and other property. According to the inventory, his total estate was of the value of more than five hundred and fifty pounds. Deacon Doane married twice, but the name of his first wife is not known. She is believed to have been the mother of all his children except the youngest. He married (second), July 28, 1682, Hepzibah, widow of George Crisp and daughter of Daniel and Mary Cole, of Eastham. Children:
- A son drowned in a well, September, 1667.
- Joseph, born about 1668.
- Constant (son), March 7, 1669-70.
- Israel, born about 1672.
- Daniel, see forward.
- Nathaniel, died in Harwich in 1758.
- Constant (daughter), died May 2, 1720; married George Shaw.
- Rebecca, married Benjamin Myrick, of Eastham.
- Abigail, married Timothy Dimock and settled in Mansfield, Connecticut.
- Ruth, died before March 15, 1722; married Nathaniel Mayo.
- Hepzibah, born of her father's second marriage.
(III) Daniel (2), son of Deacon Daniel (1) Doane, of Eastham, is presumed to have been born in Eastham, although the record of his birth or baptism is not found; he died at Newton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, September 1, 1743. He was possessed of a remarkably strong and determined character, and in his own life made a radical departure from the religious teachings of his father and grandfather, but he was not less earnest and sincere and upright in his religious life and daily walk. The following account of his life is taken chiefly from the genealogy of the Doane family, compiled and published by a descendant of Deacon John Doane, the immigrant, in 1902:
Mr. Doane was of a self-reliant, independent, inquiring mind, and was led to study the teachings of the Friends, who were then creating a sensation by their new doctrine. Charmed by their teachings, he united with the Meeting at Sandwich, about forty miles from his father's home, the oldest meeting in America. In 1696 he was granted by the Sandwich Meeting a certificate of removal for himself and wife, and after a journey of several hundred miles with his wife he arrived in the Friends' colony in Pennsylvania. At that time he had four children, the youngest of whom was about two years old. In due season, Mr. Doane presented his certificate to the meeting in Middletown, Bucks county, and was received into membership. With his family he settled in or near the village of Newtown, where he was a carpenter and farmer, prosperous in his business life, and by thrift acquired a fair competence for the later years of his life. Although Daniel began well in Bucks county and was at first, it is thought, a religious teacher among the Friends, only a few years after his arrival in Pennsylvania his investigating spirit led him to invest the stars and influence of the planets upon one another. But reports 'that Daniel Doane should meddle in practicing astrologie' brought him into conflict with his meeting, which lasted almost continually until he was disowned in 1711. At length, tired of Daniel and his doings, the Middletown Meeting, after many expressions of sorrow that he is so wayward 'and prayers' that he may be brought back to ye truth 'disowns' the said Daniel Doane 'to be one of us,' and 'we being clear of him, his wickedness lies upon his own head.'"
He was the first of the Doane family to migrate from Cape Cod and the only one of the earlier generations of his family to depart from the teachings of the church of his forefathers; but he was founder of the largest and in some respects the most important branch of the Doane family planted in America.
The baptismal name of his first wife was Mehitable, and while her family name is not definitely known, it is supposed that she was a daughter of William Twining, who had a daughter of that Christian name and who also went from Cape Cod to Bucks county previous to the year 1700. His second wife was Mary, probably a daughter of James Yates, who sold land in Pennsylvania to Daniel Doane. Children:
- Daniel, born 11th month 23, 1687-88.
- Lydia, 10th month 30, 1690-91.
- Eleazer, 12th month 21, 1691-92.
- Elijah, 4th month 3, 1694.
- Joseph, see forward.
- Elizabeth, 8th month 20, 1701.
- Rebecca, 8th month 10, 1711.
- Samuel.
- Mary, married Thomas Fisher.
- Thomas, died Haddonfield, New Jersey, 1779.
- Sarah.
- Ebenezer.
(IV) Joseph, son of Daniel (2) and Mehitable Doane, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the 23id day of 2d month, 1697, died probably at Cane Creek, North Carolina. He was a carpenter by trade, and is said to have been a young man of great physical strength and power of endurance, and it was doubtless these qualities which led to his selection as one of the three men chosen by the Penn proprietors to travel on foot for three days in determining the extent of land to be acquired from the Indians in what is known in history as the "walking purchase." After the death of his wife, Mr. Doane was granted permission to remove from Wrightstown to the Buckingham Meeting, and subsequently he was given leave to visit among his father's people at Cape Cod. After his return to Pennsylvania, he asked for a certificate, in 1750, to visit "Friends wherever his lot may be cast," and with this permission he went to North Carolina and is mentioned there as one of the organizers of the Friends Meeting at Cane Creek, where he is supposed to have died. He was a devout Friend and held firmly to that faith so long as he lived. On the 14th of 10th month, 1726, Joseph Doane married Mary Carter at the Middletown Meeting. She died after 1740 and before 1744, and was a daughter of James and Grace Carter. Children:
- Joseph, born August 16, 1727, died November 7, 1727.
- Mary, September 6, 1728, died March 1, 1743.
- John, November 30, 1731, died at Cane Creek, North Carolina, 1811.
- Ebenezer, July 5, 1733, see forward.
- Martha, September 1, 1735.
- Mehitable, November 10, 1738.
- Grace, January 19, 1740.
(V) Ebenezer, son of Joseph and Mary (Carter) Doane, was born at Wrightstown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1733, died near Toronto, Canada, January 21, 1818. After the death of his mother he, with his brothers and sisters, were either apprenticed or given in care of relatives. Ebenezer continued to live in Bucks county until about ten years before his death, when he removed to Canada to live, with his children, all of whom except Jonathan had previously settled there. He brought himself under the displeasure of the Society of Friends because of his marriage with a German who was not of that faith, and for this offense was dismissed by the society; but he continued to live firm in the faith, and his children were accepted under the care of the meeting. Before leaving Pennsylvania, he secured his usual certificate of removal and was accepted at the Yonge Street Meeting at Toronto on the 14th of 7th month, 1808. About 1754-55 Ebenezer Doane married Anna Savilla Sloy, born Hanover, Germany, 12th month 13, 1732, died 10th month 15, 1803, daughter of Henry and Catherine Sloy, who sailed for America in 1744, and both of whom died on the voyage. Children:
- Jonathan, born 5th month 30, 1755-56, see forward.
- Martha, born 2nd month 15, 1758, died 10th month 18, 1840.
- William, born 12th month 30, 1760.
- Mary, 12th month 7, 1762, died 4th month 5, 1827.
- Joseph, 3rd month 13, 1765.
- John, 10th month 3, 1768.
- Mahlon, 8th month 20, 1770.
- Ebenezer, 9th month 9, 1772.
- David, 11th month 5, 1775, died 8th month 13, 1777.
(VI) Jonathan, son of Ebenezer and Anna Savilla (Sloy) Doane, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, the 30th day of 5th month, 1755-56, died in New York City the 11th day of 11th month, 1818. His business occupation was that of builder and contractor, and he was in all respects a substantial man. His business operations, at times very large, called him to live in Trenton and other parts of New Jersey, Geneva, New York, and in New York City. "He is described as a man of singular perseverance and high principle, commanding and handsome in appearance, most loving and devoted in all his home relations." He married (first) at the Buckingham Meeting 4th month 15, 1778, Mary, daughter of Timothy Beans, of Tinicum, Bucks county; he married (second) in New York City, Mary Higgins, who died in Burlington, New Jersey, March 7, 1858. Children of first wife:
- Jonathan, born 4th month 24, 1788; married Jane Duckworth.
- Aaron.
- David.
- Rebecca.
- Cynthia.
Children of second wife:
- George Washington, see forward.
- Anna.
- May.
The latter two unmarried.
(VII) George Washington, son of Jonathan and Mary (Higgins) Doane, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, March 27, 1799, died in Burlington, New Jersey, April 17, 1859. He graduated from Union College in 1818, then entered the General Theological Seminary with the class of 1824, but left that institution in 1821 and on April 9 of that year received deacon's orders and served as assistant to Bishop Hobart, then rector of Trinity Parish, New York. He entered the priesthood, August 6, 1823, and soon afterward was appointed to assist Rev. George Hobart in founding St. Luke's Church, New York. From 1824 to 1828 he filled the professorship of rhetoric and oratory in Washington College (now Trinity), Hartford, Connecticut, and during the same period was assistant to Rev. William Croswell in editing the Episcopal Watchman. From 1828 to 1830 he was assistant to Rev. Dr. Gardiner, rector of Trinity Church, Boston, and became himself rector of the parish in 1830, serving until 1832, when he was elected second bishop of the diocese of New Jersey and was consecrated in St. Paul's Chapel, New York, on October 31 of that year.
To Bishop Doane fell the honor of having founded St. Mary's Hall, Burlington, New Jersey, the first institution of its kind in America "to educate the Church's girls in the Church's way," and subsequently he also founded a school for boys, which afterward became Burlington College. In carrying out his plans for these great educational enterprises "he incurred certain financial obligations in providing buildings for those institutions, which led to his being obliged to assign his property for the benefit of his creditors and in 1851 to submit to a presentment or trial, but the presentment was unanimously dismissed, the diocesan convention having vindicated him before the trial was held. He was rector of St. Mary's Church at Burlington from the time of assuming the office of bishop until the time of his death, and was president of Burlington College from 1846 until 1859. He helped to frame the first constitution of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the church, and was the first American bishop to preach in the Established Church to an English congregation at the consecration of the parish church at Leeds, in 1841. He received the degree of S.T.D. from Union, Trinity and Columbia colleges in 1833, and the degree of LL.D. from St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, in 1841." Among Bishop Doane's published writings there may be mentioned "Songs by the Way," 1824; "The Wedded Flags," "Softly Now the Light of Day," "Thou Art the Way" and "Fling Out the Banner." His hymn beginning "Ancient of Days" was composed for the Albany Bi-Centennial celebration, is printed in the Episcopal Hymnal and is in general use in other churches.
At Boston, in 1829, Bishop Doane married Eliza Green (Callahan) Perkins, widow of James Perkins, of Boston. Children:
- George Hobart, born September 5, 1830; graduated from Jefferson Medical College. Philadelphia, 1850; soon abandoned medicine and studied for the ministry; was ordained deacon and attached to Grace Church, Newark, New Jersey; became a Roman Catholic and was received into the church by Bishop Bayley, 1855; candidate for Holy orders and studied at St. Sulpice, Paris, and Collegio Pio, Rome; ordained priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Newark, New Jersey, 1857; became bishop's secretary and was made rector of the parish and chancellor of the diocese; appointed vicar general of the diocese, 1873; domestic prelate, 1880; administrator of the diocese; visited Rome in 1890 and by his Holiness Leo XIII was made prothonotary apostolic, "which not only gave him the right to wear the purple, but with the consent of the bishop of the diocese the pectoral cross and miter."
- William Croswell, see forward.
(VIII) William Croswell, younger son of George Washington and Eliza Green (Callahan-Perkins) Doane, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, March 2, 1832,and lived chiefly in Burlington, New Jersey, until 1863. In 1858 he graduated from Burlington College, cum laude, delivering the English oration and the poem at commencement, and immediately afterward took up the study of theology. He was a tutor and assistant professor of English literature in his alma mater, and from that institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Theology in 1857. In 1853 he was ordained deacon by his father, and in 1856 he became priest. Afterward he was his father's assistant in the rectorship of St. Mary's Church, Burlington, founded and had the care of St. Barnabas Free Mission in that city, and became himself rector of St. Mary's on the death of his father in 1859. In 1863 he became rector of St. John's Church, Hartford, Connecticut, and in 1867 was called to be rector of St. Peter's Church in Albany. It was at this time that he first became actively identified with the ecclesiastical, civil and social life of the diocese of Albany, of which he became the first bishop at the time of the creation of the new diocese in 1869, he having been consecrated on February 2 of that year.
During the forty years of his incumbency of the bishoprics, the number of clergy within his jurisdiction has more than doubled, and during the same period a number of benevolent institutions have been established in the diocese, through his influence and effort. Among these there may be mentioned St. Agnes' School, the Child's Hospital and St. Margaret's House, all in Albany. St. Agnes' School was founded in 1870 for the education of girls, being similar in character to other female colleges. The Child's Hospital is an institution absolutely free to all sick and crippled children, whether from within or without the diocese, and it is maintained by money paid by different municipalities for the support of the poor, by a moderate endowment and by private voluntary subscriptions. St. Margaret's House, a nursery for babies, was founded in 1884 and is in connection with the Child's Hospital; all of its work is in charge of the Sisterhood of the Holy Child Jesus, which also cares for St. Christina Home, Saratoga, where young girls are trained for domestic service. The Diocesan Sisterhood was established by Bishop Doane in 1873. For many years he has been acting president of the Foreign and Home Missionary societies of the Episcopal church, and in 1910 and with a committee prepared a new constitution for the society that was adopted by the General Convention in session in Cincinnati, Ohio, that year. His father prepared the first constitution. All Saints Cathedral, Albany, is the crowning glory of Bishop Doane's work as a founder, and it was erected at a cost of more than a half million dollars. In addition to his labors and splendid works within the diocese, he was a regent and vice-chancellor of the University of the State of New York, and from 1892 for many years had charge of the American churches on the continent of Europe; a trustee of Hobart College from 1873 to 1879; visitor at Hobart from 1869, and honorary trustee from 1890. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Hobart and Burlington colleges in 1863; that of S.T.D. from Columbia in 1867, from Trinity in 1886; from Oxford, England, in 1886, and from Hobart in 1890; and the degree of LL.D. from Union College in 1880: from Cambridge, England, in 1888, and from Hobart in 1890. He was a leading member of the "committee appointed by the general convention 1892 to prepare the standard prayerbook and hymnal for the use of the church." Among his published works are the Life and Writings of Bishop George Washington Doane (D. Appleton & Co., 1860-61): Mosaics, or the Harmony of Collect, Epistle and Gospel (E. P. Dutton & Co., 1892): Addresses to the Graduating Classes of St. Agnes' School (Thomas Whittaker, 1891), and Sunshine and Shadow, a volume of verse for children. During the latter years of his life Bishop Doane has labored actively in promoting church unity both in his pulpit and privately, also active in the efforts being made to procure uniform divorce laws in the different states.
William Croswell Doane married, November 24, 1853, Sarah Catherine Condit, born September 23, 1833, died November 9, 1907, daughter of Joel W. and Margaret (Harrison) Condit, of Newark, New Jersey. Children:
- Eliza Greene, born Burlington, New Jersey, October 22, 1854; married at Albany, New York, April 28, 1881, James Terry Gardiner and had
- Mary Spring, born New York City, February 1, 1882, married, August 24, 1901. Charles Frazier, M. D., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
- Margaret Doane, born in Albany, November 5, 1883;
- Doane, born in Albany, December 17, 1885;
- Anne Terry, born at North East Harbor, Maine, August 12, 1887, married in her native town, August 27, 1910, Roy Pier, of New York City;
- Elizabeth Greene, born in Albany, June 1, 1900.
- Margaret Harrison, born in Burlington, New Jersey, September 7, 1858, died at North East Harbor, Maine, July 3, 1883, unmarried.