hi Faith, welcome to FTC
what is it you would like to find out?

Hi, thank you. I'd love to know if anyone has any information or any photographs of her. After the research we've done I'm fairly sure she was our grandmother.

who did she marry Faith?

She was unmarried when my father was born and she never married

have a look at this journal written on this site in July 2010. It starts off in 1709 with George Donaldson. Scroll down until Fifth generation, William Donaldson who married Eliza Mercer 19 July 1876 and had 17 children. Margaret (1896-1972) was the 13th (see #80). Although it does not show her descendants you may recognise whether she is your grandmother by the ancestors. There is a photo at end but not specified who was who
DONALDSON from Dunnottar, Kincardineshire

I'm now tempted to do a journal on those 17 children to set it out a little more clearly ;)

am I allowed the name of your father and the year he was born to help in the research Faith?

Thanks, I'd be very grateful if you can find out anything.
I have the Donaldson of Dunnottar, Kincardenshire list, which is the family I believe Dad belonged to. His name was Bruce Donaldson and he was born in Christchurch October 15, 1929. Unfortunately Margaret's death certificate has no mention of children nor do the probate documents in Chch Archives, which includes a signed affidavit from her youngest brother to say she never had any children. We're 90% sure we have the right Margaret so perhaps the family didn't know she had had a child.
Dad was always very sensitive about his early years but from the information we've been able to gather over the years his mother wasn't able to keep him (it was the depression era) and he went into foster care when he was about 3 or 4 years old. He did see here from time to time but then lost touch with his mother in the late 1950s/early 60s. Hope this helps.

It is said Margaret died in Christchurch in 1972 but she is not buried there, at least not under Donaldson. Neither is she in Dunedin. Can you help with that?

To be fair, in those days her youngest brother David (then aged 28) would probably have no idea that his sister had been pregnant and given birth because she would have told him she had just 'moved away to Christchurch to find a job'. David himself would have been very busy and otherwise occupied as he got married in Dunedin 9 days after your dad's birth, therefore signing the affidavit as honestly as he thought

Completely agree, it's quite possible he knew nothing.
Margaret's death certificate says she was cremated at Bromley. I was hoping there might be some kind of plague there but I can't seem to find anything online

someone may have taken the ashes?
There are so many mistakes in the Christchurch cemetery database. I have written to them for years over this or that but they won't listen or change records even when I send irrefutable proof. They had Sarah Joan Scott, a 9 month old little girl as "Sir Scott" for years and ignored me for years when I asked how was it possible a 9 month old baby girl had been knighted LOL :). They have recently changed it
So, all I'm saying is, one would have to go to the actual cemetery and asked in person to be shown the grave, or records of, to find out. OR, maybe you know someone down there who would be willing to look for you
This is the online, virtual BROMLEY cemetery at Find A Grave. They take their records from the Christchurch online database (some are added by family members) but on there you can request for someone to do a photo/lookup .. follow the prompts

Goodness that’s not very helpful for people trying to find family members! Good on you for letting them know. Now they just need someone there who will listen. I have a sister in Christchurch and am going down there in March so between us we can hopefully find out a bit more. Thank you for your help. I meant to ask if you’re related to the Dunnottar Donaldson’s?

No, not at all Faith, my ancestors were from Norther Ireland and from Kent, England.
I'm just a Kiwi researcher for Kiwis :)

I will let you know when that "Fifth Generation" page is finished. Good luck in your cemetery search. I know you will let me know what you find out

William Donaldson & Eliza Mercer's 17 children, Otago

Oh my! Thank you for all the research. I’m sitting on the bus reading it trying not to cry. I’ll let you know if we’re able to find out any more

I have a photo of Margaret Donaldson in her later years if FaithD would like to contact me on my email address and I can get a copy to her. Lynne Telfer

Hi Lynne,
I would love a copy of the photo. I did email you at fertel@xtra.co.nz a few weeks ago but my message may have gone into your spam. If you would like to email me, my email address is donaldsond.f@gmail.com
Denise