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Marcella O'Neill born 1830 in Northern Ireland - parents John and Mary - Trying to find place of birth

Hello,

I am trying to find out where in Northern Ireland my 2nd Great grandmother Marcella O'Neill came from. 

Here is what I know:

1. She was born in November 1830 per the US Federal Census of 1900

2. She was born in Northern Ireland per the US Federal Census of 1930 for her daughters Marcella Aloisuia McCabe and Margaret McCormick which show mother's birthplace as Northern Ireland.

3. She arrived in New York City, New York on St. Patrick's Day, 1851 on a ship called EZ that departed from Liverpool, England. There was a passenger named Ed O'Neill, but I don't know if he was a relation or not.

4. She married James Archibald Gardiner at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, New York, New York on May 13, 1855

5. She had eight children: Rebecca Theresa born 1857, Mary Ann C. born 1859, William F. born 1860, Sarah born 1862, Margaret Loretta born 1867, Marcella Aloisuia born 1868, Joseph J. born 1869 and Agnes born 1872

6. Her parents are listed on her death certificate as John and Mary O'Neill

7. She died April 9, 1903 in New York City

Thank you very much in advance for any advice you can provide!

Marie McCabe-Velardi

 

Michie McCabe-Velardi

1 reply

Michie,

I searched the on-line RC baptism records for around 1830 but did not find Marcella’s birth. Not all parishes have records for the 1830s, so it’s possible there’s no surviving record to find. John & Mary O’Neill are very common names as you might imagine, and without a narrower search area than “Northern Ireland” it’s not possible to research them. (The 1901 Irish census had 550 John O’Neills & 816 Mary O’Neills. The names would have been just as common in the 1830s).

Possibly DNA testing may be a way of matching with others who have additional information about where the family originate. Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. That obviously increases the chances of finding a match. You might want to try them or, if you have already tested, you can transfer your results to them for no fee.

The North of Ireland Family History Society is running an Ulster DNA project in conjunction with FTDNA and can offer testing kits at a reduced price.  http://www.nifhs.org (Go to DNA project on the website).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

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