Reid - McKinley - Alcorn

Clondahorky (Donegal)

I'm not sure if anyone will be able to help me with my Reid family as the information is quite limited and sketchy at best.

My 2 x's Gr. Grandfather's name is John Reid.

He was born c 1824 in Ireland & immigrated to St. John, New Brunswick, Canada.

His occupation was a boot & shoemaker.

Date for his immigration was 1846.

He immigrated with his sister Nancy b1834 Ireland.

In New Brunswick's 1851 Census it shows them living with their brother John Melvin b 1819 and family.

That info states John Melvin is an English Labourer.

John married Mary McKinley (b 1833 in N.B.) on 12 Feb 1852 in Alma, New Brunswick.

By the 1871 Census he was a widower.

His religion was Presbyterian.

Mary McKinley's father was Hugh McKinley b 1794, Ireland & d 1893 in Hastings, New Brunswick

Hugh McKinley was married to Frances (possible surname was Alcorn) b 1803 Ireland

Hugh & Frances had to have married in Ireland as their two eldest children, Elizabeth b 1823 & James b 1825 were both born in Dunfanaghy, Ireland.

Both Mary McKinley and Elizabeth McKinley are my 2 x's Gr. Grandmothers

Mary married my John Reid and Elizabeth married my John James McLaughlin b abt 1810 Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland

Elizabeth & John James were married abt 1844 Alma, New Brunswick

Mary & John Reid were married 1852 Alma

Thank You very much or any information in hopefully putting me back another generation with my Reid family and/or any other information related to the other family members I have mentioned.

Rae Martin

last year

4 replies

I have searched for early records for names given on the pay site Rootsireland.ie. 24 hour subscription possible) For birth or marriage, I have not found any early McKinley or McLaughlin records matching details given. For John Reid the name combination is common, both in county Donegal and other counties. As Rootsireland does not have all churches I looked up PRONI to find commencement dates for records as they hold copies on microfilm, the churches in the locality do not have early records. A summary below:

http://donegalgenealogy.com/PRONIChurchRec.htm

a link to PRONI (Public Records Office of Northern Ireland - holds early church records for all Ulster counties)

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/guide-church-records

I am from Donegal, the surnames Alcorn and McKinley would be associated with the Dunfanaghty area.

DNA may assist, Family Tree DNA reportedly has more people with Ulster roots than any other company. which 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,they have a Y-DNA project for the surname Reid.)

Best Regards,

Marion IrelandXO Ireland Reaching Out Volunteer - Donegal

Whelanmg, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎IrelandXO Volunteer

last year

Thank You so much, Marion for taking the time to look up the information I provided and providing me with the links. I have difficulty researching my Irish family. Now, at least, with you providing me with the above links, I have a starting point. Many Thanks Marion. It is very much appreciated. :))

Just as a PS to this...my Grandmother Flynn (nee Reid) said that our McKinley's are related to the US President William McKinley who was assassinated in 1901 in Buffalo. I have had my DNA test done with Ancestry, 23andMe and Family Tree. I had my son and my brother take the Y-DNA test along with the Big Y-DNA test. I have had many matches to the McKinley's and they, too, heard the same folk lore. I have seen President McKinley's family tree and there was on son, "James The Trooper" McKinley, who left the family in Scotland and went to Ireland to fight. I have read that almost all McKinley's in Ireland can research their roots back to James "The Trooper" McKinley. I believe he is President McKinley's 6 or 7 x's Gr. Grandfather. I contacted someone involved with researching President McKinley asking if there was a DNA test people can take who think they are related to the President and I was told no. Maybe, Marion, with what you have provided me with, will help me go back further with my Irish family.

Many Thanks again, Marion. It is very much apprecited. :))

Rae Martin

last year

I hope you will be successful in finding early McKinlay DNA links. There are Donegal links to some American presidents. I found below which mentions Malin Head which is the most northerly location in Donegal where a David Doyle is indicated as being related to MckInley president.

https://historyofdonegal.com/2020/03/21/a-malin-head-link-to-the-white-house/

I found the McKinely blogspot where could see your comment.

https://irishmckinleys.blogspot.com/p/ulster-mckinleys-1600-1800.html?m=1

I note that it does not appear to include Clondehorkey parish where Dunfanaghty. There were several McKinely families in this area by the tithe applotments of 1834 Extract summary below has Clondehorkey parish:

http://donegalgenealogy.com/clondahorkytithes.htm

Below has the view of originals, enter surnames McKinley/McKinlay separately

The 1665 hearth rolls do not have this surname in Clondahorkey though in other County Donegal areas

http://donegalgenealogy.com/hmrkilmacrenan.htm

The official link to the Virtual Treasury, where they are working to reconstruct lost records, the hearth money rolls is a copy, there were omissions:

https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/TCD-MS-6232

Map of Donegal civil parishes:

https://ulsterhistoricalfoundation.com/getting-started/ulster-civil-parish-maps/county-donegal

For detailed location searches, the below site breaks down into townlands:

https://www.townlands.ie/donegal/

Best Regards,

Marion

Whelanmg, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘︎IrelandXO Volunteer

last year

Thank You very much, Marion...I hope so too. Researching my Irish feels like a daunting tast. Also Thank You very, very much for all the links and your suggestions. I'm sure, once I research the informatioln in the links you so kindly provided, that I will get a much better idea Ireland. I get a little bit overwhelmed...but I am sure I will get there. :). Just one more question please, Marion; my 2 x's Gr. Grandfather Patrick Lundregan was born, I believe it was 1776 at Ballyann and he had immigrated to Newfoundland. He married his wife in St. John's, Newfoundland. He died in St. John's. I googled Ballyann and I saw that it is in Cohe townunty Limerick. At one time I read the when a man immigrated to Newfoundland, that eventually word got back to people living in the town/city he immigrated from and he would encourage them to join him. I thought I would find that almost all my Irish family immigrated from Waterford but I am finding, with your help, that no...my ancestors are from different counties in Ireland.

Thank You so very much again, Marion. You certainly did work overtime in providing me the links to McKinley's. I would love to bust through the McKinley's brick wall. I will think positive in finding these elusive McKinley's.

Thank You so much again, Marion. You took a lot of time in finding the information for me and sending me the links. It is so very much appreciated.

Warmest regards,

Rae

Although I have never visited Ireland, I have to say just looking at pictures of Ireland is nothing short of amazing. You are so lucky to live in such a beatiful coutry. :). I could listen to your accent forever, :). If you have never visited Newfoundland...they have their own accent compared to the rest of Canada & a different dialect. It's lovely to listen to. :). Thank You Marion. :)

Rae Martin

last year

Reid - McKinley - Alcorn

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