William McCue

Thank you so much for your research on our family's behalf, Elwyn. I did find Kilrean in my research and also noted a topographical line above Kilrean  named "MacHugh." So that could very well be the place that my paternal great grandfather's family hailed from. The misspelling of Kilrean comes down in family history from his granddaughter, (my aunt), who wrote a family biography in the 1940s. My aunt says that my great grandfather William McCue changed the spelling of his name from McHugh to McCue at some point because it was "easier to write." My aunt didn't note when he changed the spelling, but I'd guess he changed it entering the US. His brother Cornelius maintained the McHugh spelling and moved to Bismarck, North Dakota. So far I haven't found Cornelius McHugh in U.S. records, but I've only just begun that search. That may lead me of course to more information about his brother, my great grandfather William McCue. It also opens a world of research possibilities with the two different spellings.

Fortunately we are in frequent contact with my maternal grandmother's family in Ballinrobe, County Mayo, and visit with our Walsh cousins there regularly. My niece lives in Dublin and married a man from Cork, so we maintain close contact there as well. Finally, to answer your question, yes William McCue and both sides of my Irish family are Roman Catholic. We are Irish American on both sides---maternal and paternal. I may consider DNA research at some point, but not yet.

My long-winded response may hopefully help someone else researching McHughs/McCues with these first names.

Thanks again for all your help.

BlueOcean1

 

 

 

 

 

Being unable to help with your request William McCue

Hi. I'm looking for any County Donegal descendants of the family of William McCue, born February 2, 1842, in Kilraine, County Donegal. William emigrated to U.S. in 1867. He had two brothers. One brother (possibly named Andrew) came to U.S. before William and fought in the U.S. Civil War. One brother may have stayed near Kilraine.

Griffith's Valuation places a William McCue as a tenant in Inishkeel Parish in 1857. Landlord: Stewart. Forename: H.G. Murray. Townland: Barkillew.

Any guidance would be appreciated. We will be in Donegal near Ardara in November 2018 and could visit any genealogy centers during that time.

 

I enlisted the help of Descendants of Families from Ardara, Co. Donegal on Facebook and have received the following replies to your query:-

 

Kay Lough Hourigan Have you had your DNA taken? Lots of Mchughs in Ardara and Glenties and DNA is the only way to get a link for someone who left the area prior to 1864.

 

Colette Ni Ghallchoir family tree dna is good

 

Stacy BooherStacy I have traced a William McHugh in my family to Ardara through a marriage record to Sarah “Sally” Burke at the parish of Ardara May 4, 1873. I have his birth year as 1852 though. He does have a brother Andrew (born 1868) and a brother Joseph (born 1867). They immigrated to the US together, not sure the year, but would’ve been before 1880. Sounds very similar!

 

Stacy Booher  Also, I have William’s father as James McHugh & mother Rosalie Heekin

 

Kay Lough Hourigan Stacy Booher I can't find that wedding but I did find a birth for Joseph, father Charles Mchugh, mother Bridget Gallagher, Born Killybegs in the townland of carrick...... Sorry I am not familiar with the Killybegs townlands so I can't read it. I am sure someone else on this site will be able to help.

 

Stacy Booher you are so sweet! Thank you!! I’ll show you where I found it, one second.

 

Best wishes

James

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you James and Asdee and everyone else who chimed in with connections and ideas! I really appreciate it. I'll have to check out that page on Facebook.

Update on William McCue: I just learned from family notes that William had a twin whose name was Cornelius. They also had a brother named Patrick. So much for the brother named Andrew. One of William's brothers immigrated earlier than William, who arrived in 1867, and served in the Civil War.

Cornelius spelled his last name "McHugh" and immigrated to Bismarck, North Dakota. In 1867, William landed in New York, then on to Pennsylvania coal mines and railroad work, settling in the Pittsburgh, PA area working in the steel mills.

So I have a great deal of information to work with here in the U.S. but am trying to track my greatgrandfather William's family in the Kilrean/Glenties/Ardara area. Perhaps my U.S. search will provide some leads. 

Thanks again, everyone! See you in Ardara mid November!

BlueOcean1

Update 4/1/22 regarding William McCue. I found William McCue's U.S. death certificate and discovered his parents were Neil (Cornelius?) and Mary McNeillus/McNellis/McNelis McCue. The death certificate only provides their county of Donegal. No other place name information available. 
I searched Griffiths Valuations and came up empty for Neil McCue but found many McNeilis names listed in the Ardara area. I'm just beginning this part of my search and would appreciate any thoughts or tips you may have. Thank you, BlueOcean1