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Campbells - McNellis families from Donegal Ireland

Donegal

 

 

 

 

 

Hello,

I am working on my family tree, and I am hoping for a bit of help. I am in a bit a of a rabbit hole let me try and to explain how I found myself in this situation.

My Great grandmother Margaret McNellis married Bernard Partridge in 1867 in Brown County Perry township Ohio.

From her death information from New St Joes cemetery in Hamilton Ohio( attached) it states her parents are James and Margaret Campbell.

Bernard parents Patrick Partridge and Helen McCormick are both buried at Saint Angela Merici Roman Catholic cemetery.

While doing research I found that there is a group of Campbells buried there as well. Especially a James Campbell b1774-d1850. Native of Donegal Ireland.

When I looked at the 1850 census, I noticed that my grandparents were living next to the Campbells.

Census #1

Line 23 Henry Campbell b 1802

Line32 Robert b 1806

Line 33 John b 1808

Line 39 Cornelius McNellis and Anna Campbell McNellis ( Margarets parents my GG Grandparents)

Census # 2

Line 3 James b 1816

Line 24 Hugh b 1823

Located in St Angela are the families of James, Hugh, John, and Robert. I have not located Henry or the others listed with him on the 1850 census.

 In researching the above I came across a book: The History of brown County by Josiah Morrow published by Chicago W.H Beers & co.

In that publication , which I have attached are articles on Cornelius McNelius

( my ggg grandfather)

 John Campbell (who is John Campbell line  33 on 1850 census)

And below him is James B Campbell who is the son of James Campbell

Line 3 of census #2

In the paragraph about Cornelius it states he was born on County Donegal Ireland in Dec 1819 marred Ann daughter of James and Margaret Camel ( I believe it was shorten for Campbell)   It states that my grand mother Margaret was born in Ireland and he came to America in about 1847 and settled on the farm in Ohio and was a member of the Catholic Church.

John’s article states he was the son of James and Margaret Campbell and was born in Donegal Ireland that he came to America in 1837 and went to Penn. With his brother James then to Ky for a bit. He went back to Ireland in 1841 to marry Hannah Boyle ( who is buried in St Angela with John and their children) in 1843 he returned to settle in the township on the land his brother James bought for him while in Ireland. The family are all members of the Catholic Church

James information confirms he is the son of James, John brother, and his wife Margaret Call born in Perry township in 1858. He is a member of the Catholic Church

From all of this gathered information I believe that the Campbells are all related and that my grandmother Ann was a part of this family and lived near each other in Ireland and possibility came over together . I also suspect the James b 1774 native of Donegal Ireland buried at St Angela is her father and the father of James, John, Robert, Henry, Hugh, and my Ann. I am seeking information to put it all together.

I was hoping that your society would have any information about these families.  I am on several web sites actively searching for records , Family search , Ancestry ect.

I appreciate any information, guidance you can provide me.

 

Thank you.

Jan

 

Jan

4 replies

Jan:

You have completed a very extensive research effort on your family.

Unfortunately, Co. Donegal is the most difficult county in all of Ireland to research Roman Catholic parish records prior to 1850.

I did some searches on the subscription site Roots Ireland and did not find any possible leads for your family.

The surname McNelis in the 19th century was found in the southwest corner of Co. Donegal mainly in Glencolumbkille, Inishkeel and Killybegs Upper civil parishes.

The surname Campbell in the 19th century was very common in Co. Donegal and found in almost every parish in the county.

You don't mention a DNA test in your message but you may want to consider a test. You may have matches who can provide more info on your Irish ancestors.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Jan, My guess, and this is just a guess, is that Ann and the Campbells are siblings. How to prove this without baptismal records?  Have you looked for obituaries for all the parties involved?  Sometimes family relationships are identified in them.  Also, wills of the individuals in question might indicate relationships.  I hope this is helpful.

glanvil3@aol.com

Patricia and Roger,

Thank you! I am on all of the DNA web sites and I have attached my Irish ethnicity, which you can see includes the southern part of Donegal!  On  McNellis Irish genealogy records (johngrenham.com) it shows McNellis from Antrim, so I have not searched the lower part and when I type in Campbell for shared names it shows places in Northern Ireland. I have not had any luck ,YET in a DNA match but I am hopeful.

Patricia, I have reached out to the Historical society in Brown County Ohio. I hope to hear back from them. I believe I have exhausted the microfilm on family search and had no luck finding a will let alone a deed! I Johns article it says he went back to Ireland married Hannah Boyle and the returned to America. He says 1843 But Cornelius McNellis says he came over in 1847. I think they all came over with James 1774 sometime before 1850.

I think James's wife Margaret died his sons were doing well in America and his youngest daughter Anna and her husband and children were going as well so he decided to go live with them.  It's a theory but I don't know if I can ever prove it. I can't find them on any ship! but somehow John Campbell made the voyage twice! 

I didn't realize Catholic records would be difficult to find, I did check Roots myself but no civil record I could find. I will look in Griffiths for a James Campbell and James McNellis and see if they pop up somewhere close to each other in southern Donegal.

Thank you for the tips!

Jan

Jan

 

 

The following James Campbells in Donegal appear in the 1796 Flax Growers List. Info about this list can be seen here: https://www.failteromhat.com/flax1796.php

  • Campbell   James          Donagh      Donegal
  • Campbell   James          Moville Upper     Donegal
  • Campbell   James          Tully            Donegal

The following appear as well:

  • M'Neilis                Anthony               Drumhome              Donegal
  • Neilas                  Owen                  Raphoe                Donegal
  • Nulus                   Owen                  Clonleigh             Donegal

 

Source: https://www.failteromhat.com/flax/donegal.php

glanvil3@aol.com

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