Projected McConnell Family Tree (Descendants of John McConnell and Isabella Hill)

John McConnell, b.c.1790-1800, farmer, Carginagh, m. Isabella Hill, b.1 Dec 1798 (twin), d/o Thomas Hill, farmer, Kilkoo, and Elizabeth Wright.

1st generation

?Eliza, b.bef.1832, housekeeper, Kilkeel, d/o John McConnell, farmer, m. George Matthie 1853

?Nancy, b.bef. 1830,Deryogue, d/o John McConnell, farmer, m. Wm. Ferrier 1851

?Isabella, school mistress, Kilkeel 1856 (Eliza 1863)

?William*, b.c. 1827, (to Scotland) m. Mary Will 1852

Thomas*, b.c. 1826-9, s/o John McConnell, farmer, and Isabella Hill (to Scotland) m. Elizabeth Murray 1858

John, Cargina, s/o John McConnell, farmer, m. Margaret Campbell 1865

Alexander, b.c. 1828, (to Scotland) m.?

Marianne, b. bef. 1836, Cargina, d/o John McConnell, farmer, m. Joshua McAtee 1857

James*, c. 1835-1916, Cargina, weaver, s/o John McConnell, farmer, m. Mary Ann Campbell 1860

?David

?Andrew

Margaret, b.c. 1841, (to Scotland)

Penelope, Cargina, b.c.1844, d/o John McConnell, farmer, m. David ?Verner 1863

Jane*, b.c.1847, (to Scotland)

(* = descendant list available)

NOTES:

1. Elizabeth or Eliza would be a likely name for the 1^st daughter after Isabella's mother, Elizabeth Wright.

2. 2^nd daughter would likely be named after paternal grandmother. (Nancy? or Ann?)

3. 3^rd daughter would likely be named Isabella after mother.

4. 4^th daughter would probably be named after mother's eldest sister who was named after a greatgrandmother. It appears that twins Isabella and Frances were the first-borns of Thomas Hill and elizabeth Wright but Kilcoo records at that time have many gaps in them and there could have been earlier births.

5. 1^st son would likely be named after paternal grandfather. (William?)

6. 2^nd son would likely be named Thomas after maternal grandfather.

7. 3^rd son would likely be named John after father.

8. 4^th son would likely have been named after father's eldest brother and also greatgrandfather.(Alexander?)

UNLESS

If John was the son of Thomas and Eliza McConnell, the naming pattern would be as follows:

1^st son Thomas. (both grandfathers)

2^nd son after father's eldest brother. (William) (also pggf)

3^rd son after father. (John)

4^th son after father's 2^nd brother. (Alexander)

5^th son after mother's eldest brother. (James) (also mggf)

6^th son after any brother or relative: Samuel, David, Andrew, Hugh, etc.

1^st daughter Eliza. (both grandmothers)

2^nd daughter Isabella after mother.

3^rd daughter after mother's eldest sister. (Frances? her twin) (also her mggm)

4^th daughter after father's eldest sister. (also his mggm)

5^th daughter after mother's 2^nd sister. (Eliz. used=Sophie)

6^th daughter after father's 2^nd sister or other relatives: Marianne, Penelope, Margaret, Jane, etc.

Thomas and Eliza McConnell had a son, John, b.c.1790 who was buried with them in the Mourne Presbyterian Churchyard. It is possible that this could be the John McConnell who married Isabella Hill. The James McConnell, b.c. 1791, also buried in the churchyard could have been their son also and John's brother. Perhaps he was a painter and glazier as well as a farmer just as other family members were part-time fishermen.

A Thomas McConnell of approximately the same generation of this Thomas was the father of William and Grace McConnell of Brackenagh and, William's 1851 marriage witness was Alexander McConnell, possibly the Alexander from Ballyveagh. If one assumes there was only one Thomas McConnell in the area at that time, then Alexander, John, James, William and Grace were probably all siblings. Otherwise, it is quite possible that some of them are the children of Thomas's brother(s), perhaps named William or Alexander. Researchers are still trying to uncover further information to link these various people more accurately.