McDonnells of Antrim

Elwyn

You really need to try and find your ancestor’s mother’s name to be sure of finding the right McDonnell family. You should get that from his birth certificate.

I searched the indexes and cannot see a John McD born in October 1853 in Liverpool but there was one in the April - June quarter (Volume 8F page 134). If you are sure he was born that year in Liverpool it seems to be the closest match. There were others in adjacent years including one in 1854, but hopefully the father’s name and occupation will help establish whether it’s the right one. With that information you could search for the parents marriage, siblings etc.

StandSure

Someone has suggested that because John James appeared to have lived in a boarding house and because no records line up for his father James, who was a surgeon, someone has suggested that John James may be an illegitimate son of the surgeon John MacDonnell, who either had James as a middle name, or his son mistakenly used his grandfather's name on the wedding certificate. There is more work to be done on this and I suppose no way of knowing for sure.

Rory

This article is worth a read….note also that an article in the Glynns was published in 1981 vol 9

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/eCatNI_IE/ResultDetails.aspx

PRONI REF D3819
MacDonnell Papers

StandSure

I have found a newspaper clipping from the Belfast Newsletter. A James McDonnell of Cushendall, surgeon, married Penelope McKeever, daughter of Philip McKeever, Esq., in Ballycastle 13th June 1840.

Do we know anything more about this James McDonnell and where he fits in the Cushendall line?

Rory

Just checked the Marriage on Roots Ireland….no parents names are given for either part….Witness for James was Alexander McDonnell….witness for Penelope was Katherine McKeever…

Church was Ballycastle Ramoan….celebrant was Rev G DempseyMarriage dated 18th June 1840

Rory

According to the newspaper notice the marriage took place in the McKeever family home & not the Catholic Church. 🧐🤔

StandSure

I just realized that is the famous doctor James McDonnell, who lived and died too early to be my John James’s father.

StandSure

An update for anyone who might still be following. I’ve found a John McDonnell who was born in Belfast 1820. Censuses record him as “general practitioner” and “doctor of medicine”. He had an MD MRCS from Edinburgh. This is more likely John James’s father rather than the more famous surgeon. John McDonnell’s father, also called John McDonnell, was a farmer.

Elwyn

Edinburgh University keep surprisingly good records of their former students. If you contact them they may have further information on the John McDonnell b 1820 who presumably studied there around 1840. I have contacted them previously and obtained parents names and home address.

StandSure

Rory I’m a little confused seeing that the famous James MacDonnell’s second wife was Penelope Montgomery, but this is Penelope McKeever. Are they the same person?