My 3rd Great Grandmother was Sarah McDonough b 1816 in Sligo, Ireland. DNA evidence strongly indicates that she was the daughter of James O'Donnell and Ellen Nealon of Laughil plot 6 nearly Cloonacool and north of Tubbercurry. She married Thomas Maxwell and had her first child, James Maxwell perhaps on that same farm. She emigrated to Canada and then the US shortly after his birth in 1833. They settled and homesteaded in Waukegan, IL where she died in the 1872. While Ellen Nealon had deep Sligo roots descending from Laughil Neilane and Henry, the DNA trail supports that James O'Donnell or his parents had newly arrived in Sligo from Donegal. Her sons, James and Thomas, later left Waukegan to homestead in Renville Co. MN where Fairfax was being established.
James O'Donnell and Ellen Nealon were known to have a son, Michael O'Donnell, born in 1823 and married Catherine Gormally. Their children all remained in Sligo. This would suggest that Sarah McDonough and this Michael McDonough are not siblings. The profile lists his parents as Timothy McDonough and Mary Lenard. While these names are common in south Sligo, the name of Leonard was common in Sarah's Sligo family. It would be worthwhile to compare GEDMatch #s with the 15 match#s of descendants of Sarah collected thus far.
One may ask why Sarah would go by McDonough and then later as McDonald apparently by her own volition in the US if her family was O'Donnell in Sligo. Various reasons might be proposed but it is important to note that there was chain-migration of her family to Waukegan over the next 20 years. One set of their family from Sligo - and it appears extending back to Donegal - was the Kilbrides. Upon settling and marrying in Waukegan (with the Maxwells as their witnesses of multiple marriages), the Kilbrides then promptly changed their surname to McBride thereafter. Was this an attempt to represent themselves as more Scottish than Irish once in America? Something to consider. Andrew Maxwell amaxwell@heartofthevalley.us
Place of migration
Migrated to/Born in USA
Born about 1830 ( July 1821) (date varies) in Sligo, Sligo, Ireland, died West Union, Todd County, Minnesota, USA on April 4, 1908 at approximate 86.years old. Stated first arrived in the US on September 15, 1848. Occupation farmer. Married Rachael Buckley (sister to Daniel Buckley) in Stearns County. Michael's parents listed as Timothy McDonaugh and Mary Lenard. His age changes no matter the document. I have as much as I can find in Minnesota.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1st Jul 1821 | |
| Date of Death | 4th Apr 1908 | |
| Townland born | Sligo, Ireland | |
| Place of Death | West Union, Todd County, Minnesota, USA | |
| Occupation | farmer | |
| Spouse (First Name/s and Maiden/Surname) | Rachael Buckley | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Timothy McDonaugh | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mary Lenard | |
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Andrew J. Maxwell
Saturday 18th May 2024 07:13PM
