1. Wilson MCCONNELL was born about 1775/1780 in Derry (Londonerry) Ireland. He died in 1844/1845 in Elkhart County, Ind.
The starting point for research on this family tree was a handwritten family tree developed by cousin Grace Osborn of Portland, Ore. It was prepared about 1930-1970. It contains no dates other than that of the 1790 arrival of Wilson McConnell to these shores. But it did contain about 100 names and their family relationships. The only ommissions that have been found are some daughters in the older generations. Apparently she developed this tree from the memories and records of those still alive at the time. In some of the following, the abbreviation CGO will reference her work. Without this tree, my research would have probably taken years if not decades. Our family owes her a debt of gratitude.
I would also like to thank Jim McConnell of Missouri City, Tx, cousin Ron McConnell of Portland, Ore., Jackie Hagel of Corbett, Ore., Connie Gibson of Alabama and Roy McConnell, Jr. of Rio Grande county, Colorado. Jim provided much of the information on the Joseph McConnell line and information about Wilson and Mary which was gathered in the Belfast, Ireland archives. Jackie is a descendant of Wilson (son of Wilson) and provided information on the Wilson line and additional records which had originally been prepared by Grace Osborn. Ron is a desendant of John McConnell and has greatly helped in solving this piece of the McConnell puzzle. Connie is a descendant of Mary Jane McConnell Marine. Roy provided information on the Richard McConnell line.
Wilson McConnell came to America in 1790 per CGO. He was born about 1775-1780 in Derry (Londonderry) Ireland. I think the 1780 date is closer. According to a letter from Thomas (son of Joseph and grandson of Wilson), Wilson died at the age of 64. This would tie in the the probate of his estate discussed below. Notes added by Jim's father to a letter indicate that Wilson came to America about 1809. I do not know which is correct.
To add to the confusion, Wilson married Mary in 1803 on shipboard (per CGO) which would indicate a date of arrival in that year. However, Wilson and Mary first lived in PA and there were several small towns in PA with a name that sounds somewhat like "shipboard". It appears that four of their children were born in PA. In the 1810 census of Washington County, Cross Creek Twp, Wilson and Mary are shown with two sons and two daughters all under 10 years old.
Wilson fought in the War of 1812 and was surrendered with General Hull at Detroit. He fought in the Battle of New Orleans and Tippecanoe. He was a private under Capt. Return B. Brown, 4th Regiment commanded by Col. John Boyd from Oct. 31 to Dec 31, 1811. After the war he moved the family to Wayne County, Ohio.
Wilson is reported by CGO to have lived in McConnellsville Ohio (not to be confused with McConnelsville which is the county seat of Morgan County and is generally called McConnellsville today).
In the 1820 census, Wilson was living in Wayne County, Ohio not far from the now extinct McConnellsville. Sometime between 1820 and 1830, he and his family moved to Indiana. In 1830 he had 4 sons and three daughters living with him and his wife Mary.
Wilson died in 1844-1845. His estate was probated in Elkhart Co. Indiana (Elkhart Co Probate Files Film 29 62 B-15). William and Joseph were Administrators. An estate auction was held on Aug 8, 1845 at 10:00AM at his residence in Clinton Township consisting of cattle, growing crops and personal property. All sums over $3 required good security.
Wilson's full name was William Wilson and that was the name of one of his son's and of at least one grandchild. He and Mary were affiliated with the Presbyterian church per CGO.
Wilson married Mary REEVE, daughter of Ezra? REEVE, in 1803 in shipboard. Mary was born in 1779 in Derry, County Antrim, Ireland. She died in 1854 in Elkhart County, Ind.
Mary McConnell, wife of Wilson, was shown in the 1850 census of Elkhart Co., Ind living in Middlebury Township, Elkhart Co. Ind. Wilson had died in 1845. In that census she was shown as 71 years old having been born in Ireland. In her household in the 1850 census was James(son) age 28 and Maria age 54 who was born in PA.
Mary died in 1854 and is buried at Middlebury, Indiana per CGO.
According to Jim McConnell's research in Ireland, her father may have been named Ezra Reeve.
Wilson and Mary had the following children:
+ 2 M i William MCCONNELL 3 M ii James MCCONNELL was born on 8 Sep 1822 in Wooster, Ohio. He died on 10 Apr 1888 in Middlebury, In (CGO) and was buried in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury, IN.
James was living wth his mother Mary at the time of the 1850 census and is shown as a laborer. Sometime between the 1850 and 1860 census he married Christina (last name unknown) and in 1860 ,1870 and 1880 they were living in Middlebury Township, Elkhart Co. In. (1860 census page 215). According to CGO they had no children.
Ref:
1850 census Elkhart Co. IN page 74B
1860 census Elkhart Co., IN -Middlebury Twp page 215
1870 census Elkhart Co., IN -Middlebury Twp page 411B
1880 census Elkhart Co., IN -Middlebury Twp page 252AJames married Christina (Teenia) in 1850/1860. Christina was born in May 1830 in PA. She died on 21 Nov 1888 in Middlebury, In and was buried in Grace Lawn Cemetery, Middlebury, IN. + 4 M iii Joseph MCCONNELL + 5 M iv John MCCONNELL + 6 M v Wilson MCCONNELL 7 F vi Maria or Mariah MCCONNELL was born on 3 Jan 1804 in Washington County, Pa.
In the 1850 census of Elkhart, In, Maria(age 54) is living with her mother Mary. In the 1860 Elkhart, In census a Mariah(age 56) is shown in the home of William. It is likely that Maria and Mariah are the same person and that the age given in the 1850 census was incorrect.+ 8 F vii Margaret J. (Martha) MCCONNELL 9 M viii William MCCONNELL was born on 13 Jul 1809 in Washington County, Pa. He died on 11 Nov 1809 in Washington County, Pa.
This first William died at four months of age.+ 10 M ix Richard MCCONNELL + 11 F x Isabella MCCONNELL