James was of Scotch-Irish descent and was our immigrant ancestor.
Residences & events:
Ireland where family names have been found in local history. FromScot s-Irish:
"Hamilton founded the towns of Bangor and Killyleagh, in county Down,a nd there is no doubt that he did "plant" the land which he hadacquired w ith Scottish tenants, the most of them evidently from thesame counties i n Scot-land--Ayr, Renfrew, Wigtown, Dumfries, andKirkcudbright--as the m en who followed Montgomery. The names of someof those who held farms f rom the Hamilton estates in 1681 and 1688appear on rent-rolls of those y ears as follows (Hamilton Manuscripts,pp. 108-111, 125-131), the major ity of these residing in and near thetowns of Bangor and Killyleagh:" T he list includes James, John andCaghtry McConnell as well as Widow Pur dy.
1729-31 America He possibly arrived that period in the new land witha n Edward McConnell who died 1736 in Drumore Twp, Lancanster Co, PA.
Lancaster Co, PA. His neighbor was Robert McElvain, theirgrandchildre n would later marry.
From deed abstracts of Lancaster Co:
M412 Moses Baird &w Margaret: X of Bart tp enf to John Bigham of Bartt p L132-13/9d
50a-Bart tp: adj John Paxton, Peter Shirts, road to Octoraro meetingho uses, Moses Baird other ld, by ld of the old congregation ofOctoraro, J ohn Bingham, John Paxton (it is part of ld f-ly of WestSadsbury tp pat ented 22 Sep 1743 to James McConnel; James McConnel &wgr 6 Dec. 1753 t o Moses McElwain who 15 Jan 1755 gr to John Gilmoreof Bart tp who gr 1 1 Aug 1758 to Andrew Kerr & Patrick Kaghy who 21Apr 1761 gr part of it t o Moses Baird.
22 Apr 1761 William Denny, Archibald Taite J55 22 Jul 1768 Grantorsack o n date written
McCONNELL, JAMES,
September 17, 1764 9 November 1764.
Son James, land opposite to George Woods.
Daus. Martha and Jean.
Dau. Elizabeth.
Son-in-law William Oliver, husband of dau. Elizabeth.
Ex.: son James McConnell.
James Galbreath, James Carothers and John McCormick to divide the land
according to the will.
Wit: Jonathan Hoge, George Wood, Peter Doran.
Bk A. 128-9.
