Hi everyone
I have recently found through DNA "by accident" many matches pertaining to a...
Lillian McILHANEY b1709 Donegal d 1780 August, Virginia USA
m John Washington Reese BOWEN
Lillian's lineage leads back to
John McIlhaney b1600 Scotland d1660 Ireland and Margaret Mary McGeery bc 1610 Donegal died 1650 Ireland.
I have read that Lillian and her brother, John Henry and mother Jane (nee McGheehan)(as Mrs Hunter 2nd marriage) arrived in the USA c1698, so the connection maybe with family left behind in Ireland.
Information has been gathered by numerous Family Trees, however, no documentation.
Descendants of the above family have many DNA matches but it may be that a lot of people have been DNA tested.
I also find matches outside the above family lines to Reverend James McIlhenny bc1690 in Scotland, later resided in Donegal then to US. Also, matches to other lines from Scotland, Donegal and Londonderry.
It is overwhelming but sifting through and building out the trees, I have a clearer idea that my McIhenny/Mcelhaney may lie with a family member that remained in Ireland/Military.
Tracing back through my own family lines and those who lived in Northern Island leads me to a Matthew Murphy bc1793 from Saul, Downpatrick who was in Gibraltar c1829. Matthew's connection came about as a witness to military marriage of my Frances Murphy to Thomas Wroe in 1829 in Gibraltar. I am unable at the moment to find any connection of Murphy to McIlhenny/McElhaney (and the many spellings). It is a needle in the haystack research.
I notice that so many McIlhaneys were Military.
Anyway, just thought I would post here in the event that someone may read this later on and for me to be in the loop with everyone's posts.
Regards
Rosalie
