Facts and traditions collected for a family record

28 FACTS AND TRADITIONS.
He knows other M'Connells in Ayrshire, and is quite certain that the father
of the present Mr Primrose M'Connell, near Ayr, (who had a brother a
merchant in Glasgow, with whom he, the deponent, was intimate,) came
from near Belfast also. He says, also, that those in Galloway are of the
same blood as those in Ayrshire, and that he knew some in Galloway
long ago ; that there were other M'Connells in Ayrshire who lived there
before his time, but he believed them all to be of the same origin ; also
that the M'Connells were well made and active, not tall, but of fair
height, and had fresh complexions. There is no doubt that all these
characteristics are represented in his own person.
The following interesting information was given by Mr William
M'Connell, wine-merchant in Liverpool, to the brother of the writer,
Thomas H. M'Connel, Manchester, March 1860 :—
" My father and uncle now reside in Dailly, Ayrshire. My father is cousin to
the father of Mr M'Connell, of the London and North-Western Railway. My
father has resided on the same spot for seventy years. I believe my grandfather
came from Kirkmicliael, or Straiton, or from Kells, in Galloway. I think they
had some connexion with all three places. There is a sort of tradition, however,
that they came originally from Anstruther, (/ think in Fifeshire.) The Belfast
M'Connells are nearly all relations of mine, having gone from Dailly, and were
descendants of my grandfather, who settled there. I have several cousins in
Glasgow ; but I kuow nothing for a fact beyond my grandfather. My father
recollects an uncle of his from a distance coming and staying some time with
him, and he thinks he probably came from Kells. My crest of cross croslet
fltchie in dexter hand was obtained by a silversmith from a book of crests, under
the name of M'Connell."
This account is imperfect, and rather confused. Mr W. M'Connell
evidently has no trace beyond his grandfather, who settled in Belfast.
From his statement there woidd be some difficulty in establishing any
fact; but there is an interesting connexion pointed out between the
families of the same name in Ayrshire and Galloway.
The following letter, written by J. E. M'Connell, Esq., engineer,