Facts and traditions collected for a family record

MIGRATIONS OF THE FAMILY. 1U7
1st. That the M'Connells came from the Highlands direct to Paisley
or Ayrshire.
2d. That they came from the Highlands to Ulster, and, after a time,
migrated to Ayrshire.
Here, I take it for granted, that I have brought forward sufficient
evidence that the M'Connells and M 'Donalds of Can tyre and Isla were,
till the beginning of the seventeenth century, one and the same clan ;
that the same chieftain signed his name, and was called by others, both
MacConnell and MacDoiiald, and that the words are synonymous — the
former being written according to the usual pronunciation in Cantyre
and Isla. History also distinctly shews, that the MacDonalds of Cantyre
and Isla had large possessions in Ulster ; and that, when the name
M'Connell was banished from the Highlands of Scotland, it had repre-
sentatives in Ulster, and still has even to the present day.
Several proofs were brought forward to shew that the M 'Donalds of
the Isles had considerable connexion with Ayrshire. The most important
of these are —
1st. The retirement of John, of the Isles, to the Monastery of Paisley,
where he died, A.D. 1498. In consequence of this, some relations of the
name would probably meet with encouragement from the Abbey when
they wished to settle there, or in the neighbourhood. In support of this
idea, we find some M'Connells settled there in the seventeenth century.
2d. Intermarriage with Ayrshire families, more particularly with the
Bannatynes of Karnes, and, consequently, assistance from a member of
that family, who was provost of Ayr, A.D. 1535.
The second argument is supported most distinctly by the tradition of
those families of the name of M'Connell, who are now connected with
Ayrshire. Most of them seem to trace their descent from Ulster ; and,
therefore, it must be admitted that for many generations they lived in
Ireland. As both these arguments have considerable weight, I have