M a c D O N N E L L
McDonald, MacDomhnaill, MacDonald, DonaldsonInformation on this page from Windows Into Our Past, A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith and Associated Families, Vol. 1 �1996, Judy Parsons Smith
McDonnell - ARMS: Or, a lion ramp. Gu
The Clan Donald is an intricate part of the history of both Ireland and Scotland. Members of the Clan Colla left Ulster in early times and settled in Argyle, and the Hebrides in Scotland. The Clan Donald originated in the Highlands of Scotland. Highlanders had the lusty genes of the Viking, were most a home when quarreling with friends, neighbors and foes; they were Old Irish Catholic. The MacDonnells are conspicuous figure in the history of Scotland. They were one of the most valiant and powerful clans in Scotland. The Irish maintained close relationships with the Highland Scots especially the Clan Donald of Kintrye and that part of Scotland nearest Ireland. Highlanders who moved into Ireland settled in Donegal and the Glens of Antrim. Here they married Irish women. The Ancestry of the Clan Donald can be traced to Godfraidh Mac Fergus, Lord of Hebrides, d. 853. His lineage continues on to Colla Uais, High King during the 4th Century in Ireland (See Ancient Irish Nobility)
Gille Bride
Gille Bride (Giolla Brighid), son of Gille Adomanan. Gille Bride traveled to Ireland to seek help in expelling the Norse from his ancestral lands. He was the claimant of Argyll . Gille Bride had two (2) sons :
- Somerled
- Dubhghall, was the King of the Isles, d. living in 1144. (Dubhghall is Irish for a black foreigner) He was the ancestor of the MacDougall, MacDougald, MacDowell and MacDowall families.
Motto: Per Mare Per terras
Translation from Latin: By lands and by seasSlogan: Fraoch Eilian
Translation from Gaelic: The Heathery Isle
Plant Badge: Heather
Clan Pipe Music: Mort Ghlinne Mnic Ailein
Translation: Massacre of GlencoeSomerled
Savarly, Sorley, Samuel, Samhairle (Alternate spellings of name)
Somerled, son of Gille Bride, d. 1164, slain campaigning against Malcolm IV, King of Scotland; m1st to Sabina; m2nd ca. 1140 to Ragnhild, daughter of Olaf the Red, King of the Isle of Man.
In 1140, Somerled was the 8th and greatest Thane of Argyle; lord of Cantyre; lord of Hebrides; founder of the "Kingdom of the Isles". He expelled the Norwegians from Scotland at the end of the 12th Century. Somerled invaided the Isle of Man, defeating Godfred and in doing so he came into possession of the Kingdom of the Isles and Man. He ruled the Southern Isles from 1156 . The expelling of the Norwegians earned Somerled the tiled of Ri Innse Gall - Ruler of the Isle of the Norsemen. Somerled also held the title of Ri Airir Gaidhed - Ruler of the Coastland of Gael. His formal name may well have been Somerled, Rex Insularum. He was described as a well
tempered man, in body shapely, of a fair and piercing eye, of middle stature and of quick discernment. Somerled MacDonnell was the Thane of Argyle his descendants were allied by intermarriages with the Norwegians, earls of the Orkneys, Hebrides and Isle of Man .Somerled and Sabina had a son:
- Gillecolum, d. 1164. Gillecolum had a son:
a. Somerled, d. 1156
Somerled and Ragnhild had four (4) children:
1. Ranald/Reginald
2. Angus. He held part of Arran and Bute.
3. Alexander
4. Dugall, King in the Isles, Lord of Argyll & LornRanald/Reginald mac Somerled
1. Ranald/Reginald, son of Somerled & Ragnhild. He held the Isby, Kintyre and part of Arran. Randal mac Somerled was lord of Oergeal and Cantyre, King ot the Isles and Lord of Argyll and Kintyre from 1164 to 1207. Randal Mac Somerled, was the founder of the Cisterician Monastery and a benefactor of the Abbey of Paisley.Ranald had five (5) children:
1a. Domhnall
1b. Ruari, founder the Clan Ruari (MacRories of Bute), ancestor of Amie, who m. Eion 'the Good' of the Clan Donald.
1c. daughter, m. Hugh O'Connor
1d. Aongus (or �neas), living in 1211
1e. Alexander, ancestor of the MacDonnell of Ulster
1f. Rory, ancestor of the MacRory (later - Rogers and Rodgers)Angus mac Somerled
2. Angus , son of Somerled and Ragnhild, d. 1210, slain. Angus was Lord of Bute & Arran. Angus had:
2a. Seuman, d. 1210, slain
Aongus (or �neas),
1d. Aongus (or �neas), son of Ranald/Reginald, d. living in 1211. Aongus hadAlexander
1d1. Aexander, son of Aongus, had:Donald, of Clan Donald
1a. Donald (Domhnall), son of Ranald/Reginald.His name translates "domhan" Irish for the world; "all" meaning mighty. Donald is the founder of the Clan Donald. The Clan Donald were lords of the Hebrides, and of Cantyre, and other areas in Scotland. They were the chiefs of Glencoe. He held isles of Kintyre, Morvern, Ardanmurchan and Islay.
Donald, of Clan Donald had:
1) Aongus (or �neas) M�r MacDonnell
2) Alustrum (or Alexander) Ancestor of the Alexander, MacAllister, Saunders, etc families.Seumas
2a. Seuman, son of Angus, d. 1210, slain. Seuman had a daughhter:2a1. Jean
Aongus (or �neas) M�r MacDonnell
1) Aongus (or �neas) M�r MacDonnell, son of Donald, m. _______ Campbell.Aongus M�r MacDonnell was lord of the Isles
Aongus M�r MacDonnell & _____ Campbell had:
1a) Alexander MacDonnell, d. 1296, slain at Dindonald Castle. He was the ancestor of the MacDonnells, the "Gallowglasses of Ulster". He was imprisoned by Robert Bruce in Dindonald Castle where he died.
1b) �neas Oge MacDonnell
1c) Iain Sprangach 'the Bold' MacDonnell.
1d) Eoin, "The Gnieve" MacDonnell.Jean
2a1. Jean MacDonnell , daughter of Seumas, m. Alexander, Steward of Scotland. Co-Regent in 1255. Alexander & Jean had:�neas Oge MacDonnell
1b) �neas Oge MacDonnell, son of Aongus M�r MacDonnell & _____ Campbell.�neas M�r MacDonnell was lord of the Isles. He fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 on the side of Robert Bruce, King of Scotland .
�neas M�r MacDonnell & _____ Campbell had:
James [Seumas]
2a1a. James [Seumas] MacDonnell , son of Alexander & Jean, d. 1309. James was the Steward of Scotland. James had:2a1a1. Walter MacDonnell
Randal (or Reginald) MacDonnell
1b1) Randal (or Reginald) MacDonnell, son of �neas Oge MacDonnell & _____ Campbell. Randal MacDonnell had:1b1a) Shane MacDonnell
Walter
2a1a1. Walter MacDonnell , son of James [Seumas] MacDonnell, d. 1327; m. daughter King Robert Bruce. Walter was the Steward of Scotland. Walter had:2a1a1a. Robert MacDonnell, II
Shane MacDonnell
1b1a) Shane MacDonnell, son of Randal MacDonnell. Shane MacDonnell had three (3) children:1b1a1) Eoin M�r MacDonnell
1b1a2) Marcach MacDonnell, d. 1397, slain.
1b1a3) Donal MacDonnellRobert MacDonnell, II
2a1a1a. Robert II , son of Walter. Robert II was King of Scots from 1370 to 1390. Robert II had:2a1a1a1. Margaret MacDonnell, m. John (Eion M�r) of Islay.
2a1a1a2. Robert MacDonnell , III, King of Scots, d. 1406 The present day Royal Family descends from his great grandson James III, King of Scots, d. 1488, killed.
2a1a1a3. Sir John Stewart MacDonnell, Sheriff of Bute (natural son)Eion 'the Good'
1b1a1) John (Eoin M�r) of Islay, of Clan Donald, son of Shane MacDonnell, of Clan Donald, d. 1387; m. ca. 1354 to Amie, daughter of Ranald, Lord of Garmoran, heiress of Clan Ruairi, of Glengarry. John divorced Amie to m2nd Margaret, daughter of Robert the Second, King of Scotland.With his marriage to Amie, John was able to bring under the control of the Clan Donald the lands of the Clan Ruairi. He became the ancestor of the chieftains of the Clann Raghnail or Clanronald. John MacDonnell was the lord of the Isles and High Chief of Clan Donald from 1354. He was also known as Good John of Islay. At the time of his death, he controlled Argyle and the whole of the Hebrides from Lewis to Islay, with the exception of Skye.
John MacDonnell & Amie had three (3) children:
- John MacDonnell, d. predeceased father
- Godfrey MacDonnell
- Ranald MacDonnell, d. predeceased father
John MacDonnell & Margaret had five (5) children:
- Donal na Heile (or Donald) "eile" Irish meaning "prayer, adoration", d. 1423. Lord of the Isles 1387 to 1423.
- Eoin Oge MacDonnell, m. Margery, daughter of Lord Bissett of the Glinns of Antrim.
- Alexander MacDonnell, ancestor of MacDonnell of Dappagh.
- Margaret, m. Nicholas, earl of Sunderland
- Mary Elizabeth, m. Lachlan MacLean of Dowart
Eion Og MacDonnell
Eion Og MacDonnell, 2nd son of Eion M�r MacDonnell & Margaret, d. 1427, assissinated, m. Margery, daughter of Lord Bissett, of the Glinns of Antrim. From Eion Og/Iain the Tanist the 'Clan Donald South': the Macdonalds of Islay and Kintyre; progenitor of MacIans or MacDonalds of Glencoe; and present day McDonnel earls of Antrim.A. Donal Ballach MacDonnell, m. Joan, daughter of O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell
B. Marcus (or Mark) MacDonnell, ancestor of the MacDonnell of Leinster.Donal Ballach MacDonnell
A. Donal Ballach MacDonnell, son of Eoin MacDonnell, m. Joan, daughter of O'Donnell, lord of Tirconnell. Donal Ballach & Joan had a son:A1. Eoin Mac Donnell
Marcus (or Mark) MacDonnell
B. Marcus (or Mark)MacDonnell, son of Eoin MacDonnell, m. a daughter of O'Cahan. Marcus & daughter of O'Cahan had a son:Eoin MacDonnell
A1. Eoin MacDonnell, son of Donal Ballach & Joan, m. Sarah, daughter of Phelim O'Neill, lord of the Clanaboys. Eoin & Sarah MacDonnell had a son:Tirlogh M�r MacDonnell
B1. Tirlogh M�r MacDonnell, son of Marcus MacDonnell, d. 1435. Tirlogh M�r MacDonnell had a son:Eion Cathanach MacDonnell
A1a. Eoin Cathanach MacDonnell, son of Eoin & Sarah MacDonnell, d. 1499, hanged; m. Cecilia Savage, daughter of Robert Savage, of Ards. Eoin Cathanach & Cecilia (Savage) MacDonnell had two (2) sons:A1a1. Alexander MacDonnell, m. Catherine, daughter of Murcha MacCahlan of Derry.
A1a2. �neas MacDonnell - he was called "MacParsons". See ParsonsTirlogh Oge MacDonnell
B1a. Tirlogh Oge MacDonnell, son of Tirlogh M�r MacDonnell. He was the first of the family to settle in Leinster. There were three families of MacDonnells in Leinster. Two of the families resided in Queen's County, the third in the present day town of Talbotstown, county of Wicklow. Tirlogh Oge had a son:Donoch MacDonnell
Donoch MacDonnell, son of Tirlogh Oge MacDonnell, had:Eoin Carrach MacDonnell
Eoin Carrach MacDonnell, son of Donoch MacDonnell, had:Tirlogh (3) MacDonnell
Tirlogh (3)MacDonnell, son of Eoin Carrach MacDonnell, had:Calbhach (Charles) MacDonnell
Calbhach (Charles) MacDonnell, son of Tirlogh MacDonnell, d. living in 1569. The name Calbhach means bald, He had a number of children, all of which are not known by the author at this time (11/95):1. Hugh Buidhe [boy], m. Mary Moore
2. Brian
3. Alexander, d. 1577, slain.Hugh Buidhe [boy] McDonnell
1. Hugh Buidhe [boy] McDonnell, of Tenekille, Queen's County, son of Calbhach (Charles) MacDonnell, d. living in 1618; m. Mary Moore.Hugh Boy McDonnell was Chief of sept (families) of galloglasses of the Clandonnells, in Leinster. He was Lord of the Manor, Tannekille Ballycrassel.
Hugh Boy McDonnell had four (4) children:
1a. Bryan, ancestor of the MacDonnell, MacDonald and McDonald, of the county of Wicklow
1b. Fergus, d. 1637
1c. Helena, m. John Doyne
1d. Fearach (eldest)Bryan McDonnell
1a. Bryan McDonnell (of Leinster), son of Hugh Buidhe [boy] McDonnell. Chief/Lord Bryan McDonnell had a son:1a1. Alexander
Alexander McDonnell, Esq., JP.
1a1. Alexander McDonnell, Esq., JP., son of Bryan McDonnell, b. 1623, presumably Scotland; d; 1692, Glencoe, Scotland, murdered; m. Marcella, daughter of Thomas Archbold & heiress of Charles O'Hanlon., of Ballynorran, d. 1692, Glencoe, Scotland, was wounded the day her husband was killed and died the following day.Alexander McDonnell, Esq., JP., of Bonabrogha, in the county of Wicklow. He was a constable of Wicklow and Commander of Gallowglasses in Ireland. Gallowglasses were hearty fighting men (Gaelic - Gallowglaugh, meaning a heavy armed soldier. Alexander would have also been known as MacIan (meaning son of Brian). At the massacre of Glen Coe MacIan was the Chief of the Macdonlads or MacIans of Glencoe . The Clan Ian Abrach of Glencoe or MacIan MacDonalds of Glencoe were the victims of the cruel Massacre of Glencoe ( detailed below)
Glencoe is located in a Valley of W Scotland, SE of Loch Leven. In 1692, the Massacre of the McDonald clan by the Campbell's at Glencoe, Scotland began years of highland feuding. The Highland Chiefs were required by King William III of England to swear an oath of submission to his rule by January 1, 1692, failure to do so would result in death.
The story of the betrayal of the McDonald Clan:
Trying to reach Fort William (on January 1, 1692) to make his submission to the government before the time ran out, was hindered by wild weather (blizzard) and arrived late. Having requested and extension they were lulled into false security at their request. This clan gave hospitality to a detachment of Campbell troops under Campbell of Glenn Lyon.
Having failed to make his submission to the government, the following orders were issued :
"To Captain Robert Campbell.
"Thou art hereby commanded to seize the rebels, the Clan M'Donald of Glencoe, and slay every soul of them under three score years and ten. Thou shalt take special care that the Old Fox and sons do not make their escape. Begin they work sharp at five o'clock to-morrow morning. I will endeavor to be forward with a strong force at that hour. If I am not there, delay not a moment, but begin at the hour specified. The forgoing is the King's special command. See that thou yield implicit obedience. If not, thou art considered unfaithgul to thy trust, and unworthy of holding a commission in his service. – I am, ROBERT DUNCANSON. __ Ballachaolish, 2nd mo. 1692."
After being billeted on the clan for a fortnight (14days) on the snowy morning of 13 February, 1692 they turned on their hosts and slew all they could lay hands upon. At a later official inquiry, the plot was laid at the door of the master of stair.
Alexander & Marcella (Archbold) McDonnell had at least one son:
I. Bryan McDonnell, b. 1645, Glencoe, Scotland
Bryan McDonnell
I. (Lt.) Bryan McDonnell, son of Alexander & Marcella Archbold, b. 1645, Glencoe, Scotland; d. 1707, New Castle, Delaware; m. 1677, probably Scotland to Mary Comyns, daughter of John Doyle, of Arklow, in the county of Wicklow, b. 1653, probably in Scotland; d. aft. 1700, Virginia.The land possessed by this family extended along the foot of the mountain ranage, upon the marshes of the Pale. This tract of land possessed the name of "The Clandonnell's Countrie", up until 1641. Bryan McDonnell served as a Lieutenant in Colonel Francis Toole's regiment of foot, (an Irish Volunteer regiment) in the cause of King James II of England. He engaged in the Tanning trade while in Ireland. He was the first to use MacDonald. This family stretched along the foot of th mountain range, upon the marshes of the Pale, and bore the name of "The Clandonnell's Countries. Bryan & Mary McDonnell immigrated to American in 1689 and settled in Delaware.
Bryan & Mary (Comyns) McDonnell had (7) children:
1. John, b. 1679, Scotland, d. 1708.
2. William, b. 1681, Scotland; d. 1731, Delaware; m. Mary _______.
3. James, b. 1683, Ireland; d. _______, New Castle, Delaware.
4. Bryan II, b. 1686, New Castle, Delaware; d. 1757, Augusta Co., VA; m. Catherine Robinson. See Robinson
5. Mary, b. 1689, Delaware; d. 1707.
6. Richard, b. 1691, Delaware; d. 1730, Virginia.
7. Annabel, b. 1693, Delaware; d. 1707(Apparently there was some type of epidemic in 1707, due to the death dates of Lt. Bryan, Mary, Annabel, in 1707. Then John died in 1708.)
Bryan McDonnell, II
4. Bryan McDonnell, II, son of Brian & Mary (Combs) McDonnell, b. 1686, New Castle, Delaware; d. 1757, Augusta Co., VA; m. 1715, Delaware to Catherine Robinson, daughter of James & Catherine (Howell) Robinson, b. 1694; d. 1765.Bryan McDonnell, II settled with his family in Botetourt Co., Virginia in 1745
Bryan & Catherine (Robinson) McDonnell had (9) nine children .
A. Richard, b. 1716.
B. James, b. 1718.
C. Edward, b. 1720; d. 1760, killed by Indians.
D. Joseph, b. 1722; settled in Montgomery Co., VA in 1763; m. Elizabeth Ogle. They had nine (9)
children.
E. Rebecca, b. 1724; m. ______ Banes.
F. Catherine/Katherine, b. 1727; m. _______ Armstrong.
G. Mary, b. 19 Jan 1730, Augusta Co., VA; m. Tobias Smyth.
H. Bryan, Jr., b. 1732; - served in Revolution.
I. Priscilla, b. 1734Mary McDonald
G. Mary McDonald, daughter of Bryan & Catherine (Robinson) McDonnell, b. 19 Jan 1730, Augusta Co., VA; d. 1748-1749, Glade Springs, VA; m. c. 1748/49 to Tobias Smyth, d. 1760-1770, Glade Springs, VA. Tobias & Mary (McDonald) Smyth had five (5) children:1. Jonas, b. 11 Apr 1750.
2. Catherine, m. Elisha McNew.
3. Edward 'Edmond', b. 1761, Virginia. SEE SMYTH
4. Rebecca, b. 25 Jun 1775; d. 19 Apr 1864, Lee County, VA; m. Job Crabtree, son of William & Hannah (Whitacar) Crabtree, of Saltville, VA, b. 29 Apr 1765; d. 12 Jan 1828, Shavers Ford, Virginia.
5. John.
Last updated 7/98
