Mary McQuillan

Not the same as Mary "May" McClean

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~friendsofthehighlandcemetery/geneal...

Mary McQuillan came to America from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland in approximately 1840. She supposedly came with her husband whose name we assume was James. We have found no records of any kind on him. Mary brought with her 6 known children, five sons and one daughter. She was 50 years old at the time of her arrival in America and her children's ages ranged from 6 to 22 years. It is possible that, by the time she arrived, some of her children could have preceded her to America. The earliest record we found was the naturalization record dated July 1844 when her son, John, made application for citizenship. From 1845 to 1850 there are several land transactions recorded by members of the family. In the 1850 census, all members of the family, except the eldest son James were living in or around Galena, Illinois.

It appears that this family came directly to the Galena area from Ireland rather than stopping on the east coast for a period of time like many of the early immigrants did. Living in the Galena area, at this time, was another family of McQuillan's who were also from County Fermanagh which intimates a possible relationship. There were many other families from County Fermanagh living in and around the Galena area at that time. The chief occupations were working in the lead mines and farming.

By the year 1850, when the census was taken, Mary age 60, was living with her second eldest son, John age 25, and his wife, Margaret McAloon, age 24, and Mary's only daughter, Jane, age 18. All lived in Vinegar Hills Township, just north of the town of Galena. The third eldest son, Patrick, was living in Council Hills Township at this time. He was 25 in 1850 and was living with his young wife, Margaret McGuire, age 17. The other two children, Bernard, age 21 and Philip F., age 16, were living in the town of Galena. James the eldest, was missing from the census. This Census was taken on November 18, 1850.

All the first family were born in Northern Ireland and presumably in County Fermanagh.

first generation of
the mary mcquillan family

1. 1. Mary McQuillan (Neason ? )

• Born: in 1790 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
• Died: on February 5, 1876, at the age of 86,
• at the farm of her son, John in Apple Valley, Minnesota
• Married: James (?) McQuillan born possibly ca 1790
• Died: some time before 1850.

The first generation consists of Mary and her husband who brought the family from Ireland. Mary is obviously the hero, who braved the terror of crossing the ocean to America and coming inland to Illinois. She endured the long cold winters and hot summers of the Minnesota plains. She could neither read nor write, but she lived to the remarkable age of 86 years. She instilled in her family the moral value of the Roman Catholic Church. She is buried at the Highland Cemetery in Lakeville, Minnesota, which is located on Pilot Knob Road about one-quarter of a mile south of 160th Street West. The grave has a three foot marker and is located in the middle of the cemetery at the top of the hill. We assume her maiden name was Neason, because there was a John Neason living with her and her son, John, in 1850. John Neason also lived with her son Patrick in 1860 and he is mentioned in James' will as "uncle.” This means he is either Mary's brother, (although he is 22 years younger) or was married to Mary's husband's sister. He Is listed as a bachelor in the 1860 federal census.

Mary's six children were:

• #2. James McQuillan 1818-1863, Ireland
• #3. John McQuillan 1821-1889, Ireland
• #4. Patrick Edward McQuillan 1824-1897, Ireland
• #5. Jane McQuillan May 17, 1829-1874, Ireland
• #6. Bernard McQuillan 1829-1859, Ireland
• #7. Philip Francis McQuillan Sr. April 4, 1834-1877, Ireland

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https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~friendsofthehighlandcemetery/geneal...

(1) MARY MCQUILLAN 1790‑1876
(we list only descendants with children)

┌────────────────────┬─────────┴────┬───────────────────────────┐

│1821 .................... │1824 .......... │1829 ......... .... 1834 │

(3) JOHN (4) PATRICK E. (5) JANE CALLAGHAN (7) PHILIP F.