William McCONNELL was my great-grandfather.
According to his New Zealand death certificate, he was 73 years old when he died, indicating he was born in c. 1845. Place of birth is recorded as Ireland, and his parents were Robert McCONNELL and Margaret NICHOL.
A published family history states:
In the Register of Ballymoney, County Antrim, William McCONNELL was baptised om 10 August 1845 aged 3 weeks, son of Robert McCONNELL and Margaret McCONNELL (nee NICHOLS). Their home adress was given as Ballynagg near Ballymoney. W. Dutton signed as rector.
but I have yet to find the original record of the baptism (any help appreciated!).
He married Rebecca SCOTT (daughter of Robert SCOTT and Rebecca SCOTT) in Glasgow, Scotland on 8 November 1874.
They had eight children, their first child, Robert, was born in Glasgow on 19 April 1974, and the others were born in Dunedin, New Zealand. They were: Margaret (b. 1876), Sarah (b. 1878), William Stewart (b. 1880), Rebecca (b. 1881), James Allison (b. 1883), Elizabeth (b. 1884), and Joseph Scott (b. 1886).
William, Rebecca and Robert, sailed from Scotland on 30 November 1874 and arrived in Port Chalmers 17 February 1875.
Rebecca died in Dunedin on 14 October 1887 (aged 38 years).
William married Sarah McNEIL in Dunedin on 19 April 1889.
William died 8 November 1918 and is buried in Dunedin, New Zealand.
