Person:William McConnell (40)

The McConnells set sail from Ireland to America as early as 1735. They arrived in the Colonies at Philadelphia PA and settled in the Cumberland Valley. The Cumberland Valley was called "Old Mother Cumberland" because of the many families that began their new life in America in that location. Later they moved on into the vicinity of "Old Fort Pitt" now Pittsburgh. In Oct. 1775 many of the McConnells left Fort Pitt, PA and made their migration to KY. The life of the pioneer, just before, during and after the Revolution was unusually severe. They lived in almost unbroken forest, except where a settler had cleared aa space for his cabin and a few acres for farming. They had but few neighbors whose rallying point in time of dange was a block house or fort. In early 1774, William McConnell, from Dublin, Ireland, was the beginning of the McConnells in America and he explored the land on Lawrence Barnell's Creek, and was desirous of improving for himself at the Lick near where the town of Washington now stands. The McConnells were one of the few parties that dared the Indians wrath during those months. Later they made their way to the Elkhorn region, and there explored the country and made some improvements. Improvements here meant building cabins and clearing the land of brush and some trees. They remained there for several weeks. They built a covered cabin at the Royal Spring and made that their station camp. (south of the KY river) Leaving some of the group to watch and keep their holdings, some of the McConnells and their friends started homeward the last of June, 1775. William McConnell, William McClelland and Charles Lecorpt went by water and others going across the country and meeting them at Lawrence Creek on the Ohio river six miles below Maysville, KY. Some remained in Mason Co. until August, building cabins and improving the area. William McConnell had explored that country in 1774. William got married and had six children, Francis Jr. & Francis Sr., Robert, William L. that d. in 1812 and he m. Mrs. Ellis; Martha and she m. George Robinson; Mary that m. Thomas Robinson. These McConnell children were cousins to Alexander and John McConnell. The first settlement of more than one family at any point in KY north of the Ky river was at Georgetown in November, 1775. (McConnell family notes)