Records for births in 1757

[RuthMcMillin]

I'm trying to trace back my genealogy, which so far has gotten to Daniel McMillin,
born August 16, 1757, birthplace as yet unknown, but very possibly in North Ireland.
What steps do I need to take to trace his parents and birthplace? My
Uncle Jack McMillin is in the DNA project, and we have information from
Daniel on to us.

[Mike McM]

Hi Ruth,

I can't say that I could give you a pat answer on where to start, or for that matter, if I'm qualified to do so.

However, a few possibilities. Macmillans (whatever the spelling) in Northern Ireland could have been:

- Scots-Irish, mostly descended from Lowland Scots Presbyterians who emigrated to Northern Ireland in the 17th century then on to the American Colonies from about 1715 to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1775. About 250,000 emigrated during this period. Some trickled over thereafter. There is some discussion of them in the "American Genealogy" subforum of this forum.

- Highlanders who had interacted socially and allied politically with the indigenous Irish Catholics. The indigenous Irish didn't emigrate in any great numbers until the Potato Famine of 1846 and thereafter.

- A Clan map also indicates O'Millans and O'Cahans as Clan septs in Ulster.

If Scots-Irish, the definitive book is "The Scotch-Irish: A Social History" by James Leyburn. Well worth reading. Good luck with your genealogy research.

Regards,

Mike McMillen

[mcmull1]

Haven,t been on the site for awhile, so just saw this. One of the best responses I have seen so far to that very complicated question. On the other hand Mike, don't think the Annals of Ireland or time lines associated with the entries, would support your claim to an O'Millan Clan in Ulster under the wing of the O'Cathain. That would be O'Mullen, (variants Maolain, Meallain and Maelan, and that forename and its subsequent surname are found in Irish Annals predating any historical info attached to Clan MacMillan (Maolain Gae Mor (mullen of the big spear) 1009 AD). The O'Cathain were subordinate to the Northern Ui Neill, and later (post norman) aligned with the Gallowglass of Clan Mac Donnell in the Glens of Antrim. McMullin can in addition to being Scot, also be a variant of the native irish surname McMullen, as you have very clearly pointed out. Slainte Lyn

[RuthMcMillin]

Ok, I tried to understand what that second response to my question meant, but I got lost in there somewhere....Yes, I think Scots-Irish and nonCatholic some how ring true...so I wonder if there are any records in Ireland...Daniel apparently did come over to the Americas about 1770's and fought in the American Revolution and later became a magistrate...that is documented, but his origins are a mystery...