A reader is seeking information on the ‘Nellis’ family who emigrated from Donegal to the USA in the early 1800s.
We received the following letter – maybe you or someone you know can help?
Dear Editor,
I hope your readers can help me trace the family roots of my cousin’s family – the Nellis family – who emigrated from Donegal to the USA in the 1800s.
Bernard “Barney” Nellis was born, according to a US census, in January 1827.
He had left Donegal for Pittsburgh in January 1847 but used the name Neilus on the immigration form although that may have been a clerical misspelling.
Indeed, during our search the name has been spelt Nellus, Neelis and Nelles at various times.
Barney’ son, John “Jack” Joseph, was born in Pittsburgh in 1868.
John, in turn, had a son he called Bernard James, born in 1917 in New York.
He is the father of my cousin James Nellis, currently living in New York.
Bernard James visited Donegal in the 1970s and is reported to have met some cousins.
Sadly, today no one knows from which townland his family came from and we have no details of these cousins.
If any reader can help, I can be reached at pfpkennedy@gmail.com or 14 Ardmore Close, Artane, Dublin D05FA31.
All correspondence will be acknowledged.
*Pic courtesy of National Library of Ireland.
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