| Enter the O'Neill family |
| Mary Ann O'Neill Major (1845-1936) married William James Major (1836-1905) in 1865 in St. Mary's Church, Bellaghy, Magherafelt, County Derry, Ireland, connecting the Majors and the famous O'Neill clan and The Legend of the Red Hand.
Mary Ann was the daughter of William O'Neill and Katherine McErfane.
Soon after their marriage, William and Mary Ann Major emigrated to the United States and settled in Skaneateles Falls, NY. Nearby were William's younger brother, Charles Major, and Mary Ann's older brother, James O'Neill, who lived in an area known as Skaneateles Junction (but often referred to as Hart Lot). Another of her brothers, Anthony, would emigrate to the Skaneateles area.
Information about James O'Neill was provided by Will Hier, who lives a few miles east of Skaneateles on Otisco Lake with his wife, Maureen Elizabeth O'Neill Hier.
What follows is an O'Neill family tree that excludes the descendants of Mary Ann O'Neill Major. That list is only a click away.
Most of this family tree is based on information given me by Will Hier. I've added a few names that I found in a 1948 newspaper obituary for Katherine O'Neill Heverin (whose married name aroused my curiosity because Sarah Major of Skaneateles Falls, born a year after Katherine, also married a Heverin). |
| William O'Neill married Katherine McErfane in County Derry, Ireland. They had six children: |
1. James O'Neill (1842-1928) m. Anne O'Toole (1852-1917). The wedding took place in Skaneatles, NY, in 1878. Anne O'Toole was born in County Carlow, Ireland. James and Anne O'Neill lived in Skaneateles Junction (Hart Lot) and owned the J. O'Neill Hotel. They had six children: |
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| 1. Infant girl, died at birth (1879- ) |
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| 2. Katherine O'Neill(1880-1948) m. Bernard Heverin(1876-1926). Children's names as they appeared in Katherine O'Neill Heverin's newspaper obituary: |
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Mrs. Donald McMahon of Syracuse |
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Mrs. George Chamberlain of Syracuse |
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Mrs. Norman Straker of College Point, Long Island, NY |
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Joseph Heverin of College Point, Long Island, NY |
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Bernard Heverin of College Point, Long Island, NY |
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3. John Patrick O'Neill (1883-1960) m. Bridget Murray in Skaneateles Falls, NY. in 1907. Bridget and John O'Neill had four children –John, Edna, Edward and Laurence. |
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1. John Francis O'Neill (1908- ) m. Anna Burns |
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| William O'Neill m. Dixie ? |
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2. Edward William O'Neill(twin) (1912- ) m. Frances Arian |
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3. Edna Rose O'Neill (twin) (1912- ) m. Phillip Kennedy |
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| Joyce Eileen Kennedy m. ?? Cerio |
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| Michael Cerio m. April ?? |
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| Phillip (Mike) Kennedy m. Maureen Hartnett |
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4. Laurence Murray O'Neil (1916-2006) m. Eleanor Ryan |
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| John Thomas O'Neil (1944-2000) |
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| John Patrick O'Neil (1968- ) |
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| Jennifer Marie O'Neill (1972- ) |
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| Maureen Elizabeth O'Neil (1948- ) m. Will Hier |
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| Bridget O'Neil Hier (1987- ) |
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4. William James O'Neill (1884-1968) |
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5. Anna Marie O'Neill (1886-1951) m. John L. Powers (1886-1971)
Skaneateles Press, September 14, 1951
Mrs. Anna O’Neill Powers of Hart Lot died in Syracuse on Saturday, Sept. 8, 1951. A native and life resident of Hart Lot, she was a retired school teacher and had taught at Hart Lot grade school and Elbridge High School.
The daughter of the late James and Anna O’Toole O’Neill, she was a communicant of St. Bridget’s Church, Skaneateles Falls, and a member of the Altar and Rosary Society.
Surviving besides her husband, John L. Powers, are two brothers, John P. O’Neill of Syracuse and William J. O’Neill of Randolph, Minn., and several nieces and nephews. |
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| 6. Infant girl, died at birth (1888- ) |
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2. William O'Neill(remained in Ireland) |
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3. Edward O'Neill(died in Australia) |
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4. Anthony O'Neill (18??-1943) m. Mary Madden (1859-1938). Mary and Anthony O'Neill were married in Auburn, NY, and lived there the rest of their lives. |
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5. Mary Ann O'Neill (1845-1935) wed William James Major (1836-1905
Skaneateles Press, December 5, 1935
Six grandsons of Mrs. Mary A. Major, the oldest resident of Skaneateles Falls acted a bearers at her funeral which was conducted last Friday morning at her home and later from St. Mary’s of the Lake Church.
Mrs. Major had been ill for a long time. She died last Wednesday morning, November 27, 1935 at her home.
Surviving are two sons, John Major of Solvay and Patrick Major of Skaneateles Falls; two daughters, Sadie and Elizabeth Major of Skaneateles Falls; one brother, Anthony O’Neil of Auburn; one sister, Miss Sarah O’Neil of Rochester, and several nieces and nephews and several grandchildren.
The six grandsons who acted as bearers were Robert Major, Vincent Dougherty, Donald Major, William Major, Stanley Major and William Dougherty. |
[NOTE: The sister listed in the obituary, Miss Sarah O'Neil of Rochester, appears nowhere else in the material I've collected so far.]
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6. Katherine O'Neill (married name was Cassidy) |
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