James Carrell I (1666-1720)

One of my maternal 8^th great grandfather, James was born in 1666 in Rathmullan, Ulster, Donegal, Ireland into the Presbyterian religion. His occupation as an adult in Ireland was a linen weaver. The history of the Carrell family in Ireland prior to James emigration is of questionable value.

The burning bush is probably the most commonly used and recognised symbol in Irish Presbyterian Church

Mathiaslolkmagn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The ancestors of James were of the Presbyterian religion, James took an active part in the religious wars of the time. In 1689, the Siege of Londonderry occurred, for 105 days around 30,000 Protestant people held the walled city of Londonderry in the face of the Catholic King James II, until the relief fleet broke the boom across the River Foyle on July 28 and the Jacobite forces commenced their retreat on August 1, 1689. James was imprisoned in Londonderry during the noted siege of one hundred and five days. "Being obligated by the pangs of starvation to make soup from saddle bags & even rats"

James was involved in the religious conflicts in Ireland in 1690, mainly revolving around the Battle of the Boyne. This battle was fought in July 1690 between the armies of King William III (William of Orange) (Protestant) and King James II (Catholic). When William III took reign, the properties of the Protestants that were taken by the Catholics were returned and in the redistribution of the property, the Carrell family received their share.

Sometime between 1696 and 1697, James immigrated to Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  There was little immigration of the Irish to America in the time that James lived in Pennsylvania. James married Sarah Dungan shortly after his arrival to Bucks County. In 1698, James and Sarah had a daughter, Elizabeth. In about 1699, their son, James II was born. Daughter Sarah was born in about 1700. Son Benjamin was born in about 1701. Their daughter, Lydia was  born in about 1702. There was possibly another daughter born to the couple.

Philadelphia was approximately 18 miles from the family home in Bucks County. In the late 1600's, early 1700's, Philadelphia was a small town, but the source of income, was the market for their produce as they farmed the land. The roads to Philadelphia were widened by bridle paths. Many of the streams were un-bridged and the main transportation was horseback.

In 1704, James purchased 100 acres in Southampton, Bucks, Pennsylvania, he remained on this property until his death. On November 16, 1707, James Shattuck, attorney, conveyed 100 acres to James Carrell until his death on Bristol Rd. between Ivyland and Richboro from the Schuylkill River to the Delaware River. In 1711, "The Old Homestead" was acquired from this brother in laws Clement & Thomas Dungan. It was also located on Bristol Rd across from James's other property, the homestead stayed in the family for 100 years. Also, in 1711, James purchased from his brother in-laws, Thomas & Clement Dungan, a track of land.

According to “Ancestry of Jeremy Clarke of Rhode Island and Dungan genealogy” by Alfred Rudulph Justice, James died intestate in 1720.

 

 

 

 

 

Descendants of James Carrell and Sarah Dungan, His Wife  https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Descendants_of_James_Carrell_and_Sar/b1wZAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22james%20carrell%22

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Derry

History of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware to the present time By Davis, W. W. H. (William Watts Hart), 1820-1910; Ely, Warren S. (Warren Smedley), b. 1855; Jordan, John W. (John Woolf), 1840-1921

 

https://www.qrhmuseum.com/timeline/the-siege-of-londonderry

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt/search?q1=james+carrell&id=njp.32101060072418&view=1up&seq=7&start=1&sz=10&page=search&sort=seq&orient=0