Holyhead Burnal/Burnall/Burnel/Burnell

[Amlodhi]

Hi - another topic. 
This time the Burnell (I'll use just this variant of the name) family.  I have the family traced from 1841 onwards, but I need to concentrate on Jonathan Burnell, a boilermaker c1800 - 1875.  The 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses all have his birth place as in Holyhead (1841 saying just "born in county").  However, having rifted the records in Llangefni office, I can find no trace of his birth.  One contact has told me that he may originally have come from South Wales but I can currently find no way of researching that.  Besides, that contradicts 3 censuses in a row. 
Also on the 1841 and 1851 censuses is an Abigail Burnell, born c1797 also in Holyhead (died in 1853), who is listed in Jonathan's household as a servant.  She may be a family member - a sister or sister-in-law.
Can anyone help shed some light on this?

[Blodynbach]

Hi there!
I'm also searching Jonathon Burnell - who was the father of Jane Ann and Mary (to name but 2). Mary married John Rich of Surlingham, Norfolk. I think I've got Jonathon as far back as 1851. The only one I could find for 1841 was a farm labourer, living at Pen y Bonc South Stack Rd,Holyhead.

Any chance they're the same ones?

[Amlodhi]

You definitely have the same family as me!  Good to hear from you.
John Rich of Surlingham (born 1855), and Mary Burnell (born 1867) are my great-grandparents, their first child together (my grandfather) also John(born 1895) - my mother was Jean Rich (born 1922 in Liverpool).  Mary already had a son, Edward Owen, before she met John.  Edward's father was apparently lost at sea.  John adopted him.
I presume Jane Ann is Mary's older sister (born 1852).  If that is correct, I am in touch with her descendant who lives in Kent.  I have not heard before that Jane had a second/middle name Ann.  Whatever, we can pursue that later.
Both Mary's and Jane's father was Jonathan Burnell (born 1826 in Holyhead).  I can find no record of his actual birth - baptisms were more important in those days, and he didn't get baptised until 1873 when he and almost all his children did in a mass session!  Interesting story we can discuss later, perhaps.  But the one you have working as a servant in Pen Y Bonc, Holyhead, in 1841, is definitely the same one.  Jonathan married Ann Jones in Holyhead on 20 June 1845.
Jonathan's father was also a Jonathan, and this, as I've already said, is where complications set in - spellings of his surname vary through Burnal/Burnall/Burnel to Burnell.  There may be other variations - only by trying all possibilities do you see the fuller (but possibly not FULL) picture.  Jonathan Senior was born anywhere between 1798 and 1801 apparently in Anglesey, but neither I nor any other researchers can find a record.  He was already a widower in 1841.  One descendant of the Burnell family, a distinguished (and retired) member of the Holyhead community, believes he originally came from South Wales, but there is currently no way of checking this out online.   Other sources believe there were TWO Burnell families in Holyhead, one of them being Irish.  I can find no trace of any other Burnell family, so the other alternative is that Jonathan Snr himself was in fact Irish.  Further research may turn up something.
Are you on Genes Reunited?  If so, let me know your details and I'll contact you and open up my tree to you - we can then take this further.  Looking forward to hearing from you.

[Blodynbach]

Good afternoon Amlodhi! & thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

Yes I am on Genes Reunited....but only just!!

Jane Ann was my GGGgarndmother, and Mary's elder sister. The person you're in contact with in Kent is my 2nd cousin(?)...our mothers' are 1st cousins.

To my knowledge there are 3 'sets' of Burnell- or variations of- around Holyhead.
The estate agent, the guy that works at the maritime museum and the ex-teacher. I'm hoping to see the estate agent next week so I'll ask him a few questions... he is one of 'our' Burnells!

I plan to dig deeper re the 1841 census Jonathon via parish records and/or the archives office in Llangefni, and se if there's anything in the local cemetary in Maeshyfryd. So if you have any tips they will be gratefully received.
Also if I can do any research for you at this end, being Anglesey, please let me know.
 
Hope to hear from you soon   

[Amlodhi]

Kent Lady and you are my 4th cousins (or something like that), our common denominator being Jonathan Burnell, born c1826, the father of Jane and Mary. 

The maritime museum guy is apparently descended from Robert Burnell, Jonathan's slightly younger brother.  So he's "one of us".  I'm not currently in touch with him although I met him in Holyhead last May).  Is he a 5th cousin?  I'm not sure.  But the common denominator for all of us is Jonathan Burnell Senior (1798 to 1801).  Tracing his birth is going to be fun, as Kent Lady, Maritime Guy and I already know.
I have had no contact with the estate agent or the ex-teacher yet - it'll be fascinating to know their ancestry, although I'm reasonably certain they will be descendants of Jonathan Snr as well.

I found the story of the "Irish Connection" in a forum some time ago. I'll need to find it again to check it out against the information I've gathered since.

You should have my other contact details now, so we could discuss in more detail there.

Cheers 

[Amlodhi]

Hi again Blodynbach
Just found the forum mentioning the Irish Connection:  http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/surnames.burnell/11.100.102.2/mb.ashx. 
Maritime Guy posted on it as well. It goes back to 2000-02 but should all still be relevant.  It looks at first glance that Jonathan Burnell Snr's father William may have been the one who crossed from Dublin with a brother around 1780.
Cheers 

[Blodynbach]

Hello and thanks for all this info....I was told that the Maritime Guy wasn't related to us...but then some of the info I've had from her is a little confusing!!
I don't know how interested Estate Agent will be....but I'll ask him when I see him.  I might try and pop to the Museum too...see if I can fill in some of my gaps!!!

I don't seem to have any other contact details for you... but I'll PM my details to you......Cheers 
 

[Draigcoch]

Hi to you both, cousins, between the three of us we should be able to resolve this question of Jonathan Burnall b. 1799 or 1801, I was told he originated from South Wales, I know if you check Holyhead Census 1851 on Google you will see the Welsh and Irish Burnells listed.

[Amlodhi]

Hi Blodynbach & Draigcoch
Good to have you on board - now we are three!!  Everyone wade in with whatever you know. 
Personally, I'm quite mystified by this claim of Irish and Welsh Burnells - just about every name I have found on the censuses so far relate to the family originally sired by Jonathan Snr (born c1800).  I have found nothing to suggest there is a separate Burnell family.  But it's quite possible I've missed some vital point.  Can you give us a few forenames to help differentiate between the two?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cheers
Amlodhi
(Incidentally, Draigcoch, do you live anywhere near Holyhead?)