20
Michael McNally
(c. 1838-1925). Born near Crapaud, P.E.I., Michael McNally was about four years old when he came with his parents, John McNally and Ann Sullivan, to Egmont Bay. He earned his living as a farmer, blacksmith and cart-
wright. He and his wife,
Catherine Curran, had five children. (Michael McNally Collection)
The Origins of the British Families
The Evangeline Region is an island of Francophones sur- rounded by a sea of Anglophones. The small communities surrounding the Acadian population are inhabited by people of Irish, Scottish and English descent. A number of English- speaking families also settled in the Evangeline Region in the 1800s. Their surnames are Barry, Curran, Darby, Dickie, Doyle, McKie, Harrington, Luke, McNally and Barlow. The latter family founded the village of Wellington.
A few of the surnames of these pioneers from Great Britain can still be found in the Evangeline Region today.
Barlow
The Barlows in Wellington are descend- ants of John Barlow, who was born in Eng- land and immigrated to the Island in 1832. He settled in Lot 12 near Port Hill and mar- ried Elizabeth Wallace from Cascumpec in 1834. After being widowed, Barlow married Flora McAuslin in 1858. They moved to Wellington in 1859.
Curran
James Curran and Mary Ann Furlong were of Irish descent. They lived in Vernon River before coming to Bay Egmont around 1865. They settled next door to the McNally family. One of James Curran’s sisters was married to a McNally.
McNally
John McNally, born in Ireland around 1790, and his wife Anne “Nancy” Sullivan are the ancestors of the McNallys living in the Evangeline Region. They were married near Crapaud in 1833 and settled near the church in Egmont Bay around 1842.