William James Major (1845-1905) and Mary Ann O'Neill (1847-1935) were married 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.

Soon after their marriage, William and Mary Ann Major (left) emigrated to the United States and settled in Skaneateles Falls, NY, with William's younger brother, Charles.

Mary Ann (above, left) and William had nine children, for sure. One of my relatives lists two others, but I have found no verification. If there were two more, they almost certainly died in infancy, but I suspect that nine is the correct number. Also, the birthyears for Williams and Mary Ann Major vary with the source. I have changed them to correspond with the 1880 United States census, though I've seen other material that had Williams nine years older than is listed on the census, and Mary Ann older by two years. The 1880 census said William Major worked in a paper mill and I found an 1897 newspaper clipping that identified him as the head fireman at the Glenside Woolen Mill in Skaneateles Falls, a company owned by the McLaughlin family.

For most of the following information, I thank Charles Thomas Major Jr., better known as Charlie Major, of Skaneateles, a great-grandson of Charles and Margaret Major.

Mary Ann O'Neill Major had to be in her 80s when this photo was taken (we're guessing 1928 or 1929). That's Lola Major Kane Cullen and John Major holding Lola's daughter Loretta. There is no consistency on the spelling of Mary Ann O'Neill. We've seen Ann and Anne; O'Neill and O'Neil.

What follows below is what we have on the descendants of William James and Mary Ann Major, going one child at a time. Email additions and corrections to:

Mary Major (1866- ??). Mary was the only one of the children born in Ireland.

Catherine "Kate" Major (1871-1934) m. William J. Dougherty (also spelled Doherty) The wedding took place Nov. 28, 1900. They lived in Hart Lot (a section of the Town of Skaneateles). He was a press setter in the McLaughlin woolen mill. Their five children (according to 1910 census) were Vincent, Catherine, William, Mary and Margaret.

Patricia Dowling Guernsey, her husband, John, and their sons Kevin and David at a Tampa Bay (Don't Call Us Devil) Rays baseball game in 2008.

William Major (187?) William died in infancy. The next son also would be named William.

William James Major Jr. (1875-1895)

From the Skaneateles Press, November 1, 1895:

The death of William Major, a young man of Skaneateles Falls, is peculiarly sad from the fact that he went to East Syracuse for an elder brother who was taken with the disease, bringing him to the family home at Skaneateles Falls. The brother first taken is recovering while death claimed the younger one.

Patrick Major (1878-1956) m. Mary Quigley (1890-1959). They had four children – Edward, Leo, Hugh and William:

Sadie Jane (Sate) Major (1881-1958) lived in Skaneateles Falls