August 19 1858
In the Second Presbyterian Church, Strabane, by the Rev. W.A. Russell, brother to the bride, Andrew Dunn Hemphill, Esq., Washington City, United States of America, to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr Alexander Russell, Burnside, Raphoe

My mother's maiden name is Russell. She was born at Braehead, Raphoe as was I. My uncle William Russell still farms the land there which has been in our family for many generations. My uncle John farms the neighbouring farm at Burnside, Raphoe and my grandmother still lives in Burnside Cottage. It is about 400 years old. The above information was found in the Donegal Genealogy Resources website.

Great to find you Hazel! I have been researching the Braehead Russells for several years with only limited success.My wife and I visited Braehead about four years ago and met your uncle William Russell who unfortunately could'nt tell us much about his ancestors.I can go back to about 1825 but the only info I have beyond that date is that an Alexander Russell arrived in Raphoe from Baltimore. As usual of course there are at least two Baltimores....one in the U.S. and one in Ireland and I have come to a dead end at that point. I would love to hear from you and perhaps we could help each other out. My great, great grandfather, Robert Russell, was born at Braehead, Raphoe, and was the son of William Russell and Anne McNair.

My Hemphill family are from Co Tyrone. They are The children Of James Hemphill and Mary Russell. Johnston Hemphill, one of the sons to come to Australia was my G Grandfather. I have been unable to trace the family in Ireland, but think they lived in Laght. That was the address on Roberts marriage documents.
All three families lived in Romsey - Lancefield district. Robert at Lancefield ,Johnston at Rochford,and James in Romsey.
There are still family living in the district today.

Hello everybody, I am writing about my Russell connection to the Castlederg area. My 5th G Grandfather was John Donaldson, born around 1720, he married a Russell girl from that area. I am looking for any answers I can find about Russell families from the area. Here is a message I have been sending out to others regarding my family history; NOVEMBER 4

03:46 a.m.
Hello, my name is Mark Donaldson, I am from Ontario Canada. I am writing you in regards to my Russell family background in Co. Tyrone & Derry. I do not know much about my Russell connection. Here is what I know. My 5th G Grandfather John Donaldson born around 1720 married a Mrs Russell. They had one documented son, John Donaldson who married Mrs Baird. 2nd John & Mrs Baird had a son William Donaldson was born 1784, he married Catherine Scott around 1820. Here is a message I have been sending out recently covering more details.

I am writing you in regards to my interest in Rev Nehemiah Donaldson, the preacher from the Castlederg Church, 1716-1747 & Ann Donaldson (1710/15-1787), his daughter, Mrs Mathew Edwards. My Donaldson connections to Tyrone & Derry Counties are centered around the Parish of Donagheady--1st Donagheady Church. My 5th G Grandfather John (born aound 1720) married into the Russell family. My 4th G Grandfather was John Donaldson (1750-60), he married into the Baird family, a daughter of William Baird (1715) & Martha. William Baird who owned/controlled land starting at the River Foyle running to Castlederg, including Castlederg. There was some change of that around 1728. But for 12 years the Baird family were the 'landlords' of Castlederg while a Rev Nehemiah Donaldson preached, in total he was there from 1716-47--he died in 1747. John Donaldson & Mrs Baird had my 3rd G Grandfather William in 1784, he married Catherine Scott (B1798), they wed around 1820-24. Catherine's parents were Mrs Osborne & Alexander Scott---I have reason to believe Mrs Osborne was the daughter of Samuel Osborne & Mary Edwards, niece of Mathew Edwards/Ann Donaldson (dau of Nehemiah Donaldson). My 2nd G Grandfather John D. was born in 1826, he had an older brother Samuel 1825, younger brothers Robert, James Wray D, Joseph Russell D.William Alexander D., plus sisters Jane 1828 & Mary 1839. The entire family had emigrated by 1849 with the exception of Jane who was now Mrs John Thompson. .....There are many connections between the Castlederg & Donagheady Parish. A relation of my mine, a niece of my 4th G Grandmother Baird/Donaldson, through her brother Andrew, married a rev Andrew Maxwell who preaached in Ardtstraw but lived in Castlederg. There were two rev Andrew Maxwells, father & son. Another son of rev Andrew Maxwell Sr, Joseph Maxwell had a daughter who married a Rev John Donaldson in the 1860s. Again cementing the Donaldson/Baird/Maxwell link. There was a Rev John Roulston with the 1st Donagheady Church, a son of Thomas Roulston from Castlederg. John's Roulston's brother was Nehemiah Roulston. My 2nd G Grandfather sailed over in 1847 on a ship with Joseph & Robert Scott, from Castlederg and a Samuel Robb from Castlederg--I have reason to suspect Joseph Scott (B1793) was John's uncle, Catherine Scott his mom's brother.....I can be contacted at my email address as well markdonaldson73@hotmail.com. Looking forward to hearing back from