My name is James Russell formally Leonard James. I am the Site manager of this Web site. My genealogy research is focused on the following families: Russell, McNeilly, Burnett, Balderstone, Burdell, Bonnet, Grant, Powell, Hudson, Holland and CurnowIf you wish to contribute genealogy information or send your feedback, please contact me here. You are also invited to sign the <Link to guestbook>. Thank you for visiting!
About our family
From research so far and general knowledge learned from older family members the Russell’s farmed in the Rangitikei area.
Claude Russell (my Grandfather) was born in Ohau and this is a work in progress still. His wife Ellen Ruth Burnett was born in Marton.
Today the Russell’s are scattered all over the country but there is still a large proportion of them in the Manawatu/Rangitikei areas
My Granddad on Mums side would have told if he was still alive with a couple of drinks on board that he was related to the Kings of Ireland. Research done by my Mother (that I can’t find yet) seems to point to the McNeilly's being ancestors of a name that sounded like Menellie (Spanish). When the Spanish Armada was wrecked off the coast of Ireland, seamen came ashore, settled and over the years the name evolved into McNeilly.
His wife was a Powell from the West Coast. They originally came from Staines in the UK
Missing pieces
Where did the Russell's come from? When did they immigrate to NZ?
Missing pieces so far are my great grandparents on both sides of the Family
