Mary Jane was born in the townland of Mullduff in 1830. She states that her father was James Porter and her mother Jane Innis, both born in the same town. Her maternal grandparents were Nathaniel Innis and Mary Brown. She was the oldest of six children and emigrated to NY in February 1850. She was supposed to meet up with her mother's brother in Vermont, but chose to remain in NY instead.

In 1852 she married James Gillespie in Brooklyn, NY

Any further information on Mary Jane's relatives in Ireland would be most appreciated.

Kathy