Genealogy of Matthew McConaughey

James W McConaughey

James W McConaughey was born about 1825 in Virginia and died after 1880 in Texas. He married Albina McRae about 1855. Albina McRae was born about 1839 in Alabama and died before 1870. 

In the 1860 census records for Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas, James W. McConaughey and his family are found enumerated. (1)

J W McConaughey  35  male  attorney at law  Virginia

Albina  McConaughey  21  female  Alabama

Bettie McConaughey  4  female  Arkansas

Anna McConaughey  1  female  Arkansas

Newton McConaughey  16  male  Virginia

In the 1870 census, due to the untimely death of Albina McConaughey, the James W McConaughey family is split up and enumerated in several different households. 

James W McConaughey is found in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (2)

James W McConaughey  47  male  white  lawyer  Virginia  father of foreign birth  mother of foreign birth

William D Bonner  21  male  white  clerk of court  value of personal estate: $1000  value of real estate: $1000  Mississippi  married in October

Virginia Bonner  18  female  white  none  Texas  married in October

Phillip McDonald  23  male  white  mail agent  Missouri  

Ellen McDonald  20  female  white  none  Indiana

Paul A McDonald  1  male  white  Missouri

Charles G Mair  28  male  white  clerk in store  Canada  father of foreign birth  mother of foreign birth

Sarah Mair  22  female  white  none  Louisiana

James W McConaughey is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas in the McConaughey-Wassell plot. See burial here. An application for headstone or marker for a veteran was completed by granson, Samuel McConaughey Wassell. (4)

Children of James W. and Albina McRae McConaughey were: 

1. Elizabeth McConaughey
2. Anna McConaughey
3. James Donald McConaughey

1. Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey was born October 12, 1859 in Searcy, White County, Arkansas and died on November 29, 1923 in Arkansas. (5)

 She married Samuel Spotts Wassell. 

In 1860, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey is found enumerated with her family in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (6)

 At the time of this census she is 4 years old, suggesting an earlier birth date than is listed on her headstone. 

In 1870, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey is enumerated with the Styles family in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (7)

Woodbridge Styles  45  male  white  book keeper  Mississippi

Anna M Styles  35  female  white  school teacher  value of personal estate: $3000  value of real estate: $500  North Carolina

Williametta Styles  17  female  white  at home  Texas

Davidetta Styles  14  female  white  Texas

Daisy Menard  10  female  white  Texas

John A Menard  8  male  white  Texas

Peter Menard  6  male  white  Texas

Betty McConaughey  13  female  white  Arkansas

Nellie Dallon  5  female  white  Louisiana

Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey married Samuel Spotts Wassell on April 8, 1878 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.(8)

In the 1880 census, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey Wassell is enumerated with husband Samuel Spotts Wassell and his parents in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (9)

John Wassell  white  male  64  married  lawyer  England 

Margaret Wassell  white  female  62  wife  married  keeping house  Delaware

Herbert Wassell white  male  21  son  single  studying law  Arkansas

Albert Wassell  white  male  27  son  married  lawyer  Arkansas

Leona Wassell  white  female  22  wife  married  at home  Arkansas

Ruth Wassell  white  female  9/12  Sept  daughter  single  at home  Arkansas

Samuel Wassell  white  male  25  son  married  lawyer  Arkansas

Bettie Wassell  white  female  22  wife  married  at home  Tennessee

Frank Wassell  white  male  1  son  single  at home  Arkansas

Bettie Edwards  black  female  25  servant  single  servant  Arkansas

Ed Edwards  black  male  3  son  single  at home  Arkansas

William Boston  black  male  23  servant  single  servant  Arkansas

Again in 1900, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey Wassell and her family are living in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (10)

Sam’l Wassell  head  white  male  May 1846  46  married - 22 years  Arkansas  lawyer

Bettie Wassell  wife  white  female  Oct 1856  51  married - 22 years  4,3  Arkansas

Frank J Wassell  son  white  male  Jan 1879  21  single  Arkansas   

Sam’l M Wassell  son  white  male  Apr 1883  19  single  Arkansas  R. R. clerk

Herbert L Wassell  son  white  male  Nov 1891  8  single  Arkansas  school 

Herbert Wassell  brother  white  male  Mar 1861  single  Arkansas  real estate agent

John Ball  roomer  white  male  1864  36  married - 8 years  Ireland  team master

Mary J Ball  roomer  white  female  1869  31  married - 8 years  New York

Felix Barron  roomer  white  male  1878  22  single  Arkansas  student

Emon S McCray  roomer  white  male  Oct 1873  25  single  Iowa  attorney

Frank Walker  emp  black  male  Jan 1872  28  married - 4 years  Arkansas

Julie M Walker  emp  black  female  May 1874  26  married - 4 years  2, 1  Arkansas

Joseph Walker  emp  black  male  1880  20  single  Arkansas

In 1910, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey Wassell is enumerated with her son in Big Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (11)

Samuel M Wassell  head  male  white  28  married - 5 years  Arkansas  lawyer

Helen S Wassell  wife  female  white  28  married - 5 years  1, 1  Tennessee

Ruth H Wassell  daughter  female  white  2  Arkansas

Bettie M Wassell  mother  female  white  50  widowed  3, 3  Arkansas

Lynn H Wassell  brother  male  white  18  single  Arkansas

Adeline Brown  servant  female  black  30  married - 2 years  1, 0  Arkansas  cook

In 1920, Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey Wassell is enumerated with her son, Lynn Wassell in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (12)

Lynn Wassell  head  male  white  28  single  Arkansas  proprietor

Bettie Wassell  mother  female  white  60  widowed  Arkansas

Sam S Wassell  brother  male  white  36  married  Arkansas  lawyer

Elizabeth “Bettie” McConaughey is buried in Mount Holly Cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas in the McConaughey-Wassell plot. See burial here. 

1. Anna McConaughey was born about 1859 in Arkansas. 

In 1860, Anna McConaughey is found enumerated with her family in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas. (13)

Anna McConaughey died before 1870. 

1. James Donald McConaughey was born on May 24, 1867 in Houston, Harris County, Texas and died on September 1, 1922 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (14) He married Frances J. 

In 1870, with the recent passing of his mother, James Donald McConaughey was enumerated in the census records with the Daniel Bliss family in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (15)

Daniel Bliss  49  male  white  farmer  value of personal estate: $1,200  New York

Martha E Bliss  44  female  white  keeping house  Mississippi

Bettie Bliss  14  female  white  at home  Texas

Carrie Bliss  12  female  white  Texas

George Bliss  4  male  white  Texas

James McConaughey  2  male  white  Texas

In 1900, James D McConaughey is enumerated with his wife and children in Alamogordo, Otero County, New Mexico. (16)

James D McConaughey  head  white  male  May 1867  33  married - 6 years  Texas  locomotive engineer

Frances J McConaughey  wife  white  female  June 1876  23  married - 6 years  Iowa

Wassell McConaughey  son  white  male  Nov 1897  2  single  Texas

Sylvester McConaughey  cousin  white  male  Sept 1890  10  single  Missouri

Later, in 1920, James D McConaughey and his family are enumerated in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (17)

J D McConaughey  head  male  white  52  married  Texas

Francis McConaughey  wife  female  white  42  married  Iowa

Albina McConaughey  daughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

Hugh McConaughey  son  male  white  14  single  New Mexico

James Donald McConaughey is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas. (18)

 Burial here. 

Children of James Donald and Francis King McConaughey were: 

1. Wassel Gibson McConaughey
2. Francis Albina McConaughey
3. Hugh Donald McConaughey

1. Wassel Gibson McConaughey was born on November 14, 1897 in Texas. He married Laurie C. 
2. Francis Albina McConaughey was born on June 25, 1903 in Texas and died on Augest 3, 1972 in Houston, Harris County, Texas. (19) She married Robert C Brown.
3. Hugh Donald McConaughey was born on September 16, 1904 in New Mexico and died on July 27, 1971 in Uvalde, Uvalde County, Texas. (20)

In the 1940 census, Hugh Donald McConaughey and his family are enumerated in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. (21)

Hugh D McConaughey  head  male  white  35  married  New Mexico  assistant district manager  Texas Oil

Barbara M McConaughey  wife  female  white  32  married  Louisiana

James D McConaughey  son  male  white  10  single  Mississippi

B Frances McConaughey  daughter  female  white  10  single  Mississippi

Hugh D McConaughey  son  male  white  8  single  Louisiana

Kathryn C McConaughey  daughter  female  white  1  single  Louisiana

Hugh Donald McConaughey died on July 27, 1971. Burial here. 

Children of Hugh Donald and Barbara McConaughey were: 

1. James D McConaughey
2. B Francis McConaughey
3. Hugh D McConaughey
4. Kathryn C McConaughey

James Donald McConaughey was born about 1930 in Mississippi. He died on August 17, 1992. (22)

 He married Mary Katherine McCabe. 

Children of James Donald and Mary Katherine McCabe McConaughey are: 

1. Michael Patrick McConaughey
2. Patrick James McConaughey
3. Matthew David McConaughey

¹ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=mcconaughey&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=4&GSob=n&GRid=57896503&df=all&

² 1860; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: M653_49; Page: 57; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 803049.

³ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXLY-Y9S : accessed 05 Mar 2014), James W Mcconaughey, Texas, United States; citing p. , family 537, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000553088.

⁴ National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Applications for Headstones for U.S. military veterans, 1925-1941; National Archives Microfilm Publication: A1, 2110-C; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General; Record Group Number: 92.

⁵ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=102539398

⁶ 1860; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: M653_49; Page: 57; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 803049.

⁷ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11845-112733-82?cc=1438024&wc=M94C-LK2:1966598660 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Texas > Harris > Houston, ward 4; citing NARA microfilm publication M593.

⁸ "Arkansas Marriages, 1837-1944," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F733-CWR : accessed 05 Mar 2014), S. S. Wassell and Betty M. Conaughey, 08 Apr 1878.

⁹ "United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MNW2-C35 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Samuel Wassell in household of John Wassell, Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing sheet 333C, family 6, NARA microfilm publication T9-0054

¹⁰ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M3X3-8G4 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Bettie Wassell in household of Sam'L S Wassell, Big Rock Township (incl. Calaboose) Little Rock city Ward 6, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing sheet , family 161, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240073.

¹¹ "United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKV5-QQ9 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Bettie M Wassell in household of Samuel M Wassell, Big Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing sheet , family 119, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374075.

¹² "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDFZ-G68 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Bettie Wassell in household of Lynn Wassell, Little Rock Ward 2, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States; citing sheet , family 342, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1820079.

¹³ 1860; Census Place: Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas; Roll: M653_49; Page: 57; Image: 57; Family History Library Film: 803049.

¹⁴ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KS1T-3TZ : accessed 05 Mar 2014), James Donald Mcconaughey, 01 Sep 1922; citing certificate number 26178, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2074635.

¹⁵ "United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-11845-113811-81?cc=1438024&wc=M94C-LKN:1802538438 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Texas > Harris > Houston, ward 1; citing NARA microfilm publication M593.

¹⁶ "United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MMLS-SHR : accessed 05 Mar 2014), James D Mcconaughey, Precincts 1, 9 Alamo Gordo, Jarilla, Otero, New Mexico Territory, United States; citing sheet , family 210, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241001.

¹⁷ "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHY4-HDB : accessed 05 Mar 2014), J D Mcconaughey, Houston Ward 5, Harris, Texas, United States; citing sheet , family 66, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821814.

¹⁸ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KS1T-3TZ : accessed 05 Mar 2014), James Donald Mcconaughey, 01 Sep 1922; citing certificate number 26178, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2074635.

¹⁹ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-25239-54600-28?cc=1983324&wc=MMTK-7RB:n1625600864 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Death certificates > 1972 > Vol 117-124, certificates 058501-061900, Aug, Erath-Nueces counties; citing State Registrar Office, Austin.

²⁰ "Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K36X-649 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Hugh Donald Mcconaughey, 27 Jul 1971; citing certificate number 60479, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2223314.

²¹ "United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VYPB-WW2 : accessed 05 Mar 2014), Hugh D Mcconaughey, Ward 14, New Orleans, New Orleans City, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 36-393, sheet 9A, family 177, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 1433.

²² "Texas, Death Index, 1964-1998," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JV28-LTB : accessed 05 Mar 2014), James Donald Mcconaughey, 17 Aug 1992; citing Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin,Texas.