[3] The McConnel family were owners of a series of large cotton spinning mills in Ancoats in the city of Manchester.
[3] The outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 had a dramatic impact on McConnel & Kennedy.
Raw cotton supplies from America were cut off, causing many Lancashire mills to sharply reduce production or close completely.
Sedgwick Mill held large stocks of raw cotton and continued in limited production.
His connection to Wales led him to form the Aberdovey Slate Company on 3 January 1864, to exploit the mineral resources of the district.