The George May Family likely immigrated from Scotland and settled in Ulster Province Ireland.

1606
Hamilton and Montgomery Plantation

Scots James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery received land in counties Down and Antrim as a reward for rescuing local chieftain Con O’Neill. Over 400 years ago they settled over 10,000 Scots in these areas who successfully worked the land and brought with them their language, religious beliefs and customs.

‘The Hamilton and Montgomery settlement really is the ‘Dawn of The Ulster-Scots.’ Hamilton’s tenants built towns like Bangor, where he built his first house on the site of Bangor Castle, Groomsport, Holywood, Dundonald and Killyleagh. 

1607
Flight of the Earls

Creating deep connections between Northern Ireland and mainland Europe, ‘The Flight of the Earls’ refers to when two of the most powerful chieftains, the Earl of Tyrone and the Earl of Tyrconnell left Ireland, with many of their supporters in tow. This was following The Nine Years’ War (1594-1603) between England and Ireland.

They hoped to sail to Spain, to ask for help from the Spanish King to drive the English out of Ireland. However, storms meant the Earls never reached Spain. Instead, they landed in France and ended up in Rome. They never returned to Ireland. 

1610
Plantation of Ulster

King James I planted thousands of people into Northern Ireland from Scotland and England, hoping they would be obedient to him and his government. However, many Irish people resented the King interfering in their land.
The new, growing population brought new customs and a new religion – Protestantism. English language became more prevalent and Ulster-Scots was also developed during this time.

1688-1689
The Siege of Derry

This was the first major event in the Williamite / Jacobite War in Ireland. While the gates of the old walled city were initially closed in December 1688, the siege didn’t begin in earnest until April the following year. The siege lasted nearly three and a half months, ending on 30 July 1689 when relief ships bringing an English army sailed down Lough Foyle. 

1688 – 1691
The Glorious Revolution

Orangeism celebrates and commemorates the Glorious Revolution and the building blocks of Constitutional Democracy that were secured at this time. The Glorious Revolution may have been a political revolution at Westminster but it was secured in Ireland through war. 

1718 – Onwards
Large-scale migration of Ulster-Scots to America. This included the ancestors of more than a few American Presidents.

(from https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/activities/ancestry/a-timeline-history-of-northern-irelands-people/)