Person:William Neill (64)

Conflicting Information on William Neill

Another source has William Neill born abt. 1702, with a daughter Magdalene Neill being born on August 31, 1725, but other sources seem to indicate William's birthdate as 21 April 1711, which would rule Magdalene out as his daughter. More research may be necessary.

Information on William Neill

From Rowan County, NC query:

Neill Researchers

Posted by Emily Brown <eabrown@@ameritech.net> on Thu, 01 Oct 1998

Surnames: Neill

Neill researchers in Burke Co, Rowan Co and Iredell co. I have placed the following documents on my webpage:

http://www.ameritech.net/users/eabrown/brongr.htm

Caveat: William Neill - READ ME FIRST Pension Applications Gilbraith and Martha Neill Record of John Neill from Quaker Records Letters concerning the Neills in Ireland Bentwet letters regarding Neill family of NC Affadavits concerning Lt. William Neill Petition against Sarah Neill, 1770 Will of Capt. William Neill Pension Application Andrew Neill Robert Neill Lawsuit

As I acquire additional transcripts relating to this family I will publish them on my webpage.

Emily Brown

Brown/Dorrell/Gregg/Neill

William2 NEILL (William1) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania about1731. William died after 21 June 1797 in Burke County, North Carolina, at age 65.(5)

He married twice. He married Mary (Polly) CLINTON 3 May 1750 in New Castle County, Delaware.(6) The marriage bond describes William NEAL as being a 'yeoman'. Bondsman, or "surety", was Ezekiel BOGGS, an Innholder, of New Castle County.

Mary CLINTON is described as being a "spinster".

Both parties are described as being residents of Chester County, Pennsylvania. Mary was the daughter of Archibald CLINTON and Sarah.

Mary died about 1778 in Burke County, North Carolina, at age unknown. He married Sarah ALLEN date unknown.

During war time (19 June 1780) in Ramsour's Mill, North Carolina, William was an officer. He made a will 21 June 1797 in Burke County, North Carolina.(7) WILL OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM NEILL In the name of God Amen. I. William Neill, of the County of Burke and State of North Carolina, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory, blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say my will is that my lawful debts be paid. My further will is that my beloved wife Sarah have one bed and furniture, her choice bed, two cows one horse and saddle with all her wearing apparel and the half of household furniture.

My further will is that my son James Neill have five shillings lawful money of the state aforesaid, my son in law John Webster five shillings, my son in law Jacob Haws five shillings, my son in law James Neill five shillings, and my son (illegible) five shillings.

My will is that my son Andrew Neill have ten pounds, lawful money as aforesaid. My will is that my son Alexander Neill have ten pounds law full, as aforesaid.

My will is that my son in law John Plumley have five pounds as aforesaid. My will is that my son, Gilbreth, have my negro wench Sina together with half of my household furniture. My will is that my plantation be equally divided between my three sons Samuel, Robert and Gilbreth quantity and quality together with all the residue of my personal estate heretofore mentioned. My will is that my three sons Samuel, Robert and Gilbreth pay to my sundry legatees as aforementioned the sundry sums willed to them if demanded.

My further will is that my three sons Samuel, Robert and Gilbreth be executors of this my last will and testament interlined between the seventh and eighth lines "choice bed one" and between the eighth and ninth lines the words "and half of the household furniture"

I hereby acknowlege this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of June 1797.

William Neill (seal)

In presence of John Carron Catherine Arthurs

True copy taken from the original now in my office April 28 1800 Attest: J. E(illegible) clk

COPY OF WILL FROM PAPERS IN POSSESSION OF DESCENDANT OF ROBERT NEILL. BURKE COUNTY COURT HOUSE WAS BURNED DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.

The foregoing is from a photocopy of the original document which is illegible in parts due to fading or to being a poor copy and a typewritten transcript was used as a basis for the foregoing.

William's will was probated 24 April 1800 in Burke County, North Carolina.(8)

William NEILL and Mary (Polly) CLINTON had the following children:

8 i. William3 NEILL(9) was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania about 1751. William died 20 June 1780 in Ramsour's Mill, North Carolina, at age 28. During war time (19 June 1780) in Ramsour's Mill, North Carolina, William was an officer. Lt. William NEILL was killed during the Battle of Ramsour's (Ramseur's) Mill, 21 June 1780. 

+ 9 ii. James NEILL was born about 1753. 

10 iii. Andrew NEILL(10) was born in Rowan County, North Carolina April 1755. Andrew died about 4 SEP 1841 in Marshall County, Tennessee, at age 86. He married twice. He married Mary CATHEY about 1790 in Williamson County, Tennessee.(11) Mary was born ABT 1770. Mary was the daughter of George CATHEY and Ann PRICE. Mary died ABT 1804 at age unknown. He married Mary MCDOWELL 1804 in Bedford County, Tennessee. Mary was born about 1765. 

He bought property from Alexander NEILL 28 September 1812 in Bedford County, Tennessee. Revolutionary War Pension Application #R7580, filed in Marshall County TN, 1840, when Andrew NEILL was 85 years old, gives the following biographical information about him:

Born in Rowan County NC, he lived in Burke Co NC for about 4 years, and then 9 years after "peace was made", he removed to Davidson County TN, about 10 miles from where Nashville now stands. in 1806, he moved south of the Duck River, to a place called Big Spring, where the town of Farmington now stands in Bedford County (now Marshall County). In 1818, he moved to Marengo Co AL, where he lived until 1839, when his step-son, Joseph McDOWELL, brought him back to Farmington, now Marshall County, TN, where this application was made. Application dated 2 March 1840.

An affidavit signed by B. Willias, dated July 1840, reads "Andrew Neill would have to prove by other testimony than his own that he served all the time named by him in his declaration...and I went to see Violet CATHEY and Easter REED and obtained the affidavit of Violet Cathey, but Easter REED is in a very low state of health and almost entirely deaf. If evidence as to general character would avail anything, Mr. Neill could obtain to almost any content from persons who have known him for the past 30 years. The applicant is dependent upon his friends entirely; and supportly - he was worth a handsome living and was swindled out of it and his son murdered".

Violet CATHEY and Esther CATHEY REED were daughters of George CATHEY(12) and therefore, sisters-in-law of Andrew NEILL by his first wife Mary CATHEY, also a daughter of George CATHEY.

+ 11 iv. John NEILL was born about 1757. 

+ 12 v. Archibald NEILL was born about 1759. 

+ 13 vi. Robert A NEILL was born about 1761. 

+ 14 vii. Alexander NEILL was born ABT 1762. 

+ 15 viii. Hannah NEILL was born October 1763. 

+ 16 ix. Sarah NEILL was born ABT 1765. 

17 x. Samuel NEILL was born in Rowan County, North Carolina about 1769. Samuel died about 1845 in Madison County, Tennessee, at age unknown. He married Edy ALLEN 1790 in Rowan County, North Carolina. Edy was born about 1775. 

18 xi. Gilbreath Falls NEILL was born in Rowan County, North Carolina 25 June 1770. Gilbreath died 3 March 1842 in Madison County, Tennessee, at age 71. He married Annie MCCONNELL about 1802. 

19 xii. Mary NEILL was born about 1771. She married John WEBSTER date unknown. 

+ 20 xiii. Elizabeth NEILL was born about 1772.

1. ↑ Ohio River Valley Genealogical Database, site of David Distler, e-mail: dave@@orvf.com. (site at : http://orvf.com/genweb/orvf/orvf.html).
2. ↑ Yount, Ray A., 10031 Shortest Day Road, NW, La Vale, MD, 21502-6011, (e-mail: alby6@@juno.com). (Gilbreath Falls Family Records, unpublished manuscript).