Sorry for the multiple postings...thought I would take advantage of the recent flurry of messages about North Carolina McNEILLs. In 1777, Joseph GIST presented a petition against the executors of Neill McNEILL for his wife's part in her father's estate [Cumberland Co, NC Court Records, Bk. D, p. 70]. Mrs. Dorsey [who wrote 'Christopher GIST of Maryland and Some of His Descendants'] identified Joseph GIST's wife as either Ann or Margaret McNEILL, daughter of Neill McNEILL. [Don't know how she did that.] on p. 126 of Cumberland Co NC Will Abstracts I found: "McNEILL, Neill - ( ? ) / May 1764 [I assume these dates mean that the date written is unknown, and May 1764 is the date the will was recorded?] Daughters - Catherin, MARGARET, Flora, Mary and ANN. Sons - ROGER McNeill, HENRY and Harry McNeill. 300 acres bought of Hugh Brown Exec. Torquell McNeill, Archd. McNeill, John and Malcolm McNeill. Wits. Walter Gibson, Esq., Ferquard Campbell, Esq." And from "Old Bluff Presbyterian Church History: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nccumber/bluffcreek.htm "Neill McNEILL (and his wife Catharine) by deed of February 18, 1761, conveyed to Hector McNeill and Alexander McAlister, members of the original Session and both residing on the east side of the Cape Fear River, "one acre of land whereon is built and erected a Meeting House as the same now stands" on the west side of the Cape Fear River near Tranthams Creek close to the home of ROGER McNEILL, son of Neill McNeill. Called Roger's Meeting House, this building was probably a small log structure built about 1759 and the first church building in the Upper Cape Fear Valley." Notice that both the will and the Church History mention a ROGER McNEILL, son of Neill McNEILL. I haven't found any other Rogers. [Plenty of Neills tho...] Also interesting is that Joseph GISTs brother Christopher Gist [who m. Lucy (__?__)], had a daughter Mary GIST who married HENRY McNEILL. [Could be the Henry mentioned above?] Does anyone else know this McNEILL family? This is NOT 'Black' Neill McNeill who married Grisella Campbell... Donna Gist Moore Liberty County, Georgia Howard Bridges wrote: > > Hello list, > Yesterday Howard & I also found an ancient McNEILL cemetery over in Scotland > County, NC. We took photographs of this burial ground, which is long since > abandoned and sad among the pines and briars. I will post the photographs to > my website as soon as I can get them developed. I was delighted to find this > place, because all of the surnames there were familiar to me; I felt like I > had 'discovered it' myself. The cemetery is located on private property and > one needs permission to visit. The property owners operate a large turkey > farm and require certain precautions for preventing the spread of diseases > amoung their turkeys. Will give location at a later post. > > An elaborate wire fence once guarded this cemetery; it's iron corner posts > now struggle to support the remains. The oldest visible grave marker reads > 'Hector McNEILL Died March 10, 1812 Aged 86 years'. Mary (1779-1856), > consort of Angus McLEAN, daughter of John & Mary McEACHIN, rests there, > along with Angus McNeill, a native of North Knapdale Argylshire Scotland. He > died September 13th, 1835 at the age of 73 years. James & Effie McEachin > are there too, with at least three of their children, James Alexander, > Harriet Atwood, & Mary. Then, there is [Maj.?]John McNeill, b. August 23, > 1780 d. August 2nd 1829, and Elizabeth BUCHANAN Relict of Maj. John McNeill, > born Nov. 22nd 1808 died April 11th, 1885. Her grave marker reveals a > marriage on Dec 24, 1830. Another marker reads: Sacred to the memory of > Mary McEachin Native of Scotland Departed this life June 26, 1837 in the > 87th year of her age. A once tall monument to Flora 'Cattie' wife of A.A. > McNeill b. Aug 23, 1845 and died June 17, 1905, has been pushed over and > lies partially buried in the leaves, briars and dirt. 'Blessed are the pure > in heart for they shall see God' is barely visible. Nearby sleeps George > Winston, son of A.A. & Flora McNeill, b. Dec. 1st, 1870, d. March 23, 1900 > in Jacksonville, Florida 'He died as he lived A Christian'. The last to be > buried here was Jack McNeill b July 19, 1880 d Jan. 6, 1908, and Kate S. > McNeill b. March 18, 1876, d Nov. 6, 1907. One lone hand carved wooden > marker leans against a tree and waits to disappear. There are probably three > or four illegible markers. One large granite marker lies face down hiding > it's messaage from all who would see. However, it's foot marker reads: > G.McKE. > > If anyone has further information about these early NC pioneers, please > consider sharing your information with me and other reseachers. I would like > to post it on one of my websites. Of course I will notify the list when and > where to find it. Thank-you, Myrtle Bridges, NCGenWeb coordinator for Hoke > & Cumberland Counties.