Below, at last, is my transcription (original spelling and all) of the letter that Gabe located a month or two ago. The letter was written by Wilson Nevil in 1874 to his son Samuel. The original is in the private collection of Nonette Swedberg's brother and is tucked inside their old family bible. I am working with Nonette to try to clarify the illegible portions of the letter. QUESTION: can anyone offer any guidance to me as to the "proper" way to try to get a copy of this officially archived somewhere so that it may become public knowledge? We will, of course, publish it in the the NHR. Source: Wilson Neville letter to son Samuel, 1874. Private collection of Nonette Swedberg. (My note: are there previous pages?) Mary Neville Senior Born in Mercer County pennsylvania April 17-1798 Joseph Neville Senior, Born in the State of Meriland in 1794. His father was french or was Born in france. He married an English Lady Named Sarah Richardson. (my note: Joe's father was John Nevill, see info at bottom of message) He Left Meriland when Joseph was 3 years old and settled in Bever County penn & Shortly after died. Joseph Nevills father & grand father, Wilson Buckmasters father, married two sisters (I will put down the names of Joseph Nevills Brothers & Sisters. two Sisters Named campbell, [illegible], Elisabeth Grant [illegible] Elisabeth to Perkendall, Elisabeth to Perkendall Hannah to Biggs her first man Her second john cutten (cotton?). Mary to Jacob Amond. Nancy to Cames Claypole their mother died in Bever Co penn in her 90 year. Edward died near 80 in the same State. John died in ohio near 70 Joseph died also near 67 years old. the old stock is all gone. Joseph Neville Raised 12 children. I have not their ages. But Wilson Neville Aug 5 - 1816 & maried to Rebecca Wilson in April 11-1844. Sarah her first man Isaac Shidler of which she had one son. Her second man John Clark to him she had 4 living children 3 boys & 1 girl. Sophia to J. H. tidall they [illegible] Raising twins But further I cant tell. Hannah to Robert downs & has 4 living children all girls. Elisabeth to george Markly, no children - Margaret to Wm Boon & 3 children 2 boys & 1 girl - Rachel to Henry walker She had 1 Boy to geogre downs By chance which was Adopted to Elisabeth markley & since maried to walker has 7 children - Joseph to Jane Logan & has 4 children 1 boy & 3 girls - edward to M. Robertson he was wounded at vicksburg & died Jun 21(?) - 1863 and left 3 children & a wife She died shortly afterward Joseph L. to Luise noras & has 3 children 1 Boy & 2 girls. Athelia J. F. Romming they have two children. Emillia to Alf Uhle they have 3 children - I wil speak of my own family. Joseph Born feb 15 - 1845 & was maried dec. 14. 1873. Samuel Born dec 5 - 1846 in ohio & was maried April ? 187? to Lydia [illegible] & she died Nov 14. 1871 Leaving one son four weeks lacking 1 day old. Isaac Born may 14 - 1848 ohio. Dorcas Born jan 15 (18?) - 1850 in ohio & was maried to [illegible] Langly (Longly?) Nov 25 - 1869. Andrew Born Jan 9 1852 ohio Mary [illegible] Born May 25 - 1855 [illegible] Clinton Born May 5 - 1855 [illegible] Elisabeth [illegible] I wil give the names of mothers parents Sisters & Brothers - Wilson buckmaster her father maryed Sophia Barns ["Barns" is difficult to read and may not be accurate]. They had 9 children Mary the oldest was maryed to Joseph nevill Elisabeth to John Carson ["Carson" is difficult to read and may not be accurate] Rachel to Wm. Carson [illegible] Joshua to Mary Young Robbert [difficult to read and may not be accurate] to Emily Rice ["Rice" is difficult to read and may not be accurate] Henry to mary mc.carty ["mc.carty" is difficult to read and may not be accurate] Joseph [illegible] Aged 12 or 13. Athelia to [illegible] Emillia to [illegible] they are all gon But 3 at this [illegible] writing But mary & Emillia & [illegible] February 7, 1874 Wilson Nevil presented to Samuel W. Nevill --------- Joeseph's father was: --------------------- 10. John Neville (1740 - 1800) MD>PA>OH>PA, m. Sarah Richardson (?-?), MD>PA>OH>PA [g, g, g, g, g grandparents] John and Sarah were probably married in Cecil County MD, though no actual marriage record has been found. Sara was listed in the accounts of Joseph Richardson in 1796, and prior to that, in 1790, John Nevil was administrator for the accounts of Josiah Richardson. Sarah's sister Mary Richardson Joshua Buckmaster (Wilson Neville letter to son Samuel, 1874. Private collection). John and Sarah were the parents of nine children: John S., Edward (see photograph of his son William), Thomas, Lizzie, Hannah, Nancy, Joseph, Mary and Sarah. According to Census Records, all were born in Maryland. In 1776, John and Thomas Nevil were listed under Colonel William Richardson in Maryland's Flying Camp, Fourth Battalion (this information is not based on my research, I am trying to verify his service). William Richardson's brother Joseph was a Captain in the Flying Camp. They participated in the New York and northern campaigns of the Revolutionary War. Prior to 1797, John and his wife Sarah together with all their children (including the oldest son John already married to a woman named Elizabeth and their eleven year old son, yet another John) moved to what is now Beaver County in Western Pennsylvania. 11. Edward Neville (? - ca. 1756) MD _ END LINK m. Mary (?-?) MD [g, g, g, g, g, g grandparents] Edward and Mary lived in the Elk Neck District of Maryland. The Register of Saint Mary Anne's Parish of Cecil County lists the following births on page 329, however, the parents of these children are not named: Joseph Nevill, 12 March 1729, Sarah Nevill, 2 Feb 1727, and Thomas Nevill, 23 Jun 1721. On page 289, these births are recorded: 1732/3 March 24th, James Nevil son of Edward and Mary his wife and 1740 March 18th, John Nevil son of Edward and Mary his wife. Henry C. Peden, Jr's "More Maryland Deponents, 1716-1799" p78 has Nevell, William, age 47 in 1766, son of Edward Nevell (CE 2:210-211) CE2=Cecil Co., 1752-1775 [MdHR 11346]. And Edward Nevill appears in Cecil County Land Records in 1742 (MD Archives: WK-979, p. 291) and an Edward Nevill Senr. appears in these records in 1758 (MD Archives: Vol. 8. F. 512 EK 946-). An Edward Neville appears in Cecil County Court Records in 1721 (MD Archives: Roll 78-4, M 1363 Br 329) and 1724/25 (MD Archives: L. 27, f. 84, 194, 234 Roll 79-2). An Edward Nevell appears in Court Records in 1699 Dorchester County, MD (MD Archives: L. 18.A, f. 62, Roll 77-2). The father of John Nevill m. Sarah Richardson is identified as "French or born in France" (Wilson Neville letter to son Samuel, 1874. Private collection). An Edward de Neufville, son of Dr. Jean de Neufville appears in New Rochelle, New York in the late 1600s. 11. Edward(?) Neville (ca. 1680 - ?) m. ____ _____ (?-?) [g, g, g, g, g, g, g grandparents] An Edward Nevill/Neavill is listed with several French Names as a debtor to John Hyland and John Beavell in Cecil Co MD in 1696. (Source: Abstracts of the Inventories and Accounts of the Prerogative Court of Maryland). 12. _______ ________ (?-?) Possibilities: Edward Nevell of Virginia (1625. Virginia Magazine of History & Biography; 1916 pp. 148-9, 238-40; 1917 pp. 121, 125, 225.) William Nevill in Talbot (now Queen Annes) Co, MD 1694 (Talbot County Land Records, Bk 3. Leonard. p.22) William Nowell in Cecil Co, MD 1692 (History of Cecil Co by G. Johnston p. 83)