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Descendants of Adam Neill

Generation No. 1

1. Adam¹ Neill was born Abt. 1755 in Lancaster Co., PA, and died 1819 in Lincoln Co., NC. He married (1) Mary Beatty? Abt. 1774 in NC. He married (2) Rachel Brown November 10, 1804 in Lincoln Co., NC.

Notes for Adam Neill:
A Concise History of Adam Neill's Family
By Tim L. Daugherty

(NOTE: The surname Neal is spelled various ways in the public records. There appears not to be one consistent way of spelling the name. Variations include: Neel, Neil, Neill (and Niell). Many of Adam Neal's descendants now living in Lincoln, Gaston and Cleveland Counties of North Carolina use the spellings of Neill and Neal. To help eliminate confusion, the spelling of NEAL will be used throughout this work. )

The first public record to date of Adam Neal (*see footnote) in North Carolina bears the date February 09, 1778. Adam Neal claims land situated in Tryon County of North Carolina. This land is on the Muddy Fork of Buffalo Creek in present day Cleveland County, North Carolina. No marriage record has been located at present to tell us the name of Adam's wife. Because of Adam Neal's close association with the Francis Beatty and James Pauley families, Adam's wife was probably a Beatty. If naming ways are taken into consideration, she was probably Mary Beatty. Considering the birth dates of their children Adam and his first wife were married around 1774. Their first known child was born in 1775. Adam Neal was active in the civic life of Tryon County, he served on juries, was road overseer and dutifully paid his taxes. No records have been discovered to date indicating whether Adam Neal was an active participant in the Revolutionary War. Between 1778 and 1815 Adam Neal purchased and sold several tracts of land in old Tryon County. The accumulated amount of Adam's recorded land holdings during those years totaled about 400 acres, all situated on or near the Muddy Fork of Buffalo Creek in present day Cleveland County, North Carolina.
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#01. Adam Neal claims 100 acres in Tryon County on waters of Buffalo Creek, borders his own land. Entered 2/09/1778 L3.14. (Note. This entry suggests other lands owned prior to February of 1778.) This is the earliest record found to date for Adam Neal in Tryon County, North Carolina.
#02. Adam Neal claims 100 acres in Tryon County on Muddy Fork of Buffalo Creek; includes his own land on north side. Entered 3/10/1778 L 3.14
#03. Peter Sites of Tryon County to Adam Neal of same...200 acres on Muddy Fork of Buffalo Creek...adjoining Moses Moore. 04/22/1778.
#04. Adam Neal claims 200 acres in Tryon County on waters of Shoal Run of Muddy Fork of Buffalo Creek; borders Moses Moore and his own land. Entered
4/20/1779.
#05. Adam Neal claims 170 acres on waters of Muddy Fork; borders widow White, John Rutledge and others. Entered 6/29/1811.
#06. Adam Neal claims 50 acres on waters of Muddy Fork; borders his own land. Entered 3/25/1812.
#07. Adam Neal claims 32 acres on waters of Muddy Fork; borders his own land. Entered 7/20/1813.
______________________________________________________________
The surname Neal is spelled various ways in the public records. There appears not to be one consistent way of spelling the name. Variation include: Neel, Neil, Neill (and Niell). Many of Adam Neal's descendants now living in Lincoln, Gaston and Cleveland Counties of North Carolina use the spellings of Neill and Neal. To help eliminate confusion, the spelling of NEAL will be used throughout this work.

The census records give us the first information we have on the children of Adam and wife. Adam Neal is found on the first recorded census for Lincoln County, North Carolina in the year 1790. He and his family are enumerated in the 12th Company, Lincoln County (formerly Tryon County).
Adam Neal---7 males under 16, 1 male over 16 and 1 female over 16.
01. James
2. John
3. Adam Jr.
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Thomas
7. Robert
8. Mary Ann
9. Elizabeth
The 1800 census indicates that the first wife of Adam Neal has died between the 1790 and 1800 census. She apparently died at or near the birth of her daughter Elizabeth around 1799/1800. The 1800 census has no wife listed for Adam. On November 10, 1804 Adam Neal remarried to Rachel Brown. They were married in Lincoln County, NC. The following children were born to Adam by his second wife Rachel Brown.
10. Hugh
11. Andrew
12. Moses
13. Deborah
14. Margaret "Peggy"
Adam died between February 1, 1819 and October 19, 1819. His will was written in 1819 and probated in 1834 when Margaret was 21 years old. His place of burial is not known, possible locations include Long Creek Presbyterian Church near Bessemer City, NC. Currently the origin of Adam Neal is unknown. Information has come in from other Neal family researchers indicating that Adam might be the son of an Owen Neal, Sr. and Catherine Jones. They indicate that Adam Neal was born in Lancaster County, PA around 1755. His father Owen was born in Ireland around 1718 and came to Philadelphia around 1740 with his father, John Neal. This John Neal died before 1750. Owen Neal, Sr. married Catherine Jones in 1744 in Philadelphia, PA and had the following known children: Owen Jr., John, Joseph, William, Adam, and two daughters. The Adam Neal of this family has not yet been proven to be the Adam Neal of our family. The clue to uncovering the origin of our Adam Neal will be his association with the Beatty family.
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Will of Adam Neill:

Pages 321 and 322, November Session 1834
Last Will and Testament of Adam Neill, Sr.

In the name of God amen. I Adam Neil, Senior of the County of Lincoln and the state of North Carolina being old and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God. Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament and first of all I recommend my soul unto the hand of Allmighty(sic) God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buryed(sic) in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executor. And in touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give demise and dispose of the same in the following form.

1st I will that all my just debts be paid. 2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel and her children that she now has viz Hugh, Andrew, Moses, Deborah, Peggy my land and all other property, all equal shares except Deborah and I will that she shall have seventy dollars more than the rest, each paying an equal share. I will that the land be not divided till the youngest comes of age. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all other wills, testaments, bequests and executors. And I do hereby constitute and ordain my worthy son Adam Neill my executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 1st day of February 1819.

Signed sealed and delivered
In the presence of us

Jurate Thomas Neil Adam Niell
his x mark
State of North Carolina)
Lincoln County) November Session 1834.

The within will of Adam Neill was produced for probate in open court and Adam Neill, Junior proved that the subscribing witness Thomas Neill resides without the limits of the state and he further proved that he saw and heard the testator Adam Neill acknowledge the within as his last will and testament in the presence of the subscribing witness Thomas Neill. It is therefore ordered by court that it be recorded
(Unreadable) M W Abernathy, CC
Lincoln County Court Records
November Sessions 1834

Wills Proved and Executors Sworn

The last will and testament of Adam Neil deceased was produced for probate in open court and Adam Neil, Jr. proved that the subscribing witness Thomas Niell resides without the limits of this state and he further proved that he saw and heard the testator Adam Neil acknowledge the same as his last will and testament.

Children of Adam Neill and Mary Beatty? are:

+	2	i.	James² Niell, born 1775; died December 21, 1818 in NC.
+	3	ii.	John Niell, born 1777; died June 23, 1854 in Gaston Co., NC.
+	4	iii.	Adam Neill, Jr., born 1779; died 1839.
+	5	iv.	Alexander Neal, born Abt. 1781; died Abt. 1813.
+	6	v.	William Neill, born Abt. 1783; died Abt. 1816.
+	7	vi.	Thomas Neill, born Abt. 1785; died Abt. 1840.
+	8	vii.	Robert Neill, born Abt. 1787.
+	9	viii.	Mary Ann (Polly) Neill, born Abt. 1793; died March 27, 1863 in Bollinger Co., MO.
+	10	ix.	Elizabeth Neill, born Abt. 1799.

Children of Adam Neill and Rachel Brown are:

+	11	i.		Hugh² Neill, born Abt. 1805; died Bef. January 1839.
	12	ii.		Andrew Neill, born Abt. 1807; died Bef. 1860. He married (1) Sarah. He married (2) Patsy A. Martin November 29, 1828 in Lincoln Co., NC.

Notes for Andrew Neill:
[Neill.FTW]

Andrew Neal was the second son of Adam and Rachel Brown Neal. He was born around 1807. On November 29, 1828 Andrew married Patsy A. Martin in Lincoln County, North Carolina with Samuel Martin as surety on the marriage bond. Not much is known about Andrew. Evidently he and his wife moved to Missouri sometime after 1828. Sometime before 1850 his wife Patsy has died. In 1855 a will was filed in Andrew Neal's name in Stoddard County, Missouri. The 1850 census lists Andrew's wife as Sarah and a stepson Calvin Stearns. There are no known surviving children by his first wife. The will leaves all of Andrew's estate to two Jenkins brothers, Edward B. Jenkins and William Jenkins. Each of Andrew Neal's brothers and sisters are to receive $1.00. This will is important in that it helps to confirm the names of Adam Neal, Sr.'s children. However not everyone is convinced that it is legitimate. Moses Neal, Andrew's younger brother, contests the will on behalf of the then living brothers and sisters. The court rules in favor of the Jenkins brothers. It is possible that the will was written by someone other than Andrew who had access to either a family Bible, or some other document or letter naming the brothers and sisters of Andrew. Andrew's second wife Sarah died in 1856. Nothing is known of the stepson, Calvin Stearns. Andrew Neal is dead by 1860 and leaves no known descendants. Any relationship between the Jenkins brothers and Andrew Neal has not been established. It is possible that they were foster children raised by Andrew Neal or were some other relatives of his.

+	13	iii.		Moses Neill, born Abt. 1810; died Aft. 1860 in MO.
	14	iv.		Deborah Neill, born Abt. 1812. She married Patton.

Notes for Deborah Neill:
[Neill.FTW]

Deborah Neal was the first daughter born to Adam and Rachel. She was born around 1812. Sometime before the will of her brother Andrew Neal in 1855, she married a Mr. Patton (Patten). She is named in the will of her father Adam in 1819. Nothing more is known about her.

Margaret (Peggy) Neill, born Abt. 1814 in NC; died Bef. 1870.

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