Just to show proximity of the early families.
McNeil, John.
Publication 2 June 1783.
Other Format Available on microfilm. Virginia State Land Office. Grants
A-Z, 1-124, reels 42-190; Virginia State Land Office. Grants 125- , reels 369-.
Related See also the following surname(s): McNeal, McNeel, McNiel.
Note Location: Greenbrier County.
Description: 322 acres on the Little Levels.
Source: Land Office Grants H, 1782-1783, p. 85 (Reel 49).
John2 McNeel, Jr. (John1), was born 1745 in Winchester, Federick Co.,
Virginia, , and died 1825 in Lobelia, Pocahontas Co., VA (WV). He married Martha
Davis, the daughter of Thomas & Anne Davis, in Winchester, Frederick Co.,
Virginia. She was born in 1743 in Wales, and died in 1830 in Pocahontas Co., West
Virgnia. "John McNeel was the first settler in The Little Levels by permanent
settlement. He was a native of Frederick County, Virginia but lived much of his
life in Cumberland, Maryland. It is told that he was an athletic person and
while in a pugilistic contest; injured his opponent so severely that the injuries
were regarded as fatal. He fled from Frederick County, Virginia and spent a
long time in the solitude of the Alleghanies. In 1765 he came in view of The
Levels. Here he settled and built a cabin to live in. He brooded over the blood
which was supposed to be on his hands. One day while hunting he met Charles and
Edward Kennison from his old home. They gave him the good news that he had
not killed nor even seriously injured his boxing opponent. John McNeel insisted
his friends should share his cabin with him while he assisted them in making a
selection for a home adjoining his tract of land. Then the three men set out
on their return to the lower Valley of Virginia. While on this visit home John
McNeel married Martha Davis, who was born in Wales. Soon after their marriage
they came to the Levels. A few acres were cleared and plenty to subsist upon
was raised in the fertile soil. John McNeel was deeply thankful for such a
pleasant fertile place to live. To show his grattitude to God for being so good
to him he built a house for worship, which was known as the White Pole Church.
In a few years after John & Martha had settled in the Levels the Dunmore War
opened up. John McNeel, along with the two Kennisons went into Camp at
Lewisburg & joined the expedition to Point Pleasant, Oct. 10, 1784. They survived the
battles & came home, but in a short while went across the eastern mountains &
enlisted in a Company which went from Frederick Co., They finally returned
home to take up the peaceful life in the Valley they chose for their home. It is
told that while John McNeel was gone to Point Pleasant, a child was born &
died before his return. The Mother, Martha Davis, with her own hands prepared the
coffin & the grave. Performed the services & buried her child. They reared 5
children, two sons & three daughters. To this day [1967] most of the land
taken up by John McNeel is still owned by his descendants.
Source: The McNeel Family Record: Descendants of Pioneer John McNeel and
Martha Davis of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, 1765 - 1967. Betsy Jordan Edgar.
McClain Printing Company, Parsons, West Virginia. 1967.
John McNeel, Jr. and Martha Davis had the following children marry into the
family of James2 Callison:
1. Nancy McNeel b. June 21, 1769, The Levels, Pocahontas Co., Virginia; d.
December 10, 1861, Hillsboro, Pocahontas Co., Virginia.
2.Miriam McNeel b. 1776; d. Decemeber 08, 1851.
1.Nancy McNeel daughter of John married Richard Hill and descendants married
into the James2 Callison family
Richard David2 Hill (Robert1), was born July 13, 1763 in North Carolina, and
died June 04, 1849 in Hillsboro, Pocahontas Co., Virginia.
He married Nancy McNeel, the daughter of John McNeel and Martha Davis, on
December 10, 1787 in Pocahontas Co., West Virginia. She was born June 21, 1769 in
The Levels, Pocahontas Co., Virginia and died December 10, 1861 in Hillsboro,
Pocahontas Co., Virginia.
Richard Hill came to Greebrier County, soon after the armies of the
Revolution were disbanded. He was first known in the Greenbrier Valley in 1786. He was
employed as a carpenter - a greatly respected man. He distinguished himself as
Indian scout and vigilent defender of the forts. Many times he escaped death
by the Indians.
-- From The McNeel Family Record, (see below).
On Feb. 18, 1832, Richard Hill made application for pension stating he came
to Pocahontas Co., in March after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. He
volunteered for service in the Carolinas and after settlement in Virginia in 1782
served at Bucks Station under Captain Clendenin and Col. Samuel Lewis. Supporting
affidavits were filed by Jacob Kennison, Henry Casebolt, James Lewis and the
Rev. John S. Blair. The claim was rejected.
Deeded 20 acres, Droop Mt., 1824.
Richard Hill and Nancy McNeel had the following child (among others)
Thomas3 Hill (Richard David2, Robert1), was born August 17, 1788, and died
February 15, 1865.
He married Anne Cackley, the daughter of Valentine Cackley, Sr. She was born
October 24, 1790, and died December 01, 1888.
Thomas Hill and Anne Cackley had the following children: (among others)
Martha McNeel4 Hill b. October 10, 1810; d. February 05, 1902; m. Anthony
Callison Jr.
Nancy Hill September 25, 1818; d. July 11, 1897 ; m. Josiah Callison b. March
01, 1814; d. January 21, 1881
The other child of John McNeel who married into the James Callison family
Miriam3 McNeel (John2, John1), was born 1776 in Millstone Run, West Virginia,
and died December 08, 1851/1857 in Millstone Run, Pocahontas Co., West
Virginia. She is buried in the Mill Creek Cemetery in Pocahontas Co., West Virginia.
She married John Jordan on December 20, 1796 in Hillsboro, West Virginia. He
was born in 1766 in County Down, Ireland, and died February 1836 in Pocahontas
Co., West Virginia.
Miriam McNeel and John Jordan had the following children:(among others). The
other children married Blair/Burnsides/Edmiston/Walkup -- all familiar names
in the James2 Callison family
Jonathan Jordan b. 1802; m. (1) Elizabeth Callison; m. (2) Rebecca Edmiston,
Isaac Jordan b. 1806; m. Mary A. "Pocahontas or Polly" Callison; b. 1809.
Nancy Jordan b. January 09, 1810; d. August 1873; m. (1) Isaac Callison; m.
(2) George McNeel Edmiston; b. 1811; d. 1894.
So now in the Little levels we have James2 Callison, John McNeel, Samuel
Gilliland and I'm sure quite a few others lived in the area.
If anyone wants to see where these people fit into the grand scheme of
things, check out Anthony and Abigail's file on the master Callison web page. IF you
don't see your family with a file, just send it to Mark and he can add it for
future references.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~markfreeman/callison.html
This page is for both the male and female lines who descend from either
James1, James2 or those we haven't learned from which line they descend. Take care
all
Marilyn