J. A. "Jock " McNeil

[Speedway ace]

Hi Valeriac, again I am indebted to the kindess and effort of the good folk of Canada. The help I have received has been of enormous value. As you can appreciate researching Canadian archives etc  from the UK is not easy especially when you dont know your way around the sources of info.

Thanks again.

Regards, Nigel

[valeriec]

www.islandregister.com/booksel.html

has a list of local books about Prince Edward Island

If you scroll down a bit you will see a book titled
Goin to the Corner
This is a 3 volume book about the Elmsdale area of PEI. it does have some contact info listed and that may be worth sending off a letter to see if there is anything on McNeil's.

[VivienR]

Family search has Prince Edward Island baptismal records 1721-1885. They aren't indexed but are sorted by surname but you might have some luck there.


https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-12691-14649-99?cc=1827217&wc=5562447#uri=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.familysearch.org%2Frecords%2Fcollection%2F1827217%2Fwaypoints

[J.J.]

some mcNeil's of Elmsdale but the james listed wasn't followed down in generations, so unsure if correct one
http://www.islandregister.com/mcneill4.html

Did someone post this photo 1920 http://rolliefreebook.com/fun.htm
This site selling an image, calls him Jack 1911
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1911-J-A-P-BOARD-TRACK-MOTORCYCLE-RACER-J-McNEIL-PHOTO-/200565521832

Died 1945 Atlanta Georgia  http://shrinkalink.com/51355 says mother in Scotland but may be an assumption

This was the only James I could find on lot 4 ( Elmsdale) 1901 who was married...so not sure...although he's older the wife was younger and having children in the right era
www.automatedgenealogy.com/census/View.jsp?id=58596&highlight=7

[J.J.]

Hmmm...Was his father maybe not James, but a brother?  1891 a Joseph A. father with son Joseph A. of correct age...no James...
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/001081-119.02-e.php?person_id_nbr=3165005

Or this 8 year old with father Donald, a James in household
 http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/001081-119.02-e.php?person_id_nbr=3163284
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/census-1891/001081-119.02-e.php?person_id_nbr=3163221

Then back in 1881 there is the first family-3 generations in household ...and an uncle James...? says born April for young baby so sounds closer to C.E.F. info..
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/census/household_record.asp?HOUSEHOLD_CODE=1881CN_2890

[Speedway ace]

Died 1945 Atlanta Georgia  http://shrinkalink.com/51355 says mother in Scotland but may be an assumption

This had me going for a while .... very interesting  though...but this is not J A Jock McNeil.. who is always given as J A Jock McNeil and was still alive after the 1st world war. The  injuries he received in the conflict, I believe prevented him from ever racing again.

This other Jock was killed at the Atlanta Motodrome Aug 1913 and is quoted as coming from Edinburgh.

Thanks to all who have helped

[valeriec]

I had another look at the attestation papers and although it lists James as next of kin, it doesn't give the relationship so could be a brother or uncle. I would order the military file and see who he alloted his pay to, if anyone. It will also confirm his injuries and where he went on debarkation in Canada.

There are references to a  J A McNeil who worked for Schwinn in Chicago in 1920 but some give his name as John. If this is the same person you are researching, perhaps he remained in the Chicago area.

[J.J.]

Yes, sorry, not realizing there were 2 of them...I saw 1945 and was totally not paying enough attention to the whole page...
valerie I agree, i was thinking parent, then went and looked and saw no relationship, so I posted the ones I saw with uncle and brother named James...

Further to Valerie finding him in Chicago in 1920, here is a birth, in case this is his wife and child...
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N7SR-KLD  her date of birth here https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1951-20825-85073-86?cc=1838804 But then there is a Joseph Alexander in Morgan Park,​ Illinois so that might be him as well... Well the marriage was back in 1910 Michigan...Says groom's father Donald if anything ever matches ....but he hadn't stated he was married at signup...although the child was a late birth for the marriage, 7 years later...

[valeriec]

If you can access info at ancestry

Michigan Passenger and Crew List 1903 - 1965
has
Joseph McNeil
arrival date 19 Mar 1919, Port Huron, Michigan
last resded Toronto, Ontario
age 39, b. abt 1880, birth Canada, Victoria West, PEI

There are probably lots of Joseph mcNeil's born abt 1880 in PEI but thought I should throw it into the mix just in case.

Injured soldiers on return to Canada could end up in military hospitals anywhere in Canada but there were quite a few in Ontario, so he may have ended up in one of them. That will be in his military file.

Born in PEI, right age, last resided in Toronto, and Michigan is close to Illinois.