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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Topic started by: Speedway ace on Saturday 14 January 12 17:17 GMT (UK)
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Can anyone help?......Looking for details of............ J.A."Jock"McNeil.
J.A. McNeil, was a well known motorcycle racer in the early 1900s (Board and Dirt tracks)
Despite being called Jock, he was born in Canada, possibly Prince Edward Island circa 1881?
First names may have been Joseph Addison ?
He spent much time in the USA. References to his career can be found online.
what is certain is that circa 1914-16 he was racing at the Toronto Motordrome (a board track) when he decided to enlist in the army and help the war effort. He joined the 166th Canadian battalion and as motorcycle dispatch rider with the Canadian overseas army.
Circa 1916 he had to have a leg amputated and spent many months recovering in a British army hospital at Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe, Folkstone, England.
He should be inducted to the Canadian Motorcycling Hall of Fame but I doubt they are aware of his existence.
I have found a ref to a Joseph Addison McNeil In the Canadian army service records but I am unsure this is the right person.
Kind regards, Nigel
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here is a couple of things I found that might be of help to you.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/oldtimespeedway/message/10929
http://www.statnekov.com/motorcycles/lives12.html
good luck in your search.
regards
Elinga
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Hi,
I don't know if you have seen this article in the free Google newspaper archives.... I hope you can view it in your location. It is a photo of J. A. McNeil... and an article about his records, career and his signing up with the CEF. The article is a couple of columns to the left of the photo - under the title C.M.A. news.
Toronto World newspaper, Feb 6, 1916, page 32.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jpp/
It doesn't give his first name though.
RK
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Hi again,
You can read more about him in the US newspapers - free at the Chronicling America site. I think I found the record breaking ride in Omaha in the Omaha Daily Bee, Oct 18th 1914, sports section, pg 40. You will probably find a lot about your man on this site.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jpr/
Search page:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
This is a great site!!
Another place to look will be the Toronto Star pagesofthepast site. It is a paid site, but not very expensive. If you live anywhere near Toronto, your library may subscribe to the database and you can access it for free:
http://pagesofthepast.ca/
I had a quick look for you. I found an article in the Toronto Star - March 21, 1918 at page 22. It calls him Jimmy McNeil. It says he came to Toronto from Omaha and Chicago, that he was the fastest motorcyclist at the Toronto Motordrome and was a native of PEI. It says he went overseas with the 83rd battalion (this is different from the other article that says the 166th - but people moved around...not unusual). It details the accident and says he spent a lot of time in British hospitals. It says that at first it was feared that he would have to have his leg amputated. Later, it says that he returned home safely, and was staying at the Triangle Club. There is nothing here that says he actually did have his leg amputated. Are you sure that he did??
As for his real name:
This article says he is John. (It is Chapter 15 from the same source that Elinga found for you)
http://www.statnekov.com/motorcycles/lives15.html
So does Wikipedia (not sure it this is the most credible source though ???)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motorsports_people_by_nickname
The Toronto Star article above says he is Jimmy.
You found an attestation paper for a Joseph!!
I am not sure what to tell you!! ??? ???
RK
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Hi again,
You could try the Toronto Archives. They may have some information about him:
http://www.toronto.ca/archives/
You could also try the Toronto Public Library. They have an Ask a Librarian feature. Perhaps they have some materials relating to J. A. McNeil and motorcycle racing in the early 1900s??
http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/ask-a-librarian/
I found the Canadian Motorcycling Hall of Fame site, and your man isn't listed here. Maybe they have some information about him in their files??
http://motorcyclehalloffame.ca/
RK
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Hi folks. Elinga and RK thank you so much for your efforts you have made my day! Brilliant!.....
I was aware of the statnekov and yahoo groups websites but thanks again for posting them.
The info I found about his amputation comes from the American magazine "Motorcycle and Bicycle illustrated"
July 1917 (Google books)
It says his leg was amputated but this could well be mistake and has been in hospital 6 months. He was asking for people to send him letters. It gives his battalion as the 166th. His racing career also mentioned.
His hospital address is given along with the first 3 digits of his regiment number 669
Joseph Addison McNeils regimental no. is 669275. Born Prince Edward Isle
In the Toronto newpaper article it says McNiel was in the 166th battalion and he was born Prince Edward Isle
it would seems his name was Joseph Addison . I am still hoping to find his marriage and death.
Again many thanks, regards, Nigel (UK)
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Hi,
If you want to be sure, you can order the full military file of Joseph Addison McNeil.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0jpx/
Link to instructions at the top right of this page.
RK
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Rk you are a gem... :D
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On his Attestation Papers and in one of the write ups, it does state that he joined the 166th Bn. This is where it can get confusing.
The 166th was a battalion in the Queen's Own Rifles, enlistment in the Toronto and surrounding areas. Other battalions with the Queen's Own included the 83rd and the 255th. These battalions as well as several other were absorbed into the 12 Reserve Battalion on Jan 8, 1917. I went to the Matrix Project and checked to see what I could find. The 12 Reserve Battalion reinforced the 3rd, 15th, 20th and 75th battalions in France. These fought at Ypres, Mount Sorrel, Somme, Arras, Hill 70, Hindenburg Line and the Pursuit to Mons. Very impressive. Then I went to the nominal rolls to see if I could find which battalion he went overseas with. He was with the 83rd battalion which left Halifax, NS on the SS Olympic on April 28, 1916.
He is listed as
669275, Joseph Addison McNeil, NOK James McNeil, Elmsdale, Prince Co., PEI
I checked the nominal roll of the 166th and no McNeil's listed. The 166th was divided into two groups that left Halifax on Oct. 12 and 17, 1916 on the Olympic and Cameronia.
I haven't been able to definitively find this family on the 1881, 1891, 1901 or 1911 census although there are some good possibilities. (McNeill, NcNeil, MacNeil)
If you order his military file, you may find alot of information that you need. It will more than likely have pay allotments to either his father or mother which could narrow down that info. It will have complete medical documentation as to his injuries, when and where injured, what field hospitals and where he recuperated back in England. The records are very thorough. It will also have a record of all transfers from one battalion to another. Using that information, you can go to the War Diaries and probably determine what battle he was injured in. It will also give his arrival back in Canada and where his destination was. In some cases, it also has death info. I have purchased 3 files and have been extremely impressed with the contents.
There is a genealogy group in Elmsdale, PEI that may be able to help you find more information.
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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 :D
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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.
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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...
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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.
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McNeil did work for Ignaz Schwinn who owned the Excelsior motorcycle company in Chicago.
There is talk that he may have worked for Cyclone Motorcycles of St Paul, Minn.
actually the 'Joerns motorcycle company', production ceased about 1915.
I have looked at the passenger lists, I have access to "Ancestry" So many Joseph McNeils !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will have to order his military record.
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Hi Folks :D
I have at last received the military record for "Jock"........all 72 pages ....expensive !!!!!!!!!!!
I can confirm that he is Joseph Addison McNeil b. 4th April 1881 Victoria West PEI Canada, not Elmsdale which was the address of his Uncle James McNeil the person given as N.O.K.
Occupation, Machinist, served with the 166,86,83rd Battalions
He never saw any war action..............he was injured (Dec 1916) while acting as motorcycle dispatch rider. On the Folkestone to Hythe road, Kent, England he was knocked of his machine by a Waggon and run over by a bus, he received compound fractures to the Tibia and Fibula of his left leg, the bone became infected and he spent 12 months in Hospital. Discharged as unfit April 1918.
Joseph can be found (Giving his Uncle James of Elmsdale as N.O.K.) in the Michigan passenger list March 1919 and the Border crossings Oct. 1919, Canada to USA...................... But suprise he gives his ethnic origin as 'Irish'
Can anyone illuminate on the following?
What is the Triangle club?...............On discharge NOK is given as Fred Johnstone c/o A S Johnstone Pty. Co. Adelaide St West, Toronto....another address given is c/o P A McBride, Yonge & Gould Sts, Toronto. By 1920 he is working for the Excelsior Motorcycle company in Chicago.
When did he die?
Regards Nigel ;)
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:D In answer to one piece of that query... Surprise, surprise...Percy A. McBride sold Bicycles, Motorcycles and Sporting goods out of 406-408 Yonge St. He was also at 343 around 1912 from and advertisement, which I think is closer to the address you had at Gould...
http://www.archive.org/stream/torontodirec192100midiuoft#page/1064/mode/2up
A little history on Percy's business..http://www.saskma.com/content/view/531/4/
and since the history interests you...He also had a shop in Montreal
http://www.skimuseum.ca/documents/annuals/1923-24_pt31_pg82-back-cover.pdf
Can't see a Fred...http://www.archive.org/stream/torontodirec191800midiuoft#page/n869/mode/2up
but there was an Alfred before the war, no matching address.
Yes odd that they used "Jock" then, but it may just have been a fanciful play on the nickname Jack...
It may also be that the family before lived in Scotland but the roots were in Ireland...You never know??
modified for spelling.... ::)
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Ah, it was the Red Triangle Club
There is a publication...On leave: how the Red Triangle Club, Toronto, provides for the soldier while off duty
Sounds racey, but seems it was a place to relaxe
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=728&dat=19400404&id=zZdHAAAAIBAJ&sjid=40EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1785,3408477
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The YMCA created the Red Triangle club to provide overnight accomodations at minimal cost to Canadian soldiers on leave in French, English and Canadian cities, where writing rooms, travel information and services, storage for personal equipment, banking services, bathing facilities and barbers were made available.
The Red Triangle Club in Toronto was located at 504 Jarvis St in the G. H. Gooderham House.
On Leave: How the Red Triangle Club, Toronto, Provides for the Soldier While off Duty is 10 pages by the National Council Young Men's Christian Association, 1917
http://images.ourontario.ca/ocma/58943/image/132631
One of the pictures is of the Red Triangle Club, Toronto.
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:D Thanks again to JJ & Val for your generosity and expertise.
As Jock gave his uncle as NOK it would appear that his parents were deceased, possibly when Jock was young? as for his ethnic background it could be that one parent was a scot the other irish?
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Just to review, I found this family in 1881 all listed as Scottish origin all Presbyterian/ born P E I
Joseph A. McNeill c1849 Farmer Annie c1859
children Alfred Chester c1879 and Joseph McNeill - baby born April
also in household:
Perhaps grandparents - John M. McNeill c1811 Mary McNeill ca821
Probably uncle - Jamesc1847 and perhaps aunt - Lenora c1854 27
Then I found in 1891 P E I:Joseph A. McNeil / New wife Margaret? Alfred C. 1880 - Joseph A 1881. - John B.1889 - George L. 18901890
Then seems he moved up to Canada to enlist as here they are in 1900 U.S. Boston, Suffolk, Mass. immigration 1898
Joseph A Macneill -Margaret J -Addison J Macneill born April 1881!
John B Macneill - Leslie G Macneill 1890 - Gordon Macneill c.1894 Ca
https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9Y5-371
1910 just George L. & Gordon with parents https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M22H-CRQ
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His army record gives his religion as Presbyterian
Edit:...... I think this is the correct family. in the 1900 census it gives Joseph A as Apprentice Machinist
I note another sibling George L has his first and second names transposed.
the ethnic origin is given as English, born Canada for the parents?
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If the grandparents in 1881 parents were John Malcolm Macneill & Mary MCEWEN of p.e.i.
The marriage of Emily Lavinia has them as such
Here is a submission with Lenora Emily Lavinia and "Joseph Abercrombie Macneill" and many more siblings and ancestors listed (AFN: 1XZB-VC3 ) https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/M44V-Z9R
This site says spouses were Annie Henry & Margaret Mclean
http://records.ancestry.com/Joseph_Macneill_records.ashx?pid=31892108
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ahhh this ties it all together then....Uses M'Neill so that's likely why I never found it before...Also says mother was Annie Henry...
John MacNeill, son of Malcolm MacNeill and Euphemia McAllister of Argyllshire, Scotland, was the first MacNeill to come to PEI and possibly landing in October 1770 from the barque Annabella from Campbellton, Scotland. http://www.islandregister.com/jmcneill.html
Says Addison never married... or he was unmarried at the time the information was passed on.....
and the information of marriage I'd found to a Bertha Welz with father as Donald doesn't match
Also the Joseph McNeil & Adelaide Schulken on U.S. censuses were having children in Boston Mass prior to the war and he never stated married...but he also never said he was in the U.S. either!
and where IS he on censuses as single then??
I note that the Henry family history also lists him as unmarried http://www.islandregister.com/henry1.html
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You might try contacting the Clan MacNeil Association in Canada - they might have some information and possibly a contact to some of his relatives.
Good Luck,
Milly Mac.
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Thanks to all for the latest info ;)
His army record states ...Unmarried.
Why in 2 official records did he state his origins were Irish....must have had a sense of humour?
I wonder why little can be found after 1910 for the family ....and nothing for Jock after 1900.
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Well it just proves that what people were willing to document wasn't always true....Men who abandoned their women said they were single...Women who were abandoned said they were widows, ages are falsified, "er exaggerated"....But the fellow may not have known his own heritage either. I always thought my family was German as they spoke it, but that was because an ancestor ended up in a German speaking village...
I am also suspicious that he was called Jock because the other fellow was named that, and the media got it wrong so it stuck... It was the media who amputated his leg...it didn't happen in real life... The family may have assumed he was "unmarried" because it said so on his attestation...
He also was called John A. and Jack which was more likely the other "Jock's" real names...
If you look at the 1920 for Chicago and don't put a forename in just dates+- born Canada...the Joseph A. come up who is married to Bertha, so he'd have had to have lied about his parents for that one to be him...
1930the only single Mc Neil seems to be a Joseph J in Manhattan
These are all just clues... and not enough have been uncovered to reveal this mystery... Perhaps more information will come to light over time. J.J.
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If he remained in Chicago, and it seems Schwinn /Excelsior/Henderson remained viable for the decade, there should be some news in the Tribune, available here, but not sure if you can sign in or use an ask a librarian feature
http://www.winona.edu/library/databases/newspapers.html#historical
Perhaps they may hold some company history, doesn't hurt to ask...Also directories may be available to see if he is even living there as a machinist, mechanical engineer, or somesuch...
Here it calls him John McNeill but refers to the Cyclone ride, so must be one and the same, odd media, as this story is repeated in part elsewhere, calling him Jock...Anyway, it states he died in a car accident
http://books.google.ca/books?id=1KpMaZUruxkC&pg=PA62
Probably had this but the amputation was in this motorcycle mag/ bot left 1917 http://www.archive.org/stream/motorcycleillus00unkngoog#page/n172/mode/2up Says he was racing at the Toronto motordrome when he decided to enlist...
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Sorry to break into your discussion unannounced.
My name is David Morrill and I am a writer and motorcycle racing historian. I found your postings on J.A. Jock McNeil. There were two Jock McNeils racing in the States in the early teens. Jock McNeil from Scotland, and J.A. Jock McNeil from Canada. To make things even more confusing, they both raced English JAP engined racers in 1912-13.
Jock McNeil, from Scotland, was killed in a racing accident at the Atlanta Motordrome board track in 1913.
Canadian J.A. McNeil, rode for Cyclone, after JAP. He then went to work for Excelsior Motorcycles, and developed and rode their OHV 8 valve racing engines. He did serve in World War 1, as a motorcycle dispatch rider. He was injured, and one of his legs was amputated. I believe he returned to Excelsior, as an engineer after the war. Don't think he raced anymore, but I'm not sure. There are several pictures of J.A. Jock McNeil, both as a racer, and team engineer in Stephen Wrights book on the board track racing era American Racer 1900-1400.
The attached photo is the Canadian J.A. Jock McNeil on his JAP racer in 1912. The author of the caption, miss-identified him as the Scot McNeil. This happens quite a bit.
The death of the Scottish Jock McNeil is documented in a story on the Atlanta Motordrome on my Deadly Dave's Blog. This link should take you to the story.
http://dlmracing.blogspot.com/search/label/Atlanta%20Motordrome (http://dlmracing.blogspot.com/search/label/Atlanta%20Motordrome)
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
David L. Morrill
Deadly Dave's Blog http://dlmracing.blogspot.com (http://dlmracing.blogspot.com)
Sylacauga, AL. USA.
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Hello,
Thank you for that information - none of which was known to me.
Interestingly, my Dad was a despatch rider in WWII and retained an interest in motorcycles all his life, restoring BSA's and many others.(In Australia).
I don't know if these two McNeill's are related - I'm still plodding away at the family tree, but I will file it away for future reference.
Thanks again.
Kind Regards,
Milly Mac.
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Thank you Milly,
I wish I knew more about both of them. I have several Atlanta Constitution articles on the Scottish Jock McNeil. He was one of the stars of the Atlanta Motordome. His brother was at the Motordrome, when Jock was killed trying to break the track record. The track held a benefit race, after several weather delays, to ship his body back to Scotland for burial, and to benefit his mother. This was a common occurrence when racers were killed during that early period of motorcycle racing.
There is more information on J.A. McNeil from Canada. He lived much longer and played an important role in several very successful motorcycle company racing teams. At the time, automobile and motorcycle racing were the most popular spectator sports of the time here in the States.
I will have to spend a little more time looking into J.A. McNeil, as my own family came down to Maine from Canada, before the American Revolution.
Sincerely,
David L. Morrill
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Hi David, Long time since we last spoke on the speedway history forum.
I have the full medical record of Joseph Addison McNeil and he left England with his leg still attached. I even have his temperature chart. He is most definitely Canadian by birth. His racing career began on bicycles
I have not found any evidence to suggest he was ever called Jock, a myth I believe started by Stephen Wright in his book (I have a copy) who confused the two riders and this has been repeated by historian Daniel Statnekov and it has caused considerable confusion ever since.
Again, I have not found any evidence to suggest he rode a J.A.P.
Regarding the photo you have kindly posted. I believe it is wrongly captioned, this photo is of Jock McNeil the Scotsman on his JAP, this pic was taken at the Atlanta Motordrome. You will note on the fuel tank the word "AULD" the Scots word for "old" the rest of the legend cannot be seen but it could possibly read 'AULD REEKIE the nickname for Edinburgh !. I have a a photo which I believe was taken the same day as the one you posted, this time the motorcycle is facing the opposite direction and Jock is looking directly at the camera and it does not look like J A McNeil. I believe both pictures can be found in the Atlanta newspapers, captioned "Jock McNeil" Having scanned the rider lists for the Atlanta track I did not find a J A McNeil.
In my view J A McNeil (Canadian) (Cyclone) should not be referred to as Jock.
As for Jock McNeil, (The Scot?) (JAP), So far I have not found any evidence of his body being returned to Scotland, No reference to him or his death in the Scottish newspapers. When he arrived in the states is another mystery?
Regards Nigel
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Hi Nigel,
Did not realize it was you. When I first saw the photo, I posted, I thought the same thing you did. This is a similar photo set up to about six of the Atlanta racers I have seen including Harry Glenn. They all look to have been taken in front of the same section, and may have been taken at the same time.
Jock's bike was described as a special, with the JAP engine coming in from England. The use of Indian forks, a handmade tank and frame, leads me to believe you're probably right. and this is Jock McNeil from Scotland on his JAP Special. It matches the special description in the Atlanta articles I've seen. Specials were often conglomerations of parts from different companies, like the bikes Maldwyn Jones raced over the years.
I think over the years the two McNeils have been merged into one. Because J.A. lived longer, and worked for several racing teams, he has been given credited for most of the accomplishments of both McNeils.
I went back and checked the Atlanta Constitution Articles on Jock's death in Atlanta. Apparently Jocks brother arrived in Atlanta on the Monday after his death. He had come down to see his brother race, and had not heard of his death. The article says his brother worked for the Indian Motorcycle Company in Springfield, MA. There is no mention in the Constitution of him being buried in Atlanta. I searched the online records for Atlanta Cemeteries, and couldn't find, but I suspect he's buried there.
You are probably also right about J.A. McNeils war injuries. I read that in a Bicycling Magazine article, which solicited readers to write him with well wishes. These articles often over, or under state injuries. I found one the other day, on another famous racer, who received "minor injuries" in a crash, which was actually a skull fracture.
Maybe someday, we will sort out the McNeils stories, but I think we're on the same page.
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Amazing what you find on genealogy forums ;D
It would have been expensive to send Jocks (the Scot) body back to Scotland, so most likely it did not happen.
No doubt his brother arranged the funeral ? I wonder if other relatives of Jock were in the States.
Interesting that his brother worked for the Indian Company!
I to have searched for his burial ...found nothing so far or of his origins. Trouble is there are thousands of Jock McNeils.
I wonder if any of the good folk on this forum can help find his burial? (Jock McNeil (the Scot) Atlanta. ..............Could his burial be at Springfield.?
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Nigel,
Here is the Atlanta Constitution Article on Jock McNeil's death - August 21, 1913. It seems to confirm he was buried in Atlanta, GA., but only mentions the Funeral Chapel, and not the cemetery. I have been unable to locate his grave in Find A Grave.com.[/img][/img]
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David thanks for posting that news paper item.
I wonder if he was cremated?
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It looks like "Jock" was used as a nickname for a Scot at the time. If that's the case, there's no telling what his real first and middle name really were. I've run him every way I can think of, without luck. I'm sure he's probably buried somewhere around Atlanta, but I've searched all the internment records I've found, and found nothing. Maybe someone will come across more info.
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Nigel,
Found his true name. James "Jock" McNeil. Article is from the Brooklyn, NY. Daily Eagle - September 11, 1912.
(http://)
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This July 1, 1915 article from the Winnipeg Tribune is about J.A. McNeil. I am working on a blog article on my Deadly Dave's Blog to unravel the story of these two early racers, that have been merged into one over the last 100 years. Should be out next month.
(http://)
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I've completed my Deadly Dave's Blog story "A Tale of Two McNeils. Here's a link to the story of J. A. McNeil, and James "Jock" McNeil.
The story of early motordrome racer/engineer J. A. "Jock" McNeil is a part of early motorcycle racing history. There's only one small problem with the story. There were two J. McNeils racing at that time, and their story has been combined over the last 100 years. Time to untangle their stories. My latest Deadly Dave's Blog story does that in "A Tale of Two McNeil." Check it out!
http://dlmracing.blogspot.com/2014/04/a-tale-of-two-mcneils.html