2
« on: Thursday 28 December 17 20:54 GMT (UK) »
Sally
I too only became interested in family history only after my father passed away. When my brotheres and I were clearing the house we found a lot of family history stuff which I took away to go through at my leisure. Not much concerned the Neill family but it did contain a magazine, Irish Family Links, Vol:2 No's 9&10, Jan/May 1987. The editors of this magazine (published by the Irish Heritage Association) were husband and wife Kathleen and Don Neill. It contains an article on Don's family history. Don's full name was Samuel Donaldson Neill; his parents were Samuel (Sam) Neill born 16.8.1896-2.4.1978 and Florence Margaret Ethel Jamesina Donaldson. Don's grandparents were Samuel Neill 5.12.1869-1.12.1912 and Margaret Jane Hanna. Samuel was a son of Samuel Neill and Susanna Brown and was born at Ballymorran but moved to work in the Dunmurry area.
The Samual who died 1912 actually drowned in the Pitt River at Hammond BC where he had gone to investigate the possibilities of emigrating; he had left his wife and family at home in Dunmurry.
Children that i know of Samuel Neill and Sarah Martin married 23.4.1832; Hugh, Mary, Jane b 27.12.1837, James b 26.12.1839, Samuel and Sarah twins b 21.6.1841, Thomas Osborne b 9.4.1843, Isabella b 6.7.1846 and Grace b 25.12.1853.
Samuel 21.6.1841-17.3.1909 married Susanna Brown (daughter of Hugh Brown) ans had the following children; Isabella (called Bella) d 18.2.1940, Hugh 15.1.1868-9.2.1871,Samuel, Alexander 9.7.1871-19.7.1882, Ellen Jane 4.2.1875-17.8.1946, Robert James b 24.12.1878, David Ruthmore b 16.1.1880, Alex(ander)15,7,1882-18.11.1910, Hugh b 15.11.1884, Daniel Edwin b 18.4.1887.
The children of Samuel Neill and Margaret Jane Hanna; Richard Butler b 13.8.1894 married Anna Brownlee of Belfast and emigrated to Toyota New Jersey, Samuel, David emigrated to Canada (Geraltown Ontario), Lily (Elizabeth) Madge married William Ward of Cavan and they were living Hillsborough in 1978.
The Neill homestead, i think it was called Glenbrook farm, is located where the Ballymorran Road bends at a right angle away from the coast and the house is in the angle. Ballymorran Cottages are on the other side of the road. Quartelands Road joins the Ballymorran Road about 50 yards from the right angle bend.
Mary Agnes and George Aleaxander's children were Edward b 1917, Alice Jane (my mother) 4.2.1921-25.3.2013, Georgie (died aged about 15 after falling from a wall) and Annabeth (Anna Elizabeth Grace) 1924-2011. Edward had a son Ian and daughters Joan(Morris), Helen (Hammond) and Helen. Annabeth's children are Marilyn (Marshall), Andra (Martin) and Vivienne.
Other Neill cousins that I know of who are still alive; Rosemary Dowling (her grandmother Sara Neill and my grandmother were cousins, but who her parents were I don't know. Sara had three sisters who became Mrs Lambe (2 un-married grand daughters still alive in the South of England), Mrs Gold, family died out, and Mrs Monteith. There are some Monteiths still living but I don't know them. Annie Garret may be a great grand daughter of Thomas Osborne Neill. Thomas Osborne married Margaret Lyons 11.1.1868, their children; Thomas b 26.4.1870, John b 6.2.1872, James b 14.3.1874,Grace b 28.8.1876, Hugh Stevenson b 23.1.79, Sarah Jane b 8.12.1881, Robert Martin b 1.4.1884, Margaret b 10.10.1886.
A lot of the info is from the Irish Family Links, Jan/May 1987. I don't know if it is still available but I could copy and forward if you like.
Seasons greetings (belatedly)
Regards
Cousin George