Neel/Neal Family

The Steele Creek Historical and Genealogical Society
Of the Old Steele Creek Township
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

Families of Steele Creek:
Neel/Neal

CONTENTS

NEEL/NEAL FAMILY OF STEELE CREEK

This Neel family information has come from several different people and sources and the writer is only copying the information that has been submitted to the Steele Creek Family files. There is a possibility of errors.

Col. Henry (or possibly John Henry) Neel was born 1736, died Feb 28, 1788 and was married to Nancy (Agnes) Reid. Henry Neel is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church cemetery. If Nancy Agnes,is also buried there, she has an unmarked grave or the tombstone has possibly not survived. Henry Neel died intestate in 1788 and Letters of Administration were issued to Agnes and James Neel in the April 1788 court session. At a later court date, Guardians were appointed for the younger 6 children. (the only children surviving at that time). The James Neel appointed Adm. was probably the brother of James Neel, who is also buried at Steele Creek Presby, born in 1742.

Children of Henry and Nancy Agnes Reid Neel:

William Neel, b. 4 Jan 1762, d. 11 Sept 1781, age 19 (Buried at Steele Creek Presby)

Mary Neel, b. 14 Sept 1763, d. 21 Jan 1780, age 15 (Buried at Steele Creek Presby)

John Neel, b. 6 Dec 1767, d. 2 Oct 1781, age 14 (Buried at Steele Creek Presby)

James Neel, b. 7 Mar 1769, death unknown.

Nancy Agnes Neel, b. 22 Apr 1771, nothing further known

Samuel Neel, b. 28 May 1773, d. 21 Oct 1828, married with bond date of 13 Nov 1798 in Mecklenburg Co. to Margaret Grier, daughter of Thomas Grier and Hannah Alexander. Both buried at Steele Creek Presby Church.

Jane Neel, b. 14 Oct 1775. Married Thomas Neel (no family relation) and moved to the Dry Ford area of Sumner County, TN, a community dominated by settlers from Mecklenburg.

Henry Neel, b. 9 Apr 1779, married Esther Price bond date 8 Apr 1805, went to TN.

Mary Williams Neel, b. 31 Dec 1781. Nothing further known. Note: 1^st child, Mary had died in 1780. It was a common practice to name another child the same name after the death of the first one and usually it was used with an additional name, as shown here as Mary Williams.

Our Steele Creek files continue with Samuel Neel, (1773 - 1828), son of Henry and Nancy Neel. It is believed that shortly after his marriage to Margaret Grier, Samuel built his home, which is still stand today. (See article on the "Samuel Neel House")

Samuel Neel and Margaret Grier Neel, had the following children:

(Information on Samuel Neel taken from his Will, probated in the Nov, 1828 court, census records, deeds and correspondence)

Gen. William Henry Neal, b. 21 Oct 1799, d. 29 Dec 1888, buried in Steele Creek Presby Church cem. He married on 23 Nov 1819 to 1^st. Hannah Grier Alexander. In his older age he married Mrs. Martha Williamson and no children were born to this marriage.

Susan Spratt Neal, b. 26 Aug 1801, d. 5 Oct 1844, married 25 Apr 1820 (bond date) to Larkin Stowe. This couple lived in Gaston County, NC and are buried at New Hope Presbyterian Church cemetery in Gaston Co.

Thomas Grier Neal, b. 31 Oct 1803, d. 5 Feb 1885, married 1^st to Hannah McDowell about 1824 and 2^nd to Ann L. Spratt on 24 May 1838 (bond date). Moved to Fayette Co. TN

Samuel J. (I?) Neel, b. 1 Jul 1805, d. 12 Dec 1861, married Louisa Ross on 29 Apr 1830 (bond date). Moved to TN.

James Hamilton Neal, b. 25 Nov 1807, (d. not known), married Margaret Hipp 5 Jul 1838 (bond). Was living in the Paw Creek Dist. of Mecklenburg County in the 1850 census. Nothing further known.

Nancy Hannah Neal, b. 22 Oct 1810, d. 5 Oct 1858 (nothing further known)

Capt. Alexander Grier Neal, b. 5 Apr 1815, d. 25 Feb 1898, Buried Steele Creek Presby Cem. Married 1^st to Mary Ann Price and had 2 sons, Mr. S. R. Neal of Meck. Co. and Capt. T. W. Neal/Neel of Cisco, TX. Married 2^nd to Mary Hanna of York Co., SC and had one child, Rev. W. H. Neal of Natchez, MS. Married 3^rd to Amanda Adams of York Co., SC (Bethel)..no children. Married 4^th to Mrs. Lizzie Hutchison of Meck. Co., NC. (Taken from his obituary) Capt. Alexander Grier Neal lived in the house known as the Samuel Knox house on Shopton Rd. West.

Margaret Adeline Neel, b. 19 Jun 1821, d. 24 Oct 1896

Gen. William Henry Neel, b. 21 Oct 1799, son of Samuel and Margaret Grier Neel, married 21 Nov 1819 to Hannah Grier Alexander. Their children:

Zenus Alexander Neel, b. 10 May 1822, d. 17 Oct 1824 (Bible record shows 11 months old. Buried Steele Creek Presby.

Margaret Neel, b. 1823, d. 17 Oct 1828, buried Steele Creek Presby.

Dr. Thomas G. Neel, b. 25 Nov 1828, d. 16 Feb 1901, buried Sugar Creek Presby Cem. (north Charlotte), married to Rebecca Jane Simril.

Susan Emily Neel, b. 22 Feb 1828, d.?, married 25 Feb 1860 to Rev. Walter W. Pharr

Samuel Wallace Neel, b. 17 Aug 1829, d. 1 Nov 1892, married 1^st to Rachel Taylor and 2^nd to sister Margaret Taylor. Died in Indian Territory (OK)

Nancy Hannah (or Hamilton) Elvira Neel, b. 24 Dec 1830, d. 28 Dec 1895, married 24 Jul 1848 to Robert Wallace McDowell. Buried at Steele Creek Presby.

Margaret Adeline (Addie) Neal, b. 2 Mar 1832, d. 9 Feb 1891 married 14 Oct 1852 to Capt. Matthew H. Peoples.

William Bennoi Neel, b. 12 Nov 1833, d. 5 Feb 1875, buried Steele Creek Presby. Cem, married 1^st to Rosanna E. J. Hunter on 6 Jan 1853, married 2^nd to Lillie Henderson, 14 Jan 1867.

Louisa Ann Neel, b. 6 Dec 1835, d. 8 May 1917, married 28 Jun 1854 to Rev. James Bell Watt (minister at Central Steele Creek ARP and then Steele Creek Presby.) Both buried at Steele Creek Presby. Cem.

Preston A. W. Neel, b. 2 May 1839, married Catherine ?

Mary Ann Neel, b. 17 Oct 1740, d. 11 Sept 1844, buried Steele Creek Presby Cem.

Infant Neel, b. 27 Sept 1843, d. 9 Nov 1843, buried Steele Creek Presby Cem.

Gen. William Henry Neel lived in the old Samuel Neel House. (see separate information on the Neal house).

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SAMUEL NEEL HOUSE

The Samuel Neel House is located in Steele Creek, Mecklenburg Co., NC, near the intersection of Westinghouse Blvd. and Shopton Road West with access to it from Wither’s Road. This house is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house was built between 1799 and probably 1810. It has changed little since it was built. The Neal family lived in the home until Gen. William Neal’s death and was purchased by the Wither’s family about 1880-1900. The home is still owned by the Mrs. Hannah Withers of Charlotte.

The house was originally built overlooking Armours Creek which emptied into the Catawba River a short distance past the house. Today, the house overlooks Wither’s Cove which was created when the Catawba was dammed by Duke Power Co. to create Lake Wylie in the 1920s.

The house is a two story Federal house and is an exceptional example of plantation architecture by the 18^th century Scotch-Irish settlers in this area. The house has a center hall with two primary rooms on each floor. Two smaller rooms occur off the hall in the lean-to section which is attached across the rear of the house.

The dining room in the old home would have been considered very elegant for a rural plantation at the time it was built. Mr. Jack Boyte, historical architect, who did the research for the report to the national Register of Historic Places, describes it as follows: "The door leading from the foyer to the dining room is not original, but when one enters this room an extraordinary display of elegant trim appears. Most striking is the large fireplace surrounded by a sophisticated mantle and overmantle. This woodwork is an elaborate combination of molded and reeded members delicately fabricated by hand to create an impressive center piece. While the work is light and somewhat delicate, it still has a Georgian character. In this room, which encompasses half of the first floor area, there is also fine paneled wainscoting on all walls below plastered upper surfaces. The repeated recessed panels in the wainscot are two feet or more wide and fabricated from a single board. At the ceiling a massive modillion cornice surrounds the room. Featuring intricate molded bands with an intermediate reed band, this cornice includes a continous line of small dentils separated by round pierced inserts. The ceiling consistts of wide tongue and grooved boards of hand finished material. Floors are also hand planed wide tongue and grooved pine planks. In this room one window faces the front and two occur at the side, flanking the centered fireplace. A noteworthy feature in this fireplace is the hearth formed by large flat stone slabs. It is said that these stones have the ability to tap and hold heat, and thus provide a lasting warming surface for food containers."

This beautiful old home is surrounded by large trees and is still used as a private residence. This is an important home in Steele Creek since if is one of the few ante-bellum homes left. With the City of Charlotte spreading over Steele Creek, along with airport expansion and rapidly growing housing developments, we are fortunate that the Withers family took steps to have the house designated as a historical property and thus, will save it from development.

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OBITUARY OF CAPT. ALEXANDER NEAL

Dated February 25, 1898 – Newspaper unknown
(From Ola Sing’s Scrap Book of Steele Creek Obits)

The funeral of the late Capt. Neal was held at Steel Creek Church this county, at three o’clock Sunday afternoon. Rev. A. A. Little, the pastor conducted the funeral service.

Captain Alexander G. Neal, who has been critically ill at his home in Steel Creek for some time, died Friday afternoon shortly after four o’clock.

The deceased has been a great sufferer for nearly a year and the end has been momentarily expected for the past few days. Capt. Neal was born and raised in Mecklenburg County.

Once he was one of the representatives from Mecklenburg to the State Legislature and had served several years as a member of the board of county commissioners. He was an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, and always seemed to take great pride in the discussion with him. In his daily walk, he could easily be distinguished as a man of exceptional religious fervor.

Capt. Neal was born at the old "Rock House", formerly the Caldwell homestead in Steel Creek Township in 1815. He was a son of Col. Neal and a brother of Gen. W. S. Neal. He was four times married, his first wife being Miss Mary Price of Steel Creek. To this union there were born two sons, Mr. S. R. Neal of Davidson and Capt. T. W. Neal, of Cisco, Texas. Miss Mary Hanna, of York County, S.C. was his second wife, and by her he had one child, Rev. D. W. H. Neal, of Natchez, Miss. Miss Amanda Adams of Bethel, S.C. was his third wife, but he had no children by her. Mrs. Lizzie Hutchison of this county, was his fourth wife, by whom he had no children. He was a great uncle of Mr. H. N. Pharr and Mr. Walter Watt, of Charlotte.

Capt. Neal had been for years one of the county’s prominent citizens.

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THE JAMES NEEL FAMILY OF STEELE CREEK
Submitted by Dick Neil

Near the grave of Captain Henry Neel at the Steele Creek Cemetery is a marker for James Neel, who in all probability was Henry’s brother. He also appears to have been the James Neel who was appointed a justice of the Mecklenburg County Commission of the Peace in January 1798. Tax records for that year, and subsequent years, list him as James Neel, Esquire. In July 1800, the Commission elected him “high Sheriff” of Mecklenburg County. James lived just north of Paw Creek on property he purchased in 1775. His name appears in several court records as an administrator of estates for neighbors and friends who died in testate. According to papers dated 1810, related to the administration of his own estate, James’ wife was named Marry, or Mary. She may have been a daughter of Hugh Reid, whose 1777 will was probated in Mecklenburg County. James Neel’s tombstone at Steele Creek cemetery is inscribed, in part, with the following words: “Sacred to the memory of James Neel, who died July 1809, aged 67 years. He was a good neighbor, a kind husband, and a tender parent.”

Except for their son named William, little is known about the children of James and Mary Neel. Marriage records show that a daughter named Margaret married Robert McKinley on August 12, 1802, and that a son named John married Sarah Todd on May 16, 1803. The McKinleys and Todds were neighbors of James Neel living along Paw Creek. An infant son of John and Sarah Todd Neel, William T. Neel, is buried at the Steel Creek Cemetery in the same gravesite as his grandfather, James. There is a grave marker for Sarah Todd Neel at the cemetery of the Paw Creek Church; perhaps John is buried there too and the marker is lost.

On September 13, 1800, William Neel married Sarah Calhoun, a daughter of Charles and Ann Calhoun of the Steele Creek community. Sarah’s grandparents, George and Elizabeth Calhoun are buried at the Steele Creek Cemetery. Sometime before 1807, William and Sarah Neel, along with several other Steele Creek families, moved to the Caney Spring area north of the Duck River in what is now Marshall County, Tennessee. There they established a large, well-documented family from whose ranks have come a long line of businessmen, doctors and lawyers.

The origins of the Neel/Neal family before their arrival at Steele Creek are unclear. Efforts to connect this family to Henry Neale, an early settler on the Cape Fear River, have been unsuccessful. Nor does it appear to have been a branch of the large Neill family that came down the Great Valley of Virginia and settled along Lambert’s Creek in what is now Iredell County.

The father of Henry and James Neel was almost certainly a William Neel/Neal, since both brothers named their first-born sons William. At present, however, there is no documentary evidence to show how and when William brought his family to the Carolinas. A plausible theory is that the father of Henry and James is the William Neale named in the 1750 Bladen County will of Robert Caldwell, who came to North Carolina from Somerset County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. In his will, Caldwell leaves William Neale “my wearing clothes, money due me from Henry Simmonds, William Lisles, & himself.” William Neale apparently was involved in some sort of business endeavor with Robert Caldwell. If he is the father of Henry and James, the Neel/Neal family of Steele Creek may have been one of the several Neel/Neal families that came into eastern North Carolina from southeastern Virginia or the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

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(Please contact Linda Blackwelder if you have information about Steele Creek History. We are trying to locate more information about the Steele Creek area of Mecklenburg, North Carolina.)

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