Colonel Thomas Neel JR, b. 1730, was the son of Thomas and Sarah Neel, and the grandson of Henry and Susannah Simpson Neel. The Neels were early settlers on Cape Fear, NC. In 1760, Thomas SR moved to Mecklenburg Co. NC. Thomas and Sarah had the following children, John, Thomas Jr.,(Col. Thomas Neel), Andrew,James, Margaret, Sarah, and Elizabeth, and one daughter name unknown who married Thomas Lofton, David and Joseph, Andrew, Joseph, and son-in-law Thomas Lofton were among the signers of the Tryon County Declaration. Col. Neel married Jean Spratt, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Clark Spratt. The children of Thomas and Jean were, twins Andrew and Thomas, John, Sarah Neel Johnston (m. David Johnston), Mary Neel Hawthorne (m. Col.James Hawthorne), Jean Neel Leeper ( m. Robert Leeper, Jr.),and Elizabeth Neel Shelby ( m. Pvt. Moses Shelby Jr, ). Andrew, Thomas, and John were all soldiers in the Rev. War. They gallantly gave their lives for their country. After the death of his father in 1779 at the fall of Charleston, Andrew Neel and William "Billy" Hill were elected colonels of the New Acquisition (York Co,SC) Milita. Col. Andrew Neel was killed at the Battle of Rocky Mount 1780. Andrew's twin brother, Lt. Col. Thomas Neel was killed March 6, 1781. Lt. John Neel was killed in the Georgia Campaign 1778. He is buried next to his father. In 1764, Thomas Neel was one of four men to select a site for Bethel Presbyterian Church and was elected one of its first elders. He was elected to the NC General Assembly from Tyron Co. The records of North Carolina show that he served on several comittees, in the assembly, also as a petitioner on roads and ferrys, certifier of accounts, petitioner on land grants, as surety. He recommended McDowell and advised retreat before regulators. He was one of the magistrates, who served as Judges of Tyron Court from 1769 to 1772. He served as justice of the peace and as a judge of Tyron Co. 1769-1772. In 1772 he served on the Boundary Commission that drew the NC-SC boundary line west of the Catabaw River. Col. Neel was a member of the first delegation sent by the New Acquisition (now York County SC) to the South Carolina Provincial Congress in 1776. He was granted 779 acres located near the Catabaw River in SC. The first recorded military venture in which Col. Neel participated was in Governor Tyron's expedition against the regulators in the Battle of Alamance. In this campaign he bore the rank of Captain, and commanded the Tryon County troops. This was in May 1771. Col. Neel commanded the militia of the New Acquistion at the Battle of The Great Canebrake in 1775 and The Cherokee Campaign in 1776. He was next engaged in Florida and Georgia. Col. Thomas Neel's last military expedition was in the defense of Charleston in the spring of 1779. Here he gave his life as a valiant soldier, June 20, 1779. at the Battle of Stono. Col. Neel is my DAR ancestor.
Colonel Thomas Neel JR, b. 1730, was the son of Thomas and Sarah Neel, and the grandson of Henry and Susannah Simpson Neel. The Neels were early settlers on Cape Fear, NC. In 1760, Thomas SR moved to Mecklenburg Co. NC. Thomas and Sarah had the following children, John, Thomas Jr.,(Col. Thomas Neel), Andrew,James, Margaret, Sarah, and Elizabeth, and one daughter name unknown who married Thomas Lofton, David and Joseph, Andrew, Joseph, and son-in-law Thomas Lofton were among the signers of the Tryon County Declaration. Col. Neel married Jean Spratt, the daughter of Thomas and Mary Clark Spratt. The children of Thomas and Jean were, twins Andrew and Thomas, John, Sarah Neel Johnston (m. David Johnston), Mary Neel Hawthorne (m. Col.James Hawthorne), Jean Neel Leeper ( m. Robert Leeper, Jr.),and Elizabeth Neel Shelby ( m. Pvt. Moses Shelby Jr, ). Andrew, Thomas, and John were all soldiers in the Rev. War. They gallantly gave their lives for their country. After the death of his father in 1779 at the fall of Charleston, Andrew Neel and William "Billy" Hill were elected colonels of the New Acquisition (York Co,SC) Milita. Col. Andrew Neel was killed at the Battle of Rocky Mount 1780. Andrew's twin brother, Lt. Col. Thomas Neel was killed March 6, 1781. Lt. John Neel was killed in the Georgia Campaign 1778. He is buried next to his father. In 1764, Thomas Neel was one of four men to select a site for Bethel Presbyterian Church and was elected one of its first elders. He was elected to the NC General Assembly from Tyron Co. The records of North Carolina show that he served on several comittees, in the assembly, also as a petitioner on roads and ferrys, certifier of accounts, petitioner on land grants, as surety. He recommended McDowell and advised retreat before regulators. He was one of the magistrates, who served as Judges of Tyron Court from 1769 to 1772. He served as justice of the peace and as a judge of Tyron Co. 1769-1772. In 1772 he served on the Boundary Commission that drew the NC-SC boundary line west of the Catabaw River. Col. Neel was a member of the first delegation sent by the New Acquisition (now York County SC) to the South Carolina Provincial Congress in 1776. He was granted 779 acres located near the Catabaw River in SC. The first recorded military venture in which Col. Neel participated was in Governor Tyron's expedition against the regulators in the Battle of Alamance. In this campaign he bore the rank of Captain, and commanded the Tryon County troops. This was in May 1771. Col. Neel commanded the militia of the New Acquistion at the Battle of The Great Canebrake in 1775 and The Cherokee Campaign in 1776. He was next engaged in Florida and Georgia. Col. Thomas Neel's last military expedition was in the defense of Charleston in the spring of 1779. Here he gave his life as a valiant soldier, June 20, 1779. at the Battle of Stono. Col. Neel is my DAR ancestor.
Inscription
In Memory of Colo. Thomas Neel who departed this life June 20, 1779 in the 49th year of his age. In memory of John Neel who departed this life May 16, 1778 in the 16th year of his age. The septer'd prince the burden'd slave The humble and the haughty die The poor the rich the base the brave, In dust without distinction lie.
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