Son of Thomas Christopher Neel & Sarah Suzanne Spratt

married Margaret McEwen abt 1764

parents of John William Neel

Thomas Neel

James Neel

Richard Neel

Robert Neel

Margaret Neel

Samuel Neel

Mary Neel

Eleanor Neel

Elizabeth Neel

Agnes Neel & Isabella Neel

Neel and Allied Families Compiled by Charles Wayne Neel (2005) (pages 16-52):

James Neel, son of Thomas (b. abt 1705) and Sarah Neel is a real genealogical challenge. We are making a James connection here that is still a rather loose connection and lacking in documentary evidence. After heavily weighing the facts, we are agreeing with many previous researchers in saying that James, son of Thomas (b. abt 1705), is probably also the "Coddle Creek" James Neel. He and his wife Margaret (McEwen) Neel are buried in the Coddle Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in what is now Iredell County, North Carolina. James' 1791 tombstone is said to be the oldest of the Neels in the cemetery. To distinguish him from the many other James' discussed in this book, we refer to this as the "Coddle Creek" James or the James of the 1791 Mecklenburg County will (see Appendix C).

We feel that this "Coddle Creek" James Neel is the one listed in Captain Moses Shelby's Company in the 1759 Cherokee Expedition and also one of the James shown in the 1756 petition to the South Carolina government by Rocky River landowners. There are so many inconsistencies in the records, especially regarding his birth, it is with lack of certitude that we place the "Coddle Creek" James Neel in this family.

But in light of the other facts all fitting so well, we list his birth year as about 1735 to align with many known facts. This "Coddle Creek" James lived in the same area as did the family of Thomas and records of his children are found associated with them, so we feel that our assumption is in line with today's best information.

We find a land transaction for the "Coddle Creek" James on 29 Oct 1766 for a 20-acre parcel where his father-in-law had lived. In 1777 he bought a 270-acre farm adjoining his father-m-law on both sides of Coddle Creek.

In the 1790 census of Mecklenburg, James was living near the Old Rowan County line next to his married son John. His own household consisted of 12 individuals: he and one son over age 16, four younger boys, and six women, including his wife. From these numbers, the boys are all accounted for, but one daughter was likely married by this time. From the wording of his will in the year following, we assume this married daughter to be Margaret.

The will that James made out in 1791 gives us insights into his Christian faith and his love of family. See the full transcript in Appendix C. We glean from this and from the 1790 census that he was not a slave owner, nor was his son John, yet most of the Thomas Neel (b. abt 1705) family were. He expresses his love and confidence in his wife and provides well for his family. All 12 children are named. We do not know what their birth order was. The property that John (son) was living on was left him by his grandfather, Thomas McQuown, though it is not mentioned in the grandfather's will.

The estate of James was not settled for about six years. Why so long, we don't know. In the process, the widow, Margaret, discovered a 50-acre piece of land not yet claimed and received a grant for it on 24 Dec 1799. Margaret Neel outlived her husband by 27 years. She passed away 3 Jul 1818 and was buried in Coddle Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, as was her husband. Unfortunately, the early records of the Coddle Creek Presbyterian Church have not survived.

We have no further information on five of the daughters of James and Margaret: Mary, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Agnes, and Isabell. We find records of Neel girls by those names who married, but the names are so common among other Neel children that it is difficult to tell who is who. We also have done no further research on Samuel. - Contributor - Neal Marlow #49049819