Thomas Neel

Other Events:

• Notes: It's possible Thomas Neel was an attorney
• Military: 10 Sep 1774, Botetourt County, Virginia, USA; Thomas Neel served as a pvt. in Capt John Murray's Company at the battle of Point Pleasant. (This area of Botetourt at the time included most of the Jackson & Cowpasture rivers.) There is a question as to whether this is the same Thomas Neel.
• Tax List: 1782, Jackson River, Augusta County, Virginia; Listed as head of HH on Jackson River in Capt. David Gwin's Company. Also listed brother in law Daniel McFarland, who later settled in Kentucky.
• Tax List: 1784, Muddy Creek, Augusta County, Virginia; Listed on the tax list for Augusta County. Living on the Muddy Fork of Wolf Creek on land he acquired from his father in law, who patented 300 ares in Wolf Creek Valley
• Land: 1785, Muddy Creek, Augusta County, Virginia; When did Thomas come to Tazewell County?
• Indian Trouble: Fall 1789, Muddy Creek, Augusta County, Virginia; Daughter Catherine captured by Indians.
• Tax List: 1790, Montgomery County, Virginia, USA; Listed on Tax List B, this part of Montgomery later becomes Wythe County. (Walkers and Wolf Creeks) listed Thomas Neil (Neel)
• Tax List: May 1793, Wythe County, Virginia, USA
• Tax List: 1801, Tazewell County, Virginia; 2 Males over 16, 6 Horses, mares colts or mules. (probably himself and Alexander)
• Tax List: 1 Jun 1802, Tazewell County, Virginia; 1 Male over 16, 5 Horses, mares colts or mules.
• Debt: 15 Aug 1802, Tazewell County, Virginia; Gordon Thomas & David Cloyd VS Thomas Neel. Debt. Attorney not further instructed to defend. Pft. granted $40 with interest from 1 Sept 1798
• Tax List: 14 Apr 1803, Tazewell County, Virginia; 1 Male over 16, 4 Horses, mares colts or mules.
• Court: 14 June 1804, Tazewell County, Virginia; John Crockett, John Engles VS Thomas Neel. Petition and Summons. Judgement granted pltf for 5 lbs with interest from 12 Feb 1803. Jon Davis 1 days attend as witness for pltf.
• PP Tax List : 22 April 1806, Tazewell County, Virginia; 1 Male over 16, 0 Horses, mares colts or mules.

Notes:

Thomas and Ellen McFarlane moved from Augusta County to the Grapefield section of what is now Bland County, Virginia. Their log cabin home was a story and half with the kitchen cabin to the rear of the main house.



Thomas Neel was an attorney, practicing law in Tazewell County, Virginia. He was a Methodist Class leader, also a farmer. He owned land on Wolf Creek and Bland County.

Birth:
There are clues to Thomas' father being most likely 1 of 3 men (Thomas, John, or William), but it's impossible, without more info to know which 3 men, was in fact, his father. Also, evidence of the name being O'Neal at one time, and the O being dropped.

Notes:
In the book Col. James McFarland of Virginia by Lake Parsons he states: Thomas Neel was an attorney. He practiced law in Tazewell Co. was a Methodist Class leader and a farmer.

Land:
The only records found of Thomas Neel's purchase of land on Muddy Creek are in 3 deeds recorded in Tazewell in 1831 & 1839 by certain descendants of Thomas Neel & Wm. McFarland, wherein it is stated that Wm sold to Thomas that portion of Wm's land on Muddy Creek lying to the east of "a conditional line" as agreed by them.

Wm retained that portion lying to the W of the line which was later known as the Lydd's place. Wm died prior to March 8 1791 and this land was inherited by his sons James & Daniel.

Thomas settled & lived on his land until his death. No record of his will or intestate proceedings have been found. His wife, Ellen, & 2 unmarried children, Mary & Zach, & probably some grandchildren, continued to live in the home place. Sons Alex & Wm lived on parts of this or adjacent tracts that they had acquired. There was apparently 400 acres in all which the children eventually divided among themselves.

Indian Trouble:
Catherine was near her house on Muddy Fork of Wolf Creek when she was captured by a band of Indians but escaped from them. The Indians then went across the mountains to Clear Fork where they captured Virginia Wiley, she was a prisoner for 3 years.

Tax List:
James Davies Commissioner of the Wythe Co. district north of Walker's Mt. May 22 Thomas Neel taxed w/3 adult men & 10 horses. (This area of Wythe would be Grapefield Bland County today)

Thomas did not own any land (that I have found), they must have been living on William's land, because in 1825, James refers to his sister Ellen living on the land that belonged to him as long as she lived.

Died:
Death date is assumed because he was not recorded as head of, nor a member of a household in the 1820 and subsequent censuses.

Thomas married Eleanor "Ellen" McFarland in 1774 in Augusta County, Virginia. Eleanor (daughter of William McFarland and Elizabeth Gibson) was born in 1755 in Augusta County, Virginia; died in 1830 in Wolf Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Robert Mathias Neel was born in 1774 in Virginia, United States; died in 1837 in Tazewell County, Virginia.
2. Alexander Neel was born in 1777 in Jackson River, Augusta County, Virginia; died in 1844 in Wolf Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia; was buried in 1844 in Cove Creek, Tazewell County, Virginia, USA.
3. Duncan Neel was born in 1779 in Wolf Creek, Bland, Virginia; died in 1842 in Coffee County, Tennessee.
4. Catherine "Kate" Neel was born in 1781 in Virginia, United States; died in 1839.
5. Jennie Neel was born in 1784 in Virginia, United States; died in 1834.
6. William Edgar Neel was born in 1786 in Virginia, United States; died in 1877.
7. James Neel was born in 1789 in Virginia, United States; died in 1812.
8. Matilda "Tillie" Neel was born in 1795 in Virginia, United States; died in 1860.
9. Zachariah Neel was born in 1796 in Virginia, United States; died on 24 Jan 1859 in Howling Camp, Tazewell, Virginia.
10. Mary Neel was born in 1797.
11. Elizabeth "Betsy" Neel was born in 1798 in Virginia, United States.