Family Tree

Sampson Stuart McNeill Family

Sampson Stuart McNeill is the progenitor of many McNeills in the USA. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1776, and arrived in Virginia with his brother John in 1792. Presumably, Sampson and John were looking for a better life in America with the impending outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1798.

Like many 17th Century immigrants from Europe, Sampson soon moved from the Eastern seaboard, choosing to establish roots in the frontier…what today is the Ohio Valley.

The Iroquois called the river "Ohio" and the name was later translated by the French as "the Beautiful---La Belle Riviere." Not a beautiful river, mind you, but the beautiful, with no fear that it might be confused with any other."

Sampson Stuart McNeill

BORN: February 2, 1776, Belfast, Ireland.
DIED: July 8, 1851 in Chilo, Clermont County, Ohio.

Lavina Swain

BORN: March 2, 1792 in Georgetown, Maryland.
DIED: August 26, 1863.

Sampson and Lavina were married in 1806 in Georgetown, which is now part of Washington D.C. In the early 1800's, Georgetown was a much larger city than Washington D.C. It was an important seaport, especially for the export of Virginia tobacco.

Sampson and Lavina had 12 children. Five of the children were born in Virginia. Sometime between the summer of 1817 and 1819, the family moved from Virginia to Chilo in Clermont County, Ohio, near the town of Cincinnati. Most likely, the trip was made on flatboats down the Ohio River.

Children of Sampson and Lavina:

  1. Jane McNeill, born January 25, 1808, in Virginia.
  2. James Foster McNeill, born June 10, 1810, in Virginia.
  3. John Swain McNeill, born August 1, 1812, in Virginia.
  4. Lucinda McNeill, born November 26, 1814, in Virginia.
  5. Amanda McNeill, born March 10, 1817, in Virginia.
  6. Christopher C. McNeill, born August 18, 1819, in Ohio.
  7. Wesley McNeill, born April 14, 1822, in Ohio. Died in infancy.
  8. Thomas P. McNeill, born December 28, 1826, Point Pleasant, Clermont County, Ohio. Died in 1909.
  9. Mary McNeill, born May 8, 1828, in Ohio.
  10. Dorcas McNeill, born July 27, 1830, in Ohio.
  11. Eliza E. McNeill, born December 27, 1832, in Ohio.
  12. Oliver Goldsmith McNeill, born December 18, 1834, Clermont County, Ohio. Died May 16, 1920, Ludlow, Kenton County, Kentucky.

Sampson Stuart McNeill died July 8, 1851, and is buried on the farm in Chilo. On March 2, 1853, Sampson's land was recorded as sold after his death to meet his debts. About one third of the property was subject to the dower of his wife, Lavina Swain McNeill. The farm was sold to their son, James Foster McNeill, subject to the life of Lavina, who died August 26, 1863.

Here is a page about Sampson Stuart McNeill's family from the journal kept by Oliver Goldsmith McNeill. Click on the image to see the full page.

 

Internet Resources

The following are available from Higginson Books.

  1. McNEILL. Beginning in Belfast: descendants of Sampson Stuart McNeill, by Carolyn Chapman. 86p. 1995.
  2. MacNEIL. The Clan MacNeil (Clann Niall) of Scotland, by the MacNeil of Barra. 227p. 1923 (London).
Visit the links page for additional resources.