From Ireland to Beaver Pond, Virginia

        As the story goes, Roger Neall, son of Steaven Neall and Margaret, fell in love with Catherine Malone and she with him. This love affair, however, posed a huge problem with both families because Roger was a Protestant and Catherine was a Catholic. During this era, and possibly even today with some families, the mixing of the two religions would simply not be tolerated by either family. Roger and Catherine were in love and apparently didn't care about such things but both families independently decided the only way to prevent this disaster was to separate them by sending them off to the American Colonies. As love and fate would have it, Roger and Catherine were booked passage on the same ship, unbeknownst to their parents.  One can only wonder what the parents thought when the ship sailed with both on board but sailed they did and Roger and Catherine were married on the high seas by the Captain.

      Virginia records show that Roger, his brother Stephen Jr. and his sister Ann arrived in the colonies in 1718. It seems likely that their siblings John and Thomas, and perhaps David, also arrived in 1718 but we do not know exactly when they arrived. They all settled in Amelia Co in an area known as Beaver Pond Beach.

       In order to prove his right to take up land according to the Royal Charter, Steaven Neall Sr., the ancestor of this line of Neals, stated on oath that he came into the Colony to dwell from Ireland in 1730. Roger, Stephen Jr., and Ann Neall also signed similar oaths stating they came into the Colony in 1718.  

       Steaven Neall Sr., Planter, made his last will on January 6, 1738/39 and it was recorded on November 21, 1740 in Amelia Co. Virginia. He briefly bequeathed "all and singular my land and estate whatever" to his wife Margaret. The will was witnessed by his son Roger Neall, Robert Stokes and his son-in-law William Marshall.

        The ages for Steaven and Margaret's children are not known so the order given below is simply arbitrary.

     The children of Steaven Neall Sr. and Margaret     

       1. Roger Neall was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and came to the American Colonies in 1718. Roger, his brother Stephen and their sister Ann all signed oaths, in order to take up 50 acres of land according to the Royal Charter, that they came into the colony from Ireland in 1718.

        As stated above, family history says that Roger married Catherine Malone on the high seas while on their voyage to the colonies. While family stories and traditions are sometimes not totally accurate, as told, they are most often based on truths and we do know from Roger's will and from other records that his wife was named Catherine Malone.

        Roger Neall's will was recorded in Amelia Co., Virginia on October 19, 1750. Roger named his sons John and Stephen Neall and his daughters Ann Neall, Mary Neall and Margret Burks. He also named his "Dear and Loving wife Cathron Neall".

        After Roger died in 1750, Catherine married William Preston, a native of England. After he died, Catherine remained a widow and moved to Prince Edward Co., where she died. Prince Edward Co. was formed from Amelia Co. in 1754 so she may not have actually moved. Roger Neall and Catherine Malone's grandson, John Hatchett, wrote a narrative of his life and it was published by J. D. Eggleston. John Hatchett writes that his grandmother was Catherine Malone and that as a widow she remarried and after becoming a widow again, moved to Prince Edward where she was buried.

The children of Roger Neall and Catherine Malone

i.   Margaret Neal

ii.  Ann Neal

iii. John Neal

iv.  Mary Neal

v.   Stephen Neal

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       2. Thomas Neall was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and came to America sometime between 1718 and 1730. His brothers Roger and Stephen and his sister Ann are on record as arriving in 1718 but his parents Steaven Sr. and Margaret did not arrive until 1730. The earliest  record for Thomas in Virginia is when he received two land grants in 1735. One was for 800 acres on May 20, 1735 and one was for 400 acres on September 10, 1735. Both grants were for land on the South Fork of Beaver Pond, which was in Prince George  Co., at this time.

       The grant process involved several steps, including a survey, and sometimes could take awhile before the grant is actually finalized. The records indicate that Thomas was already in possession of the land prior to the date of the grant so Thomas may have arrived in America in 1730 with his parents.

Thomas Neall's will was written on January 7, 1730, perhaps after just arriving in America, in what was then Prince George Co., and recorded December 10, 1736 in Amelia Co., Virginia. His will does not mention a wife or children so it is assumed that he never married.

       To summarize Thomas' will,

        1. He gave the lower half of his 800 acres to his father  and brother Roger and the upper half to his brother
       Stephen.

        2. He gave the lower half of his 400 acres to his brother Stephen and the upper half to his brother David.

        3. He gave William Marshall, his brother-in-law, "the residual of my estate both real and personal".

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       3. John Neall was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and came to America sometime between 1718 and 1730 and died in 1731 on Beaver Pond Beach, Amelia Co., Virginia. John married Margaret Remay the only daughter of Abraham Remay, a French Huguenot. Margaret's first husband was named Livingston or Lewiston and she had one daughter Elizabeth, with him. Elizabeth married Peter Thompson.

         After John died in 1731, Margaret married William Hatchett who was born in 1692 and his will was recorded in Amelia Co. between 1784 and 1786. William Hatchett received a grant dated May 20, 1735 for 200 acres on the south side of the South Fork of Beaver Pond Beach.

         John Neall and Margaret Remay had one daughter, Mary who married Robert Marshall. Margaret Hatchett's will was dated March 13, 1788 and recorded June 7, 1792 in Nottoway Co. [formed from Amelia Co. in 1789]. She names her daughters Elizabeth Thompson, Mary Marshall, deceased, Martha Roberts [whose first husband was John Neal, son of Roger Neall], Ann Hatchett [who married Roger Neal, son of David Neall] and Jane Truly. Her sons John Hatchett [who married Mary Neal daughter of Roger Neall], William Hatchett, Archibald Hatchett and Abraham Hatchett, and her grandchildren David, Thomas and Tabitha Neal [children of Roger Neal and Ann Hatchett].       

         Amelia Co. Order Book I, February 20, 1740 states that "Mary Neale, orphan of John Neal made choice of William Hatchett for her guardian and he together with Roger Neale and Stephen Neale acknowledge bond for the payment of orphan's estate" 

         There are no land records available for John Neall but we know from his brother Thomas' land grant that it adjoined John Neale's line. We also know that John's daughter Mary received a land grant in 1735 for 400 acres. The location of this grant shows that it adjoined the land of Thomas Neall so it seems likely that John Neall was in possession of land that he had applied a grant application for and that since he died prior to the grant being finalized, the grant was given to his daughter Mary.

The Children of John Neall and Margaret Remay

i. Mary Neal

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       4. Stephen Neall Jr. was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and came to America with his brother Roger, sister Ann and possibly other members of the family in 1718. Amelia Co., VA Order Book I records that in February 1739 Stephen Neale Jr. in order to prove his right to take up land according to the Royal Charter, made oath that he came to this Colony to dwell from Ireland in 1718.

        Amelia Co. records show that Stephen purchased 400 acres in 1735 from his brother Thomas. When Thomas died circa 1736, he gave his brother Stephen 200 acres. Stephen sold the 200 acres in 1743 and the 400 acres in 1745. Deed records show that Stephen's wife was named Elizabeth and that he left the Amelia Co., Virginia area sometime in the late 1740s after he file a suit against Roger Neal, probably his brother, in 1746. Exactly what the suit was about or it's outcome, is not known at this time but it may be the reason Stephen decided to leave the area. 

        When Carl B. Neal wrote the book, The Beaver Pond Neals of Virginia, he did not know what happened to Stephen Jr. Subsequent research has revealed that Stephen, for whatever reason, moved to Rockingham Co., North Carolina. Stephen's wife was named Elizabeth.

The children of Stephen Neall Jr. and Elizabeth

i.   John Neal

ii.  William Neal

iii. Thomas Neal

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       5. Ann Neall was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and came to America with her brothers Roger and Stephen Neall, and possibly other members of the family, in 1718. Ann married William Marshall circa 1729 in Amelia Co., Virginia. William was born in Ireland and died in Amelia Co. 1772. William Marshall was consistently involved in the affairs of the Neal family and it appears that he was obviously highly respected and trusted by the Neals.

         Amelia Co. Order Book I records that on January 15, 1741, William Marshall and his wife Ann stated that he "came to this Colony to dewell from Ireland in 1719 and she from Ireland in 1718". 

         Exactly when Ann died is not know but she appears to have been deceased prior to 1757. William Marshall deeded land to his sons in 1757, 1758 and 1764 and Ann was not listed in these deeds. Since wives had a dowry right in real estate, she should have been involved in the  sale of this land, even to her sons. William Marshall received several land grants, in Caroline Co., Campbell Co., and Amelia Co., that totaled 2323 acres. William and Ann lived on their 793 acre plantation on the south side of the North Fork of Beaver Pond Beach.

         Sometime after the death of his wife Ann, William Marshall married Judith Willis on February 19, 1765 in Amelia Co. Judith's will was dated May 2, 1790 and recorded in the 1786-93 period in Amelia Co. She gave her entire estate to her step-grandsons Robert and Abraham, sons of Robert Marshall Sr. 1772 in Amelia Co. He names his wife Judith, his son William Marshall, daughters Elizabeth Marshall and Ann Crowder and his son-in-law William Crowder, grandsons Daniel Marshall, William Marshall son of Robert, John Marshall son of Robert, Robert Marshall son of Robert, Abraham Marshall and granddaughters Micha Marshall, Elizabeth Marshall, Judith Crowder and Patty Marshall.     

       William's son Robert was not named in the above will because he was deceased [1767] when the will was written in 1771.

         The children of William Marshall and Ann Neall

    i.   Robert Marshall

    ii.  Elizabeth Marshall

    iii. Anne Marshall

    iv. William Marshall Jr.

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        6. David Neall  was born in Ireland, probably in the 1690s, and died 1776 in Amelia Co. Virginia. We know that some of his siblings came to America in 1718 and that his parents came in 1730 but we do not know when David arrived. The best we can say is that he came in either 1718, 1730 or possibly sometime in between. He married Joannah Abt. 1726 in Virginia.

       David's personal property was appraised October 5, 1776 so he most likely died just prior to that date or soon after he wrote his will on June 24, 1775. His will does not name his wife Joannah so she was apparently deceased prior to June 1775. In his will, dated 1736, Thomas Neall gave his brother David the upper 200 acres of a 400 acre grant Thomas had received on October 9, 1735. Thomas gave his brother Stephen Jr. the lower 200 acres of the same grant. In 1743 Stephen Neal Jr. and his wife Elizabeth sold this 200 acres to Hugh Chambers for £40. On November 24, 1757, David Neall purchased this same 200 acres from Hugh Chambers for £200. 

        On January 25, 1758, David conveyed to three of his sons, all of Amelia Co., 100 acres each, of the above land for £50 each. Roger received 100 acres on the north side of Beaver Pond Beach, Stephen 100 acres on the upper part and on the south side of Beaver Pond Beach, adjoining William Marshall, William 100 acres on the lower part of the south side of Beaver Pond Beach adjoining John Thompson and Stephen Farley.

        On May 23, 1768 David gave, by deed, 8 negroes to his grandchildren Thomas, Jeremiah, William and Joannah Reeves, children of his son-in-law Thomas Reeves. David also gave Samuel Morgan [his son-in-law] 6 slaves but only after the death of David and his wife. David Neall's will was dated June 24, 1775 and he names his children as Thomas, Stephen, William, John, Roger, Mary Morgan, and his grandchildren William and Joannah Reeves. He gave his son Roger, "the land and plantation whereon I now live" 2 negro men, furniture, goods and stocks of all kinds.

         As stated above, David owned 400 acres of which he conveyed 300 acres to his sons Roger, Stephen and William. There is no record that he conveyed any land to his sons Thomas and John and it appears from his will that he bequeathed the remaining 100 acres, assuming that would be the "land and plantation whereon I now live", to his son Roger.

         The Children of David Neall and Joannah

         i.    Thomas Neal

         ii.   Stephen Neal

         iii.  William Neal

         iv.  John Neal

         v.   Roger Neal

         vi.  Mary Neal

         vii. Eleanor Neal