BOOK ON THE McNeely CLAN

Larry Winter Roeder, Jr.

The name is spelled by McNeely and McNeeley

Research on Busbey and McNeely family for New Orleans and West Virginia

December 15, 2007

See also Book on Lillian Caldwell, who was my great grandmother and a McNeeley.

Research on Busbey and McNeely family for New Orleans and West Virginia. 1

Photos of Lee (LeRoy) McNeeley?. 3

The McNeely Bible. 4

McNeely Busbey Listings in New Orleans 1861-1866. 5

Busbey and McNeely New Orleans Listings 1867-1874. 5

1874. 7

1878 Lillie Marries Frank G. Caldwell 8

Frank G. Caldwell (see also Mine Pictures. 9

New Orleans 1879-1880. 9

January 14, 1880. 10

New Orleans 1882-1883. 11

Graveyard for McNeely Family. 11

William McNeely. 14

Hugh McNeely (Grandfather of William LeRoy) 14

William LeRoy McNeely. 15

George McNeely (Uncle of Willam LeRoy McNeely) 15

Will of George McNeely. 15

Email Three of Aug 17, 2007: 18

Email of August 18, 2007: 18

Email of August 21, 2007: William’s Siblings. 19

Email of August 20, 2007. 19

Tombstones. 20

Photos of Lee (LeRoy) McNeeley?

Lee McNeeley. I am not certain of his place in the pantheon.[1] LeRoy McNeeley of New Orleans (I have his bible) was the father of William L. McNeeley, husband of Sophia Busbey and father of Lillian McNeeley, Sophia’s mother. Photo is courtesy of Liam Cutchins.

Photo of LeRoy McNeeley

This very faint photo is supposed to be of Leroy McNeeley, which would be tough, since he was born in 1779. My bet is this is a picture of Lee McNeeley. See other photo from Liam Cutchins[2] called photo of Lee McNeeley. Photo marked LeRoy on back came from Sophia Caldwell and was passed to Mary E. Roeder, my mother, and then to me on her death.

The McNeely Bible

Notice the name is spelled McNeely on the bible but inside the spelling McNeeley is also used.  The Bible was given to Mary E. Roeder by her mother Sophia Caldwell McCrystal in the early 195O’s or even perhaps on mom’s marriage in 1947.  My parents used the bible, and so do I now to mark family events.

The McNeely Family Bible. We have one volume. My hope is that the family of Lee or Reita has the other volume and that I can look at it for missing information.[3]

McNeely Busbey Listings in New Orleans 1861-1866

1861 no listing

1862-1865 no New Orleans city directories were published

1866 no listing

Busbey and McNeely New Orleans Listings 1867-1874

I also checked the New Orleans city directories for a listing for the

Busbey and Little listed in the 1867 city directory with William L.

McNeely -- McNeely, W. L. (Busbey, Little & Co.)

no listing for Busbey.  There is a James Busby, Cypress n. Clara

no listing for anyone with the surname little in drayage or any related

job

1866 no listing for Busbey

There is

Busby James, draym. French c. Cypress

Busby James, c. p. Cypress n. Clara

Busbey, Little & Co. wagon and cart depot, 96 Magazine

no listing for anyone with the surname Busbey

McNeely, W. L. (Busbey, Little & Co.) 96 Magazine

McNeely, E. G. clerk, 96 Magazine

McNeely W. L. dealer in wagons and cars, 92 and 94 Magazine, r. 208

Camp

McNeely William L. (McNeely & Milburn), r. 208 Camp

McNeely & Millburn, dealers in Iron, Axle and Thimble Skein, Farm,

Spring and Plantation Wagons. 92 and 94 Magazine

McNeely W. L. (McNeely & Milburn), 96 Magazine

McNeely & Milburn (W. L. McNeely and T. H. Milburn), wagons, 96 Magazine

McNeely William L. (McNeely & Milburn), r. 41 Prytania.

McNeely & Milburn, dealers in wagons and carts, expolition hall, St. Charles and Carondelet Streets.

Lillian told Betty Metcalf stories about carpet baggers in New Orleans, one of which related to their home.  The back had a wall inside of which was a garden and where lived two parrots who mimicked the voices of men in the house and talked to each other.  Carpet baggers liked to enter vulnerable houses but never entered Lillian’s home, thanks to the birds.[4]

McNeely & Milburn (W. L. McNeely and T. H. Milburn, wagons, Exposition Hall, St. Charles and Carondelet sts. bet. Girod and Julia

McNeely William L. r. 41 Prytania

1874

Lillian McNeely, 41 Prytania St., New Orleans, La 1874[5]

Lilly McNeely, New Orleans

1878 Lillie Marries Frank G. Caldwell

McNeely, Lillie Lu (Lillian) married Frank G. Caldwell. Dec 3, 1878 at the 1^st Presbyterian Church of New Orleans. Official was Reverend B.M. Palmer.[6]

This was an interesting year to be married. 1878 was the year of the last great Yellow Fever epidemic in New Orleans. A yellow fever epidemic ravaged the city during the summer and resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people. New Orleans was virtually isolated, and the Cotton Exchange closed. All but two insurance companies in the city went bankrupt. Many involved in cotton were ruined. In 1878 yellow fever was thought to be caused by bad air in hot and humid lowland areas. It would be another three years before a Cuban physician, C. J. Finlay, suggested that mosquitoes carried the disease, and another twenty-two years before Walter Reed proved him correct[7]

According to research by Christine Gregg in August, 2007, “I have a couple of clippings about Lilly McNeely Caldwell who apparently very nearly died soon after she was married. Also an obituary for Thomas McNeely and some other items too. Hopefully this will be new to you. Christine” Given the outbreak of yellow fever in New Orleans at the time, that makes sense.

Frank G. Caldwell (see also Mine Pictures

Frank G. Caldwell Lillian’s Husband and Sophia’s Father[8] Taken on back porch of home in Wheeling, W Virginia, I suspect just before they went to New Mexico

New Orleans 1879-1880

McNeely William L. r. 41 Prytania

McNeely Harvey, captain, r. 692 St. Thomas

McNeely Joseph, lab. r. ns. Carrollton av. bet. St. Charles and Hampson

McNeely, William L. r. 41 Prytania

January 14, 1880

[9] Came originally from Sophia Caldwell McCrystal

Dr. Rev George Bristor was a traveling minister of the Methodist-Episcopal Church. By 1883 the Rev was on trial for what appears to have been inappropriate behavior with a woman. There were also accusations of him being involved with a man. These charges were eventually dismissed in May, 1887 through a bit of very interesting forensic investigating.[10] During the proceedings against Bristor, the First Congregational Church of Spring Valley was formed by followers in 1886. The church is till in existence and was dedicated in 1890. Now known as the United Church of Spring Valley (Congregationalist), the building is located at East Church Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977 and its phone number is 845-356-2863. It is now affiliated with The Reformed Church in America and The United Church of Christ.

Of course, none of the issues after 1880 probably matter in my research of Lillian; but the man appears to have had a national circuit with a practice in the South and Lousiana. He may also have been an abolitionist, which my family were as well, which may explain why Lillian kept the sheet. I have asked the church for a copy of a portrait of Bristor and a history of the man, in order to better understand what influenced Lillian.

New Orleans 1882-1883

McNeely Harvey P. captain, r. 692 St. Thomas

McNeely Joseph, lab. r. Zimple, bet. Dublin and Hampson, 7th dist.

McNeely Lynn, captain, r. ss. Peter, bet. Powdery and Bounty, 5th dist.

McNeely Harvey P. captain, r. 692 St. Thomas

McNeely Joseph, lab. r. Zimple, bet. Dublin and Hampson, 7th dist.

McNeely Lynn, captain, r. ss. Peter, bet. Powdery and Bounty, 5th dist.

Graveyard for McNeely Family

William Leroy McNeeley are listed on his death certificate. I do know that he did not leave a will.

I also learned where WL's parents are buried in St. Clairsville but unfortunately the stones are

very worn and cannot be reliably read. Here is what someone I know who went to check the stones had to say:

Your McNeelys are buried in St. Clairsville Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery . This cemetery is on Newell Avenue in St. Clairsville in the general area of the county courthouse, city building and the old Methodist Episcopal Church (now owned and used by the county). The cemetery is easily accessible from the street.

I found the McNeely burial information in a couple of books, and then my brother, Bud, and I went to check it out ourselves.

Here’s the information from two books.

Tombstone Inscriptions & Family Records of Belmont County, Ohio by Esther Weygandt Powell, 1969, reprinted by Closson Press 2000, p. 126.

McNeely tombstones

Name Died Age

Infant of William and Eliza 1830 ?

William ? ?

Eliza 1860? ?

Sarah, wife of William ? 46

2 more illegible tombstones

Thoburn United Methodist Church Cemetery Plot Chart by Robert M. Phillips, Eagle Scout Project, Summer of 1996.

Row 33 - McNeely

#5 - George Infant I ______

#6 - George Infant II – 1830-1830

#7 – Eliza – 1767-1830

#8 – Martia ____ ____

#9 & #10 – 2 illegible tombstones

Bud and I then went to the cemetery. Your McNeelys are buried across the street from the First Baptist Church . There is a large tree stump at the beginning of the row. There are two tombstones. One is a 6’ tall white monument with the word McNeely on the base. It is badly worn and not very legible. Names are on three sides of the monument and read as follows:

Eliza McNeely, Died April 18(50?)

Aged ___ Years My note: Eliza was alive in the 1850 census living with her daugher & son-in-law D.S. Adams, She was then 55 and born in VA.

Martha

Daughter of Wm & ___ McNeely

Died Aug (or it may be the word Age)

William McNeely

Died _____

There are two footstones nearby propped on the ground. One reads Father (which would be for William) and one reads Sister (which would be for Martha). We didn’t find a Mother footstone.

The other tombstone is a double stone for two children. It reads as follows.

The left side reads:

Memory of George

Infant son of Wm & E___ McNeely

who died on the 17 of Feby.

AD _____ aged 6 weeks

& ____ days

The right side reads:

Memory of the second George

Infant son of Wm & Eliza McNeely

who died on the 18 of March

AD 1830, aged one year

two months & 26 days

Suffer little children and forbid

them not to come unto me for

of such is the kingdom of heaven

Mat XIX 14 A.P.H.

A double-wide footstone reads:

G. Mc. G. Mc.

Christine, when the tombstones are that illegible, the transcription is up for grabs. You’ll note we all had a different reading on Eliza’s death date. The 18__ was readable, but the last two digits were just a dent in the stone. The daughter’s name was definitely Martha. William’s side of the tombstone was the most worn and most illegible.

Bud and I also found a tombstone for D. S. Adams. He’s in another part of the cemetery, but this is what his row looks like. [my note: David Stewart Adams married Margaretta McNeeley, a sister of your William. Leroy. She died during the Civil War and he remarried].

Row 8 begins with Pattersons, Hamiltons and Robsons. Then there are three Adams tombstones:

#20 - Isabell - 1827-1901

#21 - Annie - 1872-1893

#22 - D. S. - Jan. 2, 1820 - Aug. 30, 1899 - 1st Lieut. Col. - 15 Ohio Inf. (military marker)

Next to D. S. Adams is another Civil War Veteran with a similar military marker. It is for

John J. Robson, Pvt. - Co. I - 13 Ohio Cav. - Dec 5, 1843 - Mar. 14, 1875

The rest of the row are Robsons, Davises, and Ryans. Don’t know if there’s any connection between the two being buried side by side, but you have the info just in case.

Hope this is of interest.

Christine M Gregg . CMGregg@aol.com

Email Nov 11, 2007

William McNeely

1. William McNeely probably born about 1791. His wife was named Eliza and she died after the 1850 census when I find her in the household of her daughter Margaretta McNeely Adams (see will) still living in St. Clarisville. William was living in 1845 when he was a bank cashier in St. Clairsville. I have him from 1820-1840 in the census in St. Clairsville. 1810 Ohio census not available. 1800 Monongalia census not available. 6 children of a William McNeely are mentioned in the will.

2. George McNeely -- writer of the will who never married and was pretty well fixed. Died Feb 16 1869 aged 76 years

3. Nancy (Ann) Lucas McNeely who married George S. Dering 18 Sep 1810 in Morgantown. Born about 1795 - 26 Jul 1863/ Aged 68 ys 6 ms. They have several children who are mentioned in the will or probate record.

4. Eliza(beth) McNeely who also never married. Born May 1 1797/ Died Oct 16 1876. She is in the will as first heir.

5. Fielding McNeely died Oct 11 1803/ Aged 4 ys 5 ms

Hugh McNeely (Grandfather of William LeRoy)

Email of August 17, 2007 from Christine Gregg: “My friend descends from Mary Ellen Jarrett who married Dr. Archibald Stevenson Todd of Wheeling. Mary Ellen was the daughter of William Norris Jarrett and Mary Kiger. As you well know, Mary Kiger was first married to Hugh McNeely by whom she had several children -- one of whom was William, the father of your William Leroy.

William LeRoy McNeely

According to Christine, William Leroy may have had siblings: Thomas M., Hugh, Erastus, and Margaret and perhaps others.

“I have William and his family in St. Clairsville from 1820-1840 in the census and he was apparently involved in banking?. I have a little about W.L.'s brother Thomas, and am actively looking for his other brothers Hugh and Erastus G. I think there were also 2 sisters -- Margaret and another who married a Cox. This is all from the will of W.L.'s uncle George McNeely. My goal is to trace the line of W.L.'s paternal grandmother. I always collect all the siblings in a family because they invariably help me solve difficult problems. “[11]

George McNeely (Uncle of Willam LeRoy McNeely)

Possible uncle to William LeRoy McNeely, according to Christine Gregg, who found his will. He was well-to-do and never married. The will mentions, among several other relatives, a W.L. McNeely of New Orleans, who was said to be a son of his (George's) brother William McNeely. It also mentions people in St. Clairsville, Wheeling, and elsewhere.

“I have an outline of the family structure. W.L. had several siblings some of who did quite well for themselves. I absolutely know who George McNeely's parents are and would be happy to share this information if you are similarly inclined to fill in some pieces for me. Hope to hear from you, Christine” [12]

“I was in Morgantown and found a will for George McNeely. He is apparently the uncle of your William Leroy. Tonight I will transcribe the will and send it to you. I will also scan it so you can have a copy of it. In his will George left money to a number of his relatives and he also requested that a memorial be placed in the Presbyterian Cemetery in Morgantown. On it he instructed that there be inscribed the names of all his family members and their ages and dates of death. I have photos of it if this is news to you.”

Will of George McNeely

Here is George McNeely's will. It is typed just as it was written. Punctuation and paragraphs are sadly lacking. In it he mentions his full siblings (Eliza, William (deceased), and Nancy/Anna via some of her progeny as well as two of his Jarrett half siblings (Mary Ellen and Amanda) and some of their children. Before I start, Nancy/Anna McNeely and George S. Dering had 6 children: Henry (dead by 1869), Mary Ann {Tower], Rebecca (died 1850), Sarah {Hoffman], Hugh M. died June 8, 1856/ 27 years 2 months, and George M. Dering. (will was found by Christine Gregg)

George McNeely’s Will

Monongalia County, WV Will Book 2, p. 158-9

Be it known that I George McNeely of Morgantown Monongalia County and State of West Virginia do publish this my last will and testament, I direct that all my just debts, funeral expenses, expenses attending the settlement of my Estate, and the erection of a monument and inclosure (sic) of My grave and the graves of My Parents & friends in such manner as hereafter directed be first paid. I direct my Executor to inclose with a stone wall & iron railing My grave and the graves of My Parents & friends in the Presbyterian grave yard at Morgantown & to erect within the said inclosure a Marble Monument of such size & style as he may select and have engraved on the Said Monument the Names, age & death of each member of my family buried and of my-self

I will and bequeath to my sister Eliza the sum of Four Thousand Dollars, To Edwin W. Tower, the balance of a mortgage of Two Thousand Six Hundred and eleven Dollars & 84 cents & the interest that may be due on the same, given by E.W. Tower to Geo W McCallane to me, also a Mortgage of One thousand Dollars & the interest that may be due on the same, executed by James Watt to W^m Hustin and assigned by said Hustin to Joseph H. Kuhns all of Westmoreland County, Pa, & assigned by said Kuhns to me, said mortgage being on record in Westmoreland Co. Penna To Mrs. Mary Ann Tower wife of E W. Tower in her Own right the sum of Three thousand dollars, To Robert Williams son in law of E.W. Tower a Judgment and the interest that may be due on the same for One thousand entered on the docket of the Prothonatary of Washington Co. Pa. also in addition the sum of One thousand Dollars. To the family of my Brother W^m McNeely as follows, To the Revd W^m Cox (Son in Law of Wm McNeely) and wife the sum of Two thousand Dollars, To Hugh McNeely the sum of One thousand dollars if he should be living, and if dead to his children the aforesaid sum of One thousand dollars to be divided equally among them, To W. L. McNeely of New Orleans the sum of One thousand dollars, To Thos. McNeely of Wheeling, W. V^a a note due me for the sum of Five hundred dollars with the with the (sic) interest that may be due on the same. Said note is dated Oct. 20^th 1868, also the additional sum of Five hundred dollars, To Mary Adams of St. Clairsville Ohio, daughter of Margaret Adams formerly Margaret McNeely, the sum of One thousand dollars, To Amanda N. Larville [note: should be Larwill] of Wooster Ohio the sum of One thousand dollars, To Mrs. Mary Davis widow of Harvey Davis & daughter of Amanda N. Larwill the sum of Five hundred dollars, To Anna Q. Larwill daughter of Amanda N. Larwill the sum of Five hundred dollars, To Martin L. Todd son of Dr. A.S. Todd and Mary Todd of Wheeling West Virginia the sum of One thousand dollars. To the Elders of the Presbyterian church at Morgantown W. V^a to be applied to the payment of the debt due on the building of the church the sum of Five hundred dollars. The balance of my estate to the Elders of the Presbyterian church at Morgantown to be by them loaned on good security at a rate of not less that six per cent per Annum with the interest payable semi annually, to be applied by them & their successors towards the annual Salary of a Pastor of the said church, this fund I desire to be perpetual & for the purpose aforesaid, should the debt of the church be paid off at my death, I direct then that the aforesaid sum of Five hundred dollars bequeathed for to be applied towards the payment of the debt, be applied and used with the fund designed to be perpetual for the pur? purpose before named, Should there not be a sufficient amount of my Estate to pay all my debts expenses & bequests herein named I direct that my sister Eliza be paid in full the bequest made to her and the balance of the bequests herein named to be paid Pro Rato I hereby constitute and appoint Lee Roy Kramer my Executor of this my last will and testament with full power to all things necessary to be done in settling my estate and carrying out the provisions of this will and do not require security from his as executor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21^st day of January 1869.

George McNeely

Witness:

James H. Marrown?

David D. Williams

In the office of the Recorder of Monongalia County on Wednesday the 14^th day of April A.D. 1869. Lee Roy Kramer this day presented to the Recorder for probate a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of George McNeely deceased and asked that a process be issued directed to the sheriff of Monongalia County requiring him to summons Thomas McNeely, W.L. McNeely, Hugh McNeely, Erastus G. McNeely, Mary Adams, Mrs. ___ Cox, late ___ McNeely, and William Cox, her husband and heirs at law of William McNeely deceased and any other unknown heirs of William McNeely deceased, Dr. A.S. Todd and Mary Todd his wife late Mary Jarrett, Amanda Larwill, late Amanda Jarrett, Elizabeth McNeely, George M. Dering Sarah C. Hoffman late Sarah C. Dering, and William Hoffman her husband Mary Ann Tower late Mary Ann Dering, Henry S. Dering and Richard W. Dering heirs of Henry Dering deceased, and heirs at law of George S. Dering and Nancy his wife, late Nancy McNeely R.F. Brooks Administrator and Mary Ann Tower Administratrix of Estate of E.W. Tower deceased T?.H. Williams administrator of estate of Robert J. Williams dec’d Mary Davis late Mary Larwill, Anna Q. Larwill, Martin L. Todd and Wm Tear?, John Hare, S.G. Stevens and Lee Roy Kramer, Elders Presbyterian church at Morgantown, who the said Lee Roy Kramer declares are all the persons interested in the probate thereof to appear before said Recorder in his office in the Court-house in Morgantown on the 14^th day of April 1869 to show cause why the said paper writing should not be admitted to record as and for the last will and testament of said George McNeely deceased. Whereupon it is ordered that said process be issued and delivered to said Lee Roy Kramer.

On motion of Lee Roy Kramer Augustus Haymond is appointed Guardian ad litem of the infant heirs of Henry Dering deceased to wit Henry S. Dering and Richard W. Dering who are interested in the probate of the will of George McNeely deceased to protect the interests of said infants, and thereupon the said Haymond appeared and sonsents to act as such guardian ad litem

The paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Geroge McNeely deceased was this day again produced to the Recorder partly proved by the oath and examination of David D. Williams one of the attesting witnesses, thereto, and continued until to-morrow for further proof notice having been given as the law requires and no person appearing to show cause why such paper writing Should not be admitted to record as the last will and testament of said George McNeely deceased,

A copy – Teste,

A. L. Wade, Recorder

In the office of the Recorder of Monongalia County of Thursday the 15^th day of April A.D. 1860. On motion of Lee Roy Kramer it is ordered that the testimony relating to the probate of the will of George McNeely deceased be continued till to-morrow the other attesting witness thereto not being present.

A copy Teste, A. L. Wade, Recorde

Email Three of Aug 17, 2007:

My home phone is 814-237-7679. I have a little free time this weekend and will begin transcribing the will of George McNeely and assembling what I know. Looking forward to the exchange,

Christine

Email of August 18, 2007:

Are you interested in WL's siblings or just the direct line? Also I found a nice obit for Sophie's father in the Wheeling Register. Do you have it? (Christine, Please send)

Email of August 21, 2007: William’s Siblings

I need to know if you have a subscription to Ancestry so I can send you some links to various census records. Also are you interested in the siblings of W. L. and what became of them? I glanced quickly at your notes and noted an E.G. McNeely living at the same address as W.L. in one of the NO directory notices. I think this must be his brother Erastus G. of whom I had lost track after the civil war. If he is who I think he is, Erastus was discharged in TN in 1865 and may have gone to NO to visit his brother

Briefly I think that three of W.L.'s brothers went west about 1850 -- Hugh who was a printer, Erastus G., and Thomas M. who died in Washington DC. Hugh and Thomas are in the same Iowa town in 1850 and E.G. and Hugh seem to be together in Nebraska for a while a little later on. Thomas apparenlty came back east and lived in Wheeling for a while before moving to DC where he died in 1891. He has a Civil War pension. Are you able to get to the National Archives? I think there will be other pensions that might be quite helpful if you are interested and willing.

I am not positive that these are the right people but after looking at a bunch of censuses I think these may really be Erastus and Thomas, the brothers of W.L. It's a long story.... More tomorrow. See http://www.scriptoriumnovum.com/c/p/mcneely-e.html and be sure to click on the link for Thomas McNeely at the bottom of the screen. Do you notice any family resemblance?

I've got to get going but will attach some items to give you something else until tomorrow. DO you know anything about William and Eliza who are the parents of your W.L.?”

Email of August 20, 2007

“I have been working on the family of Mary Ellen Jarrett who married Dr. Archibald Stevenson Todd for an old friend of mine. Doc Todd and his wife lived in Wheeling where they were prominent citizens. You can get a brief history of them on the Ohio County genweb page if you are interested. As an interesting coincidence, in the 1850 census the Todds lived right next door to your Busbey Family. This 1850 Wheeling census showed a brother named William for your Sophia Busbey. He was also in the Civil War. Do you have this census? I can send you a copy if not. (I need this)

Back to the story. Mary Ellen Jarrett was the daugher of Captain William Norris Jarrett and Mary/Polly Kiger who were married in Morgantown on or about 28 May 1805. They had several children besides Mary Ellen one of whom was Amanda who married Jabez Larwill/Larwell in Morgantown. I mention this because Mary Ellen and Amanda and some of their children are mentioned in the will of George McNeely.

Here's where you come in. Mary Kiger was first married on or about 1 April 1790 to Hugh McNeely in Frederick County, Virginia -- probably in Winchester. Hugh and Mary moved to Morgantown before 1800 where Hugh had a tavern and was postmaster among other things. He died in Morgantown 23 Aug 1804 aged 54 years. I am still researching him. Hugh had at least 5 children. All of them are probably by Mary Kiger although Hugh was a lot older and could have been married before. I believe you descend from Hugh and Mary via the probable oldest son William McNeely. See what you think. Here's my take on their family.”

Tombstones

Before I found the will I visited a wall in Morgantown that contained the old tombstones that had been removed from the old Presbyterian burying ground. At the time I was looking for Captain Jarrett and his wife who I knew to be the widow of Hugh McNeely. The graves and stones were removed when the church wanted the land to build a new church. A wall was constructed beside the church and the surviving stones were placed in it. I was puzzled by this four-sided monument sitting beside the wall. It contained duplication of some of the names on stones that were in the memorial wall. I have better pictures I can send if you want them.

The fourth side of the cube was very close to the wall and I could not see all the inscriptions. I was bummed because this was the side I most wanted. Here are inscriptions for Hugh McNeely, Capt. Jarrett, Mary (Kiger) the wife of both of them, and at the bottom Eliza McNeely, George's spinster sister.

Once I got home and digested the will I realized that this was the monument that George wanted for him and all the members of his family who were buried in that cemetery. In addition the side above the side on the left has just George's name on it, the other 2 sides have two of George's siblings (Fielding McNeely and Anna L./Nancy (McNeely) Dering) and four Jarrett half siblings William, Ralph, Daniel and Leroy (There's that name again). All of these people are indeed buried in this cemetery. Later on I found this website about the graveyard. http://users.adelphia.net/~benders/index.htm Be sure to follow the links so you can see the database about who is buried there.

Taking the names for the children of William McNeely from the will I have been tracking censuses for all of them and am pretty convinced that I have located most of them. We can go into that after you digest this offering and if you agree that we are on the right track. I am hoping that you can make a trip to the archives and also to the LC to look up some pensions and history books that I cannot get here.

I await your comments. Hope I have not totally confused you. Ask if you have questions and feel free to challenge or disagree.

Christine

[3] Collection of Larry Winter Roeder, Jr through his mom.

[5] Close to Palmer residence on Prytania. Residential area.

[8] From Sophia’s “New Mexico” Trip Album

[9] Private collection of Mary Elizabeth Roeder

[10] NY Times Articles, May 11, 1887, Aug 1, 1883, March 27, 1884, March 27, 1885, March 28, 1885, April 1, 1885, April 2, 1885, Dec 30, 1885, Jan 12, 1886, Jan 13, 1886, May 8, 1886. (all are in Roeder archives in the binder on the McNeeley Clan)

[11] Email to Larry Roeder, Aug 17, from Christine Gregg

[12] Email to Larry Roeder from Christine Gregg, 8/17/2007. 443 Glenn Road, State College, PA 16803