NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08071707 1 A?V (Ne.ll) or\f\ • <» % 'j»f .)fTT ^''^c imnr 1 ' . (^ f\l c 3o h n GOVERNOR THOMAS'S LICENSE TO JOHN NEILL TO EXTEND HIS PRACTICE OF THE LAW IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, I 747. By the Honourable GEORGE THOMAS, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander-i Chief, of the Provinces, and Counties of New Castle, Kent and Sussex in Delaware. the hath ^t^ltCltaiSi, JOHN NEILL, of Coiuity of Sussex, %txA\vm.\\ been admitted an Attorney of the Court of Common Fleas, for the T^rd {Sussex) County for above Eight years past, as, by the reeords of the yd Court may appear; and, hath likewise been admitted an Attorney within the like Court for the County of Kent: as I am credibly informed; and, whereas, the said ]OYl^ NEILL hath been recommended to me as a person of an honest disposition, and learned in the law, and, having applied to me for a License to exte?id his practise to some other Courts 7vithin my Government I DO, THEREFORE, by virtuc of the powcrs to me tvell known to belong, Authorize and License the said JOHN NEILL to plead in any of the Courts of Record within my Government, he behaving himself in goodfidelity as well to the aforesaid Courts as to his Clients, and, taking such qualifications as are Enjoined by Law, and conforming Idmself to the Rules of those Courts, tvherein he doth or shall practise. Given U7ider my hand and Seal et Arms at Lewes, in Sussex aforesaid, the Ninth day of June, the Twe7ttieth year of the reign of our Sovereign, Lord George the II"'' over Great Britain, France and Ireland; King, Defender of the Faith; and Anno Domini, 1747- GEO: THOMAS. Copied from "Book H. N. 1742" at the Office of Keconler of Deeds, in Georgetown, Delaware. i- John Neill, ^^ OF LEWES, DELAWARE, 739 AND HIS DESCENDANTS. PHILADELPHIA: PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR THE FAMILY. en0889B B 1951 I The more thoughtful a man is, and the more conscious of what is going on within himself, the more interest will he take in what he can know of his progenitors to the remotest generations. And a regard to ancestral honors (however contemptible the forms which the appropriation of them often assumes), is a plant rooted in the deepest soil of liumanity.—George Macdonald. The humblest of individuals can be transformed by the grandeur of the associations inherited by him. —Dean Stanley. COLLINS, TRINTER. CONTENTS, PAGE John Neill (lawyer), of Lewes, Delaware I Elizabeth Neill, his wife 4 Colonel Henry Neill, of Lewes, Delaware 5 Doctor John Neill, of Snow Hill, Maryland i6 Elizabeth Neill, his wife i8 Doctor Henry Neill, of Philadelphia 20 Martha Rutter Neill, his wife 28 Children, Grandchildren, and Great-grandchildren of Dr. Henry and Martha R. Neill \ .......... 31 ADDENDA, Neill 53 duffield 65 Martin . 94 Potts 99 Handy . 112 Rutter . ir8 Savage . 122 Humphreys 124 I. Christian names of those retaining the name of Neill . .127 n. Descendants of John Neill of Lewes, Del., bearing other surnames . 127 HL Names of those who have married descendants of John Neill of Del. Lewes, . .127 JOHN NEILL AND HIS DESCENDANTS. yohii Neill. 1739- John Neill entered upon the practice of the law, in the county of Sussex, in the State of Delaware, as early as the year 1739. The courts of Sussex were held at Lewes, and at that town he established his residence. The following is a copy of his license from Governor Thomas, to extend his practice into other courts. This license is dated 1747, and recognizes the fact that Jolin Neill had already, for more than eight years, been prac- tising his profession in Sussex County. TJie Governor's License to Jolui Neill. Whereas John Neill, of the County of Sussex, Gentleman, hath been ad- mitted an attorney of the Court of Common Pleas for the third county (Sussex) as the records of the third court for above eight years past, by may appear ; and hath likewise been admitted an attorney within the like court for the county of I informed and whereas the said Neill hath been Kent, as am credibly ; /o/ui recommended to me as a person of an honest disposition, and learned in the and to for a license to extend his to some other Law ; having applied me practice of the courts within my government; I do, therefore, by virtue of the powers to me well known to belong, authorize and license the SMd John Neill 10 plead in any of the courts of record within my government, he behaving himself with his good fidelity, as well to the aforesaid courts, as to clients, and taking such qualifications as are enjoined by Law, and conforming himself to the rules of those courts wherein he doth or shall practice. Given under my hand and seal et arms, at Lewes, in Sussex aforesaid, the ninth day of June, in the twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord the Defender of the George IL over Great Britain, France, and Leland ; King, Faith, and Anno Domini 1747. George Thomas. 2 John NeilL This license is found in the office of the Recorder of Deeds at George- town, Delaware, Book II., N. 1742. In 1746, John Neill purchased property in Lewes, Delaware, on which he built a residence, which is standing at this time, in good repair, and which is occupied by Mrs. Mcllvaine. The deed of sale of this property is in of Dr. of it is somewhat mutilated possession John Neill, Philadelphia ; ; but a copy of the same is in the office of the Recorder of Deeds at George- town, Delaware, in the Book marked IL, N. 1742, and reads as follows : — Deed of Sale ; from Eli::. Molleston, Administratrix, to Jolin Neill. This Indenture made the seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-six, between Elizabeth Molleston of the county of Sussex, Delaware, administratrix of all and singular goods, chattels, tenements of William Molleston, of said county, mariner, deceased, who died intestate, as it and Neill of the same of the other is said, of one part ; John county, part, gentleman ; Whereas, there is a certain tract or parcel of land, situate and being on the south side of Lewes Creek, in the county of Sussex aforesaid, lately possessed by a certain Alexander Molleston, deceased, who in his lifetime morgaged said premises to the Trustees of the General Loan Office, for the county aforesaid, which said Trustees afterwards entered on the land and premises aforesaid for non-payment of the mortgage-money aforesaid, and sold the same to William Molleston aforesaid, for the sum of one hundred and seventy-five pounds as by the deed of sale; and whereas William Molleston in his lifetime conveyed part on the south side to the said William of said tract, John Lewis ; and, whereas, Molleston died indebted to sundry persons, for the faithfully discharging whereof administration was granted to Elizabeth Molleston, mother of said William. The court pursuant to law, granted an order for sale of said land and appurtenances, being the northernmost part of the tract assessed, which said William Molleston died possessed of, sold at public vendue fifth day of May, 1746, to John Neill aforesaid, for the sum of eighty-five pounds current money. Said land butted * * * and bounded as follows, containing fifty-nine acres and four-fifths of an acre, by plot made by Robert Shankland, Deputy Surveyor, in the year 1740. Said Elizabeth in consideration 1 » John Neill. 3 of eighty-five pounds paid by the same John Neill, doth acquit and discharge the same John Neill, his heirs, &c., forever, hath given, granted, bargained, sold, aliened, enfeoffed, released, conveyed, and confirmed, and by these presents doth give, grant, bargain, sell, alien, &c., the above mentioned lands, marsh and premises, with appurtenances, all and singular, the houses, fences, woods, waters, and watercourses hereunto belonging, to the said John Neill, his heirs, &c., for- ever. her Elizabeth O Molleston. mark In witness whereof, sealed and delivered in presence of Phillips, Jacob "j Luke Watson, V Shepard Koi.lock. J Ryves Holt, May 9th, 1746. Prothonotary . Deed of the Trustees of Sussex County to John Neill. Trustees for a lot of land in possession of Elizabeth Molleston. * * Whereas, &c. * William Tell, Sarah Kollock. R's Holt, I Thos. Tell. J R's Holt, July iSth, 1747. Prothonotary. This house lot is situated near the southern edge of the town of Lewes, just the line it faces the river or Trees around the border of beyond ; bay. grow the yard, and in that yard, for years, was a neat tenement, originally erected and occupied as a law office by John Neill. The main building, like the office, was of wood, with a portico over the front door, and a wing project- ing from the south side. The name of John Neill appears in the records at Georgetown, Delaware, throughout a period of years reaching as far as 1755, as witness of wills, and as otherwise connected with legal proceedings, deeds, awards, &c. 4 Mrs. Elizabeth Neill. In 1748. He made a deed of some property to Jos. Taddeman. In 1750. He was witness to an instrument or deed from Peter Hall to John Mustard. In 1752. He was witness to a deed from Peter Clowes to Thomas Brooksbay. In 1752. He was witness to a deed from John Anderson to James Trotter, of Philadelphia, and to the appointment of Daniel Nunez, Jr., as attorney to acknowledge them.