Charles Alexander McNeil
(3/1865-3/10/1907)
Charles Alexander McNeil was born in Australia probably in Feb of 1865. His death certificate indicates that his parents were John McNeill and Mary Jameson. On his naturalization papers, he reported that he immigrated to America on May 24, 1873. He was a bartender in the city of New York and till 1894 lived in Manhattan in an area know as “Hell’s Kitchen” or officially known today as Clinton. About the time of the death of his first wife, he moved to the Bronx and was a bartender in that area till his death at age 42 in 1907. Some of the oral family history indicates that he owned a bar in New York City, but no recorded of that has been found at this time. He fathered 9 children over the period of 1886 to 1906 and was married twice. Charles died on March 10, 1907 at the Lincoln Hospital of Pneumonia and Delirium Fevers.
Charles Alexander McNeil is believed to be our original McNeil American immigrant. There are many conflicting facts with regards to his immigration. Conflicting records and evidence put his immigration as early as 1873 to as late as 1888. There is no indication that he immigrated with his parents and the oral family history indicates he came alone in his late teens or early twenties. The conflict over exactly when he entered the United States starts with his naturalization record which state that he came to the United States at the age of 10 on May 24, 1873. The 1900 census records indicated he entered in 1878 at the age of 13, which also concurs with the information on his death certificate. The oral family history, as told to me by one of his granddaughters, indicated he came alone but at an age that would suggest something closer to 18 or so. One story has him immigrating to America alone while another indicated that he came with a wife. No ship records have been found that would verify any of this information or to confirm he came alone or with a wife. Adding to the confusion is the 1900 census records indicates that Charles’s first son was born in Ireland and that he came to America in 1887. Many speculations are possible, one could be that he came to America either in 1873 or 78 and then before 1885 went to Ireland, where he may have had family, and there he married and fathered his first child before returning to the US with his wife and child. Another would be that his first son was a stepson who came to the United States with his mother who Charles met and married in New York City. And yet another could be that Charles, wanting to become a US citizen, falsified dates on his original immigration. I have not even the smallest shred of evidence to support any of these scenarios.
Charles's parents are thought to be from Ireland, as indicated on his death certificate, before they went, or where sent, to Australia. There are conflicting dates as to when his birth occurred. According to the 1900 census and his death certificate he was born in March of 1865. The birth certificate of one of his daughters and his naturalization records puts his birth date as March 16, 1863. No Australian records have been found to confirm his birthplace or date.
Charles's addresses are listed in the New York City directories or other documents. These addresses are:
Charles was married twice and had 9 children, 4 with the first wife and 5 with the second.
Charles’s first wife was Elizabeth Brady, daughter of Patrick Brady and Rosie Haggerty. From the census record and information from one of Charles and Elizabeth’s granddaughter the name and birth information for their 4 boys is as follows:
Elizabeth passed away on September 5, 1883 in Kings Bridge, New York City, New York
About 1896 Charles married Katherine, or Kate. Kate's last name could be McLean, Mack or Finegan. Kate and Charles had 5 children.
The confusion over Kate's maiden name comes from the conflicting information on the birth certificates of her daughters. Birth certificates for Margaret, Annie clearly state that Kate's name before marriage is Kate Finegan. Death certificates for Valentine and Annie show her name as Kate Mack. Death certificate for Margaret has it as Catherine McLean. I have not found a marriage record for Charles and Kate.
Charles is buried in Kenisco Cemetery in Section C Row 5 Grave 86, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York. I visited the grave site on May 16, 1999. The head stone on the gravesite does not mention Charles. The main name on the headstone is for Annie McNeill (note two l’s) who was Charles’s 4th daughter with second wife Kate. At the bottom of the headstone is Margaret McNeill who was Charles’s 1st daughter with Kate. After talking with the people at Kenisco Cemetery, they let me see the original grave records. There are four persons buried in that grave, which is common, who are the two indicated above and Charles and his 3rd daughter Kate. At a later date I communicated with the persons at the cemetery to see who and when the headstone might have been placed there but they were unable to find that information. Pictures and a map of the grave site can be found at this link.
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Steve McNeill |
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Updated: 1/11/2004 |
