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McNeely family

I'm looking for info on the McNeely family originally from Scotland. The info I have is Martha McNeely born in 1706 in Antrim Ireland. She was married to John Dickey also born in Antrim Ireland. I think her fathers name is George. I'm wondering what her mothers name was and possibly when and who there family was that came from Scotland. Any info on any of them would be appreciated really.

Also I'm looking for info on David McNeely born 1721 somewhere in Ireland. Possibly Martha's nephew. I think he was married to a Rebecca Barnett. They moved to America and I can't find out more of their history.

IrelandXO member

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John D ickey was born in Belfast county Antrim Northern Ireland on November 11th 1703.

IrelandXO member

John Dickey was born in Belfast county Antrim Northern Ireland on November 11th 1703. Anymore info about him or his family would be really great as well. He is my 7th great grandfather.

IrelandXO member

Population of Belfast in 1700 was just 2500 people. No newspapers in the town then and no parish records exist for 1703. It will be very difficult, if not impossible, to trace this birth.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

I have Martha McNeely (6th Gr Aunt) m to John Dickey both born in Antrim, Ireland. Martha is in my family tree as a sister to Robert McNeely (5th Gr Grandfather) B 1700 Muckamore, Antrim, Ireland. d 1766 Albemarle County, Virginia Colony, USA M. Dorotha Woods b 1718 Blue Ridge, Bedford, Virginia Colony, USA

Robert's Dad is Sir George McNeely, b 1680 Antrim, Ireland. [Possibly George David McNeely] D 1780 Antrim, Ireland m Sarah D Rutledge b 1 Dec 1797 St Peter's Mancraft, ENG d 1785

William McNeely (4th Gr Grandfather) b 20 Jun 1743 Albemarle, Virginia Colony (now W VA), d after 9 JUL 1810, m Rebecca Barnett 30 APR 1767 Augusta, VA d 1863 Noble TWP, Shelby County, Indiana Age 74

Any information on McNeely's in Ireland would be greatly appreciated.

     I have Robert McNeely as being born in Killinchy or possibly Muckamore and Christened in Killinchy Presbyterian. I was told his Christening records are at the Church but do not know how to get them. Would love to have a copy and a copy of birth certificate to determine parents names for certain. And go farther back in tree.

Thank you,  Marjorie

Marjorie McNee…

Muckamore and Killinchy are some distance apart. Muckamore is about 25 miles north of Belfast and is in Co. Antrim and Killinchy about 25 south and in Co. Down. If George was a “Sir” ie a knight or baronet then I’d usually expect him to have been Church of Ireland (ie Anglican). So it’s slightly surprising for the family to have used a Presbyterian church.  

As it happens no denomination in either parish has any records for the period you need. Killinchy has 5 or 6 churches.  Killinchy Non Subscribing Presbyterian church’s records only start in 1812. In Muckamore the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian church both just have records from 1845. So if either place of birth is accurate I don’t think you will find any baptism records for 1680-1700 or thereabouts.

If George was a Sir, then he ought to be listed in Burke’s Peerage. You can search that on-line for a fee.

Researching in Ireland in the 1700s and earlier is very difficult indeed.  Very few records exist and it’s almost impossible. The brief information you have given suggests that the family are not of Irish origins and are therefore likely to have settled in Ireland some time in the 1600s, from England or Scotland. If Presbyterian, then they are almost certainly from Scotland. If the family moved from Ireland to Virginia in the early to mid 1700s then that also points to Scots origins. The majority of the settlers who went from Ireland to North America at that time were Presbyterian. They tend to be known as Scots-Irish in North America and Ulster-Scots here in Ireland.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

My husband has researched for me and gone back as far as 1628 re:David McNeely born in Atrim co. Ulster Ireland. 

His son David, was born in 1650

Married Lucinda Cooper

 

His son George, was born in 1680. 

Married Sarah Rutledge

All in the same place. 

I have found a coat of arms, but I have no way to check on its authenticity.

Michele White

My 4th great grandmother is Jane McNeely. Born 1777 County Antrim, Ireland. She married Patrick Marion and they moved to the US somewhere around 1819 with their children. I would love to know about her parents or relatives. 

Mariah Bowen

Know this is a bit of a while back, any other updates on this thread? I've taken a BigY 700 and STR 111 DNA test and relate exclusively to 3 other McNeely men and it looks as though we all share a potential common ancestor with George McNeely. In my case our line experienced some form of a non paternal event i.e. adoption, different father in the late 1600s to potentially early 1700s in flip from McNeely to Phillips. Was hoping to connect with someone in this thread to continue research !

Phillips-McNeely

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