Robert MacNeill b.c.1797 Scotland

[iolair]

Hi,

I'm looking for a Robert MacNeill (McNeill, etc.) born about 1797/1798 in Scotland. He appears in Nova Scotia buying land with a James McTyre in Masstown, Nova Scotia. He married a Mary Crowe who's family was Irish and Ulster-Scot.

Robert McNeill m. 1821 to Mary Crowe
Children:
John b.c.1822, Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada
James A. b.c.1825, Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada d. Aug 22, 1843
Robert Lewis b. Nov 2, 1826, Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada
Joseph b. Sep 2, 1829, Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada
Rebecca Jane b.c.1832, Masstown, Nova Scotia, Canada
Barbara b. Sep 20, 1838, Masstown, Nova Scotia

In the Canadian 1871 Census he is living with his son Joseph and his family. At this time Robert is 73 years old, widowed his birth place listed is Scotland, his ethnicity is listed as "Scottish" and his religion as PCLP which I think is the "Presbyterian Church of the Lower Provinces". He was a shoemaker by trade and many of his descendants were shoemakers and one branch even started a pretty decent business.

I (and others) have been at a standstill as to his origins in Scotland. I'm not sure where to look in Scotland at this current moment in time.

I look forward to any responses,

Thanks,

Iolair

[StewL]

Hello iolair

I am sure someone will come along soon to help you.
Do you have any idea at all about where he was born in Scotland, doing a name search on SP header page brings up 13 in OPR's, but you would need to know where he was born.
He could have used the Scottish naming pattern for his children, that can help finding the parents of Robert and Mary.
Good Luck with your searching, it is addictive.

[iolair]

Hello iolair

I am sure someone will come along soon to help you.
Do you have any idea at all about where he was born in Scotland, doing a name search on SP header page brings up 13 in OPR's, but you would need to know where he was born.
He could have used the Scottish naming pattern for his children, that can help finding the parents of Robert and Mary.
Good Luck with your searching, it is addictive.

Thanks.

I don't really have an idea at all. His wife Mary has a pretty excellent pedigree in comparison. Her family was in Canada before him and they are pretty well documented in a book of the history of the area. But Robert just seems like he just randomly appeared in Canada out of nowhere.

It is rather frustrating.

[StewL]

Hi iolair
I did a search on SP for a Robert born around 1797 +- a couple of years.
Robert comes up in Stirling, Edin. Midlothian, Bute x 2, Perth, Kirkudbright.
With father’s named Alexander x 2, Robert x 2, Daniel x 1, James x 1, John x 1.
Mothers Elizabeth x 2, Marron, Margaret x 3, Christian.
But as I said previously it would be really helpful to find out where he was born in Scotland.
Maybe just maybe the naming pattern might help.

[iolair]

Hi iolair
I did a search on SP for a Robert born around 1797 +- a couple of years.
Robert comes up in Stirling, Edin. Midlothian, Bute x 2, Perth, Kirkudbright.
With father’s named Alexander x 2, Robert x 2, Daniel x 1, James x 1, John x 1.
Mothers Elizabeth x 2, Marron, Margaret x 3, Christian.
But as I said previously it would be really helpful to find out where he was born in Scotland.
Maybe just maybe the naming pattern might help.

A family that settled in Nova Scotia in a nearby town were "Lewis's from Scotland" and one of the earliest Lewis's I've found was a "Robert Lewis" b.c.1779 Kirkcudbright. The name "Lewis" pops up every now and then in the family tree. First with Robert MacNeill's son Robert Lewis MacNeill and some descendants also have the name Lewis.

I'm wondering how much play the naming pattern had. Some of the names seem to be on Mary Crowe's side too.

Thanks,
Iolair