Notes for Thomas NEIL
History of Luzerne County Pennsylvania H. C. Bradsby, Editor S. B. Nelson & Co., Publishers, 1893
CHAPTER XVI. CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY.
FIRST ARRIVALS OF CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS-A RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WERE THE PIONEERS -MORAVIANS, PURITANS AND CATHOLICS IN THEIR ORDER-ETC.
Catholics.-The first priest that officially visited the Wyoming valley, so far as is now known, was Rev. James Pellentz, who traveled up the river as far as Standing Stone, Bradford county, in 1787 or 1788. He incidentally visited the few Catholics that were here at that time and probably reported to his superiors the conditions and the wants of the people along the river up as far as Elmira, making his longest stop, it is supposed, at Standing Stone, where he purchased property for £35. Father Dilhet passed over much the same route in 1805, from Sunbury to the Catholics at Frenchtown and further up, and administering, it is supposed, the church rites to the Catholics here in private residences.
Individual Catholics were here from the very first. A paragraph in Miner's history mentions "Thomas Neill, an Irishman of middle age, the most learned man in the valley-a Catholic, a high Mason [sic], fond of dress, remarkable for his fine flow of spirits and pleasing manners, a bachelor and a schoolmaster, he was a favorite." With characteristic bravery his Irish spirit broke out as the danger became pressing. "'The Yankees are the weakest party-the odds are against them; though I have no special interest in the fight, so help me heaven! I'll take a turn with them.' Marching out with Capt. McKarrigan's company, July 3, 1778, he fell." This is Mr. Miner's account of the chivalric Irishman. As to the facts of his death on the battlefield there is a mistake somewhere, as the inscription on the monument records Thomas Neill as one who survived the battle.
Thomas was not interested in the conflict on a personal level because he was not a part of the CT settlers to came to PA with the intentions of claiming the land for CT. He became involved because he lived there and the battles between the PA landowners and the native Americans were taking place where he was. According to Hannah's affidavit for her pension, Thomas participated in the skirmishes prior to his enlistment in the Army. The massacre took place after he enlisted and after his marriage to Hannah Avery.
He was listed with the vital records of Wilkes Barre as a taxpayer (August 1776-1778) Wilks Barre and Wyoming Valley. Although some records state that he was buried in Pittstown,I have found no evidence that his is buried with his wife and son.
The pension file of Hannah states that he served under Col. Zebulon Butler in the Wyoming Valley, PA Massacre, and that he was at Valley Forge the following Winter.
Records of recruits at Valley Forge Served from January 1778 to May of 1778
Personal ID: CT07829
LName: NEIL FName: THOMAS Suffix:
Ethnicity: Rank: SERGEANT Rank Type: NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER
State: CT Regiment: 4 CT Division: 1ST DIVISION
Brigade: RI BRIGADE Company: C
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