CHARCOAL's GREAT, GRAND-DAUGHTER, ETHEL WILLIAMS MEETS KENNETH McNEILL

Ethel Jane WILLIAMS (my husband's mother) went to visit her cousin, Alan Mitchell (son of James Alexander Mitchell and Catherine (Kate) Jenkins) and his wife Molly, on a large sheep property called  "Maxwelton" situated about 500kms west of Townsville, Queensland. The township of Maxwelton was established as a railway stop for the Great Northern Line in 1909 and became a bustling goods and stock centre. While she was staying on the property Ethel met Kenneth Duncan McNEILL, (my husband's father) who was working there as an book-kekeper.
 

CLAN MACNEILL

The McNeills are descended from the Irish High King, Niall of the Nine Hostages. Tradition has it that Niall, a grandson of the last Irish King of this line, settled on Barra Island, on the west coast of Scotland, in about 1040 and founded the Scottish clan of Niall or MacNeill. It was not until 1427 that a formal charter for Barra was granted by David II to Gilleonan MacNeill, 9th Chief of Barra, ranking the MacNeils as Barons in the Kingdom of the Lords of the Isles. The clan motto of the McNeill of Barra is "Vincere vel mori - To conquer or die" and the badge is a rock.

THE McNEILL FAMILY

BIRTH OF KENNETH DUNCAN McNEILL
Kenneth Duncan McNeill (my husband's father) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the only son of Duncan Kennedy McNeill and Elizabeth Liddell HASTIE. He had a younger sister, Dorothy. Kenneth attended the George Watson College in Edinburgh, Scotland. He then went to Edinburgh University to study law, but left when he was 19 years old to go to World War One.

Kenneth enlisted in the Armed Forces in Edinburgh in 1915. He was appointed to the 3rd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders at Inverness, Scotland. On 25 May 1915 Kenneth was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders and was sent to Boulogne, France where the Battalion underwent further training in trench warfare. They were moved up to the front line of the Western Front and joined up with 81st Brigade of the 27th Division. 

At some time during the Second Battle of Ypres, Kenneth was wounded and was returned to England. In January 1916 Kenneth was appointed 2nd Lieutenant in the Special Reserve of Officers with the 4th Highland Light Infantry.

He later returned to France and was appointed to "A" Company of the 10/11th Battalion, 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division of the Highland Light Infantry. During the Battle of Passchendaele in July 1917 Kenneth was captured near Zonnebeke, about nine kms east of Ypres. Kenneth was to spend the rest of the war in a German prisoner-of-war camp and returned to England in December 1918. Kenneth migrated to Australia in 1920.

DUNCAN KENNEDY McNEILL

Kenneth's father, Duncan Kennedy McNeill (pictured on the right) was born in Aberdeen, Scotland.  His parents were Alexander Duncan McNeill (an actor) and Jessie Henry RYDER (an actress).

ALEXANDER DUNCAN McNEILL

Alexander Duncan McNeill (my husband's great, grandfather) was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. His parents were Alexander (an Advocate) and Anna Margaret TURNER, who were married in Edinburgh, Scotland. Alexander and Anna McNeill had six children: Anna Margaret, Alexander Duncan, Catherine Kennedy, William Dunn, Keith John and Grant Turner.

Alexander Duncan McNeill's parents were Duncan McNeill who married Catherine Kennedy in Glasgow in 1796. Duncan and Catherine had at least 3 children: Margaret born 1797 in Glasgow, Alexander Duncan born 1800, Glasgow and Catherine Duncan born 1802 in Glasgow, Scotland. Duncan was a grocer in Glasgow at the time of his marriage and at the time of the birth of his first son Alexander.

Margaret Turner's parents were Keith Turner of Turner Hall, Scotland, born 1768 and Anna Margaret Riddoch. Keith and Anna were married in 1794 and had at least two children;: John born 1796 and Margaret born 1798.

Alexander Duncan was an actor who had started his career in London where he  spent two years at the Lyceum Theatre, which was then under the management of Charles Dillon. He performed at Birmingham for a few years, where he became a popular actor in some of the leading roles. He then returned to Scotland and joined Corbet and Jessie Ryder's theatrical company in Aberdeen.

MARRIAGE OF ALEXANDER DUNCAN McNEILL TO JESSIE RYDER

Alexander McNeill married Janet (Jessie) Ryder (daughter of Corbert Ryder and Janet (Jessie) Fraser) in Edinburgh.

At the time of his marriage Alexander was living at 34 Dublin Street, Edinburgh and Jessie was living at 33 London Street, Edinburgh, though her usual residence was stated as Aberdeen.

In 1862 Alexander Duncan McNeill took over management of Corber and Jessie Ryder's theatrical company untill 1869, when he then became the manager of the Princess's Theatre in Edinburgh. In 1869 Alexander also wrote a play called "The Gloamin and the Mirk".

ALEXANDER AND JESSIE McNEILL'S CHILDREN

Alexander and Jessie McNeill had eight children: Corbet Ryder, William Alexander, George Powell, Anna Margaret; Alexander; Grant Turner, Duncan Kennedy and James Henry.

DUNCAN KENNEDY McNEILL'S MARRIAGE

Duncan McNeill married Elizabeth Liddell HASTIE in Edinburgh.(pictured on the right)
 

THE HASTIE FAMILY

Kenneth's mother, Elizabeth Liddell HASTIE was born in Edinburgh. Her parents were James HASTIE and Ann LIDDELL. James Hastie's parents were John HASTIE (a farm servant) and Isabel HENRY, who were married at Cockburnspath, Berwick, Scotland. John and Isabel Hastie had six children: Margaret; James; Agnes; Mary; John and Sophie.

MARRIAGE OF JAMES HASTIE AND ANN LIDDELL

James HASTIE married Ann LIDDELL in Edinburgh, Scotland. At the time of his marriage James was living at 8 Chalmers Building, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh and he was a tailor.

JAMES AND ANN HASTIE'S CHILDREN

James and Ann had four children: Annie Laurie; John; Isabella Agnes and Elizabeth (my husband's grandmother)

THE LIDDELL FAMILY

Ann Liddell's parents were James LIDDELL (a carrier) and Ann LAURIE.  James and Ann Liddell had at least two children: Thomas and Ann.                              

DEATH OF KENNETH and DOROTHY McNEILL'S PARENTS

Kenneth's mother, Elizabeth died in 1910 and his father, Duncan died in 1913. As a result of their deaths, Kenneth went to live his paternal uncle, George Powell McNeill and Dorothy went to live with her maternal Hastie relatives.

MARRIAGE OF DOROTHY McNEILL AND ROBERT DODDS

Dorothy married Robert DODDS. They had two children Robert and Dorothy.
 

KENNETH McNEILL'S INTERESTS IN THE THEATRE

George McNeill, who was a Barrister at Law, also had a profound love of the theatre and he financed many stage productions. Kenneth's paternal grandfather and grandmother were actors and Kenneth inherited this interests in the theatre. He spent a lot of his spare time at the theatre with his Uncle and he learned the art of make-up, as well as many other aspects of play production.
 

Copyright © 2005, Carol McNeill, , c/- PO, Morayfield, Qld, Australia, 4506. Original content in these pages is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be produced by any process, or other exclusive right exercised without written permission of the copyright holder.