[Ancestor] Neely

---

---

Husband [Ancestor] Neely

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

       Marriage: 

---

---

Wife

---

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

---

Children

---

1 M Paul Neely ^{1 2}

---

           Born:  - Bucks Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Frances Shupe (      -      ) 1

---

---

General Notes: Husband - [Ancestor] Neely

---

This family was founded in America by this man, a native of Wittenberg, Germany. The name was originally spelled Neighleigh; among the present variations are Naly and Neely.

Anaheim, Cal., Sept. 14, 1921.
Route 5, Box 55.
My dear Mr. Neely :
I am very glad indeed to find some one of the "Neely-Clan" who takes sufficient interest in matters of this kind to investigate them, for up to the receipt of your letter, I have felt myself to be playing a solo game.
From my father, I understood the Neelys came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland, from near Belfast. They were farmers specializing on flax and he gave me the impression that they wove the linen, though of this I am uncertain. (It was our Mother's people came from County Down).
Father told me the name was originally McNeely, they having dropped the "Mc" about the time so many north Ireland people did so. Unfortunately Grandfather Wm. Neely did not come to this country until 1808, and his father (also Wm. Neely) did not come until still later. Our record stands:
Grt. Gr. Wm. Neely born 1749, died 1845, aged 96 years.
Grt. Wm. Neely born 1784, died 1872, aged 86 years.
Father Wm. Neely born 1819, died 1907, aged 88 years.
My understanding is Grt. Gr. had two brothers who came to the U. S. much earlier than our family. Thomas who settled in Philadelphia and is the ancestor of the Thos. Benj. Neely, who is a Bishop of the M. E. Church; and a Joseph (one of the two brothers) who settled in So. Carolina, there being a man in Memphis, Tenn., a few years ago quite prominent in a business way who was of this family.
With kind regards,
B. NEELY REEVES.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 1520.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 750.