Capt. James Neale

James Neale is the son of Ralphael Neale and Mrs Jane Baker Forman. Born Drury Lane, London. He married Anna Maria Gill, Daughter of Benjamin Gill and Mary Mainwaring, 1657. Children are Dorothy, Henrietta Maria, Anthony, James, Jane.

The Neale family of Charles Co, MD with the backgound and position which it held in England and Later in the colonies, takes its place among the leading aristocratic colonial families in America. Captain James Neale of Drury Land, London and Wollaston Northamptonshire England. James Neale , a royalist maintained an enviable position at the court of Charles I and later in the colonies, married Ann Gill who was said to have been a lady in waiting to Queen Henrietta Maria. Both of these families go back to the nobility of England.

On 25 Jul 1641, Celilius, Lord Baltimore, requested his brother, Gov Leonard Calvert to survey for James Neale, Gent a manor of 2,000 acres with full manorial rights. Neale named his manor Wollaston after his paternal grandfathers lordship in Northamptonshire, and it was accordingly laid out on the west bank of the Wicomico River on the neck formed as the river meets the Potomac.

As a young man, James Neale was almost at once appointed to posts of trust and importance. Within the year after his arrival, he was made a member of his Lordships Council and commissioner of the Tresurey. In 1642 he seems to have imprudently connived at the escape of his fillow-Captain Ingle, who had been arrested on a charge of "highe treason". Neale swore he was not guilty and the Council believed him. In 1644, He was commissioned a magistrate of the local court. After 18 Sep 1844, however he returned to England and was in Europe as a merchant and as an ambassador for Charles I at the Spanish and Portugese Courts and as a agent for the Duke of York. Some of his children were born in Spain. He next appered in Maryland in 1661 with a letter from Lord Baltimore that permitted him to have back all the lands he had abandoned, provided he paid up the accrued quit rents. He had been sent back to Maryland to expell the Dutch, but before Maryland decided to act, the British warships in the harbor of New Amsterdam had forced the Dutch to surrender.

In 1661 James Neale was sworn a Councillor. He was later Deputy governor. In 1666 Neale petioned for the naturaliztion of four of his children who were born in Spain during his residence there. One of these children was Anthony Neale. The petition was granted the next year. Captain Neale represented Charles Co, Md in the house of Burgessses in the year 1666 and perhaps later.

Besides the four children born in Spain, Capt Neale had a dau Jane, apparently born after 1661 when he returned to Maryland, Jane married William Boreman.

In Aug 1682 a pre nuptial agreement was made between Capt Neal and William Roswell of St Mary's, Gent whereby he made a deed of gift of a portion of his manor to Neale's Son Anthony, in consideration of his bethrothal to Elizabeth Roswell the dau of William.

His will dated 17 Nov 1683 was probated in Charles Co, Md 19 Mar 1684

Neale, James, 27th Nov., 1683;

29th Mch., 1684.

To sons James and Anthony, gifts of land, etc., confirmed.

To grandson Raphael Neale, 100 A. is Charles Co.

To grandchild., viz., Roger, James and Dorothy Brooke, Jane Boarman, dau. of William and Jane Boarman, and Jas. Lloyd, personalty.

To wife Anne, son Anthony, and daus. Henrietta Maria Lloyd and Jane Boarman, residue of estate, equally.

Exs.: Wife Anne and son Anthony afsd.

Test: John Darnall. 4. 40.

See The Maryland Semmes and Kindred Families, p 294 (see citation under notes of his father James Neale):

LIEUTENANT ANTHONY NEALE

16-- - 1723

Anthony Neale, second son of James and Anne (Gill) Neale, was born in Spain while his father was residing temporarily in the Iberian

Peninsula. Being brought to Maryland at a young age, he was subsequently

naturalized and granted all the rights of a British subject.

About 1680 he married Elizabeth, daughter of William Roswell, of St. Mary's County, and his wife Emma, one-time widow of William Johnson. William Roswell by his will, dated September 17, 1694, and probated on May 14, 1695,

devised his grandson, Roswell Neale, 500 acres of "St. Winifred" after the

death of the testator's widow, Emma, and to his grandson, Anthony Neale,

265 acres of "William's Folly," and to his third grandson, Thomas Neale, 200

acres of "The Meadows."

Children of Anthony and Elizabeth (Roswell) Neale

1. Roswell Neale married (1) Mary Brent and (2) Elizabeth Blackistone.

2. Anthony Neale, no further record.

3. Thomas Neale, no further record.

4. Raphael Neale, born 1683, married Mary Brooke.

5. James Neale, died without issue 1719.

His wife, Elizabeth, died young leaving minor children, and he married secondly Elizabeth, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Sewell) Digges. His mother-in-law, Madam Elizabeth Digges, dating her will September 30 ,1705, bequeathed legacies to her daughter, Elizabeth Neale, and appointed her son-in-law, Anthony Neale, as the executor. The instrument, however, was not proved in Charles County until June 17, 1710. He was likewise named the executor of the will of his brother-in-law, Edward Digges, who died in 1714 in Prince George's County, when he devised land lying at the head of Port Tobacco Creek to his nephews, Henry and Edward Neale, and various bequests to his sister, Elizabeth Neale, and his niece, Mary Neale.

Children of Anthony and Elizabeth (Digges) Neale

6. Henry Neale, accepted Holy Orders, died 1767.

7. Edward Neale married Mary Lowe.

8. Mary Neale

9. Charles Neale married Mary Smith

10. Bennett Neale, accepted Holy Orders.

He participated in the Nanticoke Indian War on the Eastern Shore and for his services he was voted 830 lbs. tobacco by the General Assembly. (Archives of Maryland, vol. 7, p.101.) On January 20, 1686/7, he was recommended by Captain Randolph Brandt as a lieutenant in the provincial militia. (op.cit. vol. 5, p. 539).

His will, dated November 20, 1722, was probated in Charles Count y on

July 12, 1723.

Personalty to the following priests -- Thomas Mansell, William Hunter,

John Bennett.

Personalty to George Newman and James Gates.

To son Raphael "William's Folly" and personalty.

To son Henry if he does not enter the priesthood, 1/5 of personal

estate, but should he take Holy Orders or die during minority , his

portion to testator's four younger children -- Edward, Charles ,Bennett,

and Mary.

To son Edward one-half of dwelling-plantation "Aquenseek" and personalty

including the silver chalice and the suit of church stuff -- t oremain

in the dwelling house for the use of the family.

To son Charles residue of "Aquenseek" and personalty.

To son Bennett in event he does not enter priesthood, lease of 20 0acres

and 1/5 of personal estate, but if he should take Holy Orders o r die

during minority to testator's four younger children.

To sons Edward and Charles the store house and lot in Chandler Town bought of Philip Hemsley and Mary his wife.

Executors -- sons Edward and Charles.

See also SOCIETY OF COLONIAL WARS IN THE STATE OF MARLAND, Vol II ,Francis Barnum Culver, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1940/1997, pg 369: "NEALE, Anthony, 1659-1723 (Md.) Lieutenant of Charles Co., Md .Militia, 1687."

It is only a guess that he is buried on his property at Wollaston Manor in Charles Co, MD. This grave site is no longer present. The area of where James was possibly buried is now a huge housing development. His property has been turned into a huge golf course on the water with homes all around. It is called Swan Point. As far as I know it is unknown as to where James Neale is even buried. There is a grave site in the area just before entering the housing/golf course area. There are a few Neales buried there.

James married Anna Marie Gill, daughter of Benjamin Gill and Mary Mainwaring. (Anna Marie Gill was born in 1630 in England, died on 03 Jun 1698 in Charles Co., MD and was buried about 06 Jun 1698 in Wollaston Manor Cemetery, Charles Co., MD.)