Neil McKeith
ID # 3736, (1796-)
| Birth | Neil McKeith was born in 1796 at Scotland. |
| Marriage | He married Mary Brown. |
| Note | The History of the County of Middlesex, Canada, 1889, page 504, makes mention of the earliest settlers in Lobo Township and states that Neil McKeith, among others, came to the township from Scotland in 1820. An old resident, John Brown, was the source for this information and he placed the origins of these settlers as being in Argyllshire, and the following two petitions would indicate that this is the case. See microfilm C-2202, Vol. 303, Bundle M 12, petition 550, dated 11 September, 1820, at York, which tells that he, Neil McKeith, is a farmer newly arrived from Lismore, Argyll, Scotland, and that he is petitioning for 50 acres. On the same microfilm, volume and bundle, under petition 544, is a petition to the crown for 100 acres and this is filed by Duncan McKeith. He states that he is a native of the parish of Lismore in Argylshire and he asks for 100 acres of land and says he is unable to pay the fees for more than that quantity. This petition is dated 12th September, 1820, at York. He is probably Neil's brother. Notations on the petition file covers indicate that the petitions were granted. This does not tell us where they were granted, but since both are present in Lobo Township at the time of the 1842 census, this is likely where their grants were located. While circumstantial, the notion that Neil and Duncan were related is strengthened when we look at microfilm C-2142, Vol. 311a, Mc Bundle 1, 1841-1842, petition 129. In 1842, Duncan McKeith petitions Lord Sydenham to grant him title to the south half of lot 10 on the 7th concession of Lobo Township. He states that it was that of a relative of his, Hugh McQuorquodale, who accompanied him from Scotland. Not long thereafter, Hugh had been taken with dysentery and Duncan took him into his home where he was cared for until his death. Duncan apparently took care of any duties, but was then informed that he had to wait 20 years in the event a closer family claiment came turned up. The documentation is extensive, some of it being illegible, but two items are signed by Neil McKeith, who was apparently able to sign his own name. Beyond this, see Men of Upper Canada, Militia Nominal Rolls, 1828-1829, Elliott, Walker, and Stratford-Devai, 1995, The Toronto Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society, page 154. Duncan and Neil McKeith appear as turning out for Captain McKenzie's Company. This is for the 4th Regiment Middlesex Militia. The area from which persons are drawn includes Lobo Township. Find-a-Grave shows a photo of Duncan McKeith's gravestone in Hume Cemetery, Coldstream, historic Lobo Township, in Middlesex County. The gravestone states that he died October 20, 1851, and gives his age as 58 years. Lobo Township is now part of an enlarged township called Middlesex Centre. The village of Komoka is in historic Lobo Township. Coldstream is there as well. |
Child of Neil McKeith and Mary Brown |
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| Last Edited | 6 May 2017 |