McNEILL .--The origin of this family in America was with two brothers, John and Archibald McNeill, who emigrated from Scotland in 1770. Archibald was a physician, and settled in Georgia. John was a General in the British army. He took leave of absence, and settled in Kent county, Maryland. When the war began, which ended in the American Revolution, General McNeill was ordered home to duty, but refused to go, his sympathies being with the colonists. He aided them all he could without entering the army. At one time some American officers were at his house in consultation. Gen. McNeill discovered a man at the window eavesdropping. He walked back and forth by the window, and at a favorable moment plunged a cane through the glass into the face of the eavesdropper, who escaped with the loss of an eye. Gen. John McNeill had two sons, Archibald and John, the latter of whom had two sons, who were among the early settlers of Sangamon county, and are the subjects of the following sketches:--

McNEILL, FRANCIS A., born Jan. 1, 1809, in Allegheny county, Md.

McNEILL, WILLIAM, born Aug. 15, 1811, in Cumberiand, Allegheny county, Maryland.