Family Bible of Amanda ROSS (nee McNEIL); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Barbara Petree . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Submitted by Barbara Petree in whose possession this Bible remains. Names included: McNeil, Ross, Porter, Young, Skillen, Criswell, Morrow, Foreman This book is presented to Mrs. Amanda Ross by her father Andrew McNeil - with the following history of her ancestry which is believed to be nearly correct. On the paternal side, we go back to Samuel McNeil, who with his wife Sarah Skillen about 1740 emigrated from the north of Ireland, and settled in what is now Chester County in Pennsylvania. They were of scotch descent & being Presbyterian united with what was then known as the Presbyterian Church of "New Londonderry" but now known as "Faggs Manor". They had three children- one daughter & two sons - Her daughter married a Mr. Kyle of whom nothing now is known. The other son, Alexander - the great grandfather of Amanda Ross was married to Miss Ann Porter about the year 1770. They had six sons and five daughters - who all lived to manhood & womanhood & several of them to advanced life. Andrew, the grandfather of Amanda Ross died in March 1867 in the 89th year of his age; and one of his sisters, Jane Brisben is now (1869) living in the state of Illinois. Andrew - the grandfather of Amanda Ross - married Miss Margery Young in the January of 1799 - she was born in Tyrone County Ireland & had been in America about eleven years. They had ten children - Three of whom died in infancy. Samuel - their oldest died single - in the year 1821 in the 22d year of his age; Ann, their 2d child died in infancy - William - their 3rd served in the American Army in the great rebellion of 1861 - and died (leaving several children) in the year 1867 being about sixty four years old. Alexander the 4th child of Andrew & Margery died in infancy. Sarah McCarter - their 5th is now living on a part of the old homestead in Chester Co Pa. John Young - their 6th child now owns the old homestead of his father. Andrew their 7th child and father to Amanda Ross - married Miss Mary Criswell in Feb. 1839 and emigrated to Ohio in the autumn of 1838 and in Sep 1839 - removed from Tuscarawas Co O to Union Co O and at this writing is a resident of the latter county. James Alexander, the 8th child of Andrew & Margery died in 1840 leaving a family. Rebecca Chapman, their 9th child died in 1848 leaving a family. Daniel, their 10th child died in infancy. On the maternal side of Amanda Ross we can only trace back to her grandfather, Issac Criswell.of Chester Co. Pa, who, about 1799 married for his 2d wife - Miss Martha Morrow - by this marriage 8 children were born; of who Mary the mother of Amanda Ross, was the sixth. It is worthy of record here that the foregoing ancestry- that is Samuel & Sarah Mcneil; Alexander & Ann McNeil, Andrew & Margery McNeil and Isaac & Martha Criswell were all members in full communion of the Presbyterian Church of Faggs Manor in Chester Co, Pa. and that their bodies rest in the cemetary of that Church. Of the childres of Andrew & Margery - Sarah, John Y, Andrew, James A & Rebecca were members in full communion of the same church. ______________________________________________________________________ Amanda Ross father Andrew McNeil born March 12 1811 mother Mary Criswell born Nov 11 1809 Family Record Andrew McNeil & Mary Criswell were married Feb 28th 1833 in Chester Co PA Hugh Ross & Amanda McNeil were married Jan 10 1861 Union Co Ohio Amelia Alice Ross daughter of Hugh & Amanda Ross married May 24th 2888 to James Sterling Hunter Hoover in Union Co O. The Rev. Wm. G. March D.D. officiating Births Hugh Ross - son of William and Ala Ross born January 24 1822 Amanda 2d wife of Hugh Ross & daughter of Andrew & Mary McNeil born October 19 1841 Martha eldest daughter of Hugh & Amanda Ross born April 13 1862 William Andrew, son of Hugh & Amanda born Jan 29 1864 Catharine - daughter of Hugh & Amanda - born June 1 1865 Amelia Alice - daughter of Hugh & Amanda born Dec 28 1867 Isabel daughter of Hugh & Amanda born March 17 1870 Deaths Hugh Ross died July 27 1871 (a Christian-greatly loved) Amanda - 2d wife of Hugh Ross died Feb 22 1879 Isabel daughter of Hugh & Amanda Ross died Aug 23 1871 Catherine daughter of Hugh & Amanda Ross died Aug 26 1886 And on the last page: Martha Ross born April 13 1862 William Andrew Ross born Jan 29 1864 Catharine Ross born June 1st 1865 Amelia Alice Ross born Dec 28 1867 Isabel Ross born March 17 1870 Francis R Foreman born May 21st 1875 and died Feb 15th 1876 - suffer little children to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.