Neill McDonald
Neill McDonald was born around 1838 in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to John and Janette McDonald. His father was a farmer and carpenter who owned $4,000 of real estate and $8,582 of personal property by 1860. He grew up and attended school in Cumberland County, and by 1860, he was attending college.
 
He enlisted in the Confederate army on June 17, 1862, and he mustered in as a private in Company A of the 5th North Carolina Cavalry two days later. The regiment took part in the Battle of Brandy Station and the Overland Campaign. Union forces captured him on April 30, 1863, in Bertie County, North Carolina, and he spent the next month as a prisoner of war. He was eventually exchanged, and he rejoined the regiment. He remained in the army until at least August 1864.
 
After the war, he returned to his parents’ household in Rockfish, North Carolina. By 1870, he was working as a farmer. He married Mary B. McFadgen on April 4, 1872, and their daughter Mary was born around 1878. He died on May 8, 1888.
5645
DATABASE CONTENT
(5645)McDonald, Neill18381888-05-08
  • Conflict Side: Confederacy
  • Role: Soldier
  • Rank in: Private
  • Rank out: Private
  • Rank highest: Private
  • Gender: Male
  • Race: White

Documents - Records: 1

  • (11763) [writer] ~ Neill McDonald to Sarah J. McDonald, 2 August 1864

People - Records: 6

  • (5645) McDonald, Neill is the [cousin of] (3233) McDonald, Sarah Jane
  • (5645) McDonald, Neill is the [cousin of] (4240) McDonald, Daniel L.
  • (5645) McDonald, Neill is the [sibling of] (4242) McDonald, Flora M.
  • (5645) McDonald, Neill is the [sibling of] (4246) McDonald, Catherine
  • (4253) McDonald, Eliza C. is the [cousin of] (5645) McDonald, Neill
  • (4255) McDonald, Mary Ann is the [cousin of] (5645) McDonald, Neill

Places - Records: 3

  • (299) [birth] ~ North Carolina
  • (2304) [residence in 1860] ~ Cumberland County, North Carolina
  • (3749) [residence in 1870] ~ Rockfish, Hoke County, North Carolina

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Regiments - Records: 1

  • (408) [enlisted] [A] ~ 5th North Carolina Cavalry
SOURCES

1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880 United States Federal Censuses, available from Ancestry.com; Military Service Records of Neill McDonald, available from Fold3.com