HOME

Major Ridge Main Page

The McNeir Family
[Other spellings include McNair, McNeer, McNear, McNaire, and McNaier]

McNeir Crest (Scottish)

by Paul Ridenour
Updated 08/29/2023

Most of the McNeirs from William and Agnes (Paschal) McNeir were born in Texas
 

The McNairs, McNears, and McNeirs, etc., were not numerous enough to have their own clan.  They were considered to be a subset ("sept") of the following three clans:  Mac Farlane, Mac Naughton, and Mac Nab.  This McNeir family is associated with the Mac Farlane Clan.

Dorothy McNeir Horner writes below:

Beginning in 1923, James Birtley McNair published MCNAIR, MCNEAR, AND MCNEIR GENEALOGIES.  I am aware of supplements for  1928, 1955, and 1960.  In the 1923 edition, McNair stated in the preface that "In this book is given the legends which show that the McNairs are a division of the MacFarlane clan and that their home was on the borders of Loch Lomond, Scotland.  It is also shown that the name Macnayr has been found on documents as early as 1390 and that a coat-of-arms was given by King Robert Bruce to a chieftain of the McNairs at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314."
 
James Birtley McNair described two legends of the MacFarlanes, one supposedly from the reign of James III, and the other from "before the days of King Robert the Bruce."  Both legends deal with a dispute between two brothers.  In one legend the dispute was over a horse, and in the other legend it was about a young woman.  Both legends describe a clan split between followers of a legal heir and followers of a younger brother.  Supporters of the rightful heir were known as "Clann an oighre -- children of the heir; hence the MacNuirs and MacNairs...are regarded as septs of the Clan Farlane," according to James Birtley McNair. 
 
Much depends on whether one believes oral history may give a rough, but fundamentally truthful, account of past events. 

=====================================================

Thomas McNeir (1743 - circa 1801) married Ann Nancy Burgess (1743 - ) on 10/1/1765
(Dottie Ridenour's 5th great grandparents)
 Thomas McNeir was a Sergeant in the American Revolution from Maryland
Source: Revolutionary Patriots of Maryland 1775 - 1783 A Supplement, by Henry C. Peden, "Thomas McNeir, of Frederick County, sergeant in the Frederick German Artillery c1782" and DAR Patriot Index, "Thomas McNeir born circa 1747 married Ann Nancy Burgess Sgt  MD."
Revolutionary Patriots of Anne Arundel County, Maryland / Henry C. Peden, Jr. 1992  "McNear (McNeare) Thomas - Private in Captain William Marbury's Co. of Artillery in 1778. Thomas signed Oath of Allegiance before the Hon. Richard Harwood, Jr., on 3/1/1778." (P. 131)
Children:

        Sarah McNeir (11/18/1767 - )

        Jane McNeir (4/22/1769 - )

        Ann McNeir (7/22/1770 - ) married William Green on 6/22/1793

        George McNeir (7/9/1774 - ) War of 1812 / Fort McHenry / Same battle with Francis Scott Key  married Charlotte Little.
        Featured on Ancestry.com's TV show "Who Do You Think You Are" on 8/20/2013. George McNier ia actor Chris O'Donnell's 4th great grandfather.
        Children:

        Elizabeth Campbell McNeir (1805 - ) married John McEnnis
        Children:

       Michael McEnnis

William Burgess McNeir (8/3/1766 - )

Thomas McNeir (8/3/1766 - ) War of 1812 - married Elizabeth Coberth on 1/12/1788
(Dottie Ridenour's 4th great grandparents)
Children:

William McNeir (1798 Annapolis, MD - 1865) married Mary Ann Maccubbin (1798 - 1856) in 1821
[War of 1812 - private in Capt. Andrew Slicer's Co., 22nd Rgt., Maryland Militia]
http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc5400/sc5496/051600/051622/html/51622bio.html
Children:

Elizabeth Ann McNeir married Ralph Poultney

Mary Rebecca McNeir married Abraham Vanhoy Zane on 6/26/1845
Children:

William Fayette McNeir Zane
Abraham Vanhoy Zane, Jr.
Anthony Morris Zane
Maria Antoinette Zane - descendent Virginia (Gigi) Hoffman Baroco email
Mary Rebecca Zane
Isabel Malvine Zane
George William Zane

James Boyle Tyson McNeir - descendent Deb Cablao is researching this family

Julia Virginia McNeir married Fayette Davidson

Isabella M. McNeir married Charles Bacmeister

William Thomas McNeir

George Alexander McNeir (7/6/1837 - 3/20/1918) married Margaret Emma Henning (5/1840 DC - 1911) in 1864
Children:

Charles Spottswood McNeir

Emma McNeir married James Edgar Smith

Laura E. McNeir married James Wiley

George Thomas McNeir (5/28/1794 Annapolis, MD - 6/1/1857 DC) War of 1812 - married Elizabeth Thompson (1796 - 10/1/1867) on 9/1/1816
3rd Lt, 51st Regiment, Maryland Militia
(Dottie Ridenour's 3rd great grandparents)
Children:

Thomas Shepherd McNeir (11/16/1817 DC - 1/16/1886) married Emily R. Schwrar in 3/1842
Children:

Elizabeth Katurah McNeir
Mary Thompson McNeir
Emily Schwrar McNeir
Sallie Maury McNeir
Annie Jones McNeir
Emily Maury McNeir
Laura J. McNeir
Thomas S. McNeir
Lola McNeir
George McNeir (6/29/1860 DC - ) married Meda Burrows (10/16/1857 - ) on 10/12/1881
Children:

Burrows McNeir (6/30/1882 DC - ) married Carolyn Conkin (1897 - ) in 7/1912
Children:

Almeda McNeir (8/20/1913 NY - )
George McNeir (8/15/1915 NY - )

Thomas Shepherd McNeir (4/28/1886 - ) married Helen Janvier McKinney (8/8/1889 - ) on 4/5/1911 in Troy, OH
Children:

Elinor Katrine McNeir (7/15/1913 NYC-)

William McNeir (10/14/1864 - ) married Ethel Atlanta Young (2/11/1869 - ) on 10/3/1893

Joseph Rollins McNeir (9/29/1819 - 3/24/1878) married Priscilla Leonard

Mary Elizabeth McNeir (3/5/1821 - 1/7/1823)

Elizabeth McNeir (11/18/1822 - 1/17/1823)

George McNeir (2/6/1824 - )

Lydia McNeir (10/2/1825 - 1825)

Sarah Maria McNeir (9/20/1826 - 3/12/1902) married #1 Jourdan W. Maury #2 Samuel F. Phillips

Elizabeth Quest McNeir (12/28/1831 - 7/10/1894) married Robert Otto Israel

Ann Claude McNeir (12/11/1833 - 6/12/1918) married Jno. W. P. Myers

William McNeir (7/3/1836 - 8/8/1879) married Agnes Paschal (9/23/1847 - 3/15/1928) on 10/5/1871
(Dottie Ridenour's 2nd great grandparents) (Pictures)
Children:

John Forest McNeir (10/27/1872 - 10/27/1872)

Forest Waldemar McNeir (8/16/1875 - 5/9/1957 Houston, TX) married Stella Louisa Frick ( - 11/29/1971) on 2/24/1905

Waldo Forest McNeir (9/13/1908 - 7/26/1991) married Corinne Crawford ( - 1/25/1987) on 9/14/1935
Children:

Clarence Crawford McNeir (6/27/1944 - 3/14/1996) married Pat Tyburzey in 3/1963
Children:

Christopher Kevin McNeir (9/27/1963 - )

Eileen "Gwinnis" Heather McNeir (5/11/1968 -) married Kevin Douglas in 1996 (divorced)

Jeffrey Stephen McNeir (11/3/1970 - )

Stella Mary McNeir (6/14/1912 - 3/1993 Africa) married Philip Andrew Walker on 9/6/1938

R. W. McNeir (11/17/1914 - 9/29/1975) married Helen Adele Owen ( - 3/7/1997) on 4/2/1937
Children:

Jean Hunter McNeir (11/12/1937-) married Ellis Gordon Marshall on 12/23/1956
Children:

Ellis Gordon Marshall, Jr. (9/1/1957 - ) married Kathy Marie Taylor on 5/31/1980
Children:

Jennifer Nicole Marshall (5/26/1983-)

Matthew Taylor Marshall (9/13/1987-)

Derek Gordon Marshall (7/16/1990-)

Daryll Wayne Marshall (5/25/1964 - ) married Robin Denise Roberts on 5/26/1990
Children:

Parker Eli Marshall (1/10/1992-)

Jantzen Leigh Marshall (11/30/1993-)

Macy Jae Marshall
(9/1/1995-)

Craig William Marshall (9/29/1968 - ) married Terri Lyn Layton on 6/1/1991
Children:

Jordan Kathryn Marshall (11/23/1999 - )

Barbara Ann McNeir (11/10/1942 - )

R. W. McNeir, Jr. (1944 - ) married Sandra Leigh Magness on 4/5/1975
Children:

Tonya Michelle McNeir (12/2/1977 - )

George McNeir (3/13/1917 -5/24/1986) married Evelyn Jane Francis on 8/17/1942
Children:

Forest McNeir (7/31/1948 - )

Virginia Louise McNeir (10/17/1922 - 8/25/1985) married Oliver Addison Taylor, II. ( - 9/9/1988) on 11/17/1944
Children:

Stella Mary Taylor (11/1/1945 - )

Oliver Addison Taylor, III. (1949 - ) married Sherry Johnson in 1976
Children:

Oliver Addison Taylor, IV. (5/28/1976 - )

Elizabeth Virginia Taylor (11/8/1951 - )

Gary Edward Taylor (1/9/1953 - ca. 2000) married Patti Weatherred on 6/2/1984

George Paschal McNeir [Paschal McNeir] (9/9/1877 - 9/24/1963) married Sarah Edith Hogan (1877 - 6/20/1963) on 11/1/1905
(Dottie Ridenour's great grandparents)
Children:

Kathryn Agnes Paschal McNeir (10/18/1906 Smith Point, TX - 12/24/1998) married #1 Charles Martin "Jake" Nelson ( - 10/4/1970) on 6/8/1925
Children:

Mary Edith "Wicki" Nelson (11/10/1930-5/10/2016) married Floyd Wayne Scott on 9/24/1950
Children:

Pamela Kathleen Scott(12/11/1952 - )
married #1 Theodore Russell Moore in 2/1971

married #2 John Burke
Children:

Sarah Edith Scott (7/24/1983-)

married #3 Richard Vance Vannoy in 1991

Ruth Elisabeth Nelson (12/20/1931 - 8/23/2023 NM) married #1 Bennie V. Stanford ( - 1/27/1989)
Children:

Janet Elisabeth Stanford (11/28/1951-) married #1 Calvin Shirk on 12/5/1970
Children:

Edith Elisabeth Shirk (6/20/1972 - 1/30/2020) married Kenneth Dale Melton on 5/3/2003

Russell Alan Shirk (6/13/1975-) email married Rebecca Lyn Martinson on 9/20/1997
Children:

Elisabeth Marie Shirk (3/30/1999 - )
 Samantha Lyn Shirk (10/16/2000 - )

Carrie Renee Shirk (11/17/1976-) email
Children:

Jarron Bronte Shirk (4/2/1997)
Benet Agnes Shirk-Major (1/9/2000 - )

married #2 Charles David Deems on 9/5/1998

Andrea "Jeneane" Stanford (3/7/1954 - 9/4/2017) married #1 Richard Jarvis on 5/29/1975
Children:

Tabitha Jeneane Jarvis (1/27/1981 - )
Richard Jake Jarvis (12/28/1982 - )

married #2 Frank Benavidez on 9/12/1998

Nelson Alan Stanford (6/3/955-) married #1 Valerie Lindberg in 10/1975
Children:

            Elaine Nicole Stanford (4/25/1976 - )

married #2 Barbara Hamilton in 11/1997
Children:

            Nelson Alan Stanford, Jr. (3/26/1978 - )

Michael A. Stanford (6/3/1955 - 6/3/1955)

Laurie "Denise" Stanford (11/6/1960 - ) married John Campbell on 5/23/1981
Children:

Joshua William Campbell
(9/27/1986-)

Lindsy Denise Campbell
(12/17/1988-)

Benjamin Stanford Campbell
(12/6/1993-)

married #2 Billy Gene Hendrix on 12/16/1995 at Chieftain's Museum in Rome, GA

married #2 James Charles Roberts ( - 1951) on 7/20/1940
Children:

Margaret Anne Roberts (7/3/1941 - ) married #1 Louis Berneir on 4/2/1960
married #2 Clarence Edward "Eddie" Benge
Children:

Gregory Stuart Benge (8/2/1962 - )
married #1 Monica June Taylor on 1/25/1982
Children:

Heidi Michelle Benge

married #2 Dawn Annette Steele in 6/1988
Children:

Dallas Megan Anne Benge (5/9/1989-)

Sydney Edelyn Benge (12/3/1991)

married #3 Marie Galvan in 3/1994
Children:

Geremiah Sebastian Benge (7/28/1994-)

married #4 Charlotte Kimzey on 11/7/1997

Debra Lynn Benge (7/3/1964 - 2/18/1989)

Elsie Lorraine Benge (2/14/1966 - )
married Joseph Elwood Craigen
Children:

Becca Danielle Craigen (7/26/1994-)

Susan Agnes Roberts (12/26/1943 - 11/4/1998) married Larry Nevills
Children:

Richard Christopher Nevills (3/18/1967-)
married Sherry Lynn Franks on 3/1/1984
Children:

Bradley Andrew Nevills (10/14/1984-)

Amber Nicole Nevills (8/28/1987-)

Ruby Kathryn "Katie" Agnes Nevills (8/27/1970-)
married William Doyle "Sonny" Earnest, Jr. on 2/7/1992
Children:

Tara Agnes Earnest (10/23/1991-)

married Charles Edward Isaac, Jr. on 3/20/1999

married #3 Richard Lee Stuart (3/8/1898 - 5/9/1986) on 5/23/1952

Edith Lenore McNeir - born Wallisville, TX (4/26/1910 Wallisville, TX - 5/20/1992) married #1 Otto Gersbach ( - 10/10/1946) on 11/7/1930
Children:

Floyd Rodger Gersbach (12/12/1931 - 6/16/1978) married Johnnie Mae (Chumley) McAfee on 1/24/1959
Children:

Barbara Lynn Gersbach (4/4/1962 - ) married David Flowers on 3/28/1979
Children:

Sylvia Dawn Flowers (7/28/1982 - )

Johnnie Otto Gersbach (9/30/1959 - ) married Billie Jean Hiesler in 1982
Children:

John Sheldon Otto Gersbach
(11/16/1982 - )

Barbara Louise Gersbach (4/15/1935 - 2/16/1997) married David M. Stanford on 6/6/1953
Children:

Cynthia June Stanford (11/2/1955 - 10/8/1973)

Melody Leigh Stanford (1/25/1959 - )

Amy Elizabeth Stanford (7/20/1960 - )
married John Stubee
Children:

John Aam Stubee, Jr. (9/26/1978-)

married Eugene Julius "Sunny" Schwab, Jr.
( - 10/25/1998)

married #2 Rueben M. James on 1/19/1959

Margaret Celeste McNeir (4/26/1910 Wallisville, TX - 7/11/1910 Anahuac, TX)

George Watie McNeir [Watie McNeir] (9/23/1914 Galveston, TX - 11/27/1987 Garland, TX) married Louise Mozelle Hansen (1913 - ) on 6/21/1934
(Dottie Ridenour's grandparents)
Children:

Ridge Watie McNeir (9/23/1937 - ) married Rev. Marjorie Gail Egan on 6/10/1961
Children:

Michael Ridge McNeir (4/21/1962 - )

David Glen McNeir (11/11/1963 - ) married Catherine Reid on 6/28/1992

Kellie Diane McNeir (3/11/1969 - ) married Neil Stevens Ullrich on 11/30/1990

Dorothy Louise McNeir (12/30/1939 - ) [DAR 837556 via George Paschal]  married #1 Hubert Julian Doyen on 9/5/1959
(Dottie Ridenour's parents)
Children:

John Randolph Doyen (9/11/1960 - )

Dorothy "Dottie" Louise Doyen (10/13/1962-) married Brian "Paul" Ridenour (3/12/1960 - ) on 11/1/1986

Desiree Deirdre Doyen (2/25/19?? - )

married #2 William Berghane "Jack" Horner on 3/24/1974

Mary Catherine McNeir (5/6/1840 - 5/6/1840 )

 


William McNeir (10/14/1864 - )(married Ethel Atlanta Young)


George McNeir (1860 - )(married Meda Burrows)
(brother of William McNeir (1864 - )


Emily "Agnes" Paschal, daughter of George and
Sarah (Ridge) Paschal, with husband William McNeir (1835 - 1879)

Emily "Agnes" (Paschal) McNeir, sons George "Paschal"
McNeir, and Forest McNeir (San Antonio, Texas, 1903)


Paschal McNeir, son of William and Emily
"Agnes" (Paschal) McNeir, seen here with
Cora Mae Hanson (circa 1931-32). Paschal's
son Watie married Cora's sister Louise Hanson.
Cora is the mother of famous jazz guitarist Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Vandelinder, III)


George Paschal McNeir and Sarah Edith Hogan McNeir


Forest W. McNeir buried with his wife and four of his children in the Forest Park
Lawndale Cemetery in Houston, Texas.



William McNeir buried next to his wife Emily Agnes (Paschal) McNeir in the McNeir Cemetery in Smith Point, Texas.


McNeir Cemetery, Smith Point, Texas - Sarah (Ridge) Paschal Pix buried in front of the back tree

McNeir Cemetery Historical Marker Dedication


Dorothy (McNeir) Horner and relative Chris McNeir


Forest W. McNeir Family (L to R - Stella Mary, George, Forest, Waldo, Stella, Ralph, and Virginia)


L to R: Emerson Francis Woodward (E. F. Woodward), Hank Hausmann, C. W. "Claude" Olney, C. W. Dupuis (or C. L DuPuy), and Forest McNeir - circa 1935

The photo above appeared in a book published in 2005 called "From Black Gold to Bluegrass" by Fred B. McKinley and Greg Riley. The book was about the Yount-Lee Oil Company of Beaumont, Texas, and E. F. Woodward was the largest stockholder.  Fred McKinley found the photo from this webpage.


This picture of Forest McNeir [bottom right] hangs on an office wall of the Carnegie Foundation.  It is autographed by Andrew Carnegie.