Hector McNeill

Hector McNeill (1728-1785) was an Irish born emigrant to the British colonies in America who became a Merchant Marine for the British Crown before during and after the Seven Years' War. He later became the third ranking officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War.

McNeill was of Scotch descent and born in County Antrim, Ireland on October 10, 1728. At the age of nine he emigrated to Boston in the American colonies arriving there September 7, 1737. He received his education in Boston's public schools. On November 12, 1750 he married to Mary Wilson in Boston's Presbyterian Church. Their first son was named Robert, born April 12, 1752 who died in September the following year. In November their next son, Hector Jr. was born. Two other daughter were born soon after.

McNeil entered the King's service as a merchant marine in April 1755 and was given command of a ship that tool General Monckton to Nova Scotia where he remained during the siege of Beausejour. He returned to Boston in October that same year. At year's end, just before the beginning of the Seven Years' War he was commanding a vessel that was captured by Indians allied with the French in Passamaquoddy Bay and taken north to Quebec as a prisoner. After a prisoner exchange he was able to acquire another ship and worked in the New England coastal trade.

After the war he continued sailing a number of merchant ships between Quebec and Boston, including the sloop Phonix with a large number of passengers in April, 1765 and the sloop Fanny and Jeany in November 1766. He also commanded the sloop Brtittania and Swallow in 1767 and 1768 respectively.

Mcneill's first wife died on February 7, 1769. He remarried on December 26, 1770 to Marry Watt with whom he shared a daughter, Sarah.

Before the beginning of the American Revolution, McNeill was living in British-held Quebec. When war began Governor-General Guy Carleton demanded he either join the militia for the British or leave the colony. McNeill left and was soon transporting supplies to the American army's invasion of Canada under General Benedict Arnold. McNeill continued in this role for several months until British reinforcements caused the Americans to retreat from Canada.

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