Notes: Jane Campbell McNeill came to America in 1774 on the ship Ulysses, and it appears she came as a widow after William died in Scotland. The ship's passenger list shows a Jane McNeill with children; her husband William, though, is not in the passenger list. It is believed Jane married Neill after the Revolution because their families were on opposite sides of the conflict, however, since their first child "Marsh Daniel" was born in 1778, that belief appears to be another error of oral tradition. Indeed, much of the lore surrounding Jane Campbell and her husbands appears to be oral tradition and erroneous. This is understandable, even predictable, since the interrelationships and re-use of christian names of her two families along with the children of Neill, her second husband by his first wife, is convoluted. Therefore, any oral history about this mixed-up family is suspect, because certain points of the traditional narrative do not stand up to the written, original records.
    "Fiddler Hector" McNeill was a Lieutenant in the First N.C., enlisted 1 September 1775, but deserted 3 February 1776 and joined the Scottish Loyalists only to be captured at Moore's Creek. He escaped, but he did not escape his war record which states, "Hector McNeil, Lieut. ... Destd to ye Torys Feb. 3, '76 Condemed by a Court Martial, March '76. Escaped." The records show his first wife was named Jane, and his second, Ayles. Traditional stories say his first wife was Eunice McNeill. I now believe Ayles to have been the daughter of James McNeill of Rockfish Creek.

3. "Fiddler Hector" McNeill
Lt. First NC American Army; joined
1775 but deserted Feb. 1776 to join
the British; was captured at Moores
Creek; tried, court martialed,
imprisoned, condemned to
hang. Escaped.