General John McNeil, USA

John McNeil, son of John McNeil and Lucy Andrews, was b. in Hillsborough, New Hampshire on Mar. 25,1784; he m. with ELIZABETH ANDREWS PIERCE, dau. of Gov. Benjamin Pierce and Elizabeth Andrews. She was b. Aug. 9,1788 in Amherst, New Hampshire. She d. Mar. 27,1855; he d. Feb. 23,1850 in Washington, D.C.

Children were: John Winfield Scott (2/17/1817-9/11/1837), Frances Maria (c1818), Benjamin Pierce (1/20/1825), and Elizabeth Andrews.

Private with Baldwin's Company, Stark's Regiment: Battle of Bunker Hill.

From Stories of Wisconsin No 34 By M M Quaife: "Once during the War McNeil was sent under a flag of truce on a mission to the British Army. The business concluded, he was about to start upon his return when a British officer, who was a small man, begged permission to ask a question: "Any question you like, sir," was the answer. "Pray sir, what is your height?" asked the officer. " Six feet six inches in my stockings" "And what is your weight?" About 300,sir," "Are there many men of your size in your country?" " I am ranked as a man of no uncommon stature; I am the youngest in my family and the smallest of them all." "Then may the Lord have mercy on the British Army", was the officer's response. (This is, of course, an anecdote and there is no real data that such a conversation occurred BUT it is recorded that he was indeed 6'6" and at least approached 300 pounds.....AND it's a nice tale to tell.

The son of Lieutenant John and Lucy McNiel, John McNiel was born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. Commissioned a captain in the US Army ,he served with distinction in the 11th Infantry Regiment on the Niagara Frontier during the War of 1812.. He served as commander of Ft. Mackinac, Michigan for several years. His military career started before the War of the Rebellion and continued for 18 years. He quickly rose in the ranks and, in the battles of Chippewa and Niagara or Lundy's Lane, was advanced to Major, and that he, in the brief space of twenty days, should have received two brevets for his conduct upon the field of battle. In the Battle of Lundy's Lane he was wounded by a cannister shot which shattered his right knee. In April 1830 he was appointed by President Jackson Supervisor of the Port of Boston, which position he held until his death. He was a man of striking appearance, being six feet and six inches in height, such as his grandfather. During his time at the frontier post at Fort Dearborn it was noted that he was a competitor of General Scott for being the tallest and heaviest man who was ever in the American Army. He died in Washington, Feb 23,1850

• History of Hillsboro 1735-1920 by George Waldo Browne, Vol 2, pg 393-394
• http://www.nps.gov/bost/historyculture/upload/bh%20roster.pdf
• Franklin Pierce and American Democracy by Peter Wallner of the NH Historical Society, pg 14
• Early Chicago, Fort Dearborn: An address delivered at the Memorial Tablet, Chicago Historical Society pg 24
• http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/warheroes/mcneilj.html