Capt. Richard Neeley

Richard NEELY - b. about 1785, Fairfield Co., SC; d. before Oct. 13, 1813, Bedford Co., TN; bur. in unmarked grave Parker Cemetery, Raus, Bedford Co., TN. Son of Richard NEELEY and Ann MOBERLY. On Mar. 25, 1804, as an orphan minor, Richard chose John PEARSON as his Guardian. On May 7, 1807, Richard sold 100 acres of land on McGraw's Creek, branch of the Little River, Fairfield Co., SC to John BOYD. This land is identified as being granted to "Richard NEELEY Senior" on Apr. 25, 1765 and surveyed on July 1, 1763, and included 50 acres received after his father's death, and probably 50 acres received after his mother's death. It would appear that the land sale was preliminary to Richard's removal to TN in 1807. When Richard moved with his brother Clement to TN in 1807, they both carried letters of introduction signed by Gen. John PEARSON. The letter for Richard, also signed by Gen. Richard WINN, apparently at a later date, read: "Whereas the bearer hereof Mr Richard Neeley a Native and inhabitant of this place being disposed to remove to the western country - These are therefore to Certify for him, that I have known him from his infancy to the present date, during all which time never have heard of anything alledged disrespectful to his character that he generally considered a good citizen an honest and industrious well disposed person. Given under my hands this 30th April 1807." A letter to him from John BOYD, dated Oct. 7, 1809, was addressed "To Mr. Richard Neeley, living on Thompson Creek waters of Duck River near the three forks, State of Tennessee." On Jul. 23, 1810 he was a Capt. in the 28th Reg't. In 1812 he was Capt. of the Militia returning the Bedford Co., TN tax list, which included Clement NEELY, Richard NEELY, and Elijah PARKER. Though there is no known record, it is possible that Capt. NEELY was killed in action during the War of 1812. An accounting of the estate sale for Richard NEELY is dated Oct. 9, 1813, and includes household goods, farm implements and livestock totalling $386.55 [another researcher gives the total as $389.76, with the difference possibly due to unclear figures or addition errs]. Among the buyers at the estate sale were his father-in-law Elijah PARKER, brother-in-law Samuel PARKER, brother Clement NEELY, and his widow's future husband James McGILL. Final settlement of the estate was acknowledged on Aug. 5, 1830 by Richard's son Elijah NEELEY's signed receipt of $171.00 from Elijah PARKER for "all demands on him as administrator to my father's Estate." Richard married about 1808 in TN.