Neil McLennan
Encyclopedia
Neil McLennan, an early Scottish-American settler of Texas
, was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland
on September 2, 1777, 1778 or 1787, and died in Texas in 1867. McLennan County, Texas
was named for him.
In 1801, McLennan and a large group of family and friends emigrated to Richmond County, North Carolina
, later moving further south to Florida
. The McLennans were Gaelic speakers and Presbyterians. Around 1820, they were invited by Yuchi
Chief Sam Story
to become the first white settlers in Walton County, Florida
. In December, 1834, Neil and his brothers Laughlin and John, along with some of their families and friends, emigrated to Texas, sailing a self-built three-masted schooner
from Pensacola, Florida
, to the mouth of the Brazos River
, where they arrived in March, 1835.
After a short stay at present-day Columbus, Texas
, Neil obtained a grant of a league of land at McLennan's Bluff (a mile west of present-day Rosebud
, Falls County
) in Robertson's Colony
in July, 1835, where he and his group settled. Laughlin McLennan and his wife and mother were killed in an Indian
raid the following winter, and John was kidnapped, but later returned, after which the McLennan group moved to the Robertson Colony's headquarters of Nashville-on-the-Brazos in present-day Milam County.
In 1845, Neil McLennan moved his family to a site on the Bosque River
near present-day Waco
, and he died at his home there in 1867, renowned as "the patriarch of the Bosque."
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, was born on the Isle of Skye in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on September 2, 1777, 1778 or 1787, and died in Texas in 1867. McLennan County, Texas
McLennan County, Texas
McLennan County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas. In 2000, its population was 213,517; in 2008 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated its population to be 230,213. Its seat is Waco. The county is named for Neil McLennan, an early settler....
was named for him.
In 1801, McLennan and a large group of family and friends emigrated to Richmond County, North Carolina
Richmond County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 46,564 people, 17,873 households, and 12,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile . There were 19,886 housing units at an average density of 42 per square mile...
, later moving further south to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The McLennans were Gaelic speakers and Presbyterians. Around 1820, they were invited by Yuchi
Yuchi
For the Chinese surname 尉迟, see Yuchi.The Yuchi, also spelled Euchee and Uchee, are a Native American Indian tribe who traditionally lived in the eastern Tennessee River valley in Tennessee in the 16th century. During the 17th century, they moved south to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina...
Chief Sam Story
Sam Story
Sam Story, also named Timpoochee Kinnard, was Chief of the Walton County, Florida, band of Euchee Indians in the early 19th century, who occupied the lands on and to the west of the Choctawhatchee River. His parents were Timothy Kinnard, a white man of Scottish descent, and an unknown Yuchi woman...
to become the first white settlers in Walton County, Florida
Walton County, Florida
Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324. Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at .- History...
. In December, 1834, Neil and his brothers Laughlin and John, along with some of their families and friends, emigrated to Texas, sailing a self-built three-masted schooner
Schooner
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being no taller than the rear masts....
from Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, to the mouth of the Brazos River
Brazos River
The Brazos River, called the Rio de los Brazos de Dios by early Spanish explorers , is the longest river in Texas and the 11th longest river in the United States at from its source at the head of Blackwater Draw, Curry County, New Mexico to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico with a drainage...
, where they arrived in March, 1835.
After a short stay at present-day Columbus, Texas
Columbus, Texas
Columbus is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States, west of Houston along Interstate 10, on the Colorado River. In 1890, 2,199 people lived in Columbus, Texas; in 1900, there were 1,824 residents. The population was 3,916 as of the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Colorado County...
, Neil obtained a grant of a league of land at McLennan's Bluff (a mile west of present-day Rosebud
Rosebud, Texas
Rosebud is a city in Falls County, Texas. The population was 1,493 at the 2000 census. As of July, 2007, the population was 1,348, an -8.4% change since 2000. Rosebud is the birthplace of NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson.-Geography:...
, Falls County
Falls County, Texas
Falls County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 18,576. In 2003, the population of the county was estimated to be 17,926. It is named for the waterfalls on the Brazos River, which can be found at the Falls On The Brazos Park, a campsite located only a few...
) in Robertson's Colony
Robertson's Colony
Robertson's Colony was an empresario colonization effort during the Mexican Texas period. It is named after Sterling C. Robertson, but had previously been known by other names...
in July, 1835, where he and his group settled. Laughlin McLennan and his wife and mother were killed in an Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
raid the following winter, and John was kidnapped, but later returned, after which the McLennan group moved to the Robertson Colony's headquarters of Nashville-on-the-Brazos in present-day Milam County.
In 1845, Neil McLennan moved his family to a site on the Bosque River
Bosque River
The Bosque River is a long river in Central Texas fed by four primary branches. The longest branch, the North Bosque, forms near Stephenville, and flows toward Waco through Hamilton, Bosque and McLennan counties. It is subsequently joined by the East Bosque in Bosque County and the Middle and...
near present-day Waco
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
, and he died at his home there in 1867, renowned as "the patriarch of the Bosque."
External links
- "Neil McLennan," The Handbook of Texas Online.
- "Neil McLennan," Biographical Enyclopedia of Texas, 1880.
- "McLennan's Bluff," The Handbook of Texas Online.
- McKinnon, John Love. History of Walton County. Atlanta: Byrd Printing, 1911. Online version available at this link through the Florida Heritage Collection of the State University System of Florida.
- Middleton, Carol. McLennan genealogy page on her web site, Heritage of the South.