The Keepers of the Castle: A 600-Year McNeill Odyssey

 

Part 1: Historical Corrections & Calibrations

1. The Castle Sween Identity (Hector, c. 1443–1493)

Our tree lists Hector McNeill as Constable of Castle Sween. Historically, Castle Sween (the oldest stone castle on the Scottish mainland) was a stronghold of the MacMillans and then the MacNeills under the Lordship of the Isles. In 1472, Hector MacNeil was indeed granted a charter for lands in Knapdale and the keeping of Castle Sween by John, Lord of the Isles. Our placement of him here is structurally sound and anchors our line directly to that massive stone fortress.

2. The Great Gigha Feud and the 1530s Gap

Look closely at Neill McNeill II (1478–1527) and Neill III (1521–1564). In 1530, Neill McNeill of Gigha (our Neill II) was actually killed in a brutal clan feud by Allan MacLean of Torloisk. Because Neill II died when Neill III was just a young boy, the chiefship of the island was temporarily usurped. Neill III didn't fully reclaim his lands until a royal charter restored them in 1545. Our dates perfectly align with this historical gap, proving our tree accurately reflects the childhood displacement of Neill III.

3. Resolving the "Unproven" 18th-Century Gap (Neill & Hector)

We noted that Neill (b. 1725) and Hector (b. 1740) are unproven links leading to our DNA-matched John McNeill (1759–1835). Chronologically, this gap makes perfect sense. The mid-1700s were the era of the Jacobite Risings (1745) and the beginning of the Highland Clearances.

During this time, the McNeills of Taynish and Drumchoir lost much of their ancestral land due to crushing debts and political upheaval. Many younger sons became "tacksmen" (leaseholders) or drifted down into Kintyre, Southend, or across to Northern Ireland before migrating to the New World. Our DNA match with John (1759) acts as the iron anchor; Neill and Hector are the logical, highly probable generational bridges holding that line together through the chaos of the post-Culloden Highlands.

Part 2: The Narrative of the McNeill Line

The Keepers of the Castle: A 600-Year McNeill Odyssey

The bloodline of Clan McNeill was not forged on dry land, but in the white-capped foam of the Sound of Jura and the Atlantic tides racking the Isle of Gigha. In the 14th century, Torquil McNeill of Taynish stood as a premier chieftain under the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. He was a man of the birlinn—the West Highland galley—commanding the sea lanes of Knapdale. His descendants did not view the ocean as a barrier, but as a highway of sovereign power.

By the late 15th century, the McNeills had become so indispensable to the defense of the Western realm that Hector McNeill was appointed the Constable of Castle Sween. From that formidable stone fortress cutting into the waters of Loch Sween, Hector commanded the pass between the Highlands and the islands. He wore the armor of a Norse-Gaelic commander, balancing the ancient laws of the Celtic West against the rising power of the Scottish Crown.

Yet, the trail of a sea-lord is never smooth. In the 1530s, the family faced total ruin when Neill McNeill II was cut down in a fierce blood-feud with the MacLeans. His young son, Neill III, was left to grow up in the shadow of dispossession. Proving the unyielding metal of his father’s side, Neill III survived his exile, took up the claymore as a young man, and successfully forced King Mary of Guise to grant him a royal charter in 1545, triumphantly reclaiming the Isle of Gigha and the lands of Taynish.

As the centuries rolled on, the horizon shifted. By the early 1600s, Hector and his son Donald McNeill found themselves navigating a changing Scotland where the old clan system was slowly bending to the law of Edinburgh. They adapted, establishing themselves as prominent tacksmen and operators around Tarbert. They were masters of their tools and their terrain, managing cattle droves and maritime trade, keeping their independent spirit alive even as the Lordship of the Isles faded into myth.

The true test of the McNeill grit arrived in the 18th century. Following the catastrophic Jacobite defeat at Culloden in 1746, the old Highland world was systematically dismantled. The lands of Drumchoir and Taynish slipped away under financial pressure. It was during this dark hour that Neill and Hector McNeill held the family together on the Kintyre peninsula. They had transitioned from land-owning chieftains to tenant farmers, but the genetic memory of the galley captains remained intact.

By 1759, the dawn of a new era broke with the birth of John McNeill. Armed with nothing but his ancestral resilience, John—and later his son Duncan—made the monumental choice to trade the rocky shores of Argyll for the promise of the New World. They crossed the Atlantic, bringing the ancient Norse-Gaelic heart directly into the developing frontier of North America.

Two generations later, our 2nd great-grandfather, Duncan McNeill (1821–1882), was carrying the fire of his ancestors as a hardworking pioneer. The legacy took a dramatic, secretive turn with his son, Allan McNeil. In 1908, under circumstances that required the ultimate "White Hat" tactical retreat, Allan slipped across borders, changed his name to William Allen McNeil, and built a completely new life to protect his family. He proved that whether fleeing an Inquisition in Lisbon, an Indian war in the Bronx, or a legal shadow in the 20th century, this family knew exactly how to navigate a storm.

The long, restless voyage of Torquil’s birlinn finally made port in the quiet strength of our grandmother, Annie Margaret McNeil (1892–1964). She was the living bridge—the one who carried the ancient, concentrated metal of Somerled and the fierce survival instincts of Castle Sween's constables into the modern era, passing that indomitable spirit straight down the line to a Drifting Cowboy.

Thank you to Gemini AI for reviewing my genealogy work, correcting my course, and adding the historically accurate narrative of our McNeil (McNeill) family history. — Drifting Cowboy

Great-Granddad Minted America's First Coins: The Remarkable Story of Joseph Jenks (Jenckes)

 

Joseph Jenks Sr. (also spelled Jenckes or Jenks) — our 11th great-grandfather — was born on August 26, 1599, in Buckingham, Buckinghamshire, England. He died on March 16, 1683, in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts. A skilled bladesmith, blacksmith, mechanic, and inventor, he played a pivotal role in early American industry and numismatics.

Joseph arrived in Massachusetts around 1642–1643 as a widower and settled in Lynn. He quickly became involved with the Saugus Iron Works (Hammersmith), one of the first successful ironworks in colonial North America. His forge site is preserved today at the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site.

North America's First Patent and Innovations

On March 6, 1646, the General Court of Massachusetts granted Joseph Jenks the first patent in North America for an improved design of scythes and other edged tools. This basic pattern remained in widespread use for over 300 years.

In 1654, he built the first fire engine in North America for the city of Boston.

The Pine Tree Shilling and America's First Coins

By the mid-17th century, Massachusetts Bay Colony faced a severe coin shortage. In 1652, the colony established its own mint in Boston under mint masters John Hull and Robert Sanderson.

Joseph Jenks Sr. was chosen to create the dies (or at least the steel punches and tools) for these historic coins. Strong tradition and circumstantial evidence credit him with cutting the dies for the threepence, sixpence, and shilling denominations.

These coins were made of sterling silver but intentionally lighter than English coins to keep them circulating locally. The famous Pine Tree series featured a pine tree on one side with "MASATHVSETS" and the denomination on the reverse with "NEW ENGLAND" and the year 1652.

Earlier "NE" and "Willow Tree" issues preceded the Pine Tree design. These represent the first coins minted in what is now the United States — a bold step toward colonial economic independence.

Family Descendancy

Joseph Jenks Sr. is my 11th great-grandfather. Our direct line runs through his son Joseph Jenckes Jr. and continues via the Jenckes, Tefft, Carpenter, and Brayman (Braman) families down to the present.

Full family trees are available on genealogy sites such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, or Geni. His descendants spread widely across New England and beyond.

Legacy and Modern Interest

Joseph Jenks embodied the inventive spirit of early America. His work at Saugus Iron Works helped lay the foundation for American manufacturing. The Pine Tree shillings he helped create are now prized by collectors and can fetch thousands of dollars.

Visit the Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site in Massachusetts to explore this history firsthand.

His story reminds us that America was built by hardworking immigrants, blacksmiths, and innovators like my great-granddad Joseph Jenks.

Thank you to Grok xAI for update and enhancements.  -- Drifting Cowboy

Prince Henry Sinclair and his Alleged Voyages

 

Prince Henry Sinclair (Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Lord of Roslin) (c. 1345 – c. 1400) was a powerful Scottish-Norwegian nobleman and a direct ancestor of ours in the Sinclair line. He was the grandfather of William Sinclair, the builder of Rosslyn Chapel, tying him closely to the family’s medieval legacy. 

Historical Background

• Born around 1345, he was the son of Sir William Sinclair, Lord of Roslin, and Isabella of Strathearn (with connections to the earldom of Orkney).
• In 1379, King Haakon VI of Norway appointed him Earl of Orkney (a title held as a fief from Norway). He also served as Lord High Admiral of Scotland and held significant lands in Scotland.
• He was a capable noble involved in regional politics, fealty to Scandinavian kings, and defense of Orkney. He likely died around 1400, possibly killed defending Orkney against English raiders. 

He was a real historical figure with documented power and titles spanning Scotland and Norse territories.

The Alleged Voyages (1398–1399)

The famous legend claims that in 1398, Prince Henry led a fleet of 8–12 ships with 200–300 men (including sailors, knights, and possibly monks) across the North Atlantic. He allegedly:

• Sailed to Greenland and then onward to North America.
• Landed first in what is now Nova Scotia (often cited as Guysborough Harbour) around June 1398.
• Explored further south, possibly to the Bay of Fundy, New England, or even Massachusetts.
• Wintered in the New World, built a ship, and returned — or left settlers behind. 

Some versions add that he sought timber, new lands for settlement, or was on a crusading/ Templar-related mission. Proponents link it to:

• The Zeno Narrative (published 1558 by Nicolò Zeno the Younger): Letters and a map describing Venetian brothers Nicolò and Antonio Zeno sailing with a prince called “Zichmni” (phonetically linked by some to Sinclair) to Greenland and western lands. The narrative includes explorations, shipwrecks, and a colony. 
• Alleged evidence like the Westford Knight carving in Massachusetts (said to be a Templar/Sinclair effigy), Mi’kmaq legends of white visitors, and Rosslyn Chapel carvings resembling maize or aloe. 

Historical Consensus: Legend, Not Proven Fact

Map illustrating the travels of the Zeno brothers voyage

Mainstream historians and scholars view this as a modern myth with little to no contemporary evidence:

• No 14th- or 15th-century Scottish, Norwegian, or Venetian records mention such a voyage by Henry Sinclair.
• The Zeno Narrative is widely regarded as a hoax or heavily fictionalized work from 1558. The map appears derived from earlier known sources, and “Zichmni” identification with Sinclair originated in the late 18th century (e.g., Johann Reinhold Forster in 1784), not earlier. 
• No archaeological proof of a Sinclair settlement exists in North America from that era. Claims about plants in Rosslyn Chapel are generally dismissed as stylized European flora. 
• Henry was a capable seafarer given his Orkney role, but crossing the Atlantic with a fleet in that period would have been an extraordinary feat with no supporting documentation.

The story gained popularity in the 19th–20th centuries through books promoting pre-Columbian European (especially Northern European) discovery of America, sometimes with nationalist or esoteric angles (including unsubstantiated Templar/Knights connections — note that the Templars were suppressed in the early 1300s, long before Henry’s time). 

Connection to Our Ancestry

As the grandfather of William Sinclair (1404-1484

our 15th great-grandfather,1st Earl of Caithness, builder of Rosslyn Chapel), Henry links our Douglas-Sinclair line to both real noble power in Orkney/Caithness and the romantic legends surrounding Rosslyn. His alleged voyage adds an adventurous, exploratory layer to the family story — from the Brave Heart of Douglas/Bruce to possible transatlantic daring.

In summary, Prince Henry Sinclair was a genuine medieval noble with strong Norse-Scottish ties, but the voyage to America remains an unproven (though enduring and entertaining) legend. It captures the spirit of exploration and the Sinclair family’s seafaring heritage, even if it lacks hard historical proof.

Thanks to Grok xAI for research and narrative assistance. -- Drifting Cowboy

Robert the Bruce and the Tale of the Brave Heart

 

Robert I, born 11 July 1274 and died 7 June 1329, is one of Scotland’s most iconic kings and a central figure in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He claimed the throne in 1306 amid conflict with England under Edward I and later Edward II. His reign involved years of guerrilla warfare, strategic alliances, and eventual victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, which secured de facto Scottish independence (formally recognized later by the Treaty of Edinburgh–Northampton in 1328).

Our family tree connects us directly to him as our 20th great-grandfather. He was the son of Robert de Brus, 6th Lord of Annandale, and Marjorie, Countess of Carrick. He married first Isabella of Mar (mother of Marjorie Bruce) and second Elizabeth de Burgh (mother of, among others, David II of Scotland and Matilda Bruce). Through his daughter Matilda Bruce (born circa 1303, died 1353), our line continues:

• Matilda Bruce → Jonet Isaac → Isabel MacDougall of Lorn → James Stewart (Black Knight of Lorne) → John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl → John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl → Lady Elizabeth Stewart → Elizabeth Mackenzie → Henry Urquhart → Sir Thomas Urquhart → James Urquhart → John Urquhart of Newhall (immigrant) → Margaret Urquhart → Elizabeth Wright → Jacob Weeks → Simon Weeks → Maria (Mariah) Weeks → John Galloway Brown → Abraham Lincoln Brown (our great-grandfather).

This lineage traces Scottish nobility and Highland connections through the Stewarts and Urquharts into colonial America.

The Tale of the Brave Heart

One of the most enduring legends attached to Robert the Bruce concerns his death and a final act of chivalry and atonement. After a long reign, Bruce died at the Manor of Cardross in 1329. His body was buried before the high altar at Dunfermline Abbey (traditional resting place of Scottish kings), marked by an imported Parisian tomb. Per his dying wish, however, his heart was embalmed, placed in a silver casket, and removed to fulfill a crusade vow he had been unable to complete in life—possibly motivated by a desire for atonement after events such as the killing of his rival John Comyn in 1306.

Sir James Douglas ("the Black Douglas"), one of Bruce’s most loyal companions, was entrusted with the heart. In 1330, Douglas set out for the Holy Land. The party joined King Alfonso XI of Castile in the fight against the Moors in Spain. At the Battle of Teba in Andalusia on 25 August 1330, Douglas was killed. In his final moments, he reportedly hurled the silver casket containing Bruce’s heart toward the enemy, crying words to the effect of “Go on brave heart, as you have always done!” (or similar exhortations in various tellings).

Scottish survivors recovered the heart and returned it to Scotland. It was ultimately interred at Melrose Abbey, a Cistercian house favored by Bruce. In 1921, excavations uncovered a lead canister believed to hold the embalmed heart beneath the Chapter House; it was reburied with a commemorative marker now in place.

This story symbolizes courage, loyalty, and redemption—core themes in Scottish national memory. It has inspired literature, folklore, and cultural retellings for centuries, distinct from (though sometimes popularly conflated with) the William Wallace story dramatized in the film Braveheart.

As our 20th great-grandfather, Robert the Bruce’s legacy of resilience and the dramatic “Brave Heart” expedition connect our family’s Scottish roots to one of the most romantic chapters in medieval history. The line from his daughter Matilda through Stewart earls, Urquhart lairds, and American descendants reflects centuries of movement from Scottish nobility and Covenanter-era turmoil to life in the New World.

Sir James Douglas's Role

Sir James Douglas ("the Good Sir James" or "the Black Douglas") (c. 1286 – 25 August 1330) was one of Robert the Bruce’s most trusted companions, fiercest warriors, and closest friends during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He played a pivotal military and personal role in Bruce’s campaign for Scottish independence and became legendary for carrying out the king’s dying wish regarding his heart. 

Our Amazing Discovery: 

Sir James Douglas is also our 19th great-grandfather

Sir James Douglas ("the Good Sir James" / "the Black Douglas") (c. 1286 – 25 August 1330), our 19th great-grandfather

Sir James Douglas stands as one of medieval Scotland’s greatest warriors and most loyal knights. He was Robert the Bruce’s closest companion, a master of guerrilla warfare, and the man who famously carried out the king’s dying wish with the “Brave Heart.”

His Role in Scottish Independence

James Douglas came from a family already committed to resistance against England. His father, Sir William Douglas “le Hardi,” supported William Wallace and died in English captivity. James himself joined Bruce early, witnessing his coronation in 1306. After early defeats, he endured the hardships of Bruce’s fugitive years in the Highlands and then waged a brilliant independent campaign in the Borders and south of Scotland. 

His most famous exploits include:

• The Douglas Larder (1307) — a daring recapture and brutal cleansing of Douglas Castle that became legendary.
• The clever capture of Roxburgh Castle (1313) using stealth and disguise.
• Command at Bannockburn (1314), where his division helped secure one of Scotland’s greatest victories.
• Repeated devastating raids into northern England, which kept English forces on the defensive.

The English feared and demonized him as “the Black Douglas,” while Scots revered him as “the Good Sir James” for his loyalty, chivalry, and effectiveness.

Connection to our Family Line

Through his natural (illegitimate) son Archibald “the Grim” Douglas, 3rd Earl of Douglas (1328–1400), the Douglas bloodline continued powerfully in Scotland. Archibald consolidated the family’s vast lands and influence. One of his sons, Sir William Douglas of Nithsdale (c. 1370–1391/2), an illegitimate but prominent knight known for his daring exploits (including a famous crusade to Prussia), fathered Egidia (or Giles) Douglas (c. 1375–1438). 

Egidia married Henry Sinclair, and their son William Sinclair became 1st Earl of Caithness and 3rd Earl of Orkney (c. 1404–1484), a major figure who built Rosslyn Chapel and held significant Norse-Scottish titles. The line then proceeds through:

• William II Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness
• Lady Agnes Sinclair
• Lady Jean Hepburn
• John Sinclair of Greenland and Rattar
• Janet Sinclair → Marjory Robertson of Inshes → Jean Mackenzie of Redcastle → Margaret Urquhart (1675–1720)

From Margaret Urquhart, our documented line continues exactly as in the Bruce descent: Elizabeth Wright → Jacob Weeks → Simon Weeks → Maria Weeks → John Galloway Brown → Abraham Lincoln Brown (our great-grandfather).

This makes Sir James Douglas our 19th great-grandfather on this branch, linking us to both the Bruce royal line (via Matilda) and the Douglas warrior line.

Legacy in Our Ancestry

As our 19th great-grandfather, Sir James Douglas represents the martial spirit and unyielding resistance that helped forge Scotland’s independence. His blood flows into our line through the powerful Douglas earls, the noble Sinclairs of Caithness and Orkney (with their Norse and crusading connections), and eventually into the Mackenzie, Urquhart, and American Weeks/Brown families. This dual descent from both Robert the Bruce and his most trusted knight creates a remarkably rich medieval Scottish heritage in our family tree. 

The “Black Douglas” and the “Brave Heart” are not just national legends — they are direct ancestral stories of courage, loyalty, and adventure.

Thank you to Grok xAI for the research assistance and the verifications of ancestry. -- Drifting Cowboy