Charles E. Neale

Rev. Charles E. Neale, 1803-1891
Prepared by John Minnoch, 6 November 2005

Charles was born on 30 Oct 1803 at Boddington Manor House, Boddington,Gloucestershire, England. He was the third and youngest son of theRev John Neale and Anne (Blagdon) Neale. His father was Vicar ofStaverton with Boddington. Charles was baptized on 26 Mar 1805 atBoddington, England.

In June 1820, Charles articled to a Mr. Newman. No furtherexplanation is available.

Charles entered the University of Oxford at age 24 on 15 Oct 1828, thesame date that he matriculated into Queen's College at the university. He received a B.A. degree on 13 Jun 1832. The College Entrance Bookgives his address as Boddington Manor House, near Cheltenham.

Charles was Curate of Staverton with Boddington, under his fatherVicar John Neale, from 1833 to 1835.

In 1836, Charles' address was at 40 Derby Road, Nottingham, England,and he was assisting a Mr. Robinson with his parish at Widmerpoolwhile Mr. Robinson was away and recovering from health problems.Charles was married at the time. He had applied for and was acceptedinto the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel missionary servicein the West Indies.

In 1836, Charles and his wife departed England for an assignment inthe West Indies as a missionary. Charles was in the West Indies for 9years. It is believed his first wife died about 1839, and that hemarried his second wife, Catharine Eliza Beeman on 30 Nov 1839 atNassau, Bahamas. Catharine was born on 23 Jun 1821 and baptized on 7Apr 1822 at St Peter's Church (Anglican), St George's, Bermuda,Atlantic Islands. Her parents were Joseph and Mary Beeman.

While in the West Indies, Charles served as an out-island missionaryfrom 1836 to 1839. In February he sailed from Nassau, Bahamas, toTurks Island, where he was inducted as Rector of St. Thomas Parish,Turks Island (Grand Turk), Turks & Caicos Islands, about 25 March1839. St. Thomas is an Anglican church in Cocksburn Town. The churchis the oldest in the Turks & Caicos Islands and was built by settlersfrom Bermuda. One historical account suggests that the church wasbuilt with stone from the old quarry nearby and wood imported fromBermuda.

In a letter, 3 Apr 1841, from Francis Eve, Acting StipendiaryMagistrate for the Turks Islands, to Her Majesty's Governor at Nassauregarding the welfare of 192 slaves shipwrecked on the Trovadore whileon their way to Santiago, Cuba, it was noted that Charles Neale wasresponsible for the Christian education of these slaves.

Two of his children were born at Grand Turk Island, Turks & Caicos.Thomas Cranmer Neale was born 15 Feb 1841, and Sarah Churchill Nealewas born 20 Jul 1843.

Charles remained at Turks Island until 1843 when he was assigned tothe Church Mission as an out-island missionary. He held this positionuntil 1845 when he, his wife and two children returned to England.

By letter of 1 Aug 1845, while on leave and living at 6 CarringtonStreet, Nottingham, England, he resigned from the Society's mission inthe West Indies due to his poor health. He became Curate at Hathern.His signature is recorded in parish records in 1846 when he presidedover services. His daughter, Amelia, was born 5 May 1846 at Hathern,and was baptized on 14 Jul 1846 at Loughborough, Leicestershire,England.

In a letter to his sister, dated 4 Jul 1846, Charles Neale and hisfamily were at St Katharine's Docks, London, awaiting to sail to NorthAmerica aboard the packet ship Gladiator. The family arrived at NewYork aboard the Gladiator on 6 Aug 1846, and disembarked on 7 Aug1846.

In 1847, Charles bought a cottage, which he named Belle-Vue, on 30acres which was located on the Niagara River at Queenstown, Ontario.In 1851, he said he could see the construction of a new suspensionbridge at Queenston from his property. Daughter Mary Ann Isabel Nealewas born at Belle-Vue on 17 Aug 1848, and son Charles Edward Neale wasborn at Belle-Vue on 2 Nov 1850.

In a series of letters between 1846 and 1851, to his sister Mary inCheltenham, England, Charles explained that it was necessary for himto change his profession from a pulpit minister to farmer because ofhis failing voice and a nervous condition.

Daughter Catharine was born on 2 Sep 1853, and daughter Anna was bornon 19 Jun 1856, in Ontario.

Charles sold 9 acres of Lot 7 to James Durham (who also owned Lot 9),by deed, stating that it was 9¾ acres, just outside Queenston on theNiagara River. The deed is dated 23 Aug 1854, and cost 250 pounds.

In 1861, Charles is shown to be living in Gainsborough, Canada, withhis wife Catharine, and children Thomas, Sarah, Amelia, Mary, CharlesJr, Catharine, and Anna. All are shown to be evangelists, WesleyanMethodist, and living in a log cabin. Amelia died in August 1861 atage 15 and is buried at Smithville Union Cemetery, Ontario.

In 1876, Rev. Charles Neale is known to own 50 acres of landapproximately 1 mile east of Caistorville, Caistor Township, LincolnCounty, Ontario. The property lies north of Chippewa Creek. MillCreek and an east-west road passed through the center of the property. Another road bordered the north property line. The house was sitedon the north side of Chippewa Creek. Thomas Neale, Charles' son,owned land two properties to the east of Rev Neale's property.

Rev Neale died 6 Mar 1891 at Caistorville, Ontario, Canada. He wasburied on Sunday, 8 March 1891, in the Methodist Cemetery adjacent tothe present Caistorville United Church.

In his obituary (believed to be in either the Hamilton or StCatharines newspaper sometime after 8 Mar 1891), it was noted thatafter retiring from active work in the ministry, Rev Neale occupiedthe pulpit for other brother ministers, no matter of whatdenomination. His granddaughter was Mrs. W.P. Sutherland (Nellie B.Neale) of Welland Avenue, this city.

His Will states that he owned 93 acres, NE part of lot Number 14, 2ndConcession, Caistor Township (St. Catharines Public Library,Application Number 1498, Grant Number 149).