Terry & Nancy's AncestorsThomas Henry McNeill first went to Mississippi to tend his father's plantations there. He began purchasing his own lands in 1853, initially in the extreme southwestern corner of Coahoma Co. near his father's plantation in that area. He accumulated 1,945 acres on the Mississippi River there, including a gift from his father of 698 acres.
In 1857 he purchased 1,100 acres about ten miles north but still on the River, and sold the southern properties. He called the new plantation "Dogwood."
Notice in the map below how much changes in the course of the river have impacted both plantations. The southern one first lost much of its river-front property, then was totally cut off from the river when it moved to a more western course, leaving De Soto Lake running through the middle of it.
The northern one, "Dogwood," now has much of its land under the river, as the river has shifted right through the middle of it.
| Legend: | ||
| 644 acres purchased from School Commissioners 5 Dec 1853 | ||
| 524 acres purchased from Samuel B Eason, 2 Feb 1856 | ||
| Parcel given to him by his father, 22 Dec 1857 | ||
| Above parcels all sold to Goodloe W Malone, 31 Dec 1857 | ||
| 1,100 acres purchased from Henry H Beard, 31 Mar 1857 | ||
