Ellen Meshew McNeill1,2,3,4

Family Chart
ID# 2148, (1847 - 1928)
FatherThomas Henry McNeill5,6,7 (1 Aug 1821 - 29 Nov 1866)
MotherRebecca Ann Tuck8,9,6 (3 Oct 1824 - 22 Nov 1859)

Key Events:

Birth: 27 Dec 1847, Christian Co., Kentucky10,11,12
Marriage: 14 Dec 1869, Christian Co., Kentucky, John Boddie Crudup (19 Jul 1841 - 2 Jan 1899)13,14,15,16
Death: 1 Aug 1928, 130 Hillsboro, Raleigh, Wake Co., North Carolina5,11
Burial: 2 Aug 1928, Crudup Family Cemetery, Kittrell, Vance Co., North Carolina17,18
ChartsDescendants of Dr. Davis Green Tuck
Descendants of David Dutt/Toot
AncestryThe Dutt/Toot Family
The Tuck Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Ellen Meshew McNeill was born on 27 Dec 1847 in Christian Co., Kentucky.10,11,12
     She generally used her middle name, Meshew, even in some official records.2,19,20
     She moved to Coahoma Co., Mississippi, with her parents about 1848. The family has not been found in the 1850 or 1860 census, when they are believed to have been living there.21
     Her mother died on 22 Nov 1859, when Ellen was 11 years old.22,23,24
     Her father died on 29 Nov 1866, when Ellen was 18 years old.25,26,27,28
     Ellen married John Boddie Crudup, son of Rev. Josiah Crudup and Mary E. Boddie, on 14 Dec 1869 in Christian Co., Kentucky, with T. J. Randolph officating.13,14,15,16
     Ellen and John settled in his native North Carolina after their marriage. They appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Kittrells, Granville Co., North Carolina, in the household of Rev. Josiah Crudup and Mary E. Boddie, his parents.29

Inheritance from Her Grandfather --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Ellen was named an heir in the will of Malcom McNeill, her grandfather, dated 8 Nov 1873 in Christian Co., Kentucky, to receive, shared with her eight siblings, the northern part of his plantation in Christian Co., an 11½ acre lot in Memphis two miles outside that city, to be sold rented or divided as the executors thought proper, and the rents on five lots in Chicago. One of them had a four story house, one was vacant, and three which had houses before the great 1871 fire which were to be rebuilt by him or his executor, and the other half of the lot left to her aunt Martha. Title to these lots was to be given to the then living siblings when the youngest of them reached the age of 21, but not to any who had sold their interest before then.30,31 In addition, she was to receive with her eight siblings, 6½ square miles (about 4,160 acres) of land in Coahoma Co., Mississippi. The executors were to sell, rent, or do what they thought best with it in the interests of the children, with any proceeds to be divided equally between them.31
     Her grandfather had sold his 3,000-acre Lake Charles Plantation, in Coahoma Co., Mississippi, some years prior, but the buyer defaulted on the mortgage, and he re-purchased it at auction a few days before his death 21 Feb 1875. Since he had not owned it when he wrote his will the will contained no provision for it, so it passed to his 17 grandchildren under the clause dealing with estate not "willed away." Ellen thus received a 1/17th undivided interest in the plantation.32
     Ellen and John appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Kitteill, Granville Co., North Carolina, enumerated 21 Jun 1880. Their children Mary, Thomas, Ellen and George were listed as living with them, as were two female servants, ages 9 and 25, and three male servants identified as labors.33
     Ellen and John sold her one-ninth interest in the northern half of her grandfather's plantation in Christian Co., Kentucky, which he had left to her and her siblings, to her brother Malcom on 8 Jun 1882, for $400.34 They sold her one-ninth interest in his 4,100-acre property west of Clarksdale, Coahoma Co., Mississippi, to Malcom the same day, for $500.35
     She joined with a number of her siblings, their spouses, and the children of her deceased sister, in filing a contest to the will of Sarah Elizabeth Tuck, her mother's sister, on 20 Oct 1883. When the case was tried before a jury in Shelby County Circuit Court in early 1885 they lost. They appealed the decision to Tennessee Supreme Court where they lost again when the case was heard in the Apr 1886.36
     The Chicago properties left to Ellen and her siblings by their grandfather were held in trust for them under the terms of the will until the youngest of them, Alexander, reached age 21 in Aug 1885. The eight surviving siblings (Henry having died in the meantime) then took title as a group. They shortly agreed on a plan to divide the properties into two groups. Rivers, Thomas and Ellen were given title to some properties, including 201- 203 South Clark St., by deed on 16 Nov 1885. In exchange, all the other Chicago properties, and $96,115.36 in cash, were received by Flora, Malcom, Benjamin, William and Alexander. The three owners of 201-203 South Clark St. collected the rents and paid taxes on the property until Apr 1905, when they leased the lot for 198 years to The Commercial National Safe Deposit Company for $12,000 annually. Using the metrics of the day, this implied the property was worth $300,000, or $83.33 per square foot, a record for the city until then, but exceeded by another parcel involved in the transaction. The lessee agreed to erect a 19-story building on this and adjoining lots, to cost $4,000,000.37,38
     Ellen was named executrix, with her son Thomas, and an heir in the will of her husband, dated 22 Sep 1896. She was to receive all of his personal property, and the use of all his lands for her lifetime. After that they were to be divided equally between their two surviving children.39

Widowed at Age 51 --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Her husband died on 2 Jan 1899 in Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois.40,41,42
     Ellen appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Kittrell Twp., Vance Co., North Carolina, in the household her son Thomas. Her daughter Ellen was also listed in the household.43
     Thomas, Rivers, and Ellen replaced the buildings on their lot at 323-325 W. Jackson Blvd., at Market St. (now South Wacker Dr.), just off the south branch of the Chicago River. They completed a new building on part of the lot in 1903, with the intention of adding an addition later. The building, known as the McNeill Building, was then in the heart of the wholesale district, and was occupied largely by suit and cloak merchants. The addition was constructed in 1911, after the owners obtained a loan of $250,000 from the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, in addition to a previous loan of $130,000.44,45
     The addition, matching the original building, was ten stories and basement, designed to be increased to twelve stories later. It was described as "a high grade building, of skeleton fireproof construction," to cost about $250,000. The street fronts were "to be faced with Continental paving brick and terra cotta, the windows glazed with plate glass." The store fronts were to be built "with ornamental castiron frames and large plate glass windows."46
     She was seems to have taken over operation of the family farm by 1910, after her son Thomas, who had been operating it in 1900, apparently took other work.47,48
     Ellen appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Kittrell Twp., Vance Co., North Carolina, on Egypt Rd., enumerated 7 May 1910, reporting that she owned her farm, mortgage free. Listed in the household with her were Binnie Pearce, a herdsman, his wife, and a cook.49
     She appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Kittrell Twp., Vance Co., North Carolina, on Egypt Rd., enumerated 8 Jan 1920, reporting that she owned her farm, mortgage free. Listed in the household with her were as laborer, age 62, presumably working on her farm, and his wife and son, who is a salesman in a dry goods store.48
     Ellen died on 1 Aug 1928 at the home of her daughter, in 130 Hillsboro, Raleigh, Wake Co., North Carolina, at age 80.5,11 She was buried on 2 Aug 1928 in Crudup Family Cemetery, Kittrell, Vance Co., North Carolina.17,18

Children:
     Children with John Boddie Crudup

One source shows Ellen and John with an additional child, May MacNeill, but no other record of her has been found. There is no stone for her in the family cemetery, and the 1900 census shows Ellen as the mother of five.59,60,61

Citations

  1. [S7393] Marriage Bonds, Christian Co., Kentucky, 7:321, John B. Crudup and Meshen McNeill, includes note from her grandfather, Malcom McNeill stating her age as over 21, shows name as Meshew McNeill.
  2. [S8779] Marriage Register, Christian Co., Kentucky, 5:222, Jno. B. Crudup and Meshen McNeill.
  3. [S3372] Anderson, "some facts," e-mail to author, 31 Mar 2008, citing Bible located at "HempHill," Christian County, KY. compiled by Margaret Metcalf McNeill Ayers, Memphis, Tennessee, shows name as Ellen Mishew McNeill.
  4. [S2157] Ellen Mishew Rogers, Certificate of Death, shows name as Mishew Ellen McNeill.
  5. [S2156] Ellen M. Crudup, Standard Certificate of Death.
  6. [S8718] Biographical Cyclopedia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pg 238.
  7. [S1225] Anderson, "Rebecca Tuck," e-mail to author, 11 Jun 2007.
  8. [S1351] Atkinson, Shelby Co. Tennessee loose probate records, Petition filed 20 Oct 1883 by Malcom McNeill, et at, shows Rebecca as Ellen's mother.
  9. [S2156] Ellen M. Crudup, Standard Certificate of Death, shows name of mother as Miss Elizabeth Tuck.
  10. [S2156] Ellen M. Crudup, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, with year as 1847, and place as Christian Co., Kentucky.
  11. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25474823, Ellen Mishew McNeill Crudup, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  12. [S2159] Josiah Crudup household, 1870 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina, shows age 22 and state, as Kentucky.
  13. [S8779] Marriage Register, Christian Co., Kentucky, 5:222, Jno. B. Crudup and Meshen McNeill, shows date and officant.
  14. [S2158] John B. Crudup household, 1880 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina, shows married.
  15. [S3374] Boddie and Boddie, Boddie and Allied Families, pg 94, shows date, as 18th.
  16. [S9166] John Boddie Crudup obituary, The Henderson Gold Leaf, shows month and year.
  17. [S2156] Ellen M. Crudup, Standard Certificate of Death, shows date, town, and state.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25474823, Ellen Mishew McNeill Crudup, includes tombstone photo.
  19. [S2159] Josiah Crudup household, 1870 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina, shows name as Meshew Crudup.
  20. [S2160] Thomas H. Crudup household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina, shows name as Misha E. Crudup.
  21. [S1512] Thomas McNeil, owner, 1850 U.S. Census, Coahoma Co., Alabama, slave schedule.
  22. [S1289] Register of Deaths, Commonwealth of Kentucky, 1859, Christian Co. 1859, Rebecca A. McNeal, shows date, as 22nd, place, and residence as Mississippi.
  23. [S2144] Meador and Meador, Cemetery Records of Southern Christian County, pg 134, shows date, as 20th.
  24. [S3372] Anderson, "some facts," e-mail to author, 31 Mar 2008, citing Bible located at "HempHill," Christian County, KY. compiled by Margaret Metcalf McNeill Ayers, Memphis, Tennessee, shows date, as 20th.
  25. [S1225] Anderson, "Rebecca Tuck," e-mail to author, 11 Jun 2007, shows date, Christian Co., Kentucky.
  26. [S3374] Boddie and Boddie, Boddie and Allied Families, pg 137, shows year, and at his plantation, Coahoma Co., Mississippi.
  27. [S3372] Anderson, "some facts," e-mail to author, 31 Mar 2008, citing Bible located at "HempHill," Christian County, KY. compiled by Margaret Metcalf McNeill Ayers, Memphis, Tennessee, shows date.
  28. [S2144] Meador and Meador, Cemetery Records of Southern Christian County, pg 135, shows date.
  29. [S2159] Josiah Crudup household, 1870 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina.
  30. [S8965] Elizabeth C. Terhune v. The Commercial National Safe Deposit Company et al., Reports of Cases at Law and in Chancery Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Illinois, 245: 622-634, describes reason for trust for Flora's interest.
  31. [S2014] Wills, Kentucky, W:501-10, will of Malcom McNeill, Mar 1875.
  32. [S8958] Deed Books, Coahoma Co., Mississippi, , N:344-6, J. P. Caruthers trustee to Malcolm McNeill, 24 Feb 1875.
  33. [S2158] John B. Crudup household, 1880 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina.
  34. [S7768] Deeds, Christian Co., Kentucky, 64:159-61, John B. Crudup and E. M. Crudup to Malcum McNeil,24 May 1883.
  35. [S8958] Deed Books, Coahoma Co., Mississippi, , V:19-20, John B. & E. M. Crudup to Malcolm McNeill, 24 Oct 1883.
  36. [S1351] Atkinson, Shelby Co. Tennessee loose probate records, bond 20 Oct 1883 by Malcom McNeill, et at, for $250, lists all the petitioners; bond same date for $500, lists petitioners but omits name of Rivers McNeill, apparently in error; Petition filed 20 Oct 1883 by Malcom McNeill, et at, list petitioners and give relationship to Sarah, as well as stating cause of action; response of executors 6 Nov 1883 and 24 Jan 1884 claims no evidence was provided in support and does not provide sufficient grounds; and order of Probate Court 9 Feb 1884 transferring case to Circuit Court to try the validity of the will.
  37. [S9366] "Square Foot of Land Worth $110," The Chicago Daily Tribune, 13 May 1905, shows lease prices and describes value metrics.
  38. [S8965] Elizabeth C. Terhune v. The Commercial National Safe Deposit Company et al., Reports of Cases at Law and in Chancery Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Illinois, 245: 622-634, pp 628-9.
  39. [S9164] Wills, Vance Co., North Carolina, A:312, will of J. B. Crudup, 27 Jan 1899.
  40. [S9166] John Boddie Crudup obituary, The Henderson Gold Leaf, shows date and city.
  41. [S8966] Illinois State Archives, Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916, online, record for John B. Crudup, shows date, city, and county.
  42. [S4937] "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1878-1939, 1959-1995," FamilySearch.org, record for John B Crudup, citing , FHL #1033060, image no. 497, shows date, city, county, and state.
  43. [S2160] Thomas H. Crudup household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina.
  44. [S9218] "$250,000 Loan is Secured," The Chicago Daily Tribune, 14 Apr 1911.
  45. [S9216] Thomas H. McNeill et al. v. Commonwealth Edison Company, Illinois Commerce Commission, Opinions and Orders, vol 12: 399-403, shows address, dates of two sections.
  46. [S9219] "Type of New Business Building in Chicago," The Chicago Sunday Tribune, 1 Jan 1911.
  47. [S2161] E. M. Crudup household, 1910 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina, shows occupation as farming, and that she was an employer.
  48. [S2162] Mish Crudup household, 1920 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina, shows occupation as farmer on a general farm, and an employer.
  49. [S2161] E. M. Crudup household, 1910 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina.
  50. [S2158] John B. Crudup household, 1880 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina, shows the girl as the daughter of Ellen's husband.
  51. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25475239, Mary Boddie Crudup, includes tombstone photo showing her as daughter of John B. & Ellen M. Crudup.
  52. [S2706] Hendrick, Lineage and Tradition of the Herring..., pg 128.
  53. [S2163] Thomas Henry Crudup, Certificate of Death.
  54. [S3374] Boddie and Boddie, Boddie and Allied Families, pg 94.
  55. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 150029910, Josiah Crudup, includes tombstone photo showing son of John B. & Ellen M. Crudup.
  56. [S2157] Ellen Mishew Rogers, Certificate of Death.
  57. [S2158] John B. Crudup household, 1880 U.S. Census, Granville Co., North Carolina, shows him as the son of Ellen's husband.
  58. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 150029950, George Crudup, includes tombstone photo showing son of John B. & Ellen M. Crudup.
  59. [S2061] Macon, John and Edward Tuck of Halifax County, pg 60, shows a child of Ellen, May MacNeill, with no details.
  60. [S2160] Thomas H. Crudup household, 1900 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina, shows his mother had five children, with two living.
  61. [S2161] E. M. Crudup household, 1910 U.S. Census, Vance Co., North Carolina, the number of children entry was omitted for her.