Mighty John McNeil was one of Londonderry's first settlers

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December 3, 2009

By Richard Holmes

The biblical phrase that "there were giants on the earth in those days" could well apply to John McNeil.

He was born in 1695 in Northern Ireland near the city of Londonderry. He belonged to a prominent family, but decided to emigrate after being involved in a fight with a wealthy neighbor. He arrived here in 1719 and was granted a lot that is today near the site of Alan Shepard's birthplace in East Derry.

In 1729, the town built a 10-mile long road from today's Derry Village to the western side of the town. The Amoskeag Falls were important to the town because of the fish in the Merrimack River. In 1751, it separated from us to become the town of Derryfield, which is now Manchester. The first settlers of this area were John McNeil and his wife Christain.

John was considered a man of heroic courage and strength. At 6-foot-6 with a large physique, he was afraid of no man. He was known far and wide for his skill as a wrestler. John had never been beaten in a no-holds barred grappling match. One day a stranger appeared at his door and asked to speak to John McNeil. His wife said her "gude man" was not at home. The stranger expressed disappointment because he had come a long way to test his strength against the giant McNeil and thought he could throw him.

Christain told him, "And troth mon, Johnny is gone, but I'm not the woman to see ya disappointed an' I think I'll try ye mon. I'll throw ya me self." The stranger didn't want to appear scared of a woman so he accepted her challenge. Within a few seconds, the large-framed Christain had thrown the stranger topsy-turvy and head over tea kettle. The visitor left immediately, deciding he wouldn't wait for Johnny McNeil to return.

At the Amoskeag Falls, John McNeil was responsible for ferrying travelers cross the unbridged Merrimack River. One day in the spring, John was crossing the river on the ice. Suddenly the frozen surface gave way and he was swept under the ice. Using incredible courage and presence of mind, he swam under the ice toward the shore. He continued until he got to where he could finally touch the bottom of the river. He immediately stood up and using all of his incredible strength, he "raised the surrounding ice, broke through it and getting upon the firm ice, thus escaped from drowning."

There was a large rock in the Merrimack River that for a century was called by the nickname of "Old McNeil." It got its name because it rises from the surface of the river just like McNeil rising through the ice. River men floating barges down the river used the rock to gauge the depth of the river. When the rock was completely under water, they could safely carry a full load of lumber over the rocky rapids of the falls. If its head was 3 inches exposed, only half a load could be safely run and when its head was more then 6 inches above the water, you couldn't haul anything without tearing out the bottom of your boat.

John McNeil died in 1768. His sons and grandsons distinguished themselves in the French and Indian War and Revolutionary War. His great-grandson was General John McNeil, who was tall and strong like his namesake.

The general achieved national fame for his bravery in the War of 1812 and was crippled for life when he was wounded in the knee. President Jackson, in honor of his service in the war, made him collector of the Port of Boston. After he retired, he frequently hung out at the State House in Concord, where everyone knew who he was. One day an acquaintance introduced McNeil to a friend. The young fellow had apparently never heard of the proud old hero and asked him, "General, how did you become lame?" McNeil was visibly upset and looked down at the rather short man and yelled, "Do you suppose I fell down a barn cellar, you damn fool! Don't you read the history of your country?"

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Richard Holmes' columns on local history appear regularly in the Derry News. He is the author of many books on the history of Derry and the surrounding areas, and is curator of the Derry Museum of History, located in the lower level of the Adams Memorial Building in downtown Derry.