Anthony Willis family tree » Margaret Reid McNeil (1846-1918)

Personal data Margaret Reid McNeil 

• She was born on April 14, 1846 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland.Source 3

  Attention: Age at marriage (May 5, 1861) below 16 years (15).

• She was christened on May 5, 1846 in Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland.
• Emigrated in the year 1859.
• Immigrated in the year 1859 vanuit Deseret, United States.
• Resident:
• in the year 1851: Tranent, Haddingtonshire (East Lothian), Scotland, United Kingdom.
• in the year 1870: Utah, United States.
• Census in the year 1880, Logan, Cache,, Utrecht, Nederland.
• (FamilySearch ID) : KW6D-2Z5.
• She died on July 21, 1918 in Logan, Cache, Utah, USA, she was 72 years old.Source 3

  Age: 72

• She is buried on July 23, 1918 in Logan City Cemetry, Logan, Cache, Utah, United States.Source 3
• A child of Thomas McNeil and Janet Martin Reid

Household of Margaret Reid McNeil

She is married to Henry Ballard.

They got married on May 5, 1861 at Logan, Cache, Utah, USA, she was 15 years old.

Child(ren):

1. Margaret Hannah Ballard  1863-1874
2. Henry William Ballard  1864-1936 
3. Thomas McNeil BALLARD  1866-1933 
4. Charles James Ballard  1868-1869
5. Janet Mc Neil Ballard  1868-1869
6. George Albert Ballard  1870-1874
7. Willard R. Ballard  ± 1873-????
8. Melvin Joseph Ballard  1873-1939
9. Franklin Ballard  ± 1875-????
10. Ellen Phoebe Ballard  1875-1889
11. Rebecca Ann Ballard  1878-1972 
12. Lydia Jane Griffin  1878-1961
13. Lydia Ballard  ± 1879-????
14. Lettie May Ballard  1881-1935 
15. Mary Myrtle Ballard  1885-1975 

Notes about Margaret Reid McNeil

Margaret Reid McNeil
B:Birth
14 Apr 1846 • Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland
D:Death
21 Jul 1918 • Logan, Cache, Utah, USA

Family
Spouse & Children
Henry Ballard 1832-1908
Margaret Hanna Ballard 1863-1874
Henry William Ballard 1864-1936
Thomas McNeil Ballard 1866-1933
Janet McNeil Ballard 1868-1869
Charles James Ballard 1868-1869
George Albert Ballard 1870-1874
Melvin Joseph Ballard 1873-1939
Ellen Phoebe Ballard 1875-1889
Rebecca Ann Ballard 1878-1972
Lettie May Ballard 1881-1935
Mary Myrtle Ballard 1885-1975
Where is this information from?
This information is from Gregg/Madsen Family Tree, created by Robert Gregg.

“MUGGIE” By Myrtle Ballard Shurtliff

Thomas McNeil was an affectionate and indulgent father. Janet, his wife, no doubt loved their daughter Margaret just as much Thomas, but had been strictly reared in the Presbyterial Church which believed that pride and pleasure was a sin. Janet wanted so much to be a good mother and to raise her daughter to be an unspoiled, religious, upright daughter. Hence from baby hood, she had reared Margaret with sternness. The family was very poor at that time and Margaret’s father earned very small wages. He was a hard worker but received little pay.

Early in Margaret’s childhood she wanted a doll more than anything else in the world. Few dolls at that time were to be had, and they were very expensive. Thomas had set his heart on Margaret having a doll. He shopped for one but “did not have the price,” so he took a “gude” look at them to see how they were made.

He spent every spare hour afterwards cutting and whittling out in the shed, working on a doll. The doll had a wooden head and body all made of one piece of wood and the legs and arms were carved out of a smaller piece and they fastened on to the body with wires. Then came the job of painting. Thomas went to great pains to get the colors just right. The hair was black like Margaret’s, the eyes were a clear blue like his own, and the lips and cheeks were a ruddy glow.

When she was all finished and the paint was dry, Thomas persuaded Janet to make a pretty dress for it with slips and things under the dress.

Then the great day came–Margaret’s birthday. With a great deal of pomp and ceremony, Thomas presented the doll to his darling daughter. Margaret’s joy was too great for words. Tears welled in her eyes as in gratitude she hugged and kissed her father for his wonderful gift to her. Thomas was equally affected; but, to hide his emotions, he said in a light cheerful mood, “Weel what ha ye named your barin?” “You name her, father, for me; and I’ll always love her.” “Weel now let’s see. I like the name of Margaret but, let’s call her “Muggie” for short. So Muggie was her name.

In time, Janet felt that her daughter was bestowing too much love and too many hours on “Muggie.” She should be thinking more about religion and the Bible and loving the Lord more. Oh how she wanted Margaret to grow up to be good!

One day when Margaret had been a little disobedient, Janet called upon her daughter to make a great sacrifice in punishment. Margaret had to give up her doll. Janet took “Muggie” and burned her in the kitchen stove as an offering of repentance, pretty dress and all. Margaret shed unnumbered tears all that day;and when evening came she walked down to the “Row” to meet her father and sobbed out her grief on his understanding heart. “Muggie” was the only doll Margaret ever had in her life and when she was gone a part of Margaret went too. She never, even in old age, forgot her sorrow over the loss of “Muggie.”

BABY MARGARET By Mrytle Ballard Shutliff

Janet Reid McNeil, whom Thomas affectionately called Jessie, was a very fine young woman who did not drink and disapproved of her husband’s “Sprees.” She threatened to leave him if he did not quit. So Thomas made many promises that he would never drink again, but he loved his “buddies” and enjoyed a good time with them. He could not resist the temptation and they were always on hand for a “Gude time” and he would indulge “just once more.”

Janet was a very upright woman with high ideals and was determined that she would stand no more “crousing.” She finally decided to go out and find house work to provide a better living for herself and baby.

Margaret had brought great joy to the little white cottage where she was born. The only unhappiness Janet knew was Thomas’ “sprees.” The cottage stood on New Row in the village of Tranent.

When Margaret was a few months old she told her husband she could stand no more of his drinking, and if he did not quit she would leave him. She loved him very much, and they were happy together; but she wanted something better for herself and children. She warned Thomas of her decision and was patient with him but his “sprees” continued.

One afternoon Janet bathed her baby and dressed her in her best clothes and gently laid her in a basket by the fireplace to sleep. She then pinned a note to the baby’s dress saying, “Dear Thomas, my heart is broken, you have disappointed me again, and I can stand no more. I am leaving our baby to your care while I go out to make a better living for her and for myself. Take care of her, stay home with her while I am away—Janet.”

Janet had not been gone far when a great fear came over her. She must go back home, some tragedy might befall Margaret, or maybe Thomas would come home late. Or worse, maybe he wouldn’t come home that night at all. She must go home.

These thoughts crowded her mind and greater fears filled her heart with every step. Her steps became faster and faster until she reached her door. Thomas was not there to greet her but on the floor was the basket tipped over with Margaret’s clothes very near the coals.

Janet was so sorry for what she had done and asked the Lord to forgive her. She was so grateful that Margaret was not harmed. Margaret’s precious life was saved.

Thomas came home just as Janet had picked up the baby. He was overcome with grief and sorrow. With a solemn oath he promised Janet that never, never would he take another drop of liquor.

This oath was faithfully kept, for soon after the Mormon Elders found them and taught them the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thomas and Janet were baptized into the Church, and when Margaret was eight years old she too was baptized.

Name:Margaret Reid Ballard
Birth Date:14 Apr 1846
Birth Place:Scotland
Death Date:21 Jul 1918
Death Place:Logan, Cache County, Utah, United States of America
Cemetery:Logan City Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place:Logan, Cache County, Utah, United States of America
Has Bio?:Y
Father:Thomas McNeil
Mother:Jannett McNeil
Spouse:Henry Ballard
Children:Melvin Joseph Ballard
Margaret Hannah Ballard
Charles James Ballard
George Albert Ballard
Janet McNiel Ballard
Ellen Phoebe Ballard
Myrtle Shurtliff
Thomas McNeil Ballard
Lettie May Squires
Henry William Ballard
URL:https://www.findagrave.com/mem...

Daughter of Thomas McNeil Jr. and Jannett Reid

Married Henry Ballard, 5 May 1861, Logan, Cache, Utah

Children - Margaret Hannah Ballard, Rebecca Ann Ballard, Melvin Joseph Ballard, George Albert Ballard, Charles James Ballard, Janet McNeil Ballard, Thomas McNeil Ballard, Mary Myrtle Ballard, Ellen Phoebe Ballard, Henry William Ballard, Lettie May Ballard

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Timeline Margaret Reid McNeil

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