McNEECE / McNIECE – John 15th and 8th Regiment 1st Battalion

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Name	McNEECE / McNIECE – John
Regiment (s)	15th and 8th Regiment 1st Battalion
Regiment Number (s)	1806 / 1167
Date/Age/Place/Trade or Profession at Attestation	25th July 1836 / 18 years / Not known Shoemaker
Description – Height Complexion/Eyes/Hair/Scars	Not yet known
Overseas Service/Duration	North America – 4 years 153 days – circa 1836 – 1843 East Indies – 9 years 86 days – India circa 1849 -1858
Length of Service	22 years 38 days
Rank/Date/Place of Discharge	Private / 31st August 1858 / Chatham Kent England
Campaign Medals	Indian Mutiny Medal
Intended Residence at Discharge	Not yet known
Pension Districts	1858 Sligo 1862 Bermuda (in transit) 1863-1892 Western Australia
Pension Paid	1/0½d per diem 1874 Increased to 1/3d per diem
Date of Departure and Place England or Ireland	30th October 1862 Gravesend England (via Bermuda)
Ship and Date of Arrival Western Australia	MERCHANTMAN 15th February 1863
Date/Place of Birth	c1818 St. John’s Sligo Ireland
Date/Place of Baptism	Not yet known
Father Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Mother Date/Place of Birth	Not yet known
Siblings	Not yet known
1^st Wife Date of Birth or Baptism	WALCH/WALSH Catherine B 1812 (deduced from death) to 1821 (from marriage certificate)
Date/Place of Marriage	29th May 1843 Mottram Cheshire England
Father of 1^st Wife	WALCH James (labourer)
Children by 1^st Wife	Thomas B c1844 Whalley Lancashire England bap 25th August 1844 Habergham-Eaves Lancashire England D 1874 Geraldton Western Australia William Henry B 11th February 1850 Karachi India Bap 24th February 1850 Karrachee (sic) India M HORTON Margaret 1881 Geraldton D 29th September 1926 Geraldton John B 1852 Deesa India (British Armed Forces And Overseas Births And Baptisms) to B 1860 possibly County Sligo M SHEMELDS Mary Creamer at Fremantle – daughter of EPG Benjamin Shemelds 11th August 1885 Fremantle WA D 16th September 1925 Fremantle WA Mary Ellen B 14 Oct 1856 Jullundur, Presidency Bengal India Bp 2nd November 1856
Land Grants Western Australia	4th May 1874 Title Application Lot G31 Greenough Flats 10 acres 7th September Title Application Lot G32 Greenough Flats Acreage 16 acres
Occupation after Arrival	1872 Farmer Employed 5 ticket-of-leave men 1865 – 1877
Newspaper Articles	West Australian Times 18th December 1874 page 3, a long article and concerns the Chaplain refusing to attend the burial as the Order of Good Templars wanted to read an address after the funeral of Thomas McNeece The Herald 15 August 1885 Marriage of John and Mary Shemelds Geraldton Guardian 10 August 1909 Marriage of John McNeece Western Mail 24 September 1925 page 22. Obituary of John McNeece
Departure from Western Australia	Not applicable
Date/Place of Death/Burial	12th July 1892 Geraldton Western Australia Greenough Cemetery Western Australia
Date/Place of Death/Burial Wife	1895 Western Australia (reg # 1400)
Will or Probate	SROWA Cons 3403/1912/254 – Left real and personnel property to his wife and son William Henry on proviso that 50 masses be said as soon as possible for the repose of his soul. The land at Bootenal was valued at £165 and the 3 roomed stone cottage at £50. The delay for probate was due to William being unaware of the process being necessary
Further Information	1841 Worldwide Army index, Service No: 1806, Regiment: 8th Foot, Halifax Nova Scotia, 1851 Worldwide Army index, Service No: 1806, Regiment: 8th Foot, Deesa (Camp) India Reason for Discharge: Unfit for service due to palpitations, weakness, pain and swelling. The Surgeon Superintendent of the Merchantman gave a rating of Very Good to both John and Mrs McNeece. They were accompanied by sons Thomas, William and John. 1864 January-February John McNEECE nominated his single 18 year old niece Ann ROSS as a government immigrant: she was living Sligo Ireland The Cyclodedia of Western Australia Page 635 Vol 2 – the entry for John McNeece Jnr gives a detailed but fanciful account of his career in USA before coming to Australia which does not tally with what we know of the man although it does give an equally detailed list of his work in WA and that of his son Percy.