Niel Alexander Ferguson (1816 - 1871)

Born 16 May 1816 in Berneray, North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Nancy Brooks — married 19 Mar 1845 in Marion County, Florida

Died 2 Dec 1871 at age 55 in Flemington, Marion, Florida, United States

Biography

Niel was born in 1816. He is the son of John Ferguson and Margaret Drummond. ^[1] In 1860, he was living in Marion County, Florida with seven children. ^[2]

From his FindAGrave: Son of John and Margaret (Morrison) Ferguson. Immigrated to America from Scotland at age 16. Niel did not appear with his family in the Scotland Censuses due to the fact the first Scotland Census was 1841. Niel came first to North Carolina, about 8 years before coming down to Florida around 1840. He came to Ocala, Marion County, Florida, on business, meeting Wiley Brooks and family. He met and married Wiley's daughter, Nancy Brooks, March 19, 1845 in Emathla, Marion County, Florida. Niel and Nancy Ferguson's Children: Margaret, Sarah Elizabeth, John Alexander, Harriet, Marion Jane, Catherine Anne, Caledonia, Robert William, James Donald, Minnie and Nancy.

There was an in depth Ferguson History written by Niel's granddaughter, Sara Ferguson in 1965. Numerous letters were passed down through the years by Niel's descendants, providing a wealth of information about Niel's family in South Uist, The Outer Hebrides of Scotland. These letters were written by Niel's father and siblings and the exchange of letters continued for over 50 years. The letters informed Niel and his family what was happening at that time in South Uist; the marriage of his brothers and sisters and the names of their children. These letters provided information not known at the time Sara Ferguson completed her Ferguson History in 1965. That History has been updated by Barbara Ferguson, wife of Niel's great grandson, Jimmy, including much information from the recently found letters.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to Jamie Hall.
2. ↑ 860 United States Federal Census https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7667&h=10643879&ssrc=pt&tid=80203587&pid=48577428556&usePUB=trueName: Neil Ferguson Age: 41 Birth Year: abt 1819 Gender: Male Birth Place: Scotland Home in 1860: Marion, Florida Post Office: Ocala Dwelling Number: 333 Family Number: 302 Occupation: Planter Real Estate Value: 12000 Personal Estate Value: 16500 Household Members: Name Age Neil Ferguson 41 Nancy Ferguson 30 Margt Ferguson 13 Sarah Ferguson 11 John Ferguson 9 James Ferguson 5 C A Ferguson 3 Infant Ferguson 3/12
3. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7450284/niel-ferguson

1860 US Census: Marion, Florida

Find A Grave

Florida Marriages, 1822-1850 (Ancestry)