peter o'neill

Peter Neill died in 1862 at 61 years of age and his wife, Hannah, died in 1860 at age 56.

Peter and Hannah had come from Ireland to Quebec in 1830 and from there to Oswego where Peter spent a season packing flour. They then settled in Salina as Hannah’s brother lived there.

Peter and Hannah had ten children - nine boys and one girl. Peter and his sons worked in every aspect of the salt industry from boiling to shipping. They were all boatmen, owning their own horses and boats.

Their son Henry tells of how his parents came to settle in Liverpool. “Peter had come from Oswego to Salina, where he lived for a time. Not liking it, he decided to return to Oswego. He engaged passage with a boatmen. When the boat reached the dock in Liverpool, and O’Neill was informed that they did not allow Irishmen in Liverpool he said ― “that’s just the place I’m looking for” ― and went ashore.

The book Pioneer Irish of Onondaga (about 1776-1847) by Theresa Bannan contains an extensive section on Peter, Hannah and their children.

Transcribed by

Molly R

Nick D

James T