Born in Dublin
Born on the 9th of the ninth month 1729 to Thomas and Martha Neale; his mother died when he was about six and he was raised by an uncle and grandmother.
1729–1792 · Dublin, Ireland
Samuel Neale
The Cork Minister Whose Bride Died Three Days After the Wedding
“When I gave up my will to His, and resigned my mind to travail on in silence, He was pleased sweetly to compose my spirit.” — Samuel Neale
Life & Ministry
Convinced at Cork
About midsummer 1751, in his twenty-second year, Catherine Payton, travelling with Mary Peisley, spoke at a Cork meeting so that 'all I had done seemed to have been unfolded to her'; on the 16th of the twelfth month he first spoke in ministry at Mountrath.
Through England, Holland and Germany
Left Dublin in the first month with William Brown of America, visited Samuel Bownas at Bridport and John Griffith at Chelmsford, and crossed to Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Scotland
After London Yearly Meeting he travelled to Edinburgh, to Robert Barclay's at Urie, Aberdeen and Glasgow, returning home in the ninth month.
Marriage to Mary Peisley and Her Death
Married Mary Peisley at Mountrath on the 17th of the third month; on the 20th she 'quietly departed without sigh or groan, like a person falling into a sweet sleep, after fourteen hours' illness'.
Settles at Cork
Married Sarah, daughter of Joshua Beale of Cork, and settled in that city; that autumn he set out for South Wales, Bristol and the West of England.
America
Sailed from Cork in the eighth month 1770, landed at Newcastle near Philadelphia, and travelled the southern colonies, Nantucket and New England before sailing home from Philadelphia in August 1772.
London Yearly Meeting
Served with Robert Valentine and William Tuke as a deputy to the women Friends carrying the minute that established the women's yearly meeting.
Last Journey
Visited the Leinster province with Friends appointed by the National meeting; his journal's last entries are from the eleventh month 1791.
Death at Cork
Died on the 27th of the second month 1792, aged sixty-two, of 'a mortification in his foot', and was buried in Friends' ground at Cork.
Connections & Relationships
Mary Peisley Neale
WifePresent at his convincement and his first words in ministry; married him at Mountrath in 1757 and died three days later, leaving him 'a sweet companion, a true friend, a steady counsellor' to mourn.
Catherine Payton Phillips
Convinced ByIt was Catherine Payton's preaching at Cork in 1751, 'that highly favoured instrument in the Lord's hand', that convinced him; they met again at Worcester, Dublin and Ballitore.
Samuel Fothergill
Mentor and HostCautioned the young minister at London Yearly Meeting in 1752 'against appearing low and dejected', and lodged him at Warrington in 1756 and 1758.
John Woolman
Met in New JerseySaw Woolman for the first time in 1771 at Rancocas and Mount Holly: 'a sweet, clean-spirited Friend' whose 'life and conversation shine in Christian purity'.
John Churchman
Fellow MinisterMet Churchman at London Yearly Meeting in 1753 and again in America, where he found him 'very tender and sympathizing and fatherly in his conduct'.
John Pemberton
Host in PhiladelphiaLodged at Pemberton's house in 1770 and 1772, 'a very valuable Friend', who accompanied him to Wilmington, Springfield and Providence meetings.
John Gough
Traveling CompanionTravelled home from London Yearly Meeting in 1784 with Gough, and in 1791 recorded his death as that of 'a man very eminent for his extensive gifts and talents'.
Sarah Tuke Grubb
Died at His HouseSarah Grubb, 'sweet in her remarks and opening of counsel', fell ill at his house in Cork and died there on the 8th of the twelfth month 1790, aged about thirty-four.
Mary Dudley
Friend and HostMartha Routh and Robert and Mary Dudley visited the Cork province meeting in 1790; on his last journey in 1791 he lodged at Mary Dudley's.
Available Works
The Life of Samuel Neale
ProposedHis journal, kept up to the year before his death, with letters to his friends including Richard Shackleton, prepared from his manuscripts for the Friends' Library, volume 11 (1847).