Born in Cavendish. Married Eliza Townsend (1788-1859) daughter of Capt. James Townsend. They made their home on the Townsend land called Park Corner. Eliza's father, Capt. James Townsend was in the British navy. He had received a large grant of land in P.E.I. for service to his country. This land , Park Corner, was named after the family estate in Berkshire, England.

William MacNeill was a many of many parts - a law clerk in Halifax and a ship builder in French River before his marriage. He later was a school teacher, a farmer and a politician. He was a member of legislature from 1814-1834, speaker of the House of Assembly and know later as "William the Speaker" or "Old Speaker Macneill".

Grandfather of Lucy Maude Montgomery