Neil McNeill, with his countrymen, landed on the Cape Fear during the month of September. They numbered three hundred and fifty souls, principally from Argyleshire. At the ensuing session of the legislature they made application for substantial encouragement, that they might thereby be able to induce the rest of their friends and acquaintances to settle in the country. While this petition was pending, in order to encourage them and others and also to show his good will, the governor appointed, by the council of the province, a certain number of them justices of the peace, the commissions bearing date of February 28, 1740. The proceedings show that it was "ordered that a new commission of peace for Bladen directed to the following persons: Mathew Rowan, Wm. Forbes, Hugh Blaning, John Clayton, Robert Hamilton, Griffeth Jones, James Lyon, Duncan Campbel, Dugold McNeil, Dan McNeil, Wm. Bartram and Samuel Baker hereby constituting and appointing them Justices of the Peace for the said county."[22]
These were the first so appointed. The petition was first heard in the upper house of the legislature, at Newbern, and on January 26, 1740, the following action was taken:
"Resolved, that the Persons mentioned in said Petition, shall be free from payment of any Publick or County tax for Ten years next ensuing their Arrival.
"Resolved, that towards their subsistence the sum of one thousand pounds be paid out of the Publick money, by His Excellency's warrant to be lodged with Duncan Campbell, Dugald McNeal, Daniel McNeal. Coll. McAlister and Neal McNeal Esqrs., to be by them distributed among the several families in the said Petition mentioned.
"Resolved, that as an encouragement for Protestants to remove from Europe into this Province, to settle themselves in bodys or Townships, That all such as shall so remove into this Province. Provided they exceed forty persons in one body or Company, they shall be exempted from payment of any Publick or County tax for the space of Ten years, next ensuing their Arrival.
"Resolved, that an address be presented to his Excellency the Governor to desire him to use his Interest, in such manner, as he shall think most proper to obtain an Instruction for giveing encouragement to Protestants from foreign parts, to settle in Townships within this Province, to be set apart for that purpose after the manner, and with such priviledges and advantages, as is practised in South Carolina."[23]
The petition was concurred in by the lower house on February 21st, and on the 26th, after reciting the action of the upper house in relation to the petition, passed the following:
"Resolved, That this House concurs with the several Resolves of the Upper House in the abovesd Message Except that relateing to the thousand pounds which this House refers till next Session of Assembly for Consideration."[24]
At a meeting of the council held at Wilmington, June 4, 1740, there were presented petitions for patents of lands, by the following persons, giving acres and location, as granted:[25]
| Name. | Acres. | County. |
| Thos Clark | 320 | N. Hanover |
| James McLachlan | 160 | Bladen |
| Hector McNeil | 300 | " |
| Duncan Campbell | 150 | " |
| James McAlister | 640 | " |
| James McDugald | 640 | " |
| Duncan Campbell | 75 | " |
| Hugh McCraine | 500 | " |
| Duncan Campbell | 320 | " |
| Gilbert Pattison | 640 | " |
| Rich Lovett | 855 | Tyrrel |
| Rd Earl | 108 | N. Hanover |
| Jno McFerson | 320 | Bladen |
| Duncan Campbell | 300 | " |
| Neil McNeil | 150 | " |
| Duncan Campbell | 140 | " |
| Jno Clark | 320 | " |
| Malcolm McNeil | 320 | " |
| Neil McNeil | 400 | " |
| Arch Bug | 320 | " |
| Duncan Campbel | 640 | Bladen |
| Jas McLachlen | 320 | " |
| Murdock McBraine | 320 | " |
| Jas Campbel | 640 | " |
| Patric Stewart | 320 | " |
| Arch Campley | 320 | " |
| Dan McNeil | 105, (400), 400 | " |
| Neil McNeil | 400 | " |
| Duncan Campbel | 320 | " |
| Jno Martileer | 160 | " |
| Daniel McNeil | 320 | " |
| Wm Stevens | 300 | " |
| Dan McNeil | 400 | " |
| Jas McLachlen | 320 | " |
| Wm Spei | 160 | Edgecombe |
| Jno Clayton | 100 | Bladen |
| Sam Portevint | 640 | N. Hanover |
| Charles Harrison | 320 | " |
| Robt Walker | 640 | " |
| Jas Smalwood | 640 | " |
| Wm Faris | 400, 640, 640 | " |
| Richd Carlton | 180 | Craven |
| Duncan Campbel | 150 | Bladen |
| Neil McNeil | 321 | " |
| Alex McKey | 320 | " |
| Henry Skibley | 320 | " |
| Jno Owen | 200 | " |
| Duncan Campbel | 400 | " |
| Dougal Stewart | 640 | " |
| Arch Douglass | 200 | N. Hanover |
| James Murray | 320 | " |
| Robt Clark | 200 | " |
| Duncan Campbel | 148 | Bladen |
| James McLachlen | 320 | " |
| Arch McGill | 500 | " |
| Jno Speir | 100 | Edgecombe |
| James Fergus | 640 | " |
| Rufus Marsden | 640 | " |
| Hugh Blaning | 320 (surplus land) | Bladen |
| Robt Hardy | 40 | Beaufort |
| Wm Jones | 354, 350 | " |