User:WilyD/William Case/George Neal

George Neal (ca. 1748 - ca. 1839) was a Methodist circuit rider.

Neal was born in the Southern United States in an Irish family. During the American Revolution, he fought as a loyalist, joining the cavalry as a major. After the revolution, he converted to Methodist and soon began working as a local preacher. He expressed interest in working as a travelling preacher, but ill health prvented this. In 1787 he travelled to Canada, preaching in the Niagara region. Neal received a poor welcome there, on occasion being assaulted by locals offended by his preaching against their behaviours. Despite the hostility, he begain laying the groundwork for future Methodist circuit riders to travel in Upper Canada. Neal remained in Upper Canada, mostly in the Niagara region and the Long Point region until his death in 1839.