The first record I have of him is his marriage to Mary Crowe in Nova Scotia in 1821. 
Mary Crowe had been married to a Mr. Berry prior to her marriage to Robert McNeil.

The 1871 census record states that Robert McNeil was born in Scotland but does
not state whereabouts. I suspect my ggg grandfather came from Argyll or Bute and may be the son of John McNeil and Isobel Gilchrist as they had a son born in 1792 in Bute.

If you have an answer or can suggest where I might check,
please email me at  rick.macneil@sympatico.ca     Thanks!