One of his sisters, Charlotte Vansittart Neale (1817–1881), married in 1841 Charles Frere, a barrister and parliamentary clerk, by whom she had nine children, including Charlotte Vansittart Frere (1846–1916), married in 1882 A.G. Folliott-Stokes of St Ives, artist, writer and author of several important books on Cornwall, and had issue.[1]
Vansittart-Neale founded the first co-operative store in London, and advanced capital for two builders' associations, both of which failed. In 1851, though strongly opposed by other members of the promoting Council, he started his own initiative, the Central Co-operative Agency, similar to the later Co-operative Wholesale Society. The failure of this scheme, and the Amalgamated Society of Engineers cause in the engineering lock-out of 1852, in which he invested, is said to have cost him £40,000. He was closely associated with the movement which resulted in the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, 1876, and the passing of the Consolidation Act of 1862.[3][5]
For many years he was a director of the Co-operative Insurance Company, and a member of the Co-operative Newspaper Society. He visited America in 1875, with a deputation whose object was to open-up direct trade between farmers of the western states and English co-operative stores. After resigning as secretary to the Co-operative Congress Board in 1891, he became a member of the Oxford University branch of the Christian Social Union.[3]
Personal life
Neale married Frances Sarah Farrer in 1837; they had four children: Henrietta, Henry, Constance, and Edith. In later life he inherited his family estate of Bisham Abbey in Berkshire.[3]
Neale died on 16 September 1892 in London. A memorial to Neale was erected in St Paul's Cathedral[9] and a scholarship at Oriel College was endowed in his memory.