Echoes from the Dismal Swamp

SOURCE:
The Augusta Chronicle
27 January 1856
Attorney at law, will practice in all the counties of the Cherokee Circuit in Fannin, Gilmer, and Pickens of the Blue Ridge Circuit in Georgia.
John A. O’Sheal, Columbiana, Alabama

Several years ago I proved John A. O’Sheal was a descendant of Jethro O’Sheal, RWV.
While I have not yet proven through documentation that John A. O’Sheal was the great-grandson of Jethro O’Sheal, there is a preponderance of evidence supporting my contention.

Item # 1:
In 1855 John A. O’Sheal wrote a letter of inquiry to the Commissioner of Pensions in Washington, DC. He asked if any pension money was due the heirs of Jethro O’Sheal.  John A. O’Sheal would not have asked this question unless he had been a descendant of Jethro O’Sheal.
The letter was mailed from the court in Gordon County, Calhoun, Georgia, near Adairsville, Georgia.

Item # 2:
The advertisement above shows John A. O’Sheal was an attorney, and now we know why he had the capacity to inquire about the pension funds for the heirs of  Jethro O’Sheal.

Item # 3:
According to descendants of Elizabeth O’Sheal, daughter of Jethro O’Sheal, who married Tyrie Harrison, Elizabeth O’Sheal Harrison moved to Calhoun County, Alabama, with some of her family.
Elizabeth O’Sheal’s daughter, Charlotte Harrison O’Sheal and her husband, John O’Sheal, Jr., died sometime in the 1840s. It was reported their children moved with their grandmother, Elizabeth O’Sheal Harrison to Alabama, and John A. O’Sheal has been identified as one of their children.
Apparently, John A. O’Sheal, attended school in either Alabama or Georgia. He became an attorney. He traveled to Cass County (now Bartow), Georgia, where he met his future wife, Frances Ophelia Gaines near Gordon County, in the Adairsville area and married her in 1850.
From Cass County, Georgia, John A. O’Sheal and Frances Gaines O’Sheal traveled to various parts of Alabama and Georgia while John A. O’Sheal practiced law.

In 1850, John A. O’Sheal and his wife, Frances, were living in Cass County, Georgia.
In 1860, they were living in Jackson County, Alabama.
In 1870, John A. O’Sheal had died, and it is guessed he possibly died during the Civil War.

Item # 4
John A. O’Sheal was an attorney.
John A. O’Sheal lived in Cass County, Georgia. (1850)
John A. O’Sheal wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Pensions. (1855)
John A. O’Sheal lived in Columbiana, Alabama, and advertised for work. (1856)
John A. O’Sheal lived in Jackson County, Alabama. (1860)
John A. O’Sheal named his oldest son, Henry JETHRO O’Sheal.

Elizabeth O’Sheal Harrison moved to Calhoun County, Alabama. This area is approximately 50 miles from Columbiana, Alabama. I do not know the exact location of Elizabeth O’Sheal Harrison’s property. Therefore, she could have lived even closer to Columbiana, Alabama than 50 miles.

Lewis Conner was born abt. 1649, in Ireland. He was apprenticed to Thomas Noell in Bristol, England 27 Jun 1668 for passage to Virginia. He settled in Nansemond County and married Elizabeth Daines daughter of Sir William Daines.
Lewis Conner and Elizabeth Daines had 7 children, Lewis Jr.; Cader; John; James; Ann; and 2 other daughters.  His widow, Elizabeth, married Anthony Lawson.

I believe one of the two unnamed daughters of Lewis Conner, Sr. and his wife, Elizabeth Daines, was the wife of David Osheal, Sr. (b. 1690)
I believe her name was Maria Theresa because I have located sources which say Lewis Conner had a daughter by that name.
Lewis Conner died in 1697 leaving a plantation of 5000 acres; an estate in Virginia and one in England;  part ownership of a Brigantine.

Deed:  1739:  “To John Osheals, 5,000 acres in Nansemond on the Dismal Swamp beginning at a pine about two miles east of a place called Cat Neck…”(Executive Council of Virginia)

This 5,000 acres of land was the same land Lewis Conner, Jr. advertised in the Virginia Gazette, which he acquired from his father’s estate, Lewis Conner, Sr.

April 13, 1739
Virginia Gazette
To be SOLD, very reasonably,
A Tract of Land, containing 10,000 Acres, lying on the North Branches of Nuse (Nansemond) River, in North-Carolina; and another Tract of 5000 Acres, lying on the same Branches, at a Place call’d Catacta Fort, being purchas’d Land, by Virtue of old purchas’d Warrants, and paying but Six Pence per Hundred Acres annually, Quit-Rent. Any Person inclinable to purchase both or either of the said Tracts, may apply to Col. Benjamin Hill, in Bertie County, or to the Subscriber, the Proprietor of the said Land, at Sewell’s Point, in Norfolk County, and know the Terms of Sale.
Also another Tract of Land, containing 750 Acres, at Sewell’s-Point, whereon the Subscriber now lives, with a good Dwelling-house, Kitchen, Barn, Stable, and all other necessary and convenient Out-houses, the Plantation and Houses being in good Repair. Any Person inclinable to purchase it, may apply to the Subscriber at his House, and treat for the same.
Lewis Conner.
April 6, 1739.

Further evidence,  John O’Sheal (son of David O’Sheal) married Ann Boush, daughter of Samuel Boush. Some of this same Boush family were related to Anthony Lawson, who married the widow of Lewis Conner, Sr., Elizabeth Daines Conner.

Samuel O’Shields, b. 1799, South Carolina.
He arrived 15 August 1845 in Lumpkin County, Georgia, which later became Dawson County, Georgia

The 1850 Census lists his children:
Elizabeth b. 1824
David  b. 1825
Catherine  b. 1828
Hiram  b. 1835
John b. 1844 (This John could have been the son OR grandson of Samuel O’Shields.)

It appears David O’Shields  was the oldest son of Samuel O’Shields.
David O’Shields married Nancy Neal, 15 December 1850, Lumpkin County, Georgia (Source: Marriage date Extracted from research by B. Kerby via Internet)
1870 Census, Dawson County, Georgia
David O’Shields, b. 1820
Nancy  b. 1830   (maiden name, NEAL, per B. Kerby)
Children of this couple:  1870 Census, Dawson County, Georgia
Elizabeth b. 1852    (1880 Mary E. O’Shields)
Merrady  b. 1856   (1880 Census, Meredith O‘Shields)
Miles  b. 1857       (Miles Frank O‘Shields, 1910 Census, Dawson County)
George  b. 1860    (1880 Census, George W. O‘Shields)
{One additional person was listed, Martin Smith. The census record stated Martin was age 23 and female. This is incorrect. Martin Smith was male, the son of Eli Smith and Nancy, per 1850 Census, Dawson County.)
Why wasn’t Sarah Ann O’Shields listed in this census record as a child of David O’Shields and wife, Nancy?  She was listed in the 1880 Census only.}
{B. Kerby via Internet stated David O’Shields and Nancy Neal had son named James O’Shields, 1859.}

After a careful examination of Census Records, I have concluded David O’Shields’ wife, Nancy, was married first to Eli Smith, who died after 4 November 1850.
1850 Census Dawson County, Georgia (4 November 1850)
Eli SMITH  b. 1823
Nancy Smith   b. 1830
James Smith b. 1844      (He is possibly the James O’Shields named by B. Kerby.)
Martin Smith  b. 1847   (1870 Census with NANCY O’Shields and David O’Shields)
Collin  b. 1849       (I believe his name to have been John Collins Smith.)

1880 Census, Dawson County, Georgia
David O’Shields    (Nancy died by 1880 Census)
One additional child was listed:
Sarah A. b. 1865   (Sarah A. O’Shields)

1900 Census, Fulton County, Georgia, This record stated Elizabeth O’Shields was the mother of 11 and 10 were living.
Hiram O’Shields   b. March 1836   (son of Samuel O’Shields)
Elizabeth (maiden name Manning)   b. May 1832
Children:
Nora b. February 1876

NEXT DOOR  in the same 1900 Census
Henry O’Shields  b. May 1873
Savanna  b. 1875
Children:
Zadia  b. 1894
Ethel M.  b. 1897

I believe Hiram O’Shields, Sr., was the father of these children:
John Hiram  b. 29 June 1864   (married Sarah Elizabeth Dowda)
Benjamin H.  b. August 1870  (married Octavia Palestine Dowda)
Henry  b. May 1873  (married Savannah)
Nora  b. February 1876

Two Brothers who married Two Sisters:
John Hiram O’Shields b. 29 June 1864 in Georgia, married Sarah Elizabeth DOWDA on 3 May 1891, in Cobb County, Georgia.  Sarah Elizabeth Dowda was born January 1869 in Georgia.
Children born to this couple:
Carlos b. June 1892
Pearl  b. April 1897
Clifford b. 1903   (married Bertha Bizzell, 6 July 1935, Cobb County, Georgia)
Henry G.  b. 1909

Benjamin H. O’Shields, b. August 1870, Georgia, and d. 10 April 1930.  He married Octavia Palestine DOWDA, 2 December 1891, in Cobb County, Georgia.  Octavia was born  November 1872 in Georgia and died 1960.
Children born to this couple:
Albert   b. October 1892
Roy B. b. May 1894
Maggie  b. January 1899
Claude  b. 1902

 

John OSheal, you can RIP.  I found the document which gives us your approximate date of death, and I now know your wife was not named, Lucretia.

(Source: “Final Payment Vouchers Index Military Pensions” 1818-1864.)
John Osheal received final payment for his service in the Revolutionary War during the Fourth Quarter of 1844; thus giving us the approximate date of John OSheal’s death.
John OSheal died sometime between 1 October 1844 and 31 December 1844.  I am sure John OSheal’s descendants will be happy to know I located this important document.

Of further interest to the descendants of John OSheal:

After I located the approximate date of death for John OSheal, s/o Daniel OSheal and Sarah Walker, I realized Lucretia O’Shields appearing in the 1846 Minutes of the Friendship Baptist Church could not have been the widow of John OSheal, the Rev. War soldier because in 1861 John OSheal’s grandson, stated when John OSheal died he left NO WIDOW. John OSheal died between 1 Oct. 1844 and 31 Dec. 1844, leaving NO WIDOW.
Lucretia O’Shields who appears in the Friendship Church Minutes in 1846 was not the wife of John OSheal, but she most certainly could have been the wife of Jethro OSheal.

1850 Census, Cass County, Georgia

John A. O’Shields b. SC, abt. 1829; wife, Frances Ophelia, b. GA, abt. 1827 (John A. O’Shields married Frances Ophelia Gaines, 16 May 1850, in Cass County, Georgia.)
Silas O’Shields, b.1832, SC, (living in home of Alfred C. Day, b. 1813)

1860 Census, Cass County, Georgia
Silas O’Shields, b. SC, abt. 1832;  wife, C. b. abt. 1834; child, S. b. abt. 1859

1860 Census, Jackson County, Alabama

John A. O’Shields, age 35, b. abt. 1825, SC;  Francis A., age 36, b.abt.1826, SC;  Henry J.,age 7, GA;  Fannie M., age 6, GA;  Ann E. age, 3, GA;  Isabella, age, 11/12, b. Alabama

1870 Census, Cass County, Georgia

Fanny O’Shields, b. SC, abt. 1827, (widow of John A. O’Shields); son, Henry J., b. GA, 1851;  daughter, Fannie, b. GA, 1855

Silas O’Shields, wife, Catherine b. abt. 1839; Sidney(male), b. abt. 1862; daughter, Anna, b. abt. 1866, GA

Sidney O’Shields was incarcerated on 10 February 1879, from Bartow County, Georgia.  The nature of the crime  is unknown at this time. Sidney was living in the household of Alfred Day in 1900 Census, Chattooga County, Georgia. This area is located in Northwestern Georgia, and borders the state of Alabama.  {Alfred Day was born April 1844. I believe he was probably the uncle of Sidney O’Shields and therefore, the brother of Sidney’s mother, Catherine Day O’Shields.}

Silas O’Shields served in the Civil War,  Pvt in Co “D”- 10th Battalion,Georgia Cavalry- Bartow County, Georgia

“The Standard Express Newspaper, “  Bartow County, Georgia, OBITUARY

January 4, 1872
SILAS O’SHIELDS, who for a long time has been a resident of our town, died on the 22nd (Dec 22, 1871) after a few days of severe affliction.
He was Kind, in offensive and obliging and had, we suppose, but few enemies.We tender his bereaved family our heart-felt sympathies and invoke upon the blessing of Him, who is the merciful friend of the widow and orphan. (Courtesy of Peggy Sasscer)

The Cartersville American, Cartersville, Georgia, October 21, 1884, page 5
On Wednesday evening, October 15, Mr. J. W. Bridges was married to Miss Annie O’Shields, at the residence of the bride’s mother, in this city. The ceremony was performed by Rev. F. M. Daniel. The happy couple left on Thursday for Pensacola, Florida, where Mr. Bridges is located, as agent for the Southern News Co., and which will be their future home.

OBITUARY of Catherine O’Shields, wife of Silas O’Shields:
“The Courant American Newspaper”
Cartersville, GA
Oct 13, 1887- Pg 3:
Mrs. O’Shields, mother of Mrs. J. Wylie Bridges, died at her home on Erwin Street last week after a long and painful illness. She was one of the first that settled in Cartersville when it was a hamlet and was long a consistent and dutiful member of the Baptist Church. (Courtesy of Peggy Sasscer)

1880 Census, Dawson County, Georgia
Henry J. O’Shields, b. 1851; wife, Sallie E., b. abt. 1855; son, Henry M. b. 1877; mother of Henry J. O’Shields, Ophelia, age 46.

1900 Census, Portsmouth Ward 2, Portsmouth City, Virginia
Henry Jethro O’Shields  b. February 1851 in Georgia; wife, Sarah, b. July 1857;
Children:
Henry M.  b. July 1877, GA (wife, Nonie, b. January 1880)

Notes for–  Henry Meyers O’Shields; married Naomi Crawford. A descendant of this couple, David O’Shields, supplied the maiden name of Henry Meyers O’Shields’ wife.)   Today, I found new information.  They married 11 October 1899, in Haralson County, Georgia, ceremony performed by A. G. Shaw.  Naomi Ruth Crawford was born in Carroll County, Georgia, parents were Augustus A. Crawford, b. abt. 1850 and Artie, whose maiden name is unknown at this time.

Fannie (Frances) M. b. September 1880,GA, married Charles E. Porter

Barbara L., b. December 1882  GA, d. 7 June 1972, married Mitchell Brown

Bernice b. November 1887, born in ALABAMA, married Ollie Russell

Jo (F) b. June 1892, GA

Cornelia (F)  b. June 1896, GA, married William Morecock

Henry Jethro O’Shields was born, 25 February 1851, and died 19 March 1912.  Sarah Elizabeth (Garrison) O’Shields was born, 10 July 1858, and died 15 January 1946. (SOURCE:  Tombstones, Oak Grove Cemetery, Portsmouth, Virginia)

Henry Jethro O’Shields, son of John A. O’Shields and his wife, Frances Ophelia Gaines,  married Sarah E. Garrison.  (Information taken from the death certificate of Henry Meyers O’Shields stated he was the son of Henry Jethro O’Shields and Sarah E. Garrison.  SOURCE: David O’Shields, who is a descendant of Henry Jethro and Henry Meyers O’shields.  David O’Shields lives in Virginia. He sent this information to me due to our communications via internet for the past several months.)

Henry Jethro O’Shields married Sarah Elizabeth Garrison in Cobb County, Georgia, 1 October 1876.  Sarah was the daughter of David Elias Garrison and Mary Ann Tippins. (Marriage Records, Cobb County, Georgia)

Henry Jethro O’Shields and Payne were publishers of a newspaper (name unknown) in Canton, Cherokee County, Georgia; 1878

Henry Jethro O’Shields was the editor and publisher of Mountain Chronicle in Dawson County, Georgia.  It was established in 1879; printed every Friday; 4 pages; 19×25; Subscription $1.00; 

Henry Jethro O’Shields was the editor and publisher of Cross Plains, Calhoun County, Alabama. It was published every Friday; 4 pages; Subscriptions were $1.00. The newspaper was established in 1883.

Henry Jethro O’Shields published “The Stevenson Chronicle” in Stevenson, Jackson County, Alabama.  (1887)

Henry Jethro O’Shields was one of the Editors of “The Piedmont Post,” located in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama, 1888.

Henry Jethro O’Shields was publisher of The Tallapoosa Dispatch, 1891.  This newspaper was located in Tallapoosa, Georgia, about ten miles from Bremen, Georgia, in Haralson County and very near the Alabama border.

“The Bremen Chronicle,” Bremen, Haralson County, Georgia, Established 1893; Editor & Publisher Henry Jethro O’Shields; Wednesdays; 4 pages, 18×24; Subscription $1.00.

OBITUARY of Frances Ophelia Gaines O’Shields, The Atlanta Constitution

Mrs. F. O. O’Shields, Anniston, Ala., 14 April 1905, died here this morning. Mrs. O’Shields was 72 years of age. She is survived by a son, H. J. O’Shields, of Portsmouth, Va., and a daughter, Mrs. J. T. Hemphill.  The interment will take place tomorrow afternoon.

Frances Ophelia Gaines O’Shields died while living with her daughter, Frances M. O’Shields Hemphill of Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. Frances M.  O’Shields married James T. Hemphill, 22 October 1876, Bartow County, Georgia. (Courtesy of Peggy Sasscer)

Frances M. O’Shields Hemphill, died 31 August 1918, Calhoun County, Alabama.

Among the Revolutionary War Pension papers for Jethro O’Sheal is a letter that was written 12 October 1855 by John A. O’Sheal, who was one of the HEIRS of Jethro O’Sheal.  John was living in Cass County, Georgia, near his wife’s parents, Henry and Anna Gaines in Adairsville, Georgia, and  approximately ten miles from Calhoun, Gordon County, Georgia, which was the location from where the following letter was mailed. This letter proves John A. O’Sheal was a direct descendant of Jethro O’Shields.

SOURCE: Publication: M804; Pension number–S 18144–Jethro O’Shields or O’Sheal

Calhoun, Georgia, October 12, 1855,

L. P. Waldo, Esq.

“Sir, I desire some information in relation to what time Jethro O’Sheal of Spartanburg District, South Carolina drew his last pension or in other words at what time he made his last draw from the pension office.  The SAID Jethro O’Sheal was a Revolutionary soldier and died in the year 1846, about the last of end of that year. There was some time before he died that he did not draw at all, therefore there is coming to his HEIRS you will please give me some information concerning the amount that there is coming to SAID O’Sheal from the time he made his last draw up to December 1846, you will much oblige.    Yours very truly, John A. O’Sheal”

The line of descent from Jethro OSheal to John A. O’Sheal:

JETHRO OSHEAL had a daughter, ELIZABETH.

ELIZABETH OSHEAL married TYREE HARRISON in Spartanburg, SC.

ELIZABETH OSHEAL and TYREE HARRISON had a daughter, Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE HARRISON married JOHN O’SHEAL and had a son, John A.  (Charlotte Harrison and John O’Sheal were cousins.)

Their son, JOHN A. O’SHEAL was the same person who mailed the letter to L.P. Waldo 12 October 1855.

JOHN A. OSHEAL was the great-grandson of JETHRO OSHEAL through JETHRO OSHEAL’S daughter, ELIZABETH OSHEAL who married
TYREE HARRISON.

One researcher reported the name, Sarah or Sara was written into the letter by John A. O’Sheal.  My research shows this is not true.  I have quoted the entire letter from John A. O’Sheal, and the name–Sara–does not appear.  The researcher who reported the name Sara was incorrect with his conclusion.  The researcher substituted the word–SAID–for the name, SARA.

I have written several rebuttals to the preposterous claim Sarah O’Shields was the wife of Jethro O’Shields.  These rebuttals can be found on rootsweb and genforum.

I wish now to add one more reason Sarah O’Shields named in the Minutes of Friendship Baptist was NOTt the wife of Jethro O’Shields, who was born between 1761-1762.  In 1841, Jethro was about 80 years of age.  If this Sarah O’Shields was the ONLY woman who married Jethro O’Shields, this would mean she was at least 70 years of age in  1841.    IT IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY A WOMAN OF 70 YEARS PLUS would have left her 80 year old husband, especially in the years 1841-1842, Spartanburg, South Carolina, when life for most was a daily struggle, and most women were worn out by the age of fifty.

According to one family researcher, Jethro O’Shields and his wife, Sarah, had a daughter, Elizabeth, and this Elizabeth married James Hewitt.  This researcher has stated  Jethro married only one time to Sarah, but NOW that same researcher is trying to retract that statement by saying he couldn’t rule out the possibility that Jethro’s first wife was NOT named Sarah.  In that case the Sarah he claims was the mother of Elizabeth, he is now claiming was NOT the mother of Elizabeth.  He can’t have it both ways.   AGAIN, if Sarah O’Shields in the Minutes of Friendship Baptist Church was really the wife of Jethro and the mother of Elizabeth, this Sarah had to have been 70 years of age.  If she was not the wife of Jethro and mother of Elizabeth, then this person can no longer say Jethro O’Shields married Sarah, and they had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married James Hewitt.

The records show Elizabeth, the wife of James Hewitt, was born sometime between 1790-1793.  Her mother would had to have been born no later than 1774. By 1841, Elizabeth’s mother would had to have been near 70 years of age, just as I stated.  Therefore, back to my conclusion.  Sarah O’Shields, 1841-1842, recorded in the Minutes of the Friendship Baptist Church was not the wife of Jethro O’Shields.  She was probably the wife of Henry O’Shields.   Henry reported his wife, Sarah, left him and was NOT reporting HIS OWN MOTHER HAD DESERTED HIS FATHER.  The very notion is beyond comprehension.   Henry O’Shields and his wife, Sarah, moved from South Carolina to Texas.   It is possible this couple moved to Texas as a result of their family problems.  I doubt we will ever know.

It appears that common sense is no longer alive and well in this country.  Anyone who can be talked into believing a 70 year old woman in 1841 left her husband and reportedly for no good reason. Well, what more is there to say.

I have one final thought about Sarah O’Shields. Sarah could have been the daughter-in-law of John O’Sheal, who served in the Revolutionary War. In 1840 Census, living in the house with John O’Sheal was a male age 40-50. This male may have been named Jeffrey, Jefferson, or Jeff and would have been the son of John O’Sheal, RWV.

David O’Sheal followed in his father, John O’Sheal, and his grandfather, David O’Sheal’s footsteps.  He was an attorney in the Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, area.

David O’Sheal owned properties and lived in Norfolk, Virginia.  He married Catherine Veale, daughter of George Veale, in 1773.

The last Royal Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, burned the town of Norfolk, Virginia, 1 January 1776.

According to newly uncovered documents I discovered while on a trip to Virginia, the properties of David O’Sheal, grandson of David O’Sheal, the emigrant, were burned during the fire started by Lord Dunmore.  David O’Sheal owned three houses, valued at 397 Pounds.

Living next door to David O’Sheal was James Holt, his step-father, and his mother, Ann Bousch O’Sheal Holt.  James Holt was also an attorney and owned two houses which were valued at 1,842 Pounds.

The street name(s) of David O’Sheal’s and James Holt’s properties are also known to me, but I cannot give this information on the internet because my research is constantly being taken and used on message boards and kept by individuals who intend to publish my findings without giving me credit for my work and for making claims I use stolen research.  It is truly a shame I cannot give the documentation or reference for fear my work will be used for another’s financial gain and/or used to satisfy narcissistic urges.

Sometime in 1766, Daniel O’Sheal, his wife, and five children removed from Granville County, North Carolina to St. George Parish, in the colony of Georgia.
After hours of research in the Georgia Archives, along with a veteran archivist of twenty-five years experience, we found that Daniel O’Sheal was never granted land in Georgia.  Daniel requested two land grants (300 acres and 200 acres); however, he did not take possession of the land but did live on the property.
The O’Sheal family was living in what is now Jenkins County, Georgia, not far from the town of Millen, on the Ogeechee River at Buckhead Creek, near the site of the Old Buckhead Church and the stage coach stop at “The Jones House,” which was built in 1762.

Daniel O’Sheal and his family lived about 50 miles from Augusta, Georgia, and 79 miles from Savannah, Georgia. It is highly probable the O’Sheal family reached St. George Parish by way of ship that sailed into the Port of Savannah. From Savannah, the O’Sheal family would travel the black water Ogeechee River to their destination.

Daniel O’Sheal was named in the Inventory and Appraisal papers in the Estate of  James Anderson, 20 February 1769, St. George Parish, Colony of Georgia.

(James Anderson was a cabinetmaker and carpenter, who originally settled in Christ Church Parish, Savannah, Colony of Georgia.)
TO BE CONTINUED…
Researched and written by Connie Chumley Stringer
Copyright 2003-2009

LORDS PROPRIETORS TO DAVID OSHEAL Aug. 5, 1729. Grant.  440 A. “…according to Our great Deed of grant bearing date the first day of May Anno Domini 1668…”   Land on WS *Ahotskey Ridge* at Timber Branch adj.  Robert Lanier, Edward Howard, Joseph Jones, John Jones, Jun.  Land formerly granted by patent to James Hamelton Aug. 4, 1726, and “lapsed for not seating” Signed: Rich’d Everard, E. Moseley, C. Gale, Rob’t. West, J. Lovick, Sec’t'y…John Blount, John Patin.   (Bertie County, North Carolina)

James Sanders to DAVID O’SHEAL of Nansemond Co., Va.   Aug. 13, 1729.  “several covenants and conditions in bond…” For 300 A. plus one negro man called Coffee;  20 head meat cattle.  On condition DAVID O’SHEAL will allow James Sander’s heirs to occupy said land within six months after such heir shall come of age…also James Sanders makes good title to land on west Branch Nansemond river in Virginia “pusuant (sic) to condition of bond…” Wit: Thomas Crew, Thomas Jones. August Court 1729, Thomas Crew D.C/C. (Bertie County, North Carolina)

*Ahotskey Ridge is now Ahoskie, in Hertford County,  North Carolina. It is located about 40 miles from Suffolk, Virginia. (David O’Sheal’s plantation was located on the Nansemond River near Suffolk, Virginia.)

Colonial Bertie County North Carolina Deed Books A-H, 1720-1725, abstracted by Mary Best Bell, 2nd Ed., Southern Historical Press

David O’Sheal witnessed the sale of slaves, land, and livestock:

Elizabeth Lockhart of Virginia to John Beverly of Ahoskey, November 1727, Two negro women for 500A.  One woman named Betty; one named Nann. Land on Ahoskey Swamp “as by patent” Wit:  Henry Baker, Benajmin Hill, DAVID O’SHEAL.  N.C. Court April 1, 1729, C. Gale, C.J., Test:  Ed. Mashborne  D.C/C.

Elizabeth Lockhart to John Beverly, Nov. 14, 1727. “two cows and calves and their increase…the same I received from Beverly on a former bargain…” Wit: Benjamin Hill, Major DAVID O’SHEAL.  N.C. Court, April 1, 1729.  C. Gale, C.J.

John Lovick of Edenton to John Speir, Aug. 1, 1729, 120 pds. for 640 A.   On SS Morattuck River at Goose Meadow.  Adj. James Turner at Gum Swamp “to the Governons corner tree.”  Wit:  Thomas Jones,  DAVID O’SHEAL.  N.C. Court 1729. C. Gale, C.J.   Test:  Ed. Mashborne

(VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA BOUNDARY LINE, by Mary M. Root, “Backsights” Magazine published by Surveyors Historical Society)

Mary M. Root stated:

“Two works emerged from Byrd’s diary: The History of the Dividing Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina and The Secret History of the Line Betwixt Virginia and North Carolina. The latter was intended as a literary piece for the amusement of his friends in London Society, while the former suppressed personal details and seemed intended for a wider audience. Neither work was published in Byrd’s lifetime, though the manuscript of the Secret Line circulated among Byrd’s London friends amid great approval.”

During William Byrd’s travels, it becomes clear he well knew, David O’Sheal.  According to Colonial American Travel Narratives,

“…a present from Mr. O’Shields of 12 bottles of wine and as many of strong beer” (p. 110, Martin, Rowdanelson, Imbarett).