Research on the Possible Children of Theresa/Teresa O’Shields
It has been determined through DNA testing that Wiley O’Shields descends from a male WOOTEN.
Some individuals have said Wiley O’Shields and Elizabeth O’Shields Harrison shared the same mother and the same father. This is questionable and preposterous because O’Sheal/O’Shields researchers are now asked to believe: (1) Elizabeth O’Shields Harrison was the d/o Teresa O’Shields and unknown WOOTEN. AND (2) Wiley O’Shields nee WOOTEN and Elizabeth O’Shields Harrison shared the same unknown WOOTEN father. Elizabeth was born abt. 1792 and Wiley 1801. There were at least eight years difference in their ages. In 1804, Teresa O’Shields named Joseph Betterton and Wm. Grant in the Bastard Bond of her daughter. So, now we have three men named as having affairs with Teresa O’Shields–Mr. Betterton, Mr. Grant, and Mr. Wooten– Three men between 1801–1804. Since Elizabeth O’Shields was born abt. 1792,and Wiley was born abt. 1801, I find it highly unlikely Elizabeth and Wiley were fathered by the same man. Dudley Wooten was quite possibly the father of Wiley O’Shields. Dudley was born abt. 1775, and owned land on Dutchmen’s Creek. It is doubtful Dudley Wooten had an affair with Teresa when he was about seventeen, and then, again when he was about twenty-five.
Dudley Wooten’s father was probably, Nathaniel Wooten.
Samuel O’Shields, born abt. 1799, South Carolina, removed to Lumpkin (now Dawson) County, Georgia, in 1845. As my cousin, J. V. Michael Motes stated in my 2003 OSHEAL book, “Living near to Samuel O’Shields was Wiley O’Shields, who was perhaps his brother.” If Samuel O’Shields was also the son of Teresa O’Shields, the number of men involved with Teresa increases from three to four between 1798-1801.
I have reported that Samuel’s father was a Mr. Dodson. This information was taken from legal papers I have in my possession. A descendant of Samuel’s stated that the O’Shields family “goes back to the Dodson family.” Whether or not this individual knew the truth of Samuel’s father, I do not know. I am simply quoting from a legal document.
If Teresa O’Shields had these children–Elizabeth, Samuel, Wiley, and Nancy–then, there were five possible men having children with Teresa. Mr. Betterton; Mr. Grant; Mr. Wooten; Mr. ?? (Samuel’s father); Mr. ?? (Elizabeth’s father)
Based on current DNA testing capabilities, no descendant of Elizabeth O’Shields Harrison will be able to confirm the continued assertion that she was the daughter of Maria Theresa/Teresa O’Shields. The same statement applies to the wife of one James Hewitt. It cannot be proven through current DNA testing capabilities that James Hewitt’s wife, Elizabeth Allen alias O’Shields/O’sheal, was the daughter of Jethro O’Shields or John Allen. Perhaps this Elizabeth was the daughter of Teresa O’Shields and sister of Wiley, Nancy, and possibly Samuel.
Based on the evidence presented from relatives living in Spartanburg, South Carolina, area, Jethro O’Shields’ daughter, Elizabeth, was the wife of Tyrie Harrison.
I JUST UNCOVERED NEW INFORMATION TODAY.
Wiley O’Shields married Mary Jane BETTERTON, who was born abt. 1805. Mary Jane was the daughter of Joseph Betterton and Anna Blassingame. This same Joseph Betterton was named in the Bastard Bond of 1804 as a possible father of Teresa O’Shields’ daughter. Based on the ASSUMPTION that Teresa O’Shields was the mother of Wiley O’Shields, Wiley O’Shields married the half-sister of Teresa O’Shields daughter, who was his half-sister. In other words, Wiley could have married his half-sister’s, half-sister if Joseph Betterton was the father of Teresa’s daughter, born 1804.
Joseph Betterton was the brother of Joshua Betterton, who served in the Revolutionary War under Lieutenant John O’Shields, the brother of Maria Theresa/Teresa/Treecy O’Shields.
I am still looking for primary sources which show Wiley O’Shields was the son of Teresa O’Shields. I have believed so but believing is not proof.