William O'Neal1

Male, #3995, (circa 1777 - 16 Apr 1826)

Parent*William O'Neal (c 1756 - )
Parent*Dolly (?) (s 1756 - )
William O'Neal|b. circa 1777\nd. 16 Apr 1826|p3995.htm|William O'Neal|b. circa 1756|p40511.htm|Dolly (?)|b. say 1756|p40512.htm|||||||||||||

Birth*circa 1777 William was born at Orangeburg District, South Carolina, circa 1777. 
 He was the son of William O'Neal and Dolly (?). 
Marriage*circa 1799 He married Eleanor Culpepper at Georgia circa 1799. 
Death*16 Apr 1826 He died at Laurens Co., Georgia, on 16 Apr 1826. 
Probate*8 May 1826 William's will was probated at Laurens Co., Georgia, on 8 May 1826. 
Biography* A. D. Searcy, Macon GA gave the following information:
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William and Nelly Culpepper are both buried in the O'Neal Private Cemetery in Laurens Co., GA, located near Turkey Creek, East of Dudley, GA. Location of cemetery was given by Hansley Thomas O'Neal, great grandson of William O'Neal who visited the cemetery many times as a young man while hunting on his father's plantation.
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William 0'Neals plantation was composed of several thousand acres and the original O'Neal home was constructed between 1807 and 1815. The home was occupied continuously by the descendants of William O'Neal until it was destroyed by fire in 1940. The descendants who lived in the home were Cullen O'Neal, Elliott Cullen O'Neal, Judge Jule B. Greene and his wife, Bette O'Neal Greene.
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William O'Neal was evidently a prominent and respected man in Laurens County. He was obviously an educated man and could read and write. He always signed his name on deeds and the ability to read would have been necessary to be a court justice.
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The following was taken from Davidson's History of Wilkinson County.
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Although an act of 1803 created the county of Wilkinson yet no provision was made for a county organization, the legislators evidently realizing that it would be some time before an organization would be necessary, and thinking that the remainder of the lands to the Ocmulgee (River] would be shortly acquired which would necessitate rearranging county lines. However, the survey of 1804 was made and still the Indians had not ceded the remainder ...The rapid rush of settlers to these lands made necessary some form of government ...0utlaws, criminals who had escaped justice found this a refuge and by these, as well as by the Indians, the families were menaced.
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Finally, in December, 1805, the legislature passed an act providing for a county organization. The act named as Justices of the Inferior Court, Samuel Beckton, William Randolph, Lewis Lanier, William O'Neal and Thomas Gilbert. They were directed to select some central place in the county as the site for holding of the superior and inferior courts and to meet there on the first day of April, 1806, to mark out five militia districts, and to nominate two justices of the peace for each militia district. They were directed to fix a date for holding of the first county election, to name the places where the voting should be held and to advertise same...
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Wealthy slave-owners attracted by the red lands so suitable for growing cotton, as well as transportation facilities offered by the Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers as arteries of commerce, soon poured into the new lands. Likewise, the lists of the early settlers contain large numbers of veterans of the Revolution. Many of the most prominent men of Georgia found their way here, and helped settle the lands of this county. The plan of cultivation of the lands in many of the older sections of the state had exhausted the fertility of the lands and there was a general exodus of those able to acquire lands here. Frequently large tracts were purchased and whole communities would move and settle on them. There were instances where congregations would follow their pastors here. Hence, Wilkinson County was largely settled by the cream of the citizens of Georgia, as well as of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
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William O'Neal was a Tax Collector for Wilkinson County in 1807 and 1808.
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It is not known how many of the above descriptions applied to William O'Neal . As will be seen, he was a large landowner in Laurens County, part of which was formed from part of Wilkinson County in 1807. William O'Neal lived in that part. Land records for Wilkinson County were destroyed so no deeds were found for him.
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In 1807 William O'Neal of Washington Count was eligible for two draws in the land lottery. He drew a 'prize' and a 'blank'.
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On 1 Dec. 1807 William O'Neal of Laurens Co. was deeded land by Tilman Buckner of Baldwin Co. for $200. The land was in Wilkinson Co., 2nd Dist., No. 53. Rec. 22 Apr. 1808.
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On 27 Jun. 1808 William O'Neal deeded to Joseph Yarborough 100 1/4 acres in Laurens Co., lot No. 53 in 2nd Dist. of Wilkinson Co. Rec: 3 Sept. 1808.
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He was appointed Justice of the Inferior Court of Laurens Co. on 30 Dec. 1807, 27 Oct. 1813 and 20 Nov. 1817. He was State Representative from Laurens Co. in 1812, 1813 and 1814.
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On 25 Jul. 1809, William O'Neal, Esqr., was deeded 202 1/2 acres from Peter Thomas of Laurens Cc for $800. in 2nd Dist. of Wilkinson Co., No. 28, drawn by Elizabeth Wood of Bulloch Co. and granted to her on 22 Jan. 1806. /s/ Peter Thomas, Wit: Barnett G. Thomas, James Thompson.
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On 16 May 1810, William O'Neal was deeded 157 acres from John Green for $350 in 2nd Dist. of Wilkinson Co., Lot No. 377 granted to John Green on 8 Nov. 1807. /s/ John Green, Wit: James (+) Thomas, Jos. Yarborough.
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On 4 May 1811, William O'Neal of Laurens Co. deeded to John Arline of Washington, Co. 200 acres in Washington Co. for $200, originally granted to Joel Reas on Big Creek 20 Sept. 1786 and deed to W. O'Neal 14 Mar. 1800. /s/ Wm. O'Neal. Wit: Hollida (H) Sauls, James (X) Ressell.
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This deed shows that William O'Neal was in the area as early as 1800 and was probably living in Washington Co. Since a man had to be 21 years old to own land, this indicates that he was born on or before 1779. Since the family Bible reported his date of birth as 1777, he was a very young man when he bought the land.
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On 4 Mar. 1815, William O'Neal of Laurens Co. and Charles Culpepper of Wilkinson Co., adm. of estate of Thomas Fort, apply for leave to sell 200 acres for $605 on Buckeye Creek. /s/ William O'Neal, Charles Culpepper. (Charles Culpepper was William's brother-in-law.)
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William O'Neal was listed on the 1820 Census of Laurens Co. which showed a wife and seven children, five sons and two daughters:
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1 male 26-45 (b. 1775-1794]
1 male 16-26 (b. 1794-1804]
2 male 10-16 (b. 1804-1810]
3 male 0-10 (b. 1810-1820) ,
1 female 26-45 (b. 1775-1794]
1 female 16-26 (b. 1794-1804]
1 female 10-16 (b. 1804-1810]
5 male slaves
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9 female slaves
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A mention is made of William O'Neal in The Official History of Laurens County Georgia by Hart:
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Through the (eighteen) Twenties and Thirties large plantations of cotton had been developed in the northern part of the County by Governor George M. Troup, Jeremiah Yopp .... William O'Neal ...
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He was a large landowner in the county. There were many deeds where he bought land that were not abstracted.
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William O'Neal died in 1826 in Laurens County at 49 years of age while three of his sons were still minors. He made his will on 29 Mar. 1826 and it was probated on 15 May 1826. He mentions 'being in a low state of health.' In the will he names his wife, Nelly; his "son-in-law and very dear friend," Benjamin W. Hampton; and his sons Mastin, Cullen, William, Eliot Love and Edmund Love, the three latter being minors. He gave each son and his son-in-law a bridle and saddle 'worth at least $150,' and nothing else! He left his estate to his wife during her widow-hood and if she died or remarried the estate was to be sold and the proceeds divided between his children. It seems strange that he would want to break up his estate and not leave it to his children. The executors were Benjamin W. Hampton, Sampson Culpepper and Eli Warren. The estate remained intact until about 1849.
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Eleanor O'Neal was not listed on the 1830 Census but she was listed on the 1840 Census of Laurens Co. living very near her sons Cullen and Mastin G.:
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Eleanor O'Neal 60-70 (b. 1760-1770]
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female 20-30 (b. 1810-1820]
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Eleanor O'Neal was listed on the 1850 Mortality Schedule for Laurens Co. Her age was listed as 72, born in North Carolina, died July 1849, a widow, ill for seven days and died of fever.
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On 10 Sept. 1849 Cullen O'Neal and William W. O'Neal, administrators, were ordered to inventory and appraise the personal estate of the late William O'Neal. This was done as of 1 Jan. 1850. Included in the inventory were 39 slaves which indicates a large plantation operation. The balance of the inventory consisted of household furniture and tools.
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In 1853 the administrators reported estate expenditures of $6939.47 and an increase in value of $5014.18, which the court approved. In Dec. 1853 the court approved the dismissal of the administrators. 

Family

Eleanor Culpepper (6 Sep 1776 - 3 Jul 1849)

Last Edited 30 Oct 2000

Citations

  1. Louise Tompkins Wynn and Charles Arthur Wynn Jr., A Family History of the Tompkins and Keas of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and Other Related Lines, Decorah, Iowa: The Anundsen Publishing Co..