The O'Neal Genealogy Association Newsletter

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TOGA NEWS Volume IV, Issue 01, January, 2004

It's been quite some time since we've taken a look at Peter O'Neal, 1754-1832. We've learned some additional information about Peter, and have a better picture of his life, so I thought this would be a good time to update his information. Happy Holidays, Cuz'n, John

Peter O'Neal was born in 1754, in  Saint Mary's County, Maryland to John O'Neale and Margaret Barton. His name is found in various source records spelled as follows, Peter Neel, Peter Neil, Peter Neal and Peter O'Neal.  From 1810 he is found only as Peter O'Neal. We'll probably never know why, but in 1810 the ending e was dropped from the O'Neale surname. All of Peter's descendants were henceforth known as O'Neal. Some of the O'Neale family who remained in Maryland carried the e for another generation or two before dropping it.

Peter was the third child of ten children born to John & Margaret. Of these, two would die in infancy.  On September 2, 1776 Peter was found living in Fredrick County, Maryland (Later to be named Montgomery County.) on Sugar Land Hundred Plantation, along with his parents and siblings.  We don't know when the family migrated from St. Mary's County to Frederick County. It's commonly believed that they moved during the time of the Revolutionary War.

 We're not quite sure when Peter migrated from Montgomery County, Maryland to Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Records seem to indicate that he moved back and forth between the two locations. For instance he shows up for the first time as a single freeman on Bedford County, Pa. in 1779. He also shows up as a witness on a marriage record in Montgomery County in 1779. Other records also indicate he frequently moved back and forth for a few years.

Peter was probably part of a larger migration group who left Maryland for Bedford County, Pa. We know that during the Revolutionary War, Peter was a member of Captain Enslo's Company. Quite a few other Marylanders showed up among the ranks of this Bedford County, Pa unit, including members of the Sparks, McDaniels and Means families. Among these folks were Solomon and Joseph Sparks. They were brothers of Sarah Sparks, who Peter married about 1784-5. Joseph McDaniels was also on the roster. Joseph would marry Peter's sister, Jannet Anna in 1778.

We've never found a marriage document for Peter & Sarah. This leads me to believe they may have married in Montgomery County. During the Civil War, the Montgomery County Courthouse was burned to the ground destroying all the marriage records contained therein. Peter and Sarah Sparks raised twelve children, namely, John, Chloe, Joseph, James, Solomon, William, Mary, Margaret, Samuel, Elizabeth, Susannah and David.

Peter is listed in the census of 1784 as a single freeman in Providence Twp. He is listed as a Warrantee of Land in Bedford Co. called 'Hibernia' in 1786, 1793, and 1813.  Tax records for 1796 Bedford Co. show Peter owned 650 acres of land in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. Peter and his family show on census records for Bedford County for the years 1790, 1800, and 1810.