The O'Neal Genealogy Association Newsletter

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TOGA NEWS Volume III, Issue 9, September, 2003

Now, take a look at this land information from our O'Neale records.....................

Deed 1812  Maryland Montgomery
ONEALE Ann Samuel Middleton Division of Land of William O'Neale II.
To William O'Neale Middleton,
Thomas Jefferson Middleton,
Benjamin Franklin Middleton,
Elizabeth Middleton and
Matilda Middleton:

"Allison's Discontent", Pt of "Constant Friendship", Pt of "Wheel of Fortune", Pt of "Adamson's Choice" all of "Pig Pen", all of "Hard Bargain", pt of "Piney Grove",
all pt of "Exchange" and "New Exchange Enlarged" from which Wm O'Neale II obtained verdict by possession at suit of Lewis Beall.
William O'Neale Booklet, Page 45
Montgomery County Judgments 1807-1816 F 543
Sween Library, Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland

So, in 1812, these properties were divvied up between the Middleton's. It appears that there were no homes on the properties, they were used as farmland. After Matilda married Isaac he would have gained access to her share of the properties. I suspect he began planting his wife's share of the property as well as some of the "adjoining" properties.

Now, remember Josiah Hanson saying that Isaac Riley sent his slaves to Kentucky, because he was in danger of losing his property, due to some sort of a land trust problem? That part kept sticking in my mind, (or what I have the pleasure of calling my mind.) What land trust was he talking about? Why did it seem important?
Here's what Josiah said "my master, at the age of forty-five, or upwards, married a young woman of eighteen, who had some little property, and more thrift. (Matilda.) ......  After a time......My master fell into difficulty, and from difficulty into a lawsuit with a brother-in-law, who charged him with dishonest mismanagement of property confided to him in trust. The lawsuit was protracted enough to cause his ruin, of itself. He used every resource to stave off the inevitable result, but at length saw no means of relief but removal to another State. He often came to my cabin to pass the evening in lamentations over his misfortune, in cursing his brother-in-law, "

This took place in the between the time of their marriage (1818) and 1825. In the spring of 1825, Josiah spirited away the slaves of Isaac Riley to Kentucky, so they would not be lost in the impending lawsuit. So, is it a coincidence or was it one of Matilda's brothers who filed the lawsuit against Isaac? Is this the trust problem Josiah speaks of? Seeing the locations and the names of the properties and knowing who they belonged to makes me feel pretty confident that the brother in law mentioned was one of the owners of these properties, or was related to someone who was.