TheO'Neal Family Slave Data Page

Not much is known about the slaves of our O'Neal Ancestors,
so I've decided to accumulate any slave knowledge we run into on this page,
in the hope that it will someday help somebody in finding their ancestors.

The will of Basil (Neal) O'Neale shows the following slaves:
Basil left the following slaves to his wife, Sarah H. Neal: I loan my wife Sarah during her lifetime or until she may intermarry
my negro boy
Nelson,
my negro woman
Chaney
and her child
Charlotte
at her death to be equally divided among my children by her.

Item 3d. I give unto my five children by my present wife (viz.) Sarah Jane, Amanda Ann, Basil Llewellen, Mariah Frances, and James Augustus, the following negroes (viz.,
Nero,
old Ben,
Renney,
Lucy,
Rosetter,
Caty,
Abe,
Dicy,
Harry,
Alcy,
Milley,
Jeffrey,
Dennis,
Charles,
Caroline,
old Aron &
Marshall
with their future increase,

Item 4th. I give unto my daughter Eleanor Smalley the Negroes now in her possession as a loan (viz.)
Fanny,
Frankey,
Permelia,
Smith,
Jonas,
Bassil,
and the infant children of Fanny and Frankey,
with their future increase to during her life as a gift or loan, at her death to be equally divided among her children (or their issue).

Item 5th. I give unto my decreased daughter Elizabeth Dunn's children the Negroes in the possession of Wm. S. Dunn my son in law as a loan (viz)
Kitty,
Rachel,
Rhoda,
Ann,
Aggy,
Thomas and the young children of Kitty with their future increase forever.

Item 6th. I give unto my grandson Jas. B. Neal, the negroes now in his possession viz.
Mahala,
John,
Isabel,
Lezar, &
Savannah
with their future increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item 7th. I give unto my grandson Richard S. Neal the negroes in his possession viz.
Joseph,
Anderson,
Patsy,
Hapsey &
young Aggy with their future increase,

Item 8th. The following negroes I decide shall be divided unto two equal lots or shares (viz.)
Oliver,
old Aggy,
Jerry,
young Ben,
Elijah,
Hiram,
William,
Easter,
Josey,
Elleck,
Randle,
Adam,
Old Mary,
Solomon,
Hariett,
young Mary,
Terry,
Allen,
Charity, and
Savannah
with their future increase.

In witnesses where of I Basil O'Neal have this day set my hand and seal A.D. One thousand eight hundred and forty six,
third day of June Signed
Note: Basil Oneal's will listed his children as Neal so when they all signed and acknowledged the will as neal (as a deed poll ) they legally changed their name as a group to Neal from ONeal. (O'Neale)


The will of Basil O'Neale
Basil signed a will on 15 Mar 1849-14 Dec 1848 in Columbia Co.,
          Georgia, USA.Basil Oneal's Will Registered 15th March 1849 Georgia, Columbia County
          In the name of God Amen! I Basil Oneal of the County and State aforesaid, being advanced
          in years, and knowing that all men must die, having been blessed with a family and some
          property, do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament.
          Item 1st. I request that my Executors pay all my just debts.
          Item 2nd. I give unto my wife Sarah H. Neal four of the 1st choice of my horses, riding
          carriages, such of my stock of all kinds as she may think necessary for carrying on the farm
          and so much of the other perishable property of all kinds and sorts, classes etc. as may be
          dexxed necessary and proper for keeping house and carrying on the farm, the balance to
          be sold by my executors, and applied as hereafter named (as slaves or surpluses) also I
          loan my wife Sarah during her lifetime or until she may intermarry my negro boy Nelson,
          my negro woman Chaney and her child Charlotte at her death to be equally divided
          among my children by her.
          Item 3d. I give unto my five children by my present wife (viz.) Sarah Jane, Amanda Ann,
          Basil Llewellen, Mariah Frances, and James Augustus, the following negroes (viz., Nero,
          old Ben, Renney, Lucy, Rosetter, Caty, Abe, Dicy, Harry, Alcy, Milley, Jeffrey, Dennis,
          Charles, Caroline, old Aron & Marshall with their future increase, also all my landed
          property, lying and being in the County of Columbia the same being five hundred acres
          more or less. All the money or notes I may possess at my death or may after from crops sales
          surpluses etc. over and above raising and educating them the property given them and
          what I may hereafter give them to be equally divided among them all when the youngest
          becomes of age.
          I authorise my Executors to loan such property as they think can be spared to those that
          may marry before the youngest becomes of age. I also give my two sons hereafter named
          Basil Llewellen & James Augustus my tract of land lying in Dooly County containing two
          hundred two and a half acres and my fire arms.--The property give to my wife Sarah and my
          children by her to be kept together on the farms where on I now live, by my Executors for
          their xxxx support and raising and education.
          Item 4th. I give unto my daughter Eleanor Smalley the Negroes now in her possession as a
          loan (viz.) Fanny, Frankey, Permelia, Smith, Jonas, Bassil, and the infant children of
          Fanny and Frankey with their future increase to during her life as a gift or loan, at her
          death to be equally divided among her children (or their issue).
          Item 5th. I give unto my decreased daughter Elizabeth Dunn's children the Negroes in the
          possession of Wm. S. Dunn my son in law as a loan (viz) Kitty, Rachel, Rhoda, Ann, Aggy,
          Thomas and the young children of Kitty with their future increase forever.
          Item 6th. I give unto my grandson Jas. B. Neal, the negroes now in his possession viz.
          Mahala, John, Isabel, Lezar, & Savannah with their future increase to him and his heirs
          forever.
          Item 7th. I give unto my grandson Richard S. Neal the negroes in his possession viz.
          Joseph, Anderson, Patsy, Hapsey & young Aggy with their future increase, also our bed
          and furniture & cow and calf to him & his heirs forever. I also give unto my Grandsons
          James B. & Richard S. Neal my tract of land lying in Paulding County containing fifty
          acres.
          Item 8th. The following negroes I decide shall be divided unto two equal lots or shares
          (viz.) Oliver, old Aggy, Jerry, young Ben, Elijah, Hiram, William, Easter, Josey, Elleck,
          Randle, Adam, Old Mary, Solomon,
          Hariett, young Mary, Terry, Allen, Charity, and Savannah with their future increase. One
          of the lots or shares I give unto my five children by my present wife heretofore named the
          other lot or share to be divided unto four equal lots, one lot I give unto my two grandsons
          James B. Neal and Richard S. Neal, One lot to my daughter Eleanor Smalley, one lot to my
          decreased daughter Elizabeth Dunn's children, this fourth and last lot my decreased
          daughter Ann McCord's children.
          9th. I give my son in law James McCord, John Livingston, William S. Dunn, Daughter in
          law Dorothy Palmer one dollar such as their certain portion of my estate.
          10th. Should my wife marry and remain with my children on the farm I wish her supported
          so long as she may remain with them.
          11th. I request that no division of any kind take place until after the gathering of the crops.

          Finally I constitute and appoint my wife Sarah H. Neal Exer and James B. & Richard S.
          Neal Exers. to see this my last Will and Testament carried fully unto effect.
          In witnesses where of I Basil O'Neal have this day set my hand and seal A.D. One thousand
          eight hundred and forty six,
          third day of June Signed Sealed & Acknowledged in the presence of us the year and day
          above written. A. G. Dozier, Basil ONeal (LS), Daniel L. Marshall, Joseph G. Marshall
          Georgia Columbia County Albert G. Dozier, Daniel L. Marshall, and Joseph G. Marshall
          the three subscribing witnesses to the within and foregoing instrument after being duly
          sworn upon the Holy Evanglxx depose and say that they were personally present and saw
          the testator Basil ONeal in life sign seal pronounce and declare the same to be his last Will
          and Testament that the testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory at the doing
          thereof and that they signed the same at the request and in the presence of the testator and
          in the presence of each other.Sworn to in open court A. G. Dozier the 14th day of December
          1848. Daniel L. Marshall, G. Jones, Clerk, Joseph G. Marshall
          Note: Basil Oneal's will listed his children as Neal so when they all signed and
          acknowledged the will as neal (as a deed poll ) they legally changed their name as a
          group to Neal from ONeal. (O'Neale)


The 1790 Montgomery County Maryland Census shows 5 slaves living in The Henry O'Neale household.
The 1790 Montgomery County Maryland Census shows 20 slaves living in The Lawrence O'Neall household.
The 1790 Montgomery County Maryland Census shows 18 slaves living in The William O'Neill household. (O'Neill spelling from census.)
The 1790 Montgomery County Maryland Census shows 18 slaves living in The Bernard O'Neill household. (O'Neill spelling from census.)

Census_Year    1790
Microfilm #       M637-3
State                 MD
County              Montgomery

Nm of Head of Family         Free White Males  Free       All other
                                              inc. head            White       Free
                                             of family               Females    Persons    Slaves
                                               16 &       under   inc. head
Pg# Ln# Last Name First Nm  upwards   16      of family

85  47    O Neill       Bernard        3          0             4              0           18
86  237  O Neill       William         2          0             2              0           18
86  238  O Neale     Wm, Junr      1          0             1              0            0
87  79    O Neale     David           2           1             5             0             0
90  268  O Neall      Lawrence     1           2             6             0           20
90  274  O Neale     Henry           1           0             0             0            5
89  201  Neill           Barton          2           0             6             0            0

The Biography of Lawrence O'Neal from "Twigg Family Research Pertaining to the Life and Times of Robert and Hannah Twigg"  by Jerry B. Twigg, copyright 1996 states:With his wife Henrietta and their seven children, he lived out a comfortable life in Montgomery County.  The size of his estate can only be measured by the 28 slaves he owned in 1800.
The lands of Laurence O'Neale in Allegany County, at his death consisted of the following parts of tracts:
"Tuesdays Work", 789 acres; "Sugar Tree Flats", 190 acres; "Resurvey on Meadow", 258 acres;  "Spaw", 49 ¾  acres; "Irons Mistake Amended", 144 ½  acres; "Small Island", 56 acres; "Surprise", 183 1/3 acres; "The Gleamings", 247 Acres; "Prospect", 166 Acres; "Conclusion", 740 acres; "Adventure", 12 acres, "Great Sugar Camp", 15 ¾  acres;  "Yankee Hall",  111 ¼ acres; "Maryland Right", 39 acres; "Little Expected", 49 acres;  "Fertile Meadow", 149 acres; "Big Spring", 266 acres; "Sugar Bottom", 108 acres; "White Oak Plains", 78 acres; "Sparking Camp Improved", 113 acres: "Wednesdays Work", 74 acres;  "Rich Hollow", 104 acres:  "Yankey", 51 acres; "Timber Ridge", 56 ¾  acres;  "Addition to Small Island", 25 acres; "The Brothers", 376 acres; and sundry other tracts and pieces.


John O'Neale was the son of Laurence O'Neale, a wealthy land speculator, who at the time of his death, owned 28 slaves and over 3,000 acres of land in Maryland.  John was born about 1770 in Frederick County, Maryland and married Eliza Henrietta Hamilton on January 1st, 1810. They settled into a plantation house on John's extensive lands at Port Tobacco and began to raise a family.
John, it was said, was quite a character, a "great fascinator of women," who indulged in all the lusty pleasures of his day, including fox hunting, horse racing, cockfighting and the lavish hospitality of the manorial region.
Rosatta Maria O'Neale "Rebel Rose" was the middle or third child born to John and Eliza in 1814. When Rose was 3 years old her father was killed by his negro man servant. Afterwards the estate was broken up and Eliza and her six children moved to Poolesville, Maryland. As was often the case in those bygone days, when tradgedy struck a family, relatives were there to help out and as a result Rose and her sister Ellen were sent to live with Eliza's sister, Mary Hamilton and her husband, Mr. H. V. Hill.
From what I've been able to learn John and Jacob where returning from town when they had an argument. Jacob knocked John off his horse, unconscious.
Jacob ran back to the manor and told his mother what had transpired. Supposedly she told him that he was in deep trouble and advised him that "dead men tell no tales." Thus, Jabob returned and finished off the job.  Jacob was subsequently hanged for the foul deed.