60. Arthur O’Neal & 61. Hannah Benton [Ireland, MS]
1765, Arthur born in Co. Antrim, Ireland, s/o 120. John (Shane) O’Neal & 121. Margaret (Peggy) ? .
1767, Hannah born in Co. Antrim, Ireland.
1776-1780, Arthur a scout for Revolutionary forces in SC. (S) See Family notes.
1783, Arthur established a mercantile store in the Cherokee territory at Ross’s Landing in TN; later moving it to near what is now Huntsville, AL.
1790, Arthur married Hannah in the Benton mansion in Darlington, SC.
(S) 1790 Census, NC, Nash Co. Arthur appears to be head of a household of multiple family members. John and Arthur would be two of the adult males. The third adult male is unknown. The other family members could be his sister’s families.
[1800 – location unknown.]
By 1812, Arthur moved to Talladega, AL and set up a trading post. (S) See Family notes.
By 1817, Arthur moved to PerrCo., MS.
12/1820, (S) 1820 Census, MS, PerrCo.
1825, Arthur died in PerrCo., MS; buried on the family estate.
1825, Hannah died in PerrCo., MS, the day after Arthur; buried next to Arthur.
(S) James and Thana O’Neal family Bible. (Destroyed in a fire in 1990’s). (S) Records of Nettie Bond Simpson [d/o JFP Bond ( 8iv).] of Wiggins, MS; with most coming from personal records of Bashaba Bond, d/o John Bond ( 16ii) and Elizabeth O’Neal (first cousin of Nancy ( 15). (S) Records of Roberta O’Neal Downing of Perkinston, MS, a ggd/o Arthur ( 60); from collections of Flora Bond Wilson, Dr. C E O’Neal, and Mrs. Inez Breland Hooper. (S) Cyril Cain, VII, P225-6.
Family notes:
• It would be highly unusual for Arthur and Hannah to be barren for 11 years before conceiving their first child. It is also extremely unlikely that they had only 2 children. I believe that they had at least one son before James, named Joseph. Joseph O’Neal, born 1792, is the only other O’Neal in the 1820 census in PerrCo., and is living near Arthur. He is the only O’Neal living in PerrCo. (the homestead) in the 1830 census. James and William both live in JaxCo.
• In 1776 the American Revolution began. Arthur was about 11 years old and living with his father in SC. Gen. Lafayette, accompanied by Gen. Baron Dekalb of Germany, arrived in 1777, first anchoring near Georgetown. Arthur was visiting one of his father’s warehouses when they arrived. Arthur’s father, John, provided supplies to Revolutionary supporters. Arthur accompanied Lafayette on his ship on the trip to Charleston. Arthur became friends with Gen. Dekalb (killed in the Battle of Camden in 1780). Lafayette returned to France to solicit additional support. Arthur knew the territory, and too young to become a soldier, he became a scout for Gen. Dekalb and Col. Benton. He was also used to scout Cherokee tribes to determine which side they supported. Aft. Dekalb’s death, Arthur received his sword and had it at his home in MS. One of Arthur’s sons named a son after Gen. Dekalb, the other son named a son after Col. Benton.
• On a rare trip back to Darlington, SC he married Hannah Benton, and they returned to AL with an organized group to form a new settlement. When Hannah became pregnant, she was escorted by (future President) Andrew Jackson to “Strother’s Meeting Place” in TN where they had old friends. Their son James was born near present Gallatin. Hannah was not happy with the living conditions and returned to SC from TN. Arthur sold his business to one of the family’s business partners and returned to be with Hannah. He continued “trading’ and was gone from home for long periods. In 1803, their son William was born.
• Arthur branched out his trade routes even farther, supposedly able to speak Creek, and Choctaw as well as Cherokee. He convinced Hannah to move with him and they settled near Talladega, AL where and old friend and trading partner, Alexander Mactinosh, was already living. In 1812, when war broke out, Arthur operated a supply depot for Gen. Andrew Jackson about 20 miles from Talladega. In 1813 Gen. Jackson built a fort there, Fort Strother. Arthur sent his family to live with the Dickey family in GreeCo., MS.
• The Creeks were under heavy pressure from the escalating white encroachment on their homelands. The Lower Creeks and Choctaws thought it best to remain neutral and not aggravate the U.S. Government by attacking white settlers. But some of the Upper Creeks (later called “Red Sticks”) had decided to take a stand and strike against the U.S. expansionists. In the spring of 1812 the Upper Creek campaign began, and the first white settlers were killed. The Southern Creeks and Choctaws executed a Red Stick Chief, Little Warrior, in an attempt to appease the U.S. Government. In the summer of 1813 the internal crisis deepened when the Red Sticks retaliated for Little Warrior’s death against the Creek town of Tuckabatchee, signaling the start of a nine-month long Creek civil war. In a battle at Fort Mims, in August of 1813, over 250 civilians were killed. The U.S. Government decided to intervene, but could only use militia because of the war with England. The militia operation was plagued with communication problems, inadequate supplies and short terms of service. But most of these men had invested in these lands and were not about to be driven from them. Andrew Jackson, a Major General of the West Tennessee Militia, capitalized on this determination and eventually turned the militia units into a well organized force. In the spring of 1814, Jackson was in the position to make a strike at the Red Stick stronghold at Tohopeka. On March 27, Jackson attacked their camp and by nightfall eight hundred Red Stick warriors were dead. This rout became known as the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. The defeat is comparable to Tecumseh’s downfall at the Battle of the Thames. Only a few dozen Red Stick warriors escaped to Florida. Gen. Jackson was ordered to suppress this uprising, and he did. Many of the Indians killed were Arthur’s friends.
• Sometime in this period Arthur supposedly had a serious conflict with a trading partner in Bayou La Batre, AL. The trading partner would likely be a member of the families identified in the Cox-Gollott volume of this work.
• By 1817, Arthur had moved his family to their final home in southern PerrCo., MS. The home in the area of Perry and Greene Counties was called “Tara” and was on Black Creek (it no longer exists). Arthur retired from trading. Two sons married two Dickey sisters. Arthur died, was buried by Hannah, and she died the next day. Both were buried on the family estate.
• Hannah is believed [by family lore] to be the sister of Col Lemuel Benton of the Revolutionary War. Lemuel was born 10/23/1754. [This is not supported by Lemuel’s genealogy – although she is likely related].
Children of Arthur are Hannah:
i. Joseph O’Neal, born 1792 in SC.
No.60:(S) 1800 Census, m<10.
Joseph married Sarah ?, born 1793 in SC.
3/31/1810, Joseph O’Neal, plat for 31 acres on Bullocks Creek, York Dist. (S) SCDA&H, S-213192, V-42, P-181, I-2.
12/1820, (S) 1820 Census, MS, PerrCo. Living near his father.
(S) 1830 Census, MS, PerrCo. 1f<5 unidentified.
(S) 1840 Census, MS, PerrCo. 1f:10-15 unidentified.
(S) 1845 MS Census, PerrCo.
9/23/1850, (S) 1850 Census, MS, PerrCo. Joseph is a farmer. The last 3 children in the 1850 census are probably children of his daughter Elizabeth. He lives near his son David.
(S) 1853 MS Census, PerrCo.
7/2/1860, (S) 1860 Census, MS, Lauderdale Co., Meridian, Center Beat. He is a farmer with a personal estate of $100. Marie, born 1815 in NC, lives with him.
6/27/1870, (S) 1870 Census, MS, PerrCo., On Carlisle Mill, Augusta. He is a farmer with a personal estate of $200. Marie still lives with him. His daughter Elizabeth also lives with him.
Children:
Rachael O’Neal, born 1812 in SC. (S) 1820,1830,1840,1850 Census.
David O’Neal, born 1814 in SC. (S) 1820,1830,1840,1850 Census.
(S) 1860 Census, MS, PerrCo. He is married to “Emily”.
(S) 1880 Census, MS, PerrCo., Augusta. Married to “Milly”.
Elizabeth O’Neal, born 1817 in SC. (S) 1820,1830,1840,1850,1870 Census.
(S) 1860 Census, MS, PerrCo. Elizabeth has sister Nancy and “Sabra” living with her.
Mary A O’Neal, born 1835 in MS. (S) 1840,1850 Census.
1857 she married Ira Clark. (S) Who Married Whom in PerrCo., 1985.
Ezekiel O’Neal, born ~1836 in MS. (S) 1853 MS Census, PerrCo.
Joseph O’Neal Jr, born 1843 in MS. (S) 1840,1850 Census.
1864 he married Maryann McCardle, born 1847 in MS. (S) Who Married Whom in PerrCo., 1985.
(S) 1880 Census, MS, PerrCo., Augusta. 7 children.
Nancy O’Neal, born 1848 in MS. (S) 1850 Census.
ii. James Benton O’Neal (30), born 1/1/1801.
iii. William O’Neal, born 1803 in Laurens Co., SC.
1819, William married Susanna Dickey52iii.
No.60:(S) 1820 Census, MS, PerrCo. He and Susanna live with his father.
(S) 1830 Census, MS, JaxCo n: “Wm”. 1f<5 not identified.
(S) 1836 Tax Roll, MS, Jackson Co.: William Oneal.
(S) 1840 Census. See No.16. 1m:50-60, 1f:5-10, 1f:10-15 not identified.
(S) 1850 Census, MS, HarrCo. (see No.30).
1852, William died in MS.
Children: see Susanna.
