WILLIAM WARREN O'NEAL FAMILY MAJOR UPDATE MAY 2024
After years of research William Warren O'Neal and first wife Margaret (Unknown maiden name) have been found before arriving in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. The breakthrough has come due to a new AI search on the webite Family Search. These records are unindexed so are difficult to find without the help of an AI search. Following is the new information.
William O'Neal applied for a Land Grant in 1833 in Marengo County, Alabama. In fact, he applied for two pieces of land. Each piece of land had to be paid for before receiving the certificate of ownership. It took about two years for William to pay for these properties.
14 October 1833 Certificate #469 39 92/100 acres in Marengo County, Alabama. Received certificate in September 1835.
11 November 1833 Certificate #670 40 14/100 acres in Marengo County, Alabama. Received certificate 25 April 1835.
On 29 October 1836 William O'Neal and wife Margaret sold the 39 acre parcel of land to John Patton for $430. Samuel Simmons was the acting justice who gave the following statement "the said Margaret O'Neal being examined by me separately and apart from the said husband acknowledged that she did sign the same voluntarily of her own consent written without any threats or compulsion of her said husband on the day and year therin mentioned''. Marengo County, Alabama. Deed Book D (Jan 1836- Aug 1837): p. 281. Image 426 of 845. Accessed 12 March 2024. Database Family Search.com.https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3SC-8996-M
William O'Neal and wife, Margaret O'Neal, sold the 40 acre parcel of land 8 March 1839 to J. L. Bryan of Marentgo County, Alabama for $350. Margaret was questioned separately and she resigns her claim Right and Right to Dower. Alabama, Marengo County, Deed Records, Vol. G, page 165. Image 122 of 268, item 2. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3SC-N7GL?view=fullText&keywords=William%20Oneal
This information establishes a time frame for their first three children to have been born in Marengo County, Alabama. The last record found for William in Marengo County was in 1839. The first record for him in Rapides Parish, Louisiana was the 1840 census.
The big question is - why did he go to Marengo County, Alabama? He had family there: two uncles, Bridgers O'Neal and Fredrick O'Neal from Johnston County, North Carolina. They were the brothers of Warren O'Neal, the father of William Warren. His birth family will be covered in another post.
