Annie O'Neal's Will, Johnston Co., NC 1829

The will of Annie O'Neal

Annie O'Neal was the wife of Zachariah O'Neal who wrote his will in Johnston County, North Carolina in March 1796. Annie wrote her will August 17th, 1829 and it was proved in Johnston County February 1835 court.

I recorded the will of Zachariah O'Neal and his wife Annie because I was looking for the parents of my ancestor Moses O'Neal who wrote his will in Johnston County, North Carolina in 1813. Zachariah O'Neal wrote his will in 1796 which would be an appropriate time for Moses' father to have written his will. Unfortunately, Moses was not mentioned as a child of Zachariah O'Neal.

I have still included Annie's will below with the hopes that it will help another O'Neal researcher. In order to save copying costs, I photographed Annie's will with my iPhone. The transcript is below.

Will of Anna O'Neal, 1835, Johnston Co NC Original Will Records, C.R. 056.801.8, North Carolina State Archives, Photographed by Ginger R. Smith, March 2014; p. 1

Will of Anna O'Neal, 1835, Johnston Co NC Original Will Records, C.R. 056.801.8, North Carolina State Archives, Photographed by Ginger R. Smith, March 2014; p. 2

Will of Anna O'Neal, 1835, Johnston Co NC Original Will Records, C.R. 056.801.8, North Carolina State Archives, Photographed by Ginger R. Smith, March 2014; p. 3

Will of Anna O'Neal, 1835, Johnston Co NC Original Will Records, C.R. 056.801.8, North Carolina State Archives, Photographed by Ginger R. Smith, March 2014; p. 4

The will of Anna O'Neal, written 17 Aug 1829, proved Feb 1835. 

Transcribed by Ginger R Smith, ginger.reney@gmail.com, 28 Sep 2014

In the name of God Amen I Ana Oneal of

the County of Johnston and State of

North Carolina do this 17th day of August

1829 make and ordain this my last 

will and testament in manner and form 

as followith first give and Bequeath to

my son Stephen Oneal fore negros by

the name of Lewis Bransill Charity and Mary

to Him and His Heirs for ever-------

2nd I give and Bequeath to my son Stephen

ONeal all my House hold and kitchen furniture

of every kind and all my stock of every kind

Consisting of Horses Hogs and Cattle and 

all my working tools of every kind. Also two 

Hundred and ninty acres of Land in said

County and adjoining the Lands of Josiah &

Holloman and other for Him and His Heirs

for ever.

3rd I give to my son Micajah Oneal

fifty dollars in money for him and his heirs 

for ever

4th I give to Aley Baley seventy five 

Dollars for she and her heirs for ever

5th I put in the Hands of Stephen ONeal

and Benjamin Haut? my Executors to this

will five negros by the name of Annicka

Gatsey Zilla Terrell and Hennery to be sold 

at _______ of Six Months and when sold

my executors pay the Amount of said bond

into the hands of the guardian of Lurry? 

Haust, Henson Haust, and Willey Haut orphans

of William _ Haust ___ which sum my

daughter Lurry Earp Owes to the above orphans 

to the amount of fore hundred and fifty Dollars

6th my will is that if the said negros over 

pays the sum of fore hundred and fifty 

dollars which my daughter owes to said 

orphan then the residue of said money 

to be equally divided between Lurry

Haust, Hinson Haust, and Willey Haust 

orphan of William _ Haust Est?

7th I appoint my beloved son Stephen

Oneal and Benjamin Haust Executors to 

this my last will and testament in 

witness where I do here unto set

my hand and seal this day and date

above written

              Anna (Her X Mark) ONeal

Attest

Richardson Oneal

A Richardson

State of North Carolina

Johnston County

February Term 1835

Then was the Execution of this deed duly

proven in open court by the oaths of Richardson ONeal one of

the subscribing witness - and Allen Richardson the other ______

witness having been proven to be out of the State his signature 

was duly proven and said will ordered to be recorded. 

          Test Rm Sanders CC

I wasn't sure at first if this Anna was the same Annie, wife of Zachariah O'Neal because Anna only mentioned a couple of the children that Zachariah had mentioned in his will. Did the children die or move away? Or did Anna feel that they had already received their legacies?

Children mentioned in Zachariah's Will (1796):
1. Thomas
2. Winney
3. Creasey
4. Edee
5. Lodowick
6. Stephen
7. Micajah
8. Aley Houst

Children mentioned in Annie's Will (1829):
1. Stephen
2. Micajah
3. Aley Baley (is this the same as Aley Houst above? - the Haust orphans are mentioned)
4. Laurie Earp?

Also, Zachariah willed several negros to his wife Anna named Dick, Peter, and Jinnie. However, in Annie's will, she mentioned negros Lewis, Bransill, Charity, and Mary to go to her son Stephen; and Annicka, Gatsey, Zilla, Ferrell, and Hennery to be sold. What happened to Dick, Peter, and Jinnie? Were they redistributed to Annie's children prior to her writing her will? Did they die? Were they sold or given away to others?

If I were to continue researching this family, these are the steps I would take:

1. Review the Johnston Co Deed records to determine family relationships 
2. Research the 8 children of Zachariah O'Neal to determine why they were not mentioned in their mother Annie's will of 1829 - did they die or did they move away ?
3. Research Aley Houst, Aley Baley, and Laurey Earp and determine their connection to the Houst orphans