John Odeneal Sr is believed to have been born about 1750 and married Sarah Tate, daughter of Joseph and Elly Tate, August 13, 1774 and recorded in the minutes of the Superior Court of Guilford County, North Carolina. John Odeneal (Oneal) appears as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. It is possible he served with his brother in law, Joseph Tate (1751-1777) captain in the Revolutionary War from NC. src: ( volume 16 North Carolina State Records by Clark) Two of John's brother in laws, John & Joseph Tate, were killed in the Revolutionary War. He was also the high Sheriff of Guilford County, NC. He died intestate Nov. 1, 1791 in NC with several records from the NC Superior Court pretaining to land settlements due to his death, with his widow and two sons, John and Tate, listed as responsible parties. The name is spelled Odineal. They had at least six children; John, Tate, Lucy, Wilmoth, Polly and one daughter whose name is not known or listed in Sarah's conveyance of property July 2, 1810 in Montgomery Co., TN which lists three of her children: Tate, Lucy Grant, and Wilmoth Edmonston.  The fourth daughter is most likely Ally or Elly who married Joshua Hopkins and are also living in Hardeman Co., TN in 1820 until her death about 1857.

    Lt. Tate Odeneal was killed Jan 4, 1815 in the War of 1812. His will lists his mother Sarah Odeneal, one brother, and four sisters with no names. However the will of John Odeneal Jr. states his being an heir of the estate of his brother Tate in Tennessee, I believe this firmly connects him to the earlier John and Sarah Odeneal. Information about the four daughters is as follows and at this time all hypothetical.

    1. When Sarah died a James Grant contested the will stating he was to have one or two of the slaves. I believe this is the husband or possibly a son of Lucy, the daughter that married a Grant.

    2. In Madison Co. Tn court records of about 1825-35 a Wilmoth Edmonson is exec. of an estate of Robert Edmonson. I believe this is a second daughter and Robert is the husband. The will mentions an Odeneal of NC and also Tate Odmil. John Jr. was still living in NC at this time.

    3. Elly Odeneal married Joshua Hopkins Apr 8, 1805 in Rockingham, NC. Elly Tate was the grandmother of one of the unknown daughters. I believe this provides a likely connection for her to this family.

    4. Polly is a know daughter with many descendants.

    More research is needed to prove Elly is a daughter and find descendants for her, Lucy and Wilmouth.

    According to what is known about Sarah, Tate, Polly, Wilmoth and Lucy, it seems they all moved to Eastern TN by 1810 when Mother Sarah left some possions to Wilmoth and Lucy.  John stays and spends his lifetime in NC.  By 1820 Elly and her family seem to be there also with Sarah possibly living with them as in the 1820 Hardeman Co., TN census of a John Hopkins there is a female of the right age to be Sarah. It is not known at this time why they all moved and John stayed by himself.
 
 

State of Tennessee

Montgomery County

Know all men by these presents that I, SARAH ODENEAL of the state and county aforesaid has hereby for the love and good will and affection that I have for my daughter Lucy Grant give and conveyed unto her my said daughter the following property, to wit, one negro woman named Jenny I likewise one bed and furniture, like wise my daughter Wilmoth Edmonston one negro man named Ned, one negro gyrl named Winne, one bed and furniture likewise my son Tate Odeneal, one negro gyrl named Rachel and one gray mare and colt one bed and furniture and all farming tools all my citching and household furniture one cow and five heogs which said property I do well and truly give and render unto my said Daughters and sum for their onIy use forever in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this date unto annexed July 2nd day 1810.

Test. Sarah Odeneal (seal)

A. Peterson

Jno. Edmonston)Juret

Proven at July Term 1810-

WILL BOOK 2,page 297,Bolivar, Hardeman Co,Tn.

1842 SARAH ODENEEL,Estate Report

Jany, Bob with two other negroes Phillis and Need was suppose to belong to the estate of Sarah Odeneel,dec'd,but a certain James Grant has set up claim to them & there is now a law suit between John Allen,Admr of Sarah Odenneel,decld and Allen Hill,James Grant and others for Phillis. Now let it be plainly understood the said Hill and Grant shall gain said negro woman Phillis then the said John Allen is at liberty to give up the said negro Bob to said Hill and Grant and in this case that will clear said Allen of said Bob as Admr of the estate of said Odeneal Dec'd.

John Allen,Admr to the Estate of

Sarah Odeneal,Decld.

Recorded 17th Jany 1842

Fee Pd

S McDowell.Clerk

WILL BOOK 2,page 280,Bolivar,Hardeman Co,Tn.

1839 (the 39 is marked over with 41)

SARAH Odeneela Estate Inventory

14 Sept I bed , I saddle

and? on 1st Jan 1841 1 negro man Bob aged about Twenty six years.

1841

Aug 2nd Bed & saddle sold for $4

Negro Bob hired for 1841, $90.

Sworn to )

Aug 2,1841 ) John Allen,Adm.

SMcD,clerk ordered to be recorded

Recorded 4 day Aug 1841

SMD

Fee pd

Then written across the above from bottom of page toward the top is the following.
1843 Jan 26, CR by cash in full Ninety Dollars for hire of Negro Bob as per recept,Filed The negro also delivered to James Grant ? as appearing of record in this Hardeman Circuit Court said Grant having received the same and all settled.
SMcD Clk
 
 

At this time the known children of John and Sarah are John Jr., Tate, Elly, Lucy, Wilmoth and Nancy (Polly). More time is needed to confirm Elly but it seems likely she is the other daughter.  The order of birth is not known but this writer believes John Jr. is the oldest son and Elly is the oldest daughter.