Today’s column will feature the Teel family of Covington County through a summary of the research compiled by Linda Kaple, a descendant of that family. Appreciation is expressed to her for the thorough work she has done and sharing it with others. Since she has written such a descriptive outline of this genealogy, it is presented in her own words.

The Teel family name has changed over time from its English version of Teale to Teal to the Teel we see today. Many have always used the Teal spelling and some have reverted back to the Teal spelling. Name changes were common occurrences mainly caused by a recorder, such as a census taker, assumed the spelling. If it was in a community where the name was well known, the spelling is more likely to remain the same. If the name appears in a new setting, the chances of it being changed are greater. And in today’s computer age as researchers or companies have attempted to translate older records, errors are made by misinterpreting the older styles of writing. Our oldest proven ancestor John Teel and his immediate heirs have appeared as Teel, Till, Teal, Tiel, Teale, Tear, Teate, Seele, Sell, Tell, Tules, Joel, and Feel. It is for these reasons that when using computer assisted searches, one needs to look at other known information in order to make sure they are able to find the correct Teel family member.

I have no confirmed record that gives the parentage of John Teel save for one statement that mentioned John Teel was a descendent of Edward Teal of Maryland, however the following account is a possible link. By census records John Teel was born in South Carolina in 1792. John’s wife, Anna Paget, was born in 1805 in South Carolina. Her father, William Paget, can be found in the census records of Darlington County, S.C., in 1800 and 1810. In that same county we also find the following listed as Heads of Households in the 1800 Federal Census of Darlington County, S.C.:

William Teale Sr. as a male of 45 years and up. Also listed are 1 male of 10 years and under 16 years, 1 male of 16 years and under 26 years, and 1 female of 45 years and up. (Page 116A) This could not be John Teel’s father as John would have been under 10 years of age.

Christopher Teale The household included one male of 45 years and up, one female of 16 years and under 26 years, and one female of 45 years and up. (This could not have been John Teel’s father.) Christopher Teale owned no slaves in this census. (Page 113)

William Teale Jr. is listed as Head of Household in the 1800 Federal Census of Darlington County, S.C., as a male of 16 years and under 26 years. Also listed are 1 male under 10 years and 1 female of 16 years and under 26 years. William Teale Jr. owned no slaves. John Teel fits this age. (Page 115B).

Edward Teale listed as Head of Household in the 1800 Census of Darlington County, SC, with four males under age 10 years, one male 10 years to 16 years, one male of 26 years and under 45 years, two females under 10 years, one female of 10 years and under 16 years, one female of 16 years and under 26 years and one female of 45 years and up. Edward Teale owned no slaves. John Teel also fits in this age group. (Page 123A).

To reduce the possibilities between William Teale Jr. and Edward Teale, the descendents of Edward Teale state that he moved to Tennessee. Census records show as early as 1820 an Edward Teal living in Dickson County, Tenn. This same Edward Teale passed away in Bedford County, Tenn. in 1821. One of the sons who descend from this Edward Teal who lived in Tennessee before moving into North Alabama and then later further west was named John C., born 1795.

While it was common to name two children the same name, which normally only happened if the older child had died prior to the younger child’s birth. Therefore, I would conclude that of the Teal/Teales in Darlington County, only William Teale Jr. could be John Teel’s father and therefore William Teale, Sr. of the 1800 census would be his grandfather.

If William Teale Sr. is our subject’s grandfather we can probably move a few more generations into the past. There is a William Edward Teale who was granted a petition upon family rights by his Excellency the Governor 250 acres on the Black Creek, a branch of the PeeDee, and another 250 acres on the Peedee or the waters thereof. At the same time, his brother, John Teale, was granted by the same rights 100 acres upon the Great PeeDee or waters thereof. This was on Dec. 7, 1756. On Aug. 2, 1757, the same William Edward Teale received a Royal Grant by George II of 250 acres on the southwest side of the Peedee River on the Black Creek in the Welch Tract in Craven (now Darlington) Tract, bounding on all sides by vacant land.

William Edward Teale had the following children: John, William Jr., Edward, Christopher, Sarah Rebecca, and James. This William Edward Teale is the same as the William Teale Sr. who appears in the 1800 Census of Darlington County, S.C.

A William Edward Teale was one of eight children born to Emanual Teel Sr. and Catherine Johnson. The family included Hannah, b. 1734; Caroline, b. 1736; William Edward (aka Edward), b. 1737; John, b. 1746; Lloyd, b. 1750; Belinda, b. 1754; Charles, b. 1756; and Emanual Jr., b. 1758. However, half of the family histories I have investigated show this William Edward Teale going to Ohio and the other half show him moving to Pitt County, N.C., and later into South Carolina.

But if this William Edward Teale is our ancestor, then his father, Emanual Teel Sr., was born about 1713 to Edward and Hannah (Randall) Teal. Edward and Hannah had one other child, a daughter named Ruth, who was born in 1711.

Edward Teal was born in 1680 in the United States to Edward Teale and Sarah Copus. Edward Teale was born in 1663 and immigrated to Virginia with his parents, Edward and Sarah Brown, in 1667 from England.

To make this easier to understand (in ascending order): John Teel, William Teal Jr., (and Sr.), William Edward Teale, Sr. and Mary Jane ??, Emanual Teale Sr. and Catherine Johnson, Edward Teale and Hannah Randall, Edward Teale and Sarah Copus, Edward Teale and Sarah Brown.

As I stated before, this connection from John Teel to William Teal Jr. (Sr.) as father and son and from William Teal Jr. to Edward Teale and Sarah Brown Teale is at best an educated guess. This has been a frustrating test and no doubt others have encountered the same feelings. Many times I have found a Teel/Teal “placed” into a family on the Internet almost as a far stretch but never documented with any proof. The person just seems to “fit” in the age group and they needed another generation. For this reason the Teel family has been extremely difficult to trace past our John Teel.

And as if all of this isn’t confusing enough there is another interesting proposition that the Teel’s entered continental America after spending several decades on the island of Barbados in the Caribbean. Many English colonists came to the new world via this island, particularly those who eventually settled Charleston, S.C. In the 1640s there is a Thomas Teale living in St. Michael’s Parrish, Georgetown, Barbados. His children are listed as Ann, b. 10/12/1648, and Thomas, b. 11/25/1655. Additionally there is John Teale esq. and wife Eleanor with child Joanneh, b. 4/16/1736. Also the family of Peter Teale and wife Elizabeth, with children: William b. 5/24/1726; Ann, b. 10/7/1731; Sarah, b. 7/6/1730; John, bapt. 5/27/1729; and Agnes, b. 5/12/1735. By the 1770’s there are Teele’s in Charleston, S.C, who may be descendants of the immigrants from Barbados. They are Edward and Rebecca Teele of St. Peter’s Parrish. Granville County, S.C., who left their marks on deeds of the period, along with Charles Teele and John Teele. The resource for the South Carolina information is South Carolina Deed Abstracts 1719-1772 Vol. 4, by Langley.

Perhaps someday I will travel to South Carolina and investigate the Teel’s further in the hopes that I can finally make a solid connection.

As mentioned earlier, Linda Kaple’s research is the source of this writing. Anyone with questions may contact Curtis Thomasson at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETINGS: The John Teel family is holding a reunion next week, July 25-27, in Andalusia. They are expecting relatives from several states.

The Covington Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m., on Thurs., July 25, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Caroline Picking will present a review of her father, Dr. W. G. Cumbie, popular local family physician.Guests are encouraged to attend.