John A. Teal - Father (Maternal Side)

John A. Teal was born on December 12, 1851, in Chesterfield County SC. He was the third child of William and Mary Teal. The 1860 US Census lists John A. as being 7 years old. The age discrepancy is understandable considering that he was born December 12, 1851 and the census was taken in July of 1860. The names of the other children listed are those of his adult brothers and sisters. His father, William Teal, was listed as thirty-three years old and born in South Carolina. His mother, Mary Teal, was listed as thirty-one years old and also born in South Carolina. William and Mary’s children are as follows:

• Effie – born 1849
• Jane – born 1850
• John A. – born 1852
• Ann Eliza – born 1853
• Mary – born 1854
• Robert – born 1855
• W. H. – born 1858

The listed names of the children are the same as told to Lidge (Jenkins) Johnson, by Aunt Pauline Chapman and by Uncle BG Griggs. They said that their grandfather John A. Teal’s brothers and sisters were Eliza, Jane, Mary, Bob (Robert), and Billy (W. H.). All of the children listed on the census were born in South Carolina. At the time the census was taken the family was living near the Chesterfield Court House.

John A. Teal married Mary Patience Ousley Clark, a widow who was fourteen years older than he. She first had married Alexander Clark, and they had four sons and one daughter. Alexander had served and was killed in the Civil War. The marriage of John A. Teal and Mary Patience produced four daughters and one son.

The 1880 US Census listed John A. Teal’s age as twenty-seven and his wife’s age as forty-one. At the time of the census, the children who were living in the household were

• Eliza Jane, 6 years old
• James R., 4 years old
• Sarah M., 2 years old
• Jemima, 1 year old
• Gilbert Clark, 24 years old working as a turpentine operator
• Isaac Clark 19 years old working as a laborer

Based on the ages of the children it is estimated that John A. and Mary Patience Ousley Clark were married around 1873 or before. He was a farmer and they lived on the 230 acre farm that Patience’s children had inherited from their father, Alexander Clark. The children later conveyed the farm to John A. Teal.

At this time little is known about John’s childhood and life before he married Patience. We do know that he was a giant of a man. It is said that his foot was 7” wide and 16” long. We have a shoe that is reported to be one of his shoes. He was a good father, loved God, and tried to do what was right. The evidence of this lies in the relations he had with his children and step-children.

The 1900 US Census shows John and wife Patience, daughter Sarah M. and Patience Elizabeth and granddaughter Hattie L. living in the household. Neighbors are Burrell and Jemima Griggs as well as John’s son James R. Teal and daughter-in-law, Hannah.

After Patience died in 1909, he lived most of his remaining years with his daughter Jemima and her husband, Burrell Griggs, until his death in 1918. He is buried beside Patience in a small cemetery.