William Paschal and Elizabeth Heaton O'Shields

William Paschal O'Shields was born ca. 1805, probably in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was a son of John O'Sheal, Revolutionary War Soldier and Elizabeth Lucretia Paschal.

An elderly gentleman in my family shared a story with me, told by his uncle, Julius O'Shields.  Julius was the grandson of William.  Julius stated that William was killed in 1863.  In July 2010, I received a letter that was written by William and Elizabeth's daughter, Sarah Jane, in 1929. Sarah speaks of William's death.

1929 Letter of Sarah Jane O'Shields

 Transcribed Version

Spartanburg Deed Book V, page 144:  In 1832, William O'Shiel sold his farm animals and equipment to Elihu P. Smith in the amount of $99.09.  To the best of my knowledge, it is the only deed ever recorded on William.

William and his first wife, Eliza (Elizabeth Ann "Unknown last name"), had three male children living in their home by 1840. The names of these children are unknown, with the exception of Leonard.  Leonard was given a gift of land by his grandfather John in 1844. The deed states that Leonard was John's grandson, son of William. It also states that William was living on the said property. 

William's second marriage was to my great grandmother, Elizabeth Heaton.  She was called "Betsy".  They can be found in the Southern Division of Spartanburg County. Living in their home was Eliphus, Wm. P., Sarah J., and Isaac.  The relationships are not stated, but we know that Eliphus and Wm. P. were not Elizabeth's children. Are they William's sons from his first marriage?

Elizabeth Heaton was born ca. 1825 in North Carolina. It is likely that she was born in the boundaries that later became a part of South Carolina.

Little is known about Elizabeth's family, although I have positively linked her to Joseph C. Heaton, born ca. 1831, whom I believe to be her brother. Joseph Heaton's first wife was Susan Lesley.

By 1870, Elizabeth was in Pickens County, living in the home of Susan Lesley's father, William Lesley. Although the census report lists Elizabeth and her children with the last name of Lesley, it is an obvious mistake. It is likely that William Lesley was giving Elizabeth and her small children a home. In 1880, Elizabeth was in Easley, Pickens County, in her own home. She was listed as a widow. Note: William Lesley was not deceased at this time.

The last known record of Elizabeth was in the early part of 1908, in which her photograph was taken with my great grandparents, Joseph and Naomi Gravely O'Shields, and their children. Elizabeth's death is unknown. Since she is not found in the earliest death records of S.C. in 1915, one would assume that she died between 1908-1915.

It is rumored that Elizabeth was full blooded Cherokee. In my opinion, this is doubtful. The Heatons migrated from England and were not of Indian descent. I found one Heaton family listed in the final Dawes Registry of the Cherokee Indians. They carried ONLY 1/8 Cheorkee bloodline and were listed as IW (Indian and White blood). Along with that, conversation often took place about Indian ancestry in my family, but the trait was past from my grandmother's side of the family. I find it odd that my grandfather would have never mentioned that Indian blood came from his side of the family. He never said that his grandmother, Elizabeth, was Indian.

William and Elizabeth had the following children:

Sarah Jane O'Sheal, Isaac O'Sheal, Milas O'Shields, Joseph Allen O'Shields

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