Peter T Teel • 1813–1872
BIRTH 1813 • Virginia, USA
DEATH 1872 • Jasper, Missouri, USA
Great-
1818 Age 5 • Birth of sister Mary Jane Teel (1818–1890) • 1818 • Rockbridge, Virginia, USA
1831 Age 18 • Death of brother John Teel (1800–1831) • 1831
1839 Age 26 • Marriage • 07 Jun 1839 • Giles, Virginia, USA • Rebecca Compton Teel • (1813–1883)
1839 Age 26 • Birth of son William Jackson Teel (1839–1914) • 31 July 1839 • Rockbridge County, Virginia, USA
1840 Age 27 • Residence • 1840 • Jeffersonville, Tazewell, Virginia, USA • Western district
1842 Age 29 • Birth of daughter Martha E Teel Dobyns (1842–1870) • 19 Jan 1842 • Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia, USA
1843 Age 30 • Birth of son James Holman Teel (1843–1899) • 17 September 1843 • Tazewell County, Virginia, USA
1844 Age 31 • Birth of son Henry C Teel (1844–) • 1844 • Virginia, USA
1845 Age 32 • Birth of son Charles "Chas" L Teel (1845–1880) • 1845 • Tazewell County, Virginia, USA
1848 Age 35 • Birth of daughter Lucinda "Louisa" "Lucy" J Teel (1848–) • Abt. 1848 • Virginia, USA
1849 Age 36 • Birth of son Zachary Zacarias Teel (1849–1860) • 1849 • Virginia, USA
1850 Age 37 • Residence • 1850 • Tazewell, Tazewell, Virginia, USA • Western District
1852 Age 39 • Birth of daughter "Eliz “Elisabeth Teel (1852–) Abt. 1852 • Richmond, Howard, Missouri, USA
1853 Age 40 • Birth of daughter Nancy V Teel (1853–) • 18 Apr 1853 • Tazewell County, Virginia, USA
1853 Age 40 • Death of Mother Lucinda "Lucy" J Teel (1773–1853) • 27 Sep 1853 • Pea Ridge, Cabell, West Virginia, USA
1856 Age 43 • Residence • 1856 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA
1858 Age 45 • Death of Father Philip Teel (1762–1858) Abt. 1858 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA
1860 Age 47 • Death of son Zachary Zacarias Teel (1849–1860) Bef. 1860 • Virginia
1860 Age 47 • Residence • 1860 • Washington, Clark, Missouri, USA
1870 Age 57 • Death of daughter Martha E Teel Dobyns (1842–1870) • 18 Aug 1870 • Jasper, Missouri, USA
1870 Age 57 • Residence • 1870 • Mineral, Jasper, Missouri, USA • Residence Post Office: Carthage
1870 Age 57 • Death of sister Elizabeth "Betsy" (DNA) Teale Kelly(1799–1870) • 1870 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA
1872 Age 59 • Death • 1872 • Jasper, Missouri, USA
CLICK HERE for Acknowledgement of census data errors / Inaccurate and inefficient Records
Peter Teel was born sixth of seven children in Whitehall New York in 1813 to Philip and Lucy Teel. We don’t know much about what life would have been like for Peter growing up as a kid. We do know that as a child he would be growing up in Whitehall New York where post war of 1812, the town was a busy ship-
In an 1830 census we find Peter age 17 still living in Whitehall New York with his Mom and Dad, Lucy and Philip. (Ages are approximate)
We first find record of Peter Teel in Virginia 9 years later when he married Rebecca Compton in Giles County Virginia, June 7th,1839. Peter would have been about 26. The next year in the 1840 US Census has the new Peter Teel family in Tazewell County Virginia. Peter and Rebecca already have their first child William, a new born, living in the household. Notice also that the next family listed in this 1840 census for Tazewell County is that of Cornelius Compton. It is thought that this is the family of Rebecca’s older brother. Cornelius has 2 daughters under the age of 5 living in his household.
We can’t tell when Peter first moved to Virginia, but Peter was most likely in his early to mid-
Tazewell Virginia, circa 1864
Also, as history records it, Peter was a slave owner. He had one slave, a woman. There is no indication anywhere how long he was in possession of this woman but it can only be assumed that she was a helper to the family in the home and farm. The first record of this is the 1844 Property Tax record where Peter is listed as have one slave over the age of 16. The next record is the 1850 Schedule 2, Slave Inhabitants listing where she is listed as a 60 yrs old black female.
In 1856, we find that the Peter Teel family has made a major move. They left their Virginia home and headed west to just North of the Missouri border in Lee County Iowa. We can’t be certain why the family made this long journey; were they forced to leave because of growing Civil War tensions? Whatever the reason, it wasn’t just the Peter Teel family that made this move. Peter’s sister, Elizabeth with her husband Adam Kelly and their 6 children also made the trip. Peter’s dad, Philip is also making the trip at the age of 92. Lucy, Peter’s mom, had passed away back in Virginia. It appears by the records that Peter released his slave and she remained in Virginia and did not move with the family.
Two years later in 1858 back in Virginia, the death of the slave of Peter Teel is recorded. Her name is listed in the death record as “Jane” which is most likely not her real name as other female slaves in this same death record are listed as “Jane” as well. Remarkably, her age here is listed as 100. 8 years earlier she was listed as 60 so this is probably the person recording the death is simply guessing her age. It is also noted in the record that the person providing the information for the record of Jane’s death appears to be Rebecca Teel’s mother Jane (or maybe Jennie) Compton. Listed as Mother in law to Peter, this seems to indicate that Rebecca’s family remained close to the Teel family all those years in Virginia.
Sometime between the 1856 and 1860 census taking, the Teel family relocated some 30 miles Southwest to Clark County Missouri. I am not sure why the family choose to move again, especially after recently making the trek to Iowa from Virginia. I can only assume that the pending Civil War in America is forcing a lot of American families to make difficult decisions about where they stand which in turn can make a difference in where they choose to live.
The Peter Teel family is still located in Tazewell Virginia in 1850 as well as Peter’s brother Samuel and his family living in the area. Also in 1850, living in a neighboring county (Cabell) is Peter’s sister, Elizabeth and her husband Adam Kelly and their 6 children. Among their children are the 8 year old twins Lucy and Philip, named after their Grandparents. Elizabeth appears to remain close to the family. When her mother Lucy died in 1853, her husband Adam was the person who supplied the information to the person recording the death. Also later on, she and her family travel with the Peter Teel family out West.
Map of Virginia, 1850
The Peter Teel family appears to remain in Missouri during the Civil War years. However, in the 1870 US census we find Peter and Rebecca living in Jasper County on the Southwest side of Missouri with their two daughters Elizabeth (18) and Nancy (16) who still remain at home. Also living not far away in Jasper county is Peter’s son Charles (Chaz) and his wife Jennifer (listed as Jane) and their 2 year old son John (Elmus). Both Peter (55) and son Charles (21) are listed as farmers. Peter is listed as Farmer and Charles is listed as working on a Farm.
Carthage is the County Seat of Jasper County. I assume the Teels lived somewhere in the vicinity of Carthage.
The last record I have discovered for Peter Teel is in 1871. Peter created a last Will and Testament that left his estate to Rebecca and in the case of her death, would be divided among children. It is believed that Peter died sometime later but I have not discovered any record of his death. Neither have I discovered any record of the death of Rebecca Teel.
Charles and family would relocate to Texas, they would be located in Lamar County Texas in the 1880 US Census.
Figure 1 is the courthouse in Carthage Missouri that would have existed when the Teel family lived in the area.
Figure 2 is the new courthouse that was built in 1893.
Acknowledgement of census data errors / Inaccurate and inefficient Records
Prior to 1850, a US Census would list only the name of the head of the household. Family members and persons living in the household, including the head, were listed either Male or Female and grouped into age ranges. (Example) This makes it difficult to trace women and children born, living, or married prior to 1850. So even if a head of the household is found in a census, there is a challenge to match the age of a married couple and their children should be when compared to other known records (such as death records or census records dating 1850 and after). Also, in census taking 1850 and after, I have discovered many errors in recording made of Place of Birth. For example, in the 1850 census for the Peter Teel family, all family members are recorded as being born in Virginia. Known family members not born in Virginia are known to be Peter Teel and his parents Philip and Lucy, all thought to be born in New York. The name Virginia is not written out but is simply a ditto mark from the space above. Another example is the 1880 census record for the Chas Teel family where Chas as well as his father and mother are recorded as being born in Missouri. Chas Teel as well as his mother (we believe) were born in Virginia and Peter his father was born in New York.
Missing or Lacking Records
Many of the original 13 colonies including New York did not require registration of births, marriages, and/or deaths until the late 1800’s and even then, compliance with the law was haphazard. Due to this, these records can be lacking for many events.
This all indicates that the census data is not without error and as such is used to match those aspects that are closest to or match completely. In all cases, the matching data will outweigh the inaccuracies by far.
So, the information presented here are interpretations of findings I have discovered from many hours of investigation and are by no means error free and in many cases, “best guess” and believed to be true to the best of my interpretations of investigations.