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Philip Teel • 1762–1858

BIRTH About 1762 • Pennsylvania

DEATH About 1858 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA

2ND Great-Grandfather to Herbert Gaston (Bud)

1774 Age 12 • Birth of sister Maria Catharina Caty Teal (1774–1859) • 25 August 1774 • Dover, York, Pennsylvania, USA

1787 Age 25 • Birth of half-brother John Adam Teel Diehl (1787–1840) • 22 Aug 1787

1790 Age 28 • Death of Mother Maria "Mary" Magdalena Burkhart Teal (1740–1790) • 1790 • Franklin, Virginia, USA

1798 Age 36 • Marriage • 1800 • Rockbridge, Virginia, USA • Lucinda "Lucy" J Teel (1773–1853)

1799 Age 37 • Birth of daughter Elizabeth "Betsy" (DNA) Teale Kelly (1799–1870) • 1799 • , , Virginia, USA

1800 Age 38 • Residence • 1800 • Whitehall, Washington, New York

                     • Birth of son John Teel (1800–1831) • 1800 • Lexington, Rockbridge, Virginia, USA

1806 Age 44 • Death of Father John Adam Diel Teal (1734–1806) • 1806-Sep 1815 • Franklin, Virginia, USA

1810 Age 48 • Residence • 1810 • Whitehall, Washington, New York, USA

                     • Birth of daughter Catherine Teel (1810–) • Abt. 1810 • Virginia, USA

1811 Age 49 • Birth of daughter Martha Teel (1811–) • 1811 • Virginia, USA

1812 Age 50 • Birth of son Samuel L Teel (1812–) • 1812 • Virginia, USA

1813 Age 51 • Birth of son Peter T Teel (1813–1872) • 1813 • Virginia, USA

1818 Age 56 • Birth of daughter Mary Jane Teel (1818–1890) • 1818 • Rockbridge, Virginia, USA

1820 Age 58 • Residence • 1820 • Whitehall, Washington, New York, USA

1830 Age 68 • Residence • 1830 • Whitehall, Washington, New York, USA

1831 Age 69 • Death of son John Teel (1800–1831) • 1831

1835 Age 73 • Death of brother John Adam Teel Diehl (1751–1835) • 4 Jul 1835 • Hanover, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, USA

1840 Age 78 • Death of half-brother John Adam Teel Diehl (1787–1840) • 5 Nov 1840

1850 Age 88 • Census • 1850 • Western District, Tazewell, Virginia, USA

                     • Residence • 1850 • Western District, Tazewell, Virginia, USA

1853 Age 91 • Death of wife Lucinda "Lucy" J Teel (1773–1853) • 27 Sep 1853 • Pea Ridge, Cabell, West Virginia, USA

1856 Age 94 • Residence • 1856 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA • Marital Status: Widowed

1858 Age 96 • Death • Abt. 1858 • Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA

Philip was living with his son Peter at the age of 92 when the 1856 census was taken for Des Moines, Lee, Iowa, USA.

In 1860, Peter was living in Washington, Clark, Missouri, and Philip is no longer listed as living with the family.

Philip and Lucy in Whitehall Township, Washington County, New York -

Philip Teel was born in 1762 to John Adam Diel Teal (1734-1806) and Maria “Mary” Magdalena Burkhart Teal (1740-1790).

We know this not by any official birth record but by multiple census records that recorded Philip’s age at the time of the census. This means that Philip was 14 years old when the Declaration of Independence was signed.

I was having a conversation with Cousin Steve Teel back in 2005 and was sharing some of these findings with him. After telling him that Philip was 14 in 1776, he paused in thought and then responded; “He may have even fought for the other side in the revolutionary war and then defected to America”. I don’t know if that is true but that did happen a lot. Especially in the waning years of a war that ended in 1783, Philip would have been 21, think about that. All indications are that Philip was born in America or was brought here right after his birth, but records going back in the 18th century are sketchy and scarce (See introductory statement). I do have some records of possible parents of Philip, but again so far, Philip is not named in any record where he is living under a head of household, neither is his mother. This makes it difficult to be positive about a linage trace.

No birth or marriage record have been located for Lucy so there is uncertainty about her maiden name. I’m still digging on that one. It is believed by converging records that Philip married Lucinda J. “Lucy” sometime around 1799, maybe earlier. Philip was 37, Lucy, born in             , would have been 26. All investigated records of both Philip, his wife Lucinda and his children seem to indicate that Philip and Lucy had 7 children, 4 girls and 3 boys. One of those boys of course was Peter T., born in 1813 when Lucy was about 40. Records indicate Lucy had her last child, Mary Jane, at the age of 45.

Philip’s occupation is not known. Census records prior to 1850 did not record the occupation of the head of household. The first complete census record (1850) that lists him is when he and Lucy are living with their son Peter, a farmer, and Philip’s occupation is not listed.

History records Whitehall New York as a major trade hub for both the American and French colonies. During the American Revolution, the village, Skenesborough, was captured by American forces in 1774 (Philip would have been 12 yrs). Benedict Arnold under Philip Schuyler built a fleet of vessels to confront British forces at Valcour Island (thus the claim that this is the birthplace of the US Navy). The surviving American vessels returned here to be destroyed to keep them from falling into enemy hands. The next year John Burgoyne led his forces through this area en route to the Battle of Saratoga. After the war, the town's name was changed to Whitehall. During the War of 1812 (Philip would have been 50 yrs) the area was used to build ships to battle British forces on Lake Champlain, culminating at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

So, because of the history of Whitehall Township, it is possible that Philip was employed in some capacity at the very busy ship building and trade harbor that existed in Whitehall. The Teel’s were most all farmers by trade throughout the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It is also possible therefore that Philip was the beginning of a long line of farmers who carved out their place in early America. This means that most of our ancestry were not renowned for anything remarkable that would be recorded into the history books that we know of. But let’s not forget that it was the poor dirt farmer that is the foundation of this country’s start. Our ancestors are among the strong and brave that took the risks and conquered their fears to mold this nation into the great nation that it is. The early Teel family settlers to this great country accomplished some remarkable feats and lived through some very hard times and wars that a whole lot of folks did not survive. The Teel family has been blessed by God.

As mentioned earlier, Philip and Lucy were married sometime prior to 1800 and the marriage most likely was not officially recorded anywhere. Between 1800 and 1830 Philip and Lucy Teel were living in Whitehall Township, Washington County, New York.

In 1800 it was just Philip 37 and Lucy 26. For the next 30 years they would live, work and raise their family spanning 1800, 1810, 1820 and then thirty years later (1830), the census reveals they had four children in the household. The oldest (living at home) was Martha age 19, then Peter T. was age 17 and Mary Jane, age 12. Peter’s siblings, Elizabeth 31, John 30, Catherine 20, and Samuel 18 are presumed to have flown the coop.

Also listed in the 1830 census is a child between 5 and 9, I’m not sure who this might be. Many times, children from other family members or friends would be living with relatives for various reasons, death of parents, abandonment (these were heard times) to name just a few. This also may be a child of Philip and Lucy that may have died some time later.

20 years later (1850), Philip, Lucy will turn up in Virginia. They probably would have been drawn there by their sons Samuel and Peter who moved to Virginia sometime between 1830 and 1839. Property tax records recorded between 1844 and 1848 have Peter, Samuel and their dad Philip listed as eligible to pay property taxes. Peter appears to be the only one with property tax to pay. In 1848 he paid 32½ cents tax on 2 horses. The 1850 census shows Philip and Lucy living under their son Peter’s household. Not living very far away is Peter’s brother Samuel Teel and his family. Samuel, his wife Elizabeth and their 8 kids are still living in Tazewell county in 1860, long after his mother Lucy died in 1853 and the rest  of the family has relocated to Missouri.

In Cabell County Virginia are Peter’s sister Elizabeth who is married to Adam Kelly. In 1850, West Virginia and Virginia were not separate states, and the 1850 map of Virginia indicates the closeness of Cabell and Tazewell counties. A notable aspect of the Adam Kelly family is their twin children, a boy and a girl aged 8, Lucy and Philip named after their Grandma and Grandpa. Elizabeth Teel Kelly has a close relationship with her family.

Lucy dies in 1853 of the colic. The death record from Cabell, West Virginia indicates that she was her daughter Elizabeth and son in law Adam Kelly made the burial arrangements. Another interesting fact is that when the Teel family made the trek to Iowa somewhere between 1853 and 1856, the Adam and Elizabeth Kelly family made the trip with them. The Adam Kelly and Peter Teel families live very close to each other in Lee County Iowa in 1856. Philip Teel made the trip as well and is listed in the Iowa census with the Peter Teel family at the age of 92. It is believed that Philip died sometime between 1856 and 1860 since Phillip is not listed with the Peter Teel family in the 1860 Missouri census.

Finally, one of the most amazing things about Philip and Lucy is that God granted them long life. Lucy’s death record of 1853 indicates she was 80 at her death. Philip was alive and living with his son’s family in 1856 at the ripe old age approaching 93. It is believed that Philip died sometime after that but there seems to be no record of his death. People living into their 80’s and 90’s was rare. Lucy’s death record indicates Lucy died of “Colic”; a death mostly preventable today with the multitude of antibiotics readily available. Back in the 1800’s, more people died at a much earlier age than today simply because they did not have the medicines, the breakthroughs in medicine and preventative treatment we have today. These two Teel ancestors lived into their 80’s and 90’s in spite of the odds.

CLICK HERE for Acknowledgement of census data errors / Inaccurate and inefficient Records

Philip’s occupation is not known. Census records prior to 1850 did not record the occupation of the head of household. The first complete census record (1850) that lists him is when he and Lucy are living with their son Peter, a farmer, and Philip’s occupation is not listed.

History records Whitehall New York as a major trade hub for both the American and French colonies. During the American Revolution, the village, Skenesborough, was captured by American forces in 1774 (Philip would have been 12 yrs). Benedict Arnold under Philip Schuyler built a fleet of vessels to confront British forces at Valcour Island (thus the claim that this is the birthplace of the US Navy). The surviving American vessels returned here to be destroyed to keep them from falling into enemy hands. The next year John Burgoyne led his forces through this area en route to the Battle of Saratoga. After the war, the town's name was changed to Whitehall. During the War of 1812 (Philip would have been 50 yrs) the area was used to build ships to battle British forces on Lake Champlain, culminating at the Battle of Plattsburgh.

So, because of the history of Whitehall Township, it is possible that Philip was employed in some capacity at the very busy ship building and trade harbor that existed in Whitehall. The Teel’s were most all farmers by trade throughout the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. It is also possible therefore that Philip was the beginning of a long line of farmers who carved out their place in early America. This means that most of our ancestry were not renowned for anything remarkable that would be recorded into the history books that we know of. But let’s not forget that it was the poor dirt farmer that is the foundation of this country’s start. Our ancestors are among the strong and brave that took the risks and conquered their fears to mold this nation into the great nation that it is. The early Teel family settlers to this great country accomplished some remarkable feats and lived through some very hard times and wars that a whole lot of folks did not survive. The Teel family has been blessed by God.

1773