Re: Thomas J. Seale Autauga Co., AL
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In reply to:
Thomas J. Seale Autauga Co., AL
Jeff Goudeau 2/27/00
I have extensive information on Thomas Jefferson Seale (1816-1893) who married Aletha Connell in Autauga Co AL in 1845. He was the son of James and Rachel Seale. James Seale son of Charles Seale (1729-1798) and Lydia Muse Seale (c1730/1735-c1799). Rachel was supposedly Rachel Kelley, but no proof of her parents. James Seale born in Cumberland Co NC in Feb 1769, but his parents moved to Craven Co SC, later Fairfield Dist SC, in the fall of 1769 or very early 1770. James lived there with his parents until about 1783, when Charles Seale moved with his brothers to Wilkes Co GA. Charles Seale sold his farm there in Nov 1785, and returned to SC by 1786. However, James remained in GA until around 1790, living with his sister Lydia Seale Peavy/Peevy.
James and Rachel married about 1792, and they lived in Fairfield Dist SC until the fall of 1820. Thomas Jefferson Seale was their youngest son, born in 1816. In 1820/1821, James Seale moved his family to Butler Co AL, near Greenville. In about 1832 or 1833, James Seale left Butler County and moved north to Lowndes Co, near the plantations of his daughters. Thomas J. Seale bought his first farm there in Lowndes County in 1833 at the age of 16 or 17 years.
In early 1837, five of James Seale's children left AL and moved to northern Ouachita Parish LA. By 1839, Thomas Jefferson Seale and still another sibling had moved there. Also in 1839, this area became known as Union Parish, and a town center was selected, with the town to be called "Farmerville". James Seale's son James Hayden Seale was the first postmaster of Farmerville. James H. Seale also pulled all the stumps from the town square, with help from Thomas J. Seale.
When the first town lots were offered for sale, Thomas J. Seale purchased two. His name was often found in the very earliest records of Union Parish in 1839 and early 1840, helping with various affairs of the parish. James H. Seale was a lawyer and very active in the new town, and Thomas J. Seale apparently helped his older brother James H. Seale.
However, by the time the census was taken in 1840, Thomas J. Seale and another older brother Ransom Seale (1799-1862) had left Louisiana and returned to Alabama. Thomas J. Seale was enumerated with his father James Seale on the 1840 Autauga Co AL census.Thomas J. Seale bought a farm there, and in 1845 he married Aletha Connell.
In early 1850, Thomas Jefferson Seale left Alabama and rejoined his siblings in north Louisiana. In 1842, his brother James H. Seale became the sheriff of Union Parish, but in 1846 James H. Seale's farm was cut off into Jackson Parish. By 1850, James H. Seale was the Clerk of Court of Jackson Parish, and in mid-1850, Thomas J. Seale and his family was living with James H. Seale.
Shortly afterwards, Thomas J. Seale bought a farm in southern Union Parish, near the town now known as Downsville. He lived there the rest of his life. He wasMethodist.
I have further information on his children.