Family:Daniel O'Friel and Agnes Jameson (1)

From "Historical sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia" By William Thomas Price, pgs. 175-180:

JEREMIAH FRIEL.

The Friel relationship trace their ancestry to one Daniel O'Friel, a native of Ireland, who probably came to Augusta county with the Lewises, 1740. He settled on Middle River, between Churchville and Staunton. His children were James, William, Jeremiah, and Anna. James O'Friel went to Maryland, Eastern Shore. William settled in Highland County. Anna became a Mrs Crawford and lived in Augusta.

Daniel O'Friel seems to have been a person of considerable means. He sold his property for Continental money, with a view of settling in Kentucky. The money being repudiated, he was unable to carry out his plans. Upon Jacob Warwick's invitation, Jeremiah O'Friel carne to Clover Lick. Mr Warwick gave him land on Carrich Ridge. This land was exchanged with Sampson Matthews, Senior, for lauds on Green- brier, now occupied in part by his descendants.

Jeremiah Friel's wife was Anna Brown, daughter of Joseph Brown, who was living at the time on Green- brier River. Their first home was on Carrich Ridge, then afterwards they lived on the river. Their children were Joseph, Daniel, Josiah, John, Catherine, Hannah, Ellen, Mary, and Jennie.

Joseph Friel married Jane McCollam, and lived on the home place. He served on the first Pocahontas grand jury. His children were Jeremiah, William, George Washington, a Confederate soldier, 31st Virginia Regiment, and died at Stribling Springs in 1862; Hannah, and Mary Ann, now Mrs Joseph Dilley.

Daniel Friel married Anna Casebolt, daughter of Henry Casebolt, on the Greenbrier near Stamping Creek, and settled on a section of the homestead. Of their children, Andrew Harvey married Anna Johnson, went first to Iowa, thence to Tennessee, where he died in 1871. Barbara became Mrs Lindsay Sharp; Sabina Martha became Mrs Stephen Barnett. Montgomery Allen was a Confederate soldier attached to the 31st Virginia Infantry. He married Rachel Christine, daughter of Rev Jamas E. M>jr3, and lived ne.ir Huntersville.

Josiah Friel married Mary Sharp and lived on part of the John Sharp homestead. Their children were Ann; Sally, Mrs James E. Johnson; Mrs Nancy Grimes, near Millpoint; Ellen, Mrs George Slaven; John, and Israel, who lives on Droop Mountain.

John Friel married Jennie Brown, daughter of Josiah Brown, and settled on a section of the Brown homestead near Indian Draft. In reference to their children the following particulars are in hand : James Twy- man lives on the Dry Branch of Elk. He was a Confederate prisoner for three years. Josiah Franklin, Confederate soldier—31st Virginia—died in battle at Port Republic. William Thomas, Confederate soldier —18th Virginia Cavalry—survived the war, and was drowned in Valley River, near Elkwater, in 1879.

Mary Jane became Mrs James Gibson, on Elk, and died recently. Mary Frances was tbe first wife of Sheldon Hannah, on Elk. John Friel was a Confederate soldier, though exempt by age from military service, and died in the army on Alleghany Mountain, December, 1861, shortly after the battle.

Catherine was married to James Sharp, on Elk. In reference to her children these interesting particulars are available: Jeremiah Sharp was a Union soldier and died in thy service. John Sharp was a Confederate soldier—62d Regiment—and died in battle at Beverly in 1864. Josiah Sharp was a Confederate soldier, attached to the Grecnbrier Cavalry. He survived the war, married a Miss Dotson, and lives near Falling Spring.

Daniel Sharp was a Confederate soldier—62d Regiment. He was captured on Elk, and was killed at Tolley's (two miles below Mingo) in an effort to rescue the prisoners.

Morris Sharp. Confederate veteran—62d Regiment —was wounded at Winchester so severely that the surgeons decided on amputating his left arm. He emphatically and persistently refused to submit to the operation. The wound healed and he now lives, and when last heard from he was in charge of Henry Clark's mill on Spring Creek.

In reference to the pioneer's daughters, we learn that Hannah Friel was married .to Jefferson Casebolt, and lived near Stamping Creek. Her daughter. Martha Casebolt, became Mrs John A. Alderman, and Barba1'iv Ann was married to .Jolin Donahue, and lived in the Levels. Jennie became Mrs Tharp and went west. Ellen Friel became Mrs John Dilley, and lived near Kdray. Mary Friel became Mrs William Dilley. and settled in Hmitersville.

The compiler in hin attempt to illustrate tlie history of Jeremiah Friel's family has been mainly aided by liis grandson, the late M. A. Friel, who took special pains to collect authentic information. It mav be interesting to say about him that he stands on the old list as the first subscriber to "The Pocahontas'Times"; and he claims to have owned and nsed the first kerosene lamp in Focahontas, in 1865.

Jeremiah Friel was in the expedition to Point Pleasant, 1774:, in the same company with Jacob Warwick. He was one of the soldiers detailed under Jacob Warwick to provide a supply of meat for the contemplated advance on the Indian towns in Ohio, in the morning; of that memorable battle, and was at work in the slaughter pens when the battle was going- on. The hunters and butchers were rallied by Jacob Warwick and crossed over. At this the enemy mysteriously ceased firing and began to withdraw across the Ohio River, supposing that Colonel Christian had arrived with reinforcements. The importance of that action by Jacob Warwick and his men need not be dwelt upon here.

Jeremiah Friel and his sons were noted reapers. At that day there was cooperative harvesting. Squire Robert Gay's wheat was usually the first to ripen. Beginning there, all hands from James Bvidger's down. would come lialloing and singing, waving their sickles*. eager to soe who would cut the first sheaf ;ind make the liesr record. Then from field to field up the river the harvesters would progress until Bridgor's harvest was reaped; thence to William and .John Sharp's, and .Jo- siali Brown's, and soinetiines to Robert Moore's, at Eilray. Then the sickle club would disband with great hilarity for their respective homos.

Late one evening at Friel's the harvesters quit without shocking up all that had been reaped and bound. Jeremiah Friel observed: "Boys, it is so late and you are so tired I believe we will let these sheaves rest till morning." But after supper lie notified it lightning ominously in the west and north. lie roused up all hands out of their beds, provided pine torches, and away all went in torchlight procession to the Held and finished up the shocking just before midnight. This harvest scene must have been strangely picturesque. Before day it was raining torrents attended with terrific thunder and lightning.

He was a jovial companion for his sons and encouraged them from infancy in the favorite pastimes of the period, running foot races, wrestling and boxing. A favorite amusement when raining and the boys had to stay in doors, was a mode of swinging called "weighing bacon." A loop was h'xed at one end of a rope or trace chain, the other end was thrown over a beam or joist. The feet were placed in the loop, and then seizing the other end with the hands they would swing. It requires practice and nice balancing to swing, although it looks verv easv to one that has never tried it. We would not advise any one to try it without providing a Ing pile of straw to full on.

When the Virginia troops were on the march to Vorktown, Daniol O'Friel's team was pressed and Jeremiah was detailed to take charge of it. This was about the most of the service he was called on to render during the Revolutionary war.

Several years before his death he was riding through the woods one dark night. The horse passed under a tree with wide spreading limbs, and Mr Friel was so severely injured in his spine that he was virtually helpless the remainder of his life, He died in 1819, sincerelv lamented bv his relatives, neighbors and friends.