Mary O'Neal is believed to have been the wife of John Powell who was born in Virginia and then settled in Burke County, North Carolina. We know that a John Powell who died in Burke County had a wife named Mary, as she was named in his 21 Jan 1783 will as the administrator of his estate.[1] Everything else we assume is lacking solid sources. Some researchers use the fact that she wrote the letter "O" for her signature mark found on legal documents as evidence of her maiden name, the "O" standing for "O'Neal". Ellisue Barber Morris wrote that the wife of John Powell was Mary O'Neal.[2] as did Allan L. Poe.[3]
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/O'Neal-25
