John O'Steen, Jr

Other Events and Attributes:

• Residence: 1779, Carteret, North Carolina, USA
• Residence: 1790, Carteret, North Carolina, USA
• Residence: 1820, Appling, Georgia, USA
• Residence: 1830, Alligator Settlement, Alachua, Florida, USA
• Residence: 1 Jun 1840, Columbia, Florida Territory, USA

Notes:

John D. O'Steen arrived in Columbia County, Florida, in 1823 or 1824. He was one of the first settlers in what was to become Columbia County. "A History of Columbia County Florida", Edward F. Keuchel 1996, Hunter The Printing Co., Lake City, Columbia, Florida page 23

Osteen, John A. (~1760 - 1840) - male
b. ABT. 1760 in Carteret Co., North Carolina, USA
d. 15 FEB 1840 in Columbia Co., Florida
father: Osteen, William R. R.S. (*1753 - ~1832)
mother: Davis, Elizabeth (1751 - )
[Alaucha2.FTW]

Info from: Judy Crabb Roberts-Oxford, Florida
Jim Strickland lists John's birth date as abt 1772? and his date of death as abt 1840.

From Pioneers of Wiregrass, Georgia: by Huxford John O'Steen was born in North Carolina in 1772, a son of William and Elizabeth (Davis) O'Steen. The family moved to Effingham County, Georgia about 1791, then to Liberty County, then to Tattnall County. John O'Steen's wife was Ada Weeks.

More children have been found since this book was printed. There were 13 children in all, including Ada's illegitimate daughter, Phoebe, born in 1785.

John O'Steen and family moved to Wayne County in its early days, 1810 or before, and also lived awhile in Camden County. Record is found in Camden of his service as an Indian spy in the Camden County militia under Major William Bailey in 1817. When Appling County was created, he became one of its first settlers in the 451st militia district which in those days embraced the whole of the present counties of Ware and Atkinson, Clinch and Pierce Counties. He was first Lieutenant of the militia in that district,

1821-1822, he and his family were cut out of Appling into the new County of Ware, and when the new 586th district was formed out of the 451st it included the O'Steen home in present Clinch County. He was 2nd Lieut., of the militia in that district, 1830-1832. Mr. O'Steen was one of the Justices of Ware Inferior Court, 1829-1833.

John O'Steen died in Ware, now Clinch County, Feb. 15th, 1840, in his 69th year. Census References: 1820 Appling; 1830, Ware

From 'Families Remembered' by John Albert Burnett John O'Steen and family moved to Wayne County in its early days, 1810 or before, and also lived awhile in Camden County. Record is found in Camden of his service as an Indian spy in the Camden County militia under Major William Bailey in 1817. When Appling County was created, he became one of its first settlers in the 451st militia district which in those days embraced the whole of the present counties of Ware and Atkinson, Clinch and Pierce Counties. He was first Lieutenant of the militia in that district, 1821-1822, he and his family were cut out of Appling into the new County of Ware, and when the new 586th district was formed out of the 451st it included the O'Steen home in present Clinch County. He was 2nd Lieut., of the militia in that district, 1830-1832. Mr. O'Steen was one of the Justices of Ware Inferior Court, 1829-1833.

Mrs. Ada (Weeks) O'Steen was a charter member of the High Bluff BaptistChurch in present Brantley (then Wayne) County, when it was formed on June 30, 1819. Mr. O'Steen was baptized into the same church May 11,1823, and on November 8, 1823 they were dismissed by letter to join in organizing the Kettle Creek Baptist Church in what was then Appling County, Georgia (But which became Ware County in 1825). Due to the loss of the latter church's records their subsequent church membership cannot be traced.

John O'Steen, late in life made a move with his family to Columbia County, Florida. He is shown in the 1840 census of Columbia County. John O'Steen died in Columbia County on Feb. 15 , 1841. Ada (Weeks) O'Steen after the death of her husband moved in with her daughter, Mrs . Robinson who lived in Camden County, Georgia. Ada (Weeks) O'Steen is shown living with her in the 1850 Camden County census. She is thought to have died between 1850-1860. John O'Steen, and Ada (Weeks) O'Steen exact places of burial are not known.

There has been some controversy for several years over Phoebe O'Steen's birth being before John and Ada's marriage. During the colonial period it was very common for couples to live together and even have some children before their actual marriage. Such couples were recognized as man and wife who later marries when a minister was around. Ealier researchers upset over this birth incident before marriage have concocted several stories about Phoebe O'Steen. One was that she was a half sister of Ada Weeks-this is not true. Another is that she was a relative living with the family-also not true. Illegitimacy was a sticky issue in the colonial period. A bastardy bond would have to had been posted for any illegitimate child. Carteret County, North Carolina records are quite extensive and no such bond exists for Phoebe O'Steen. She was the daughter of John O'Steen and Ada (Weeks) O'Steen that they had prior to their marriage.

Notes
[NI1775] John O'Steen was born in North Carolina in 1772, a son of William and Elizabeth (Davis) O'Steen. The family moved to Effingham Co., Ga, about 1791, then to Liberty Co, thence to Tattnall Co. John O'Steen's wife was Ada Weeks, sister of Theophilus Weeks, R.S. and was born in Carteret Co., N.C. They had the following children: Reubin; Ezekiel; Leonard; Bartholomew; Nancy; Argent; Cassandra; and Easter.

The old bible record of these births also include that of Phoebe Weeks, born Feb 22, 1785, she being a half sister of Ada Weeks. She married John Roberts. Reubin, the oldest child was born in N.C. From there the family moved to Beaufort Dist., S.C., where the remainder of the children were born, except Easter, who was born after the family moved to Georgia.

John O'Steen and family moved to Wayne Co. in its early days, 1810 or before, and also lived awhile in Camden Co. Record is found in Camden of his service as an Indian spy in the Camden Co. militia under Maj. William Bailey in 1817. When Appling Co. was created, he became one of it first settlers in the 451st militia district which in those days embraced the whole of present counties of Ware, Atkinson, Clinch and Pierce. He was first Lt. of the militia in that district, 1821-22. In 1825, he and his family were cut out of Appling into the new Co. of Ware, and when the new 586th district was formed out of the 451st it included the O'Steen home in present Clinch Co. He was 2nd Lt of the militia in that district, 1830-32. Mr O'Steen was one of the Justices of Ware Inferior Court, 1829-1833. He was postmaster of Waresboro 1830-1832.

Mrs O'Steen was a charter member of High Bluff Baptist Church in present Brantley (then Wayne) Co., when it was formed June 30, 1819. Mr O'Steen was baptized into the same church May 11, 1823, and on Nov 8, 1823, they were dismissed by letter to join in organizing the Kettle Creek Baptist Church in Appling (now Ware) Co. Due to loss of the latter church's records their subsequent church membership cannot be traced.

John and Ada moved to Columbia Co., Florida, where he is shown in the 1840 census, age 70-80 years. He died there the next year, Feb 15, 1841. His wife survived him a few years. She spent her last years with her daughter, Mrs. Robinson, and was living with them in 1850 when the Camden Co. Census was taken. The census shows her 85 years old in 1850.

O'STEEN, JOHN - VOL.lll: (1) John and his wife, Ada Weeks, were received by letters into membership in Providence Baptist Church on February 8, 1834. This is one of the oldest Baptist Churches in Florida and is located on Olustee Creek, near the little town of Providence. This area was then in Columbia County, later becoming part of New River, then Bradford and finally in 1921 part of Union County. (2) The date of John's death in the sketch is in error. He died in Columbia (now Union) County. The Providence Church minutes contain the following entry, "On motion agreed to record the death of our beloved brother, John O'Steen, who departed this life on January 23, 1842."

John married Ada Weeks about 1787 in Carteret, North Carolina, USA. Ada (daughter of Silas Weeks and Zillar Hunter) was born on 25 Oct 1763 in Carteret, North Carolina, USA; died in 1852 in Camden, Georgia or Columbia, Florida; was buried in Price Creek Cemetery, Lake City, Columbia, Florida, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Phoebe "Tibbie" Weeks was born on 22 Feb 1785 in Carteret, North Carolina, USA; died after 28 Jul 1870 in Lake Butler, Union, Florida, USA; was buried in Swift Creek (Mount Zion) Cemetery, Lake Butler, Union, Florida, USA.
2. Reuben O'Steen, Sr was born on 15 Apr 1788 in North Carolina, USA.
3. Cassandra O'Steen was born on 10 May 1791 in North Carolina, USA; died after 1860.
4. Ezekiel O'Steen was born on 27 Nov 1791 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA.
5. Leonard O'Steen was born on 14 Oct 1793 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA.
6. Bartholomew O'Steen was born on 15 Apr 1795 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA.
7. Nancy O'Steen was born on 7 Dec 1796 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA; died on 23 Jun 1842 in Lowndes, Georgia, USA; was buried in Cat Creek Cemetery, Valdosta, Lowndes, Georgia, USA.
8. Argent O'Steen was born on 23 Aug 1798 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA.
9. Easter O'Steen was born in 1800 in Beaufort District, South Carolina, USA; died before 1879; was buried in Sardis Cemetery, Folkston, Charlton, Georgia, USA.
10. William O'Steen was born about 1803.
11. James O'Steen was born in 1804 in Georgia, USA.
12. Marian Weeks was born in 1805.
13. Allen Weeks was born in 1807.

Living + Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]