The Neals/Nails

The Neal family ties into the Green family by way of Millie Green, she married Elias Devers Neal, December 28th, 1884, in Gordon County, GA.
The Neal's are a very interesting bunch! Elias Devers Neal's father is Joseph D. Neal. Joseph was a JP I have discovered in Cherokee County, GA. His name shows up a lot in the Stiplins war of 1812 document (see earlier post).
This set of Neal's are descended from the Neal's that fought in the Battle of Kettle Creek (Second Picture down, Capt. Joseph Nail, Sr. and Ensign Joseph Nail, Jr.) in Wilkes County, GA. They were known as Nail's back then. Not sure why they changed it to Neal except for the way it might have sounded. I think it was originally Neal and then went to Nail and then back to Neal. Anyway this was a very important battle in Revolutionary war history. Reuben Nail also fought, he is believed to be Joseph Nail, Jr.'s brother.
Joseph Nail, Jr.'s cause of death was murder by gunshot. And no, he didn't die in the war. The Nails owned a trading post on Old Federal Road, now GA Hwy 51, near a creek which was later (and still is) known as Nails' Creek (Banks County, GA, originally Franklin County, GA). John Nail and Julian Nail, Joseph's brothers, eventually caught the man accused of murdering him, his name was Cormack Higgins. Eventually the brothers were both tried for murdering Cormack Higgins but were found not guilty in avenging their brothers death. This occurred in 1800 in Franklin County, GA, now Banks County.
A great quote from the Neal side of the family is from Mable Neal, she said "Your Great-Grandmother Devers was captured by the Indians when she was a young married woman and taken to Ball Ground, GA. They kept her blindfolded all the time and the Chief told her if she would talk he would make her his wife but she would not talk....to him. A group of white men rode into camp and jerked her up on a horse, and a young white boy about 16 years old. They took her back home." WOW. Talk about history. This info was obtained from Joseph Neal, Emory Neal's grandson in Augusta. He has a letter that Mabel wrote that contained this memory. How great is that!?!?!?!
Now you also know where the Devers middle names come from, Elizabeth Devers married Alexander Neal, Joseph Devers Neal's father. That's a whole new post!! Will save that for later!
I will post photos of the Neal's later and I have more info on them so I will post that later also!
Happy Searching!!