Research the Migratory journey of the descendants of Morris 0'Friel (Friel) from Ireland to West Virginia.

Establishing the Historical Profile

I am beginning my investigation by profiling Morris O'Friel, a patriarch likely part of the mid-18th-century Scots-Irish migration waves. My initial synthesis suggests his origins may lie in County Donegal or Tyrone, and I am focusing on identifying his arrival in the American colonies, likely via major ports like Philadelphia or Baltimore, before the family established roots in Augusta County, Virginia.

Resolving the Migration Timeline

There are currently several information gaps regarding the precise transition from Virginia into the regions of Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. I am working to clarify whether the initial settlement was led by Morris himself or his immediate descendants, such as Daniel or Jeremiah, and I intend to reconcile varying accounts of their arrival dates to ensure a consistent narrative of their westward journey through the Appalachian frontier.

Strategy for Ancestral Mapping

I am moving forward by analyzing land grants, military service records from the Revolutionary War, and local historical archives to document the family's physical movement. My next phase of thinking involves scouring primary source mentions to confirm specific townlands in Ireland and the exact paths taken across the Great Wagon Road to their eventual homes in West Virginia.

Tracing the O'Friel Settlement in Virginia

I have successfully pinpointed Morris O'Friel’s arrival in Augusta County, Virginia, around 1740, following a landing at the Port of Philadelphia. A particularly compelling discovery is his family's potential role as the hereditary co-arbs of Kilmacrenan in County Donegal, Ireland—a traditional religious and landholding position that provides a rich cultural backdrop to their emigration. I’ve also identified that the family settled near Buffalo Gap and proved their importation at the historic Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church, marking their formal entry into the colonial frontier.

Expanding the Search to West Virginia Frontiers

I am currently synthesizing the expansion of the family into what is now West Virginia, specifically tracking Daniel and Jeremiah Friel as they pioneered settlements in Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. I’ve observed a distinct transition in the surname from O’Friel to Friel during this period. I am working to reconcile the specific timelines of these westward moves to determine if they were part of an initial migration wave or if they occurred in distinct stages as the family sought new land in the Appalachian highlands.

Analyzing Land Claims and Military Ties

My next phase of thinking involves investigating Revolutionary War service records for Morris’s sons, such as Daniel and William, to see if their participation earned them the land grants that facilitated their move to the West Virginia border regions. I plan to delve deeper into the specific history of the Kilmacrenan clan and search for records of land transactions in Pocahontas County to solidify the timeline of the family's transition from the Shenandoah Valley to the mountain counties.

Ancient Roots and Social Standing

I have uncovered a fascinating layer to the family's Irish identity: their role as hereditary co-arbs of Kilmacrenan in County Donegal. This suggests they held a traditional ecclesiastical and landholding stewardship, representing a position of ancient authority before their departure. Synthesizing this with their 1740 arrival in Philadelphia, I can see a family transitioning from a legacy of deep-rooted social status in Ireland to the raw survival requirements of the colonial Virginia frontier near Buffalo Gap.

Frontier Shifts and Financial Struggles

I am thinking through a compelling narrative regarding why the family pushed further into the Appalachian highlands. I've found accounts suggesting that Daniel O'Friel may have sold his holdings for Continental currency during the Revolutionary War, only for that money to be repudiated, which likely necessitated a fresh start for the next generation. While records indicate Daniel remained in Augusta County until his death in 1798, it was his son Jeremiah who appears to have been the primary pioneer for the West Virginia branch, establishing the family presence in the Clover Lick and Greenbrier River areas of Pocahontas County.

Pursuing the Highland Homesteads

My next phase of investigation will focus on documenting the specific arrival of the family in Pocahontas County by verifying the exact dates Jeremiah and his siblings secured land along Thorny Creek. I intend to examine early land grants and militia records to determine if their involvement in the Revolutionary era provided the direct path to these mountain settlements. Additionally, I’m looking to flesh out the specific duties associated with their Kilmacrenan stewardship to fully illustrate the cultural bridge between their Irish past and their American future.

Financial Hardships and Frontier Motivation

I am analyzing a significant turning point in the family’s economic history involving the sale of their Virginia holdings for Continental currency during the Revolutionary era. This decision apparently left them with depreciated funds, which likely fueled the drive to seek more affordable land. While there are accounts suggesting an intended move to Kentucky, I am uncovering how these financial setbacks may have redirected the family's focus toward the rugged Appalachian frontier in West Virginia instead.

Refining the Westward Timeline

I have encountered a chronological discrepancy regarding the family's early presence in the Greenbrier region, with some records placing a Daniel Friel there as early as 1759. This conflicts with established birth dates, so I am carefully parsing these timelines to distinguish between different generations of the family. I am also investigating the alliance with the Brown family at Clover Lick, as their established presence appears to have been a primary catalyst for the Friels' permanent settlement in what is now Pocahontas County.

Verifying Military and Land Ties

I am now shifting my focus toward securing specific documentation for the mountain homesteads, particularly searching for the precise years Jeremiah Friel obtained land grants along the Greenbrier River. I also intend to track the military service of the elder sons to see if their veteran status provided the legal or financial path to these new territories. Finally, I hope to identify the specific vessel that brought the family across the Atlantic in 1740 to anchor the very beginning of their American narrative.

Validating the First Footsteps

I have identified a critical primary source from May 1740—an importation oath—where Morris O'Friel formally claimed his right to land for himself and his wife. This document provides the most reliable anchor for their arrival, serving as the official record of their transition from Donegal to the Virginia frontier. I am synthesizing how this legal step in the colonial court system established their initial foothold in the Shenandoah Valley, grounding their presence in documented legal fact rather than oral tradition.

Financial Pivots and Highland Resettlement

I am examining the specific economic fallout that redirected the family from a planned move toward Kentucky into the rugged mountains of what is now West Virginia. The account of selling property for depreciating Revolutionary currency appears to be the defining hardship that forced the family to pivot. I am currently reconciling records of Jeremiah Friel’s arrival at Clover Lick with his marriage into the established Brown family, which likely provided the necessary social and familial infrastructure for their successful pioneer settlement in the high Appalachians.

Pursuing Historical Proof

My next phase of work involves searching for specific militia records to confirm the family's active participation in the defense of the frontier, which often preceded land grants. I intend to track the exact marriage and birth dates within the Jeremiah Friel line to pin down the precise decade they became permanent fixtures on the Greenbrier River. By cross-referencing these dates with early land grants, I aim to provide a clear, generation-by-generation account of their journey into the heart of West Virginia.

Explaining the Appalachian Pivot

I have gained a deeper understanding of the specific economic factors that redirected the family into the West Virginia highlands. While there was a clear intent to migrate toward the fertile regions of Kentucky, the devaluation of the currency received for their Virginia holdings effectively trapped their capital and forced a redirection. I am synthesizing how this financial hardship essentially anchored the lineage in the rugged terrain of Pocahontas County, transforming a intended transit point into a permanent ancestral home.

Refining Ancestral Details

I am currently working to resolve conflicting genealogical records regarding the family's matriarch, specifically investigating the transition from the family's Irish roots to their first American generation. While the broad timeline of the move into the Greenbrier region is well-established, I am focusing on reconciling specific records to distinguish between contemporary family members sharing the same name. This clarity is essential for accurately mapping the distinct roles of the patriarch's sons in the westward expansion.

Verifying Service and Settlement

My final efforts will involve searching for military pension applications and early land tax records to place specific individuals at their homesteads on a definite date. I am particularly interested in uncovering service details for the elder sons during the Revolutionary era, as these records often contain detailed biographical accounts that bridge the gaps between their Virginia roots and their West Virginia legacy. I also plan to examine early county tax lists to pinpoint the exact moment the family first appeared as established landowners on the frontier.

A Generational Shift to the Highlands

I have clarified the specific generational transition that finally brought the family into what is now West Virginia. While Daniel O'Friel remained in the Shenandoah Valley until his passing in 1798, I’ve synthesized that his death served as the primary catalyst for his son, Jeremiah, to push further into the Clover Lick and Greenbrier River regions. This identifies a clear shift from the patriarch's stalled migration plans to a successful highland settlement led by the subsequent generation.

Investigating Veteran Contributions and Lineage

I am currently thinking through the potential military prestige associated with William Friel, born in 1738, to determine if his involvement in the Revolutionary era provided the family with the necessary standing or specific land rights for their westward move. I am also working to resolve nuances in the family's maternal lineage, specifically examining whether 'Wallace' represents a distinct family alliance that might have influenced their early social and economic status on the Virginia frontier.

Finalizing Documentation of the Highland Frontier

To finalize the portrait of this migratory journey, I am focusing on identifying official records of public service claims and specific land grant dates from the early 19th century. I intend to search for military pension files that might offer firsthand accounts of the family's frontier experience, which will provide the documented foundation needed to anchor their transition from the Shenandoah Valley to their permanent homes on the West Virginia border.

Connecting Ancient Status to Frontier Life

I have fully synthesized the transition of the O'Friel family from their ancient role as hereditary stewards in County Donegal to their documented arrival in Augusta County in 1740. I have confirmed that their high social standing in Ireland as traditional ecclesiastical landholders stood in stark contrast to the rugged survival required of them upon proving their importation at the colonial frontier. This cultural shift from Irish nobility to American pioneer status marks the beginning of their multi-generational journey.

Resolving the Appalachian Redirection

I have clarified the specific circumstances that led the family to settle in West Virginia rather than their original destination in Kentucky. By linking the financial loss from their Virginia property sale to the total devaluation of Revolutionary-era currency, I have successfully identified the definitive economic event that redirected their migratory path. This insight explains why the family's capital was effectively trapped, compelling the subsequent generation to forge a new legacy in the high mountain settlements of the Greenbrier region instead of moving further west.

Finalizing the Historical Record

With a complete timeline now established—from the patriarch’s initial oath in the 1740s to the subsequent generation's successful pioneering of the Appalachian highlands at Clover Lick—I am ready to synthesize these findings into a comprehensive narrative. My concluding work will focus on detailing the family's enduring legacy in Pocahontas County and documenting the full arc of their journey from the north of Ireland to the peaks of West Virginia.

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The O’Friel Chronicle: A Migratory Saga from the Stone of Doon to the Greenbrier Valley

Abstract

The migration of the O’Friel family (later Friel) from the ancient territories of Tyrconnell in County Donegal, Ireland, to the rugged highlands of West Virginia constitutes a micro-history of the trans-Atlantic and trans-Appalachian experience. This report provides an exhaustive reconstruction of this journey, spanning three generations and two continents. It traces the lineage from Morris O’Friel, the 1740 immigrant who established the family in the Shenandoah Valley, through the economic tribulations of the Revolutionary War era that redirected the family’s destiny from Kentucky to the Allegheny mountains, to the establishment of a permanent foothold in Pocahontas County by Jeremiah Friel. By synthesizing genealogical records, local county histories, and land grant data, this analysis illuminates the interplay between macro-historical forces—such as the collapse of the Gaelic order, the hyperinflation of Continental currency, and the opening of the western frontier—and the specific, lived experiences of a single pioneer family.

Part I: The Ancestral Hearth — The O’Friels of Donegal

1.1 The Deep Lineage and the Saintly Connection

To comprehend the social and psychological capital Morris O’Friel brought to the American colonies, one must first excavate the deep history of the O’Friel sept in Ireland. The surname, Anglicized from the Irish Ó Firghil (meaning "man of valor"), carries a pedigree that predates the Norman invasion, rooting the family firmly in the aristocracy of the Gaelic north.1

The O’Friels were not merely inhabitants of County Donegal; they were integral components of its spiritual and political infrastructure. Genealogical records assert that the sept is descended from Eoghan, the brother of Saint Columcille (St. Columba), one of the three patron saints of Ireland.1 This biological link to the "Dove of the Church" conferred upon the O’Friels a sacred status. In the medieval period, they served as the airchinnech or "hereditary co-arbs" of Kilmacrenan.1

A "co-arb" (heir) in the Celtic church was a lay abbot or hereditary warden who controlled the church lands and maintained the monastic traditions of a saint's foundation. As co-arbs of Kilmacrenan, the O’Friels were the custodians of the territory where St. Columcille was fostered, placing them at the spiritual center of the O’Donnell lordship.1

1.2 The Inaugurators of Kings: The Rock of Doon

The most profound function of the O’Friel sept was their constitutional role in the inauguration of the O’Donnell, the Lord of Tyrconnell. This ceremony, which took place at the Rock of Doon (Doon Rock) near Kilmacrenan, was the supreme expression of Gaelic sovereignty.6

Historical accounts detail a ritual steeped in symbolism, where the O’Friel was indispensable. The O’Donnell chieftain-elect would stand barefoot in the footprint carved into the inauguration stone, symbolizing his commitment to follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. It was the O’Friel, acting as the spiritual officiant and inaugurator, who presented the new lord with An Slat Ban—a straight white rod.6

"The inaugurator was the Abbot, usually a member of the O'Friel Clan... The O'Friel, the coarb concerned, was indispensable as he was the actual Inaugurator... [He] presented 'An Slat Bhan', a straight white rod, as an emblem of purity and rectitude." 6

This role suggests that for centuries, the O’Friels held a position of high honor, acting as kingmakers in the intricate web of Ulster politics. They were a "hereditary line of Druid priests/priestesses" before Christianity, seamlessly transitioning their sacerdotal authority into the Christian era.5

1.3 The Collapse of the Gaelic Order

By the early 18th century, when Morris O’Friel was born (circa 1713) 8, the world of the O’Donnell chieftains and the O’Friel co-arbs had been obliterated. The Flight of the Earls in 1607 marked the end of the old Gaelic order. The subsequent Plantation of Ulster introduced a new ruling class of Protestant English and Scottish settlers, displacing the native Irish nobility and seizing their lands.

The O’Friels, once the spiritual gatekeepers of the territory, were reduced to the status of tenant farmers or marginalized gentry. The Penal Laws, enacted to suppress the Catholic majority and Dissenting Presbyterians, restricted land ownership and public office. However, the record of Morris O’Friel’s life suggests a complex negotiation of this new reality. Some sources refer to him as being of "Scottish lineage".9 This description, juxtaposed with his undeniably Gaelic surname and ancestry, implies that the family may have assimilated into the Ulster-Scot culture to survive, perhaps converting to Presbyterianism or intermarrying with the incoming Scottish families—a theory supported by Morris’s marriage to Catherine Wallace Bell.8

The surnames "Wallace" and "Bell" are emblematic of the Scottish border families that were transplanted to Ulster. By marrying Catherine, Morris bridged the divide between the native Irish and the planter class, a strategic fusion that would serve the family well in the American colonies.8

Part II: The 1740 Migration — Flight from Famine

2.1 The Year of Slaughter (Bliain an Áir)

The timing of Morris O’Friel’s departure is of critical historical significance. Multiple sources confirm his arrival in the colonies in 1740.10 In Irish history, 1740-1741 is infamous as the year of the "Great Frost" or Bliain an Áir (The Year of Slaughter).

An exceptionally severe winter froze the rivers and destroyed the potato crop, leading to a famine that killed a larger percentage of the Irish population than the Great Famine of 1845. While the research snippets do not explicitly link Morris’s emigration to the famine, the coincidence of dates is overwhelming. A man of "considerable means" 12 would have had the resources to flee the devastation, whereas the destitute would have been trapped. The decision to leave in 1740 was likely a survival choice, driven by the collapse of the local food supply and the enduring structural oppression of the Penal Laws.

2.2 The Voyage to Philadelphia

Morris, his wife Catherine, and possibly their infant son William (born 1738) 8, boarded a ship bound for Philadelphia. Philadelphia was the primary port of entry for the Ulster diaspora, offering access to the Great Wagon Road that led into the interior of Pennsylvania and south into Virginia.

The crossing would have been a perilous six-to-eight-week journey, fraught with the dangers of "ship fever" (typhus) and storms. Yet, unlike the thousands of indentured servants who sold their labor for passage, Morris O’Friel paid his own way. This financial independence is documented in the legal records of his arrival, distinguishing the O’Friels as free immigrants with the capital to establish themselves as landowners immediately upon arrival.11

2.3 The Importation Oath in Orange County

Upon arriving in America, the O’Friels did not linger in the crowded settlements of Pennsylvania. They joined the stream of migration moving south into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. At this time, the Valley was part of Orange County (before the separation of Augusta County).

On May 22, 1740, Morris O’Friel appeared before the Orange County Court to "prove his importation." This legal procedure allowed settlers to claim 50 acres of land for every person they had transported to the colony at their own expense.

The court record states:

"Morris O'Friel; for himself and Catharine (wife)." 11

This document is the foundational text of the O’Friel presence in America. It confirms:

The Arrival Date: 1740.
The Composition of the Household: Morris and Catherine. (Note: Some sources list children William and Eleanor born before this date, but they are not explicitly listed in this specific snippet of the oath, or perhaps were included in a separate entry or implied. Other sources suggest William was born in 1738 in Ireland 8, which would typically necessitate his inclusion in the headright claim if he traveled with them).
The Location: Orange County, Virginia, which administratively covered the Shenandoah Valley at that time.

This legal act placed Morris O’Friel among the very first wave of settlers in the Valley, alongside prominent pioneer families like the Logans, Poagues, and Lewises.11

Part III: The Augusta Settlement (1740–1780)

3.1 Establishing the Homestead on Middle River

Following the importation oath, Morris O’Friel secured land in what would become Augusta County (formed from Orange in 1738/1745). The family settled in the vicinity of Buffalo Gap and the Middle River, an area located between the present-day towns of Churchville and Staunton.10

This region was the frontier. The "Middle River" is a tributary of the Shenandoah, flowing through fertile limestone valleys that were highly prized by the Scotch-Irish farmers. The O’Friels cleared the hardwood forests, built a log homestead, and began the work of subsistence farming—growing flax, corn, and wheat, and raising cattle.

3.2 Religious Assimilation: The Tinkling Spring Connection

A pivotal aspect of the O’Friel adaptation to Virginia was their integration into the Presbyterian community. Despite the Catholic heritage of the O’Friel co-arbs, in Augusta County, Morris O’Friel is associated with the Tinkling Spring Presbyterian Church.10

Founded in 1740—the same year the O’Friels arrived—Tinkling Spring was a spiritual and social fortress for the Ulster Scots. The "Old Light" Presbyterians who worshiped there were known for their rigid orthodoxy and fierce independence. By "proving their importation" and participating in the life of this church, Morris and Catherine signaled their assimilation into the dominant culture of the Valley. This may have been a pragmatic conversion to ensure social standing and land rights, or a genuine expression of a faith adopted back in Donegal through intermarriage.

3.3 The First American Generation

During their decades in Augusta, Morris and Catherine reared a large family who would become the progenitors of the various Friel branches in America. The children identified in the records include:

William Friel: Born circa 1738 in Ireland. He would later settle in Highland County, Virginia.10
Eleanor O’Friel: Born circa 1743–1749 in Augusta. She married John Martin in 1763. The Martin family history notes that Eleanor was the daughter of "Maurice and Catherine O'Friel, who came from Donegal".10
Daniel O’Friel: Born circa 1747 in Augusta. He is the central figure in the subsequent migration to West Virginia.15
Jeremiah Friel: Born 1754 (though some sources confuse him with his nephew Jeremiah, the son of Daniel).
James Freel: Born circa 1759. He migrated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland.10
Magdalen Elender O’Friel: Born 1752, married Wolfarth, died in Shepherdstown, WV.14

Morris O’Friel died in April 1778 in Augusta County.8 He was buried in the Glebe Cemetery in Swoope, Virginia.8 His death occurred in the midst of the Revolutionary War, leaving his estate and the leadership of the family to his sons, primarily Daniel.

Part IV: The Revolutionary Crucible and the Economic Pivot

4.1 Daniel O’Friel: The Heir and Patriot

Daniel O’Friel (1747–1798), the son of Morris, inherited his father’s status as a substantial landholder on the Middle River. He married Agnes Nancy Erwin Jameson in 1764 16, uniting the Friels with another prominent Valley family.

As the American Revolution erupted, the men of Augusta County were fervent supporters of the cause. Daniel O’Friel is recorded as having provided Public Service Claims in Augusta County.10 These claims were filed by citizens who supplied the Continental Army with food, forage, or equipment.

Specific details of the family’s contribution are recorded in local histories:

"When the Virginia troops were on the march to Yorktown, Daniel O'Friel's team was pressed and Jeremiah [his son or brother] was detailed to take charge of it." 12

This incident—providing a wagon team for the decisive campaign of the war—demonstrates the family’s material engagement in the struggle for independence. Daniel also appears in records related to the partnership for buying land in Kentucky, indicating he was active in the speculative land markets of the time.17

4.2 The "Continental Money" Disaster

The trajectory of the Friel family was permanently altered by the economic chaos that followed the Revolution. Like many Virginians of his class, Daniel O’Friel sought to expand his fortunes by moving west to Kentucky, the newly opened territory that promised rich bluegrass limestone soil similar to the Shenandoah.

To finance this move, Daniel sold his "considerable means"—his developed plantation in Augusta County. However, the transaction occurred during a period of hyperinflation. He accepted payment in Continental currency.12

The Continental dollar, unsecured by hard assets and printed in excessive quantities by Congress, collapsed in value. By the end of the war, it was practically worthless. The phrase "not worth a Continental" became a defining epithet of the era.

The historical record is stark regarding the consequences for Daniel O’Friel:

"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." 12

This financial catastrophe stranded the family. They had divested themselves of their Augusta lands but now lacked the real capital to purchase high-quality land in Kentucky or to finance the expensive migration across the Cumberland Gap. The "Kentucky dream" died in a sheaf of worthless paper.

4.3 The Death of Daniel

Daniel O’Friel never recovered his former prosperity. He remained in Virginia, dying in Augusta County around October 1798, when his will was probated.15 He left behind a large family and a diminished estate, forcing his children to look for new opportunities in less expensive regions than the aristocratic Bluegrass.

Part V: The Migration to Pocahontas County

5.1 The Patronage of Jacob Warwick

With the Kentucky route closed by poverty, the Friel destiny turned toward the Allegheny Mountains to the west—specifically, the region that would become Pocahontas County, West Virginia.

This migration was not a random drift but a targeted movement facilitated by a patronage connection. Jacob Warwick, a legendary pioneer and large landholder in western Virginia, played the role of benefactor. Warwick had extensive holdings in the mountains, including the Dunmore property and lands on the Greenbrier River.13

The records state:

"Upon Jacob Warwick's invitation, Jeremiah O'Friel came to Clover Lick." 12

Jeremiah Friel (born ~1772), the son of Daniel, accepted this invitation. Warwick gave him land on Carrich Ridge (likely Elk Mountain). This act of generosity or feudal-like patronage allowed the Friels to re-establish themselves as landowners, albeit in the much more rugged and isolated terrain of the Alleghenies compared to the rolling valley floor of Augusta.

5.2 Settlement at Clover Lick

Jeremiah Friel’s arrival at Clover Lick marks the beginning of the Friel history in West Virginia. Clover Lick, situated on the Greenbrier River, was a strategic location on the frontier, having been the site of an early fort and Indian attacks.

Jeremiah initially settled on the ridge land provided by Warwick. However, demonstrating the sharp eye for land quality that his grandfather Morris had possessed, Jeremiah managed to improve his situation. He exchanged the Carrich Ridge tract with Sampson Matthews, Senior for lands directly on the Greenbrier River.12

This exchange was crucial. The river bottom lands offered fertile alluvial soil suitable for cultivation, whereas the ridge lands were fit primarily for grazing. By securing riverfront property, Jeremiah ensured the long-term viability of the family farm.

Part VI: Life on the Greenbrier — The Pioneer Era

6.1 Jeremiah Friel: The Patriarch of Pocahontas

Jeremiah Friel solidified his establishment in the county by marrying Anna Brown, the daughter of Joseph Brown, another early pioneer living on the Greenbrier.12 The Brown family connection further embedded the Friels into the network of original settlers.

Jeremiah and Anna raised a large family in their river valley home. Their children included:

Joseph Friel: Married Jane McCollam. He became a civic leader, serving on the first grand jury of Pocahontas County.12
Daniel Friel: Married Anna Casebolt and settled on a section of the homestead.12
Josiah Friel, John Friel: Both established local families.
Catherine, Hannah, Ellen, Mary, Jennie: Daughters who married into the Sharp, Dilley, and Casebolt families.12

6.2 Frontier Anecdotes and Character

The historical sketches of Pocahontas County preserve vivid anecdotes about Jeremiah Friel that offer a glimpse into the personality and daily life of these mountain settlers.

The Harvest Storm:

Jeremiah was known as a considerate but vigilant farmer. One harvest season, his reapers were exhausted, and he allowed them to retire without "shocking" (stacking) the wheat sheaves. However, later that night, Jeremiah observed lightning in the west. He roused the entire household from their beds.

"He roused up all hands out of their beds, provided pine torches, and away all went in torchlight procession to the field and finished up the shocking just before midnight... Before day it was raining torrents." 12

This story highlights the precarious nature of frontier agriculture, where a single storm could destroy a year's food supply, and the communal labor required to survive.

Weighing Bacon:

Jeremiah was also remembered as a "jovial companion" who engaged in rough frontier sports with his sons. A favorite rainy-day pastime was a game called "weighing bacon."

"A loop was fixed at one end of a rope... the other end was thrown over a beam. The feet were placed in the loop, and then seizing the other end with the hands they would swing." 12

This test of strength and balance reflects the physical culture of the mountaineers, where agility and muscle were prized attributes.

Part VII: The Friel Diaspora and Legacy

7.1 Divergent Paths: Maryland and Highland County

While Jeremiah Friel anchored the family in Pocahontas County, the other descendants of Morris O’Friel followed different trajectories, illustrating the scattering of the clan.

William Friel (Son of Morris): Settled in Highland County, Virginia, the mountainous county directly north of Pocahontas. This branch maintained close proximity to the ancestral Augusta lands.12
James O’Friel (Son of Morris): Migrated to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This represents a significant geographical divergence, taking this branch back toward the tidewater cultural sphere.12
Eleanor O’Friel: Married John Martin and remained in the Augusta/Bath region. Her descendants, the Martins, preserved much of the oral history regarding Morris’s arrival.10

7.2 The Civil War: The Confederate Service

By the 1860s, the Friels were deeply rooted in the social fabric of Virginia and West Virginia. When the Civil War broke out, the Pocahontas County Friels aligned with the Confederacy, typical of the region's southern sympathies despite the state's separation.

George Washington Friel, a grandson of Jeremiah (son of Joseph), served in the 31st Virginia Infantry Regiment. The 31st was a storied unit drawn from the mountain counties, heavily engaged in the campaigns of the Shenandoah Valley. George Washington Friel paid the ultimate price, dying at Stribling Springs in 1862, likely from disease or wounds sustained in the energetic campaigns of Stonewall Jackson.12

Another descendant, Daniel O'Friel (born 1904, distinct from the ancestor), and others appear in later records, showing the continuity of the name.20 The family also intermarried with the Dilley family, with William Dilley marrying Mary Friel (daughter of Jeremiah), cementing a bond between two prolific pioneer clans.12

Part VIII: Genealogical Synthesis and Data

8.1 Lineage Table: From Donegal to the Greenbrier

Generation	Name	Birth/Death	Spouse	Key Residence	Key Event
I. The Immigrant	Morris O'Friel	1713–1778	Catherine Wallace Bell	Donegal -> Augusta Co, VA	Arrived 1740; Proved Importation.
II. The Patriot	Daniel O'Friel	1747–1798	Agnes Nancy Jameson	Augusta Co, VA	Public Service Claim; "Continental Money" loss.
III. The Pioneer	Jeremiah Friel	1772–1820+	Anna Brown	Augusta -> Pocahontas Co, WV	Settled Clover Lick; Land exchange with S. Matthews.
IV. The Settler	Joseph Friel	1802–1880	Jane McCollam	Pocahontas Co, WV	First Grand Jury; Son d. in Civil War.
IV. The Settler	John Friel	1810–1861	Jennie Brown	Pocahontas Co, WV	Farming on Greenbrier River.

8.2 The Evolution of the Surname

The transition of the name from O’Friel to Friel and Freel mirrors the process of Americanization.

Ireland: Ó Firghil (Gaelic) -> O'Friel (Anglicized).
1740 Importation: Recorded as Morris O'Friel.
1790s Records: Daniel is often listed as Daniel O'Friel in court cases (e.g., vs. James Bell's heirs).17
1800s Pocahontas: The "O" is largely dropped. Jeremiah and his descendants appear primarily as Friel or occasionally Freel.10
This dropping of the "O" was common in the late 18th century as families sought to blend into the Anglo-dominated society, though the Friel spelling retained the phonetic link to their Donegal origins.

Conclusion

The migratory arc of the O’Friel family is a testament to the resilience of the Ulster-Gaelic diaspora. Their journey began in the shadow of the Rock of Doon in Kilmacrenan, where they held the sacred power to inaugurate kings. It traversed the treacherous Atlantic during the famine year of 1740, establishing a new foundation in the Shenandoah Valley.

The defining moment of their American experience, however, was the failure of the Kentucky dream due to the collapse of Continental currency—a twist of fate that redirected them from the limestone plateaus of the west to the high valleys of the Alleghenies. There, in Pocahontas County, under the guidance of Jeremiah Friel and the patronage of Jacob Warwick, they carved out a new identity.

No longer the co-arbs of a saint, they became the yeoman farmers of the Greenbrier, weighing bacon in log cabins and racing storms by torchlight. Their story captures the essence of the Appalachian frontier: a blend of ancient heritage, economic struggle, and the relentless drive to secure a home in the wilderness. The descendants of Morris O’Friel, whether in the graveyards of Swoope or the homesteads of Clover Lick, stand as enduring witnesses to the forging of West Virginia.

Works cited

O'Friel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms - HouseOfNames, accessed January 1, 2026, https://www.houseofnames.com/o%27friel-family-crest
Friel Name Meaning, Family History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms - HouseOfNames, accessed January 1, 2026, https://www.houseofnames.com/friel-family-crest
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2 Migrations of Morris O'Friel