My connections to the Clenney family are a bit confusing and uncertain.

William O'Neal and Phereba "Clanny" were married in Johnston County, NC in 1784. I believe, but am not certain, that they were the parents of William O'Neal and Kindred O'Neal, born c. 1785, perhaps twins.

William and Kindred O'Neal were living next door to each other in the 1850 census of Anson County, NC and both gave their age as 65 years old. Kindred married Culia Hayles in Johnston County in 1810, and he named one of his daughters Phereba, and Clenny (pronounced Clay-nie) was a name used later in the family.

There is an 1822 Anson County deed in which "William Hatcher and Charity Hatcher his wife, and Kindred O'Neal and William O'Neal of the State of No. Carolina, and the County of Anson, and Right O'Neal of the State of Georgia and the County of Maduon" are listed as heirs of Charity O'Neal, deceased, and are selling 100 acres of her property to Benjamin Clenny.

My first assumption would be that Charity O'Neal might have been the mother of Charity Hatcher, and Kindred, William and Right O'Neal. However, evidence stated above leads me to believe that Kindred and William, at least, were the sons of William O'Neal and Phereba Clanny.

I suspect some of the earlier O'Neals had moved to Anson County from Johnston in 1800 or before that. The Hopewell Methodist Church was founded around 1800, and from its founding was said to have been called O'Neal's meeting house.

Kindred O'Neal had three daughters who married Beachum men. Zillie O'Neal (1812-1882) married Hugh A. Beachum (1806-1861). Phereba O'Neal (1818-1888) married Isaiah Beachum (1812-1894). Nancy Ellen O'Neal married James A. Beachum. Hugh and Isaiah were the sons of Alexander Beachum and his wife Elizabeth Shelton. I am not yet certain how James A. Beachum fits into the family. As he was a Confederate soldier, I suspect he would have been too young to be the brother of Hugh and Isaiah.

Alexander Beachum (born in Virginia prior to 1755, per census records) and his wife Elizabeth Shelton (born in Virginia c. 1774/5) were married in Anson County, NC around 1795. According to census records, they had at least 10 sons and 1 daughter. (3 sons born before 1790, 5 sons born between 1800 and 1810, 2 sons and a daughter born between 1810 and 1820.) Elizabeth Shelton Beachum's father Beverley Shelton died in Anson County c. 1814. After 1820, Alex. and Elizabeth disappear from the Anson County records.

It is believed that at least 4 of the Beachum sons, perhaps more, and probably Alex and Elizabeth themselves, moved from Anson County, NC to Henderson County, Tennessee in the mid 1820s.

I am descended from Hugh Beachum & his wife Zillie O'Neal, who remained in Anson County, through their first born son, Jeremiah W. Beachum (1830-1910) my great great grandfather. I am hoping some of you all might be able to give me further information on the Clenney family.

Best Regards,

John Field Pankow
Asheville, NC