Biography of Elizabeth Walker Smith, aka Elizabeth Walker Osheal Smith, wife of Joshua Smith of Spartanburg District, SC and Franklin County, NC by David Travillion Bunton

In the past some have attributed Elizabeth Walker Smith to be the daughter of Sarah Walker O'Sheal and Daniel O'Sheal, however, an early deed by Daniel O'Sheal in Granville Co, NC stated her name as Elizabeth Walker. Some decades later a Spartanburg Co, SC deed referred to her property deeded to her by Daniel O'Sheal, with an affidavit by her mother Sarah Walker O'Sheal. The 1787 Spartanburg District, SC court papers are very specific to not identify her father as Daniel Osheal, but do identify Sarah Walker Osheal as her mother.

At the time period that Daniel Pugh Osheal was deeding the land in Granville County, NC, he had been experiencing debt problems and judgements against him which resulted in forfeiture of his lands. To preserve his property, he could not deed it to his child or children, and thereby escape a court judgement or any claims made by others in their collection of debts. However, if a child was NOT his child, or an unacknowledged illegitimate child, then a property could be conveyed without impunity, which is apparently what occurred. Long held tradition is that Sarah was a Walker and it is known that Elizabeth Walker Smith, ie Elizabeth Walker Osheal Smith was her daughter. Whether she was really Daniel Osheal's daughter could be surmised, but the maiden name of Elizabeth was WALKER and she grew up in the household of Daniel Osheal and Sarah Walker Osheal, later apparently calling her self Elizabeth Osheal.

Elizabeth Walker O'Sheal Smith married Joshua Smith in Spartanburg Co, SC and they were members of Friendship Baptist Church. They removed to Franklin County, NC.