Part III – Beeson Family
The name Beeson has been spelled many ways, among which have been Bezon (the original French spelling) Beeston, Besson, Bisson, and Beason. The family coat of arms consists of “Argent, a bend between 6 bees sable. Crest on a mount Vert a Castle, or issuing therefrom an arm enbowed brandishing a sword.”
http://www.churchman.org/Nottingham_hist.htm
"It is believed that two pioneer brothers, James and William Brown, both Quaker ministers, were among the first settlers here. They were sons of Richard and Mary Brown, members of Wellingborough Monthly Meeting in Northamptonshire, England, and apparently had become Friends before they came to America. Tradition has it that the Brown brothers were likely accompanied by several other founding members, including Andrew Job, John Churchman, and Henry Reynolds."
"The original purchasers of lots included the following individuals:
Joel Baily, John Bales or Beals, Edward Beeson, James Brown, William Brown, John Churchman, James Cooper, Robert Dutton, Cornelious Empson, Ebeneser Empson, Randal Janney, Andrew Job, Samuel Littler, Henry Reynolds, and John Richardson.
"A review of genealogical records reveals that most of these first purchasers were middle-class yeomen born in England during the middle 1600's and died in the Nottingham area in the early 1700's. Their roots were mostly in the northern England counties of Cheshire, Durham, Lancashire, and Yorkshire, although some other English counties were represented. Nearly all of the original Nottingham families came from within a 50-mile radius of Philadelphia before settling here.
All were Quakers, and most of them transferred their certificate of membership from other Quaker meetings to the Brick Meetinghouse after its establishment. It can be surmised that William Penn or his agents knew at least some of the families in England or Pennsylvania and encouraged them to relocate to Nottingham."
Thomas Beeson lived in Thrussington Parish, Stoke, England. His wife’s name was Anne Pecke. There were other Beesons in Maryland during the 1600’s, but no connection has yet been found.
Children:
Edward Beeson, the son of Thomas Beeson and Anne Pecke, was born in 1652, in Lancaster, Stoke, England, and baptized 24 February 1660 in Leicestershire, Stoke, England. He lived there until 1680.
He was married in England, first to Dorothy Baldricke, born in Melton Welby Mowbray.
He was married/2 in Parish of Thrussington to Rachel Penington, born 11 November 1662, Lancashire Lanes, Stoke, England, daughter of Isaac Famand Mary Proude (See Penington, Proude Family, Part III.) Rachel was half-sister to Guilema Marie Springett, first wife of William Penn. Their first child was born in Lancaster, England, in 1681.
Captain Edward Beeson was the immigrant Beeson Forefather from England (Quaker records of Penn Lesson 24 gives more information on him). He and Rachel came with his parents to America in 1682. They arrived at Irishtown, New Castle County, Delaware below Pennsylvania, with their baby and lived there for a few years. They moved from there to Berkley Co. Virginia, where there was a settlement of Quakers and from there they moved to Chester Co. Pa.
In 1700, Edward Beeson, with 10 other men, joined with William Penn to survey south Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania, comprised of 48,000 square miles, had been granted to Penn by King Charles in payment for the $80,000, owed by the crown to the Penn estate. The Duke of York had given Penn a quitclaim deed to Delaware. The two provinces were governed by one governor. Several thousands settlers were already there, Swedes, Dutch,English, Germans and Hugenots. Four ships,mostly of Quakers came to Pennsylvania in 1681.
They laid out the lots of Nottingham. In 1701, Edward drew lot #18, a plot of 980 acres of land, located in the southwest corner of Chester County, near the Maryland line. In 1769, when the Mason-Dixon line was established, this Nottingham Lot section became part of Cecil County, Maryland.
Edward Beeson was a yeoman (gentleman farmer), a planter, a property owner, with land at New Castle County, Delaware in Brandywine Hundred on the Delaware River.
Edward was married/3 about 1711 to Elizabeth Grubb, (widow Holmes) who was born 12d 1m 1691, Chester County, Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry Grubb and Mary Perkins. (See Grubb Family, Part III)
Edward never became a Quaker. He died at the Nottingham Lots. His will was drawn in August 1712, and was the first will be recorded in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Before that date wills had to be taken to Philadelphia
“I, Edward Beeson of Nottingham, being laid on a bed of sickness and not knowing how the Lord May dispose of me as to my natural life. Therefor, I do make this, my last will and testament, and declare all other wills made or done by me to be void. First, my will is that I be decently buried and my funeral expenses and all debts be duly paid.
“Second, I give to my son Edward and his heirs, 42 acres and a half of land laying by Nessamoney. (Edward stayed in Nottingham) Third, I give unto my son Richard and his heirs one tract of land located near Southampton in the County Bucks containing 290 acres. Fourth, I give to my son Richard and his heirs one tract of Liberty Land containing 25 acres lying on Sculkill. Fifth, I give to my son William my West Lot laying in Nottingham Also, I give unto him 48 lbs which my Executor is to lay out for him in building him a house, and buying for him such things as they May see most needful for him for making a plantation. Also, I give unto him all wearing apparel except my two great coats which two coats I give to my sons Edward and Richard, Edward is to have which he pleases. Also I give to my son William one coat of Corsey that is at the weavers.
“Also, my will is that if my son William should die without issue lawfully begotten, then the land is to be given to my lawful heirs. I give to my daughter, Ann Cloud, 20 lbs, 7 sy. My will is that after my former wife’s children have had their portions that all of my personal estate be divided between my widow and my daughter Elizabeth according to law.
My will is that my widow shall have the plantation where now I live with all the profits there are during her widowhood or natural life, and after my widow’s marrying or decease, then I give it to my daughter Elizabeth and her heirs. My will is that my executors and their heirs shall have the land which I have purchased of Daniel Wharley and by warrant to me by the Comm. bearing date of 14 September 1706, to dispose of as they see occasion, and I desire my wife shall give to the child she is now great with, if it should live when born, 40 lbs.
“Last, for a final performance of this will I do by these presents make and ordain by dear and well beloved wife and son Richard the sole Executors of this, my Last Will and Testament, as Witness by hand and seal this 20th of 6 month called August 1712. (signed) Edward Beeson”
After Edward’s death Elizabeth was married/3 in 1713/4 in Chester County, to Joseph Rich, Sr. (See Rich Family, Part III)) She died before 1730.
Children:
Richard Beeson, the son of Edward Beeson and Rachel Penington, was born on 10 October 1684, in Stoke, Lancaster, England.
Richard was married 22 November 1706, Nottingham Monthly Meeting, Chester County, Pennsylvania, to Charity Grubb, who was born 29 September 1687 in Grubb's Landing on the Delaware, New Castle County, New Jersey, the daughter of John Grubb and Francis V (See Grubb Family, Part III)
Richard and Charity did not tarry long at Nottingham Lots. They were at Valley Forge in 1716. They became Quakers, and in 1728 they became Quaker missionaries.
In 1733, they removed to Leacock, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. in 1736, they were at Hopewell, West Virginia. A few years later they went to Frederick County, Virginia, where they were in 1742/3. They joined the New Garden Monthly Meeting, North Carolina, in 1754. They both died at New Garden.
Charity died 22 November 1761, and Richard died 1 January 1777, aged over 92. The children were all born in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Children:
Benjamin Beeson, Sr., the son of Richard Beeson Sr, and Charity Grubb, was born 14 January 1714/5, in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
He moved to Frederick County, Virginia in 1736, and was married at Hopewell Monthly Meeting on 1 January 1738, to Elizabeth Hunter, who was born in 1718 in Ireland. The family moved to Cane Creek Monthly Meeting, North Carolina in 1752.
Elizabeth Hunter was born in Rathdrum, Wicklow, Ireland. She was the daughter of John Hunter Jr. who was born in North Carolina and died in 1736, and Margaret Albin who was born in 1668-.
Elizabeth had 9 brothers and sisters, all born in Ireland. The family emigrated to Pennsylvania.
Her brother, Edward Hunter was married in 1738, Guilford County, North Carolina, to Susannah (Pierson) Mendenhall, daughter of Thomas Pierson and Rose Dickson (See Pierson Family, Part III).
Elizabeth was married/1 to Robert Steel, and married/2 to Josiah Harvey.Benjamin fought in the Revolutionary War. He died 14 June 1794 in Randolph or Guilford County, North Carolina, the will was probated in Randolph Co: Book 2, p5.
The first 5 children were born in Frederick County, Virginia, the younger in Guildford County, North Carolina.
Children:
William Beeson, son of Richard Beeson, Sr. and Charity Grubb, was born 1mo 17d 1721, probably at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.
He was married to Mary Mills, who was born in 1721, daughter of John Mills, Sr and Rachel Bates (See Mills Family, Part VIII)
William died 18 December 1760. The family is recorded at New Garden Quarterly Meeting, Guilford College, North Carolina, Volume 1.
Children:
Henry Beeson, son of Edward Beeson and Martha Mendenhall, about 1846, in Frederick County, Virginia.
The three sons below (birth order not known) emigrated in 1814 from North Carolina to in (described in old Wayne County, Indiana, History)
“The numerous descendants of the three brothers have taken a very important part in the development and promotion of prosperity in this section of the state. “
Children:
Isaac Beeson, son of Benjamin Beeson Sr and Elizabeth Hunter, was born 26 December 1739 in Frederick County, Virginia, moving to North Carolina in 1752.
He was married/1 29 October 1757, to Isabel Pearson, who was of Irish descent. He was married/2 to Mary Talbot Bull. Birth order of the children is not certain. He was received at Hopewell Monthly Meeting, Virginia in June 1758.
Isaac died 21 September 1811, Guilford Cp North Carolina Center. Will probated & recorded in Randolph County North Carolina, book 3, p 307
Children:
Benjamin F Beeson Sr., son of Henry Beeson ___, was born ____. He migrated in 1814 from North Carolina to in, with his two brothers.
He married Dorcas Starbuck. He entered land in Washington Township, Wayne County, and thenceforth was identified with the fortunes of this locality.
The farm that he improved is still in the possession of the family, it being owned by his son and namesake. He was master of the trade of wagon making and was an excellent blacksmith, following these occupations in addition to tilling and improving his farm.
After coming to in, the family was not associated with the Society of Friends. The birth order of the children is not certain.
Children:
Benjamin Beeson III, son of Isaac Beeson and Isabel Pearson, was born 21 January 1764, near New Garden, Roan (Randolph) County, North Carolina. Like his ancestors he was a strict Friend and the head of Providence Meeting of North Carolina several years.
He was married 7 June 1787, in Randolph County, to Margaret Hockett (Hoggatt). They moved to Wayne County, in, about 1826 and settled 1 mi S of Franklin. Benjamin much respected, died advanced age; buried by side of his wife in West River Graveyard- 2 1/2 miles E Dalton, though their exact resting place in not known.
Children:
Seth Beeson, son of Isaac Beeson and Isabel Pearson, was born 24 September 1778, and died 28 May 1816, Center, North Carolina.
He was married 18 October 1804, Springfield Monthly Meeting, North Carolina, to Alice Kersey, who was born 28 August 1785.
Seth probably died before 1847, when Alice followed son Isaac to Park County, Indiana. She died 10 April 1850, in Bloomfield Meeting, Indiana.
Children:
Benjamin F Beeson Jr., son of Benjamin F Beeson Sr and Dorcas Starbuck, was born about 1825 in Washington twp, Wayne County, Indiana. He lived on the old homestead, which he assisted in clearing and improving when a boy. He early learned what it was to endure the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and acquired strength of mind and body in his struggles with wild nature.
He married Catherine Howard, youngest daughter of John Howard, a pioneer settler of this region. Catherine died in June 1874, before Benjamin. The birth order of the children is uncertain.
Two of Catherine's sisters married into the Waymire family, a third was Mrs. Margaret Pursnett, and a fourth Mrs. Cynthia Lowery. One brother, John was a farmer of Hamilton County, Iowa, and Neill, the youngest, married a Miss Kimmel.
Children:
Isaac W. Beeson, son of Benjamin Beeson and Margaret Hockett, was born 19 December 1789, in Randolph County, North Carolina. He was 5' 8” tall, weighed 145 lbs, had fair complexion, dark hair and light-brown eyes. He was not very robust, but being very temperate in his habits, enjoyed health until past middle age. He acquired a good education for the time and taught school at different times.
He learned the trade of a wheelwright when young, which he followed as occasion required as long as he lived, though he lived to see this once flourishing business obsolete, except for slight repairs. For many years he made it a point to lay up $100 a year from his trade, and in those times it required great industry to do so.
The greater part of four years was spent to settling his brother William's estate, which was scattered over North and South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia, he being a great trader. This Isaac did, traveling alone on horseback, usually starting with a pair of saddle-bags and one large wheel and two small ones, which were sold at the first opportunity.
During this time he had many adventures, mishaps and escapes, the details of which are lost. William was his favorite brother, and he always spoke in the highest terms of his brother William's ability and integrity.
Early in life he became devotedly attached to Mary Branson, daughter of Joseph Branson and ___ Pickett, which was reciprocated, but owing to interference of relatives, the intimacy was kept up only at rare intervals during his stay in “The Old North State.”
In the spring of 1822, he started for the then Great West. His outfit for the journey was one horse, a rustic cart, a skillet, a small pot for boiling vegetables, a tin pan or two, an outfit of pewter dished for one, an ax, and a small supply of provisions, all of which, except the provisions served for many other like journeys.
He usually traveled alone and slept in the cart, seldom keeping company with other travelers. He landed in Wayne County, indian, about eight weeks from the time of starting in good spirits, but, like his outfit, worn and looking rather seedy. He examined the country pretty thoroughly, attended the land sales at Brookville, and made of number of entries, among others, 240 acres of the land in Dalton township, where he lived and died, and where his son, Benjamin B. Beeson, now resides.
In those days, hilly land with springs and running water was most sought after, the “flats” being regarded as worthless. Toward the fall of the same year he wended his way back to the sunny South and worked at his trade till 1828, when he again, in the same manner, visited his possessions in the wilderness of Indiana.
Many interesting incidents occurred while making those journeys. On one occasion, while traveling through Virginia, he ventured to put up with a settler, but the conversation and actions of the family not suiting him, he went out to sleep in his cart, and finally went to a large wood and passed the night. On returning in the morning, he found that his cart and the neighborhood had been thoroughly searched for him. He learned that afterward that the place was a rendezvous for the rogues of that mountain country.
“Old Foxy,” his horse, sometimes failed to see the propriety of climbing so many mountains. On one occasion, he backed off the road until the cart became his master, and cart, horse and all went bumping and dragging down the mountain side several hundred feet, and came near tumbling into the Kanawha River.
But, strange to say, “Old Foxy” was ready for business, having only a few bruises and being minus a large quantity of hair. He gave no more trouble, however, during that trip. At this time, 1828, there was quite a rush to Indiana from the older states, and many a race was made to Brookville and Indianapolis for “Congress Land” Mr. Beeson entered several tracts in different parts of the state, and again returned South before winter.
In the spring of 1833, he took his last view of the red gullies and sedge fields of his native state, and settled near Franklin, in Wayne County, Indiana, where his father and several brothers had preceded him. The firm of Beeson Brothers, composed of S.H. B.F. and IthaMarch Beeson, were doing a large mercantile business, handling everything from a drove of hogs to a coon skin, and furnishing goods to a large section of country. They also ran a tan-yard, grist-mill, etc. The town became known as “Beeson Town.”
Times were flush, and speculation ran wild, everybody seemed to be getting rich. But the end came; the bottom fell out of prices. Pork sold for $1.25 per hundred, net; confidence was gone; and the Beeson Brothers found their business and fortunes hopelessly wrecked. Isaac W losing heavily as security.
During all this time, the old attachment between himself and Mary Barnson existed, and in the fall of 1837, she left home and friends in North Carolina to join her fortunes with his. She arrived in Wayne County safely, and he was married 27 February 1838, to Mary Branson.
Mr Beeson took an active interest in the political and religious questions of his day. A member of the Society of Friends, he took sides with the anti-slavery ring. His views in church matters were of the most liberal kind, taking the ground that all Christians should become one brotherhood and one church, uniting on the vital principles of Christianity, but having perfect freedom of belief in regard to forms, ceremonies, etc.
In politics, he held that the people should govern in all things, direct, that all officers should be deemed servants, and receive wages only for services rendered; that all money should made (available) or issued by the Government and loaned to the people at a low rate of interest, said interest to be used for improvements and expenses, in lieu of taxes.
These views were advanced by him, long before the Rebellion, and manuscripts left show that he was an original thinker and a writer of much ability. in financial matters his judgment was good, having acquired quite a competence. Of a quiet disposition he never sought public favor in the way of office; would usually suffer heavily rather than go to law, believing in arbitration, both between individuals and nations.
He lost his companion in 1851, on October 10th, and never again married. She was a woman of kind and benevolent disposition- one of the few who had no enemies. Although his health was poor at this time, he survived by her twenty years, and died of an attack of pleurisy, in 1871, on November 16th, aged 82, and was buried the Friends' graveyard at Nettle Creek, near his faithful partner in life's joys and sorrows.
Children:
O H Beeson, son of Benjamin F Beeson, Jr. and Catherine Howard, was born in Washington twp, Wayne County, Indiana, on June 12, 1853. He received much better educational advantages than had been enjoyed by his father, and for a period was privileged to attend the academy at Spiceland.
He was married in Washington Township about 1835 to Sarah I. Williams, who was born there 28 September 1855, the daughter of James and Emily (Wallace) Williams, who were representatives of pioneer Indiana families.
Old Wayne County, Indiana, History
“After his marriage in 1875, he located upon a small tract of land, which his father gave him, and from time to time bought additional property until he now owns four hundred and seventy acres.
He has prospered in his transactions, and has made somewhat of a specialty of raising and handling livestock. in 1893 he branched out in another direction, in a business way, as he bought a substantial brick block in Milton, and in this building, which is centrally located upon the corner of two of the leading streets in the town, he kept a meat market for four years, also running one at Cambridge City. His own farm furnished him with beef and pork for his markets, and he was quite successful in this enterprise. in 1896, he commenced raising shorthorn cattle on his farm, and now is the possessor of as fine a herd as can be found in the county.
“About six years ago, Mr. Beeson bought his present handsome residence, situated upon twenty-seven acres of land adjoining Milton.”
Children: