Henry Beasley (abt. 1724 - aft. 1795)

Born about 1724 in Essex County, Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 19 Jan 1795 after about age 71 in Chatham, North Carolina

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Research Note

Many online genealogies of this family are wildly incorrect due to conflations. It leads to Ancestry hints repeating the incorrect conflations. "Henry" Beasley is often identified as "John Thomas Henry Beasley" to account for the incorrect records attached. He is often attached to spouse "Maria Noble" which is a different Henry Beasley. Henry had sons Ephraim, Fendal, Jesse, and Isham (in addition to Henry and William) who are all named explicitly in Henry's will. Yet, many genealogies identify Ephraim, Fendal, Jesse, and Isham as the same person with a string of alternate names.

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Biography

Henry Beasley was likely the grandson of William Beasley who died in 1719 in Essex, Virginia. It is unclear which son he is from. William had five sons: 1) William, died 1744 Essex; 2) Benjamin, died abt 1757 Essex (Administration of estate recorded 20 Jun 1758 in Essex Co Wills and Deeds); 3) Henry; 4) John d 1759 Essex. Probated 15 May 1759 (Essex Co. Wills and Administrations); 5) Charles. Most likley Henry or Benjamin. Also a Bennett Beasley who lived in Essex and died in Orange county may be another son, or a middle name of one of these sons. William Beasley was likely William Bennett Beasley based on a 1719 death record for Bennett Beasley in Essex.

Henry was in Orange Co., North Carolina prior to 1754 when he patented 640 acres "along the New Hope Including his own Improvements."^[1] He later patented an additional 226 acres in 1758. This land became part of Chatham County in 1771.^[2]

Will of Henry Beasley dated 19 Jan 1795, probated Feb 1795 Chatham, North Carolina. Mentions wife Mary, children Ephraim, William, Isham, Jesse, Henry, Fendal, Mary, Winneford, Tabitha Harwood, Betty Bennett, Edith Wiberley. Slaves: Jenny (to wife Mary) , "numerous" to other children.^[3]

Many trees have his wife as Maria Noble. Maria Noble was the wife of a different Henry Beasley. Additionally, many trees attribute colonial records of a John T. Beasley or John Henry Beasley to this man.

Will
In the name of God Amen.
I Henry Bezeley of the Parish of St. Bartholomew, and County of Chatham in State of N. Carolina, being weak and sick in body but of perfect sense and memory thanks be to the Almighty God for the same.
After recommending my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently interred in Christian like manner by my Executors hereafter mentioned I hereby testify this to be my last will and testament as followeth
Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son Isham Bezeley the land whereon I now live with one featherbed and furniture to him and his heirs forever-
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Bezeley 25 pounds to her and her heirs forever-
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Wineyford Bezeley Davis 25 pounds to her and her heirs forever-
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Tabitha Harwood 25 pounds to her and her heirs forever-
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Betty? Bennet 25 pounds to her and her heirs forever-
Item: I give and bequeath to Edith Wimberley one feather bed & furniture to her and her heirs forever-
And for the raising of the above legacies of money I desire that my stock horses hogs and cattle may be sold at twelve months credit, if a balance remain after the legacies are paid off to be equally divided among my sons. Furthermore I desire that my son Jesse Bezeley should take my wife Mary Bezeley under his care and that she should have a comfortable maintenance her days and for a reward, to Jesse Bezeley for his trouble and expense for maintaining his mother each of my sons shall bear an equal part of the expense for her maintenance and that she shall have negroe Jenney during her life to lend on her-

Item: The remaining part of my Estate I give & bequeath unto William Bezeley, Ephraim Bezeley, Henry Bezeley, Fendal Bezeley, Jesse Bezeley, & Isham Bezeley [inserted above line: them & their heirs forever] which consists chiefly of Negroes, & to be equally divided, Share & Share alike.^[4]

Item: I constitute appoint and ordain my loving friends William Merritt, William O’Kelly and my son Henry Bezeley and my son Jesse Bezeley and my son Isham Bezeley Executors to this my last will and testament- In whereof I published and declared it so to be this 19th day of January A.D., 1795.

Sources

1. ↑ State Archives of North Carolina, Granville Grants, Orange Co. File No. 357, Henry Beesly, Issued 23 Oct 1754 for 640 acres "On the No E. prong of New Hope Creek" Patent Book image
2. ↑ State Archives of North Carolina, Granville Grants, Orange Co. File No. 364, Henry Beesly. Issued 10 Jun 1758 for 226 acres "On the No. E. of New Hope". Patent Book Image
3. ↑ Will of Henry Beezley, Transcribed By Connie Webb. Dated 19 Jan 1795, Probated Feb, 1795 North Carolina State Archives, Film C.022.50001 1782-1799, Vol. 2, p. 37. Additional transcription by Doug Beezley from will image
4. ↑ Insertion added 12 Nov 2019. I discovered that the transcription of the will by Connie Webb (as linked) left out an important item, naming additional children of Henry. Please see the handwritten will (Page 1 and 2) attached to this profile.Doug Beezley