James Beebe (1701 - aft. 1750)

Born 10 Oct 1701 in New London, New London, Connecticut

Ancestors

Husband of Susannah (Babcock) Beebe — married May 1724 in Rhode Island

Descendants

Died after 1 May 1750 after age 48 in Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Randy Beebe [send private message]

Biography

James Beebe, the youngest son of Samuel Beebe and Elizabeth (Rogers) Beebe was born October 10, 1701. James and his older brother, Samuel Beebe III, were the last two of nine children born to Samuel Jr. and Elizabeth Beebe, and were the long-hoped for sons arriving after Samuel Jr. had fathered seven daughters in a row. This yearning for a son was so strong that Samuel Beebe Jr. left a legacy of this longing in the names he bestowed on his twin daughters, Patience and Hopestill, that is to say if Samuel were to be Patient, there is Hopestill he may father a son. The long awaited event occurred when Samuel Beebe Jr. was 36 and his wife Elizabeth was 39 when his first son, Samuel Beebe III was born, and subsequently his second son, James, also arrived on the scene four years later. The New London Barbour Collection of Vital Records document his birth at New London, Connecticut on 10 October 1701, and this is likely correct; however it is well known that his father Samuel Beebe Jr. was a wealthy land owner, and held land in Southold, Long Island and also owned about one third of Plum Island; the Southold, NY land records indicate that Samuel purchased the Plum Island property and the Southold properties around 1700, so while it is probable that James was born at New London, it is likely that from shortly after his birth until1750 he was a resident of Plum Island and Southold NY. During this time period this eastern extremity of Long Island was settled by the English and considered part of Connecticut and was far more closely associated with New London, across the bay, than with the Dutch who resided on the western portion of Long Island. It would take a detailed study of the known land records to determine exactly when Samuel established a permanent residence at Long Island, but Samuel Beebe Jr. was forty when James was born, and this about the time he purchased Plum Island and the Southold land, so there is a possibility that the family was living at either Long Island or Plum Island when James was born, or certainly shortly thereafter.

The next recorded event in the life of James Beebe was his marriage ^[1] to Susannah Babcock sometime between 25 March and 4 June 1724 at Southold, Suffolk, NY (the tip of Long Island). It is worth noting that Susannah Babcock was the niece of John Clark, the husband of James Beebes' sister Mary. The significance of this connection is these marriages substantiate an enduring bond between the Beebe family and the Seventh Day Baptist Church at Westerly, Rhode Island. Samuel Beebe and his wife Elizabeth Rogers, the parents of Mary and James, were active members of this church and John Rogers, the brother of Elizabeth suffered great persecution from the First Congregational Church of New London for his Baptist beliefs and practices as a pastor, member, and founder of this church. The Clark and Babcock families, along with the Rogers family and many others were very entrenched and influential in this church, and clearly the Church exerted a strong influence on the families as indicated by the large number of marriages between the families of the church, e.g. James Beebe and Susannah Babcock, as well as the enduring participation of these families in the church for many generations to come. They had four children, James, Oliver, Mary and Susannah.^[2]

Genealogical Records

The following section of this profile provides detailed information found in the various cited sources. The purpose of this section is to provide the reader access to the information contained within the cited sources, to identify source data conflicts, and identify the origin of data errors. In addition, this section provides a platform to analyze, cross-correlate, and comment on important aspects of the cited historical data record.

Vital Records

• Primary Source, Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 The Barbour Collection, New London Vital Records 1646-1854 ^[3] Data Summary:

1. ) New London, Conn. VR; Page 28: James Beebe, son of Samuel and Elizabeth was born 10 October 1701.

• Secondary Source, Wickham, Southold Town Records Copied and Explanatory Notes, Vol I, ^[4] Data Extract,

1. ) Southold, NY. VR.; "from the back of page 118"; Beebee Southold, Suffolk, New York birth records.
   1. ) Samuel Beebee born Mar. ye 12th 1735.
   2. ) John Beebee born Sept 5th 1739.
   3. ) Hopefull Beebee born April 6th 1741.
   4. ) Susanna Beebee born August 12th 1742.
   5. ) Zelymus Beebee born November 27th 1744. {Editorial note, this source does not link these five individuals as children of James and Susanna, but rather links them together as a sibling group. The Clifford Beebe ^[5] Genealogy ties these children to parents James and Susanna.}

• Secondary Source, Southold, N.Y., Town Records, Vital Statistics from D and E, in the Town Clerk's Office, ^[6] Data:

1. ) Southold, LI, NY, VR: page 175; also available at Southold, LI, VR; page 131: James Beebee of Southold was married to Susanna Babcock The daughter of Oliver Babcock of Westerly in ye Colony of Rhoad Island the 26th day of March AD 1724
   1. ) James, their son born 28 Jan 1724/5.
   2. ) Oliver Beebee Son of ye above named was born Septemr. ye 23d 1726. the sixth day of the week.
   3. ) Mary Beebee Daughter of ye above named was born augt. ye 8th 1728. The 5th day of ye week.
   4. ) Susanah Beebee Daughter of above named was born y 22d: Day of June 1731. The 3 Day of ye week. {Editorial; listing of births ends here. This list does not include Samuel, John, Hopestill, the second Susannah, nor Barzillimus.}

Marriage Records

• Secondary Source, Genealogical Research Library, comp. New York City, Marriages, 1600s-1800s, ^[7] Data Extract:

1. ) Marriages 1600 - 1800; James Beebee married Susannah Babcock in 1724 at Southold, Suffolk, New York.

Southold, New York marriage record of James Beebe and Susannah Babcock.

• Primary Source, The Salmon Records - A Private Register of Marriages and Deaths of the Residents of the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, N.Y. 1696-1811, ^[1] Data Extract:

1. ) Salmon Records, VR for Southold, NY; Page 79 James Beebee and Susannah Babcock were married between Mar 25 and June 4 1724, and their marriage was recorded in the private records of the Salmon family of Southold, Suffolk, New York. {Editorial, it is not clear from this source where the marriage happened-other sources indicate the marriage may have been in Rhode Island}

Newport, Rhode Island marriage record for daughter Hopestill Beebe

• Primary Source, Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850 , ^[8] Data Summary:

1. ) Newport RI, VR; Page 423: Joshua Morey, of Newport, RI., and Hopestill Beebe, of Stonington, Conn., pub. {Editorial: published=made public a notice of their intent to marry} April 27, 1760 at the First Congregational Church of Bristol, Rhode Island. {Editorial: the chapter heading for these marriage records states Bristol, but all of the records are for Newport - someone scratched out Bristol and wrote in Newport as a correction.}

• Primary Source, Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, Volume 111 Stonington, 1630-1920 ^[9] Data Extract:

1. ) Stonington, Conn, Church Records - Marriages; The marriages of the following children of James Beebe were recorded in the church records of Stonington, Conn.
   1. ) Barzillaa Beebe married Tabitha Bentley 29 May 1783. {Editorial. Barzillimus or Zillimus}
   2. ) Hopestill Beebe married Joshua Morey of Newport on 31 August 1759.
   3. ) Mary Beebe married Asa Ellit 21 June 1753 by Rev. Ebenezer Rosseter.
   4. ) John Beebe married Abigail Clark, both of Stonington, 6 November 1785.
   5. ) Samuel Beebe married Desire Eliot 8 March 1767.

Land Records

• Primary Source, Case, Southold Town Records Copied and Explanatory Notes Added ^[10] Extract

1. ) Southold, NY., Land Records; Page 327, 328 On the first of May 1750, James and Susannah Beebe, of Southold, sell an 82.5 acre (by estimation) farm located on the Oyster Ponds neck of Long Island New York to his brother Samuell Beebee, of Plumb Island for 433 Pounds. The property is described as bounded by the sound {Long Island Sound} on the North, on the east by the by property of Stephen Vail and Richard Young, by the sea on the south and on the West a creek and the property of William King. In addition, James also sells a four acre meadow to Samuel at the same time.
   1. ) This transaction was witnessed by Stephen Vail, and William King and was signed and sealed by both James Beebee, and his wife, Susanna Beebee. {Editorial, hence they were both living in 1750} The land transaction was acknowledged by Joseph Brown, Justice. {Editorial, this document marks the departure of the James Beebe family residence from Southold, Suffolk, New York to Stonington, Connecticut where many of the family members reappear the in marriage records at the Stonington Congregational Church beginning in the early 1750s}
2. ) {Location of the land cited in the transaction. Based on the description of the land, a satellite view of the eastern tip of Long Island, New York shows the Long Island Sound to the North, the sea (Atlantic Ocean) to the south a creek to the West, and a land boundary with Neighbors to the east, the marked image below roughly shows the boundaries.}

Oyster Pond, New York Land sold by James Beebe to his brother Samuel Beebe III

Published Genealogical Information

• Secondary Source, Clarence Beebe in his book MONOGRAPH of the Descent of the Family of BEEBE^[2] cites James Beebe in profile (54). Data summary;

1. ) Monograph, etc.; Page 25. James Beebe (54), son of Samuel Beebe and Elizabeth (Rogers) Beebe was born 10 October 1701. He married 1st Mary Beebe and they had a son Samuel. {Editorial, this is incorrect information. The James Beebe that married Mary Beebe, daughter of Nathaniel Beebe Sr. was the son of Benjamin Beebe. Please refer to the profile of James Beebe to evaluate the documentation supporting this assertion.} James married 2nd Susanna Babcock {about 1723} and they had four children, James (128), Oliver (129), Mary (130) and Susannah (131).

• Secondary Source, Clifford Beebe,Genealogy of the Family of Beebe, ^[5] Data Extract:

1. ) Page 11, 12. Parents: Samuel Beebe (21) and Elizabeth Rogers were the parents of Elizabeth (60, Mary (61), Bathsheba (62), Rebecca (63), Hopestill (64), Patience (65), Hannah (66), Samuel (67), James (68), and Abigail 69).
2. ) Beebe Genealogy, Vol. I. Page 25. Personal data: James Beebe (68) was born 10 Oct 1701 at New London, Connecticut.
   1. ) Marriage. James Beebe (68) married Mary Beebe (80), daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Beebe 10 November 1721 at New London, Connecticut. Mary was born 1703 and she died 1723. {Editorial, this is incorrect information. The James Beebe that married Mary Beebe, daughter of Nathaniel Beebe Sr. was the son of Benjamin Beebe. Please refer to the profile of James Beebe to evaluate the documentation supporting this assertion.}
      1. ) Children by Mary Beebe. Samuel (198). {Editorial, incorrect: This Samuel Beebe was the son of James Beebe, son of Benjamin.}
   2. ) Second marriage. James Beebe (68) married Susanna Babcock of Southold LI, NY, daughter of Oliver and Susanna (Clark) Babcock. (According to Southold, LI records, she was the daughter of Samuel Babcock of Westerly RI.)
      1. ) Children by Susanna Babcock. James (199), Oliver (200), Mary (201), Susanna (202), Samuel (203), John (204), Hopestill (205), Susanna (206), and Zillimus (207).
   3. ) Biography. "James Beebe lived in New London, Connecticut, and Southold, LI, NY. In 1750 he and his wife deeded 82.5 acres of land to his brother Samuel Beebe at Orient, LI, NY. In the new England Register #19 it states that "he made a disposition about the Papist Alarm at New London in 1741."

• Secondary Source, Griffin, Griffin's Journal ^[11] Griffin's Journal provides a narrative on the Settlers of Oyster Pond, Long Island, New York, renamed Orient (for Easterly) in 1836. The Volume documents the state of the Orient, L.I. population at the 1857 date of publication and traces the genealogies of those families back to the original Settlers of the area. The Journal narrative of the contemporary (1850's) and the previous generation or so seems to be reliable, however, the accuracy of the earliest generations is questionable at best and has frequently been proven to be in error, as is the case for the Beebe genealogy cited in this journal. Data Extract:

1. ) Griffin's Journal; Page 30: In the following passage Augustus Griffin provides a description of the farm James Beebe sold to his brother Samuel Beebe III in 1750: "The next farm east was owned by Mr. King--whether a brother to William King, or not, we are not informed. His house was exactly like those others mentioned, and stood the same number of years; Daniel Beebe ath this time owns the premises. What relation these Kings were to John King the father to Samuel King, we cannot learn. It is generally supposed they were of another family, which came as early as 1660 or 1670. The adjoining farm east was very early owned by a Mr. Sheffield, but came into the possession of the Beebe family somewhere near 1700; its last owner was Samuel Beebe {III}. It is now owned by Joseph Latham and David Youngs. The adjacent farm on the east is the "Point Farm" owned by Stephen Vail."

Research Notes

1. ) The Samuel Beebe noted by Clifford Beebe as the son of James and Mary was indeed the son of James and Mary Beebe; but it was a different James Beebe, the son of Benjamin Beebe, and Mary Beebe, the daughter of Nathaniel Beebe, who were his parents; rather than the James Beebe of this profile. Furthermore, Samuel was indeed killed by lightning, though not as an infant, but rather at about the age 13 as noted in the following passage from Joshua Hempstead:
   1. ) Primary Source, Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London Connecticut^[12] From the Diary of Joshua Hempstead: Page 411, Sat 2 July 1743 wee had the malocholy News of the Death of 2 Ladds by Lightning and Thunder & the horse. thay all Struck dow Dead at once about Sun an hour high att which time Samuel Chapmans house was Struck in Several Places & and much slivered. the woman of the house only hurt & yt but Lightly. Sund 3 fair. Mr. Lord of Norwich pr all day. the 2 Ladds were buried in one grave toward night. Each about 13 years of age one the son of Jacob Alley & the other the Son of James Beebe. were Sisters Children. both Grandchildren to Natll Beebee Sr. {This source refers to a different James Beebe, son of Benjamin of New London and clears up that it was Mary Beebe daughter of Nathaniel Sr who married James Beebe, and she was also a sister to Elizabeth, the wife of Jacob Alley. This reference is cited here in order to clarify the erroneous information in the Clarence and Clifford Beebe Genealogies--also note that this 1743 event occurred in New London, at a time when James Beebe, (son of Samuel Beebe Jr.) and his wife Susannah Babcock were clearly living at Southold, NY.}.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} The Salmon Records - A Private Register of Marriages and Deaths of the Residents of the Town of Southold, Suffolk County, N.Y. 1696-1811 edited by William A. Robbins, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society 1918. Page 39. [https://archive.org/stream/salmonrecordspri00salm#page/78/mode/2up/search/Beebee Marriage record of James Beebe and Susannah Babcock at Southold, NY
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Beebe, Clarence, A MONOGRAPH of the Descent of the Family of BEEBE, from the earliest known immigrant--John, of Broughton, England, 1650, compiled and edited by Clarence Beebe, 150 Nassau Street, New York,1904; (54) page 25 Beebe book online
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 The Barbour Collection, New London Vital Records 1646-1854 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002. Beebe New London Barbour Collection or version Transcribed by Coralynn Brown here (free) Beebe (Barbour New London), once at the site, you will need to scroll down to BEEBE
4. ↑ Wickham, Case J., Southold Town Records Copied and Explanatory Notes, Vol I, New York : S.W. Green's Son, 1882-1884. (Two Volume set), page 65 Zelymus Beebe birth record
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Beebe, Clifford, Genealogy of the Family of Beebe From the Earliest Known Immigrant John Beebe of Broughton, England, Higginson Book Co., 10 Colonial Road, Salem MA 01970. 1991.
6. ↑ Hoff, Henry B.; Long Island Source Records' [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. From The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1987. The same information is also recorded in the following source:

   • ) Akerly, Lucy Dubois; Southold, N. Y., Town Records, Vital Statistics from Libers D. & E., in the Town Clerk's Office - contributed by Lucy Dubois Akerly, with notes, Published by The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, 226 West 58th Street, New York, Vol 39 No. 2 April 1908. Page 128. Public Domain.

7. ↑ Genealogical Research Library, comp. New York City, Marriages, 1600s-1800s,New York City, Compiled Marriage Index, 1600s-1800s; [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Genealogical Research Library, comp. New York City, Marriages, 1600s-1800s. For specific source information see the publication information listed with each entry. Many of the source documents are available in the Genealogical Research Library collection. Many of the records may also be found on microfilm at the Family History Library.
8. ↑ Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, first series, births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people. Section: Vol. VIII. First Congregational Church, Newport. Ancestry.com. Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, first series, births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people [database on-line]. Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Arnold, James N.. Vital record of Rhode Island, 1636-1850, first series, births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people. Providence, R.I.: Narraganset Historical Publishing Co., 1891-1912. Marriage of Hopestill Beebe
9. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, Volume 111 Stonington, 1630-1920 Ancestry.com. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 2013. Original data: Connecticut. Church Records Index. Connecticut State Library, Hartford, Connecticut. Stonington, Connecticut marriage records of the children of James Beebe
10. ↑ Case, Joseph. Southold Town Records Copied and Explanatory Notes Added Vol II, Printed by order of the towns of Southold and Riverhead. (N.Y., 1884). Samuel Beebe land sale
11. ↑ Griffin, Augustus, Griffin's Journal, First Settlers of Southold; The Names of Heads of Those Families, Being only thirteen at the time of their landing; First Proprietors of Orient; Biographical Sketches, &c. &c. &c.. Orient, L.I., Published by Augustus Griffin, 1857.
12. ↑ Hempstead, Joshua, Diary of Joshua Hempstead of New London Connecticut covering a period of 47 years from Sept 1711, to Nov 1758. Published by The New London County Historical Society, New London CT., Printed by the Journal of Commerce Co., Providence RI. 1901., page 411. Nathaniel Beebee

Other Sources

• http://dunhamwilcox.net/ct/norwich6.htm James B. Beebe provides witness, "This may certifie that Mark Williams of Norwich and Mary Newbury, the daughter of Nathaniel Newbury then resident at Southhold in the Colony of New York was married May 25, 1731; lawfully married in presence of us the subscribers, with others at South hold in Said Colony of New York" {Editorial Note: Nathaniel Newbury was the husband of James' sister Elizabeth, hence Mary Newbury was his niece}

• The Documentary history of the state of New-York, Vol IV; page 200; James Beebe is included on a 27 Feb 1737 list of Freeholders in Suffolk County, NY.

• Long Island Records; page 175.

• Joshua Hempstead Diary; page 166: James Beebe.

Web based Genealogies

The following section provides a listing of web-published genealogies pertinent to the profile subject; these genealogies are valuable in presenting an alternate perspective on family links for the profile subject. However, these genealogies may or may not be correct and are not presently cited as source material in the narrative text of this profile.

• FamilySearch profile for James Beebe.
• Rootsweb Genealogy, Some Descendants of John BEEBE, Norman, Nancy Ann; 255 East 41st Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23504-1013.
  • RootsWeb profile for: James Beebe (59).