Theophilus Beebe Sr. (1731 - abt. 1793)

Born 31 Jan 1731 in Plum Island, Suffolk, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Mercy (Rogers) Beebe — married about 1760 in New London, New London County, Connecticut

Descendants

Died about 1793 at about age 61 in Waterford, New London, Connecticut, United States

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

Biography

Theophilus Beebe was born ^[1] in 1731, the seventh child ^[1] of Samuel and Ann Lester Beebe. He married Mercy Rogers and had seven children. He died about 1793.

Birth date given as 31 Jan 1730/1 in Barbour. ^[1]

The tombstone inscription for Mercy (Rogers) Beebe, wife of Theophilus, affirms that she died in 1835 at the age of 95, hence born in 1740. This means it would be exceedingly unlikely that she would have been married to Theophilus prior to 1758 and probably more like 1760 and it also means that the generally accepted 1752 and 1753 birthdates for sons Lemuel and Theophilus cannot be correct IF they are the sons of Mercy Rogers because she would have only been 12 or 13 at these dates. As the 1740 birth date is cast in stone, it seems much more probable Mercy's 1740 birth date is correct and that there is something amiss with the 1752/1753 birth dates for Lemuel and Theophilus. In the case of Theophililus, there are numerous other primary records, viz census and death records, which strongly support the assertion that Theophilus Jr. was born in 1773, not 1753. Regarding Lemuel, he is included as an heir in the the distribution of the estate of Theophilus Beebe Sr. hence a son, and his Rev War pension application affirms he was born in New London in 1752, therefore the only explanation that fits the known facts is that Lemuel D Beebe was the son of Theophilus Beebe Srs. and a first, but unknown wife rather than Mercy Rogers. Furthermore this first wife may well have died in childbirth with Lemuel because there is a gap of 11 years with no more children until after Theophilus marries Mercy Rogers.

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 in the cited sources; to identify source data conflicts and identify the origin of data errors; and, finally, to provide 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^[1]: This source has multiple Vital record entries all occurring in New London, Conn., for Theophilus son of Samuel and Ann Beebe as follows:

1. ) Father and mother: Samuel Beebe {III}, son of Samuel, married Ann Lester 1 Jan 1717/1718.
   1. ) Sister--Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel and Ann was born 13 Oct 1719. {Editorial, this entry is not in the Coralynn Brown transcription}
   2. ) Brother--Samuel Beebe {IV}, son of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 21 Nov 1721.
   3. ) Brother--Eliphalet Beebe, son of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 27 Dec 1723. He died by drowning 12 Sept 1745.
   4. ) Brother--Elnathan Beebe, son of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 25 Oct 1725.
   5. ) Sister--Hannah Beebe daughter of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 23 Aug 1727, and she died 23 Oct 1736.
   6. ) Ann, daughter of Samuel and Anne Beebe was born 1 Jan 1728/9.
   7. ) Theophilus Beebe, son of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 31 Jan 1730/1.
   8. ) Sister--Lucretia Beebe daughter of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 27 Dec 1732.
   9. ) Brother--Silas Beebe, son of Samuel and Ann Beebe was born 11 Nov 1734.
   10. ) Sister--Hannah Beebe, daughter of Samuel Jr. and Anne, born 12 June 1736. {Editorial: Did Samuel and Anne really name a second child Hannah, prior to the death of their first daughter named Hannah? This entry is not in the Coralynn Brown transcription}
   11. ) Brother--Amos Beebe, son of Samuel Jr. and Anne Beebe was born 29 Aug 1739.
   12. ) Sister--Jemima, twin with Jerusha, daughter of Samuel and Anne Beebe was born 8 Dec 1743.
   13. ) Sister--Jerusha, twin with Jemima, daughter of Samuel and Anne Beebe was born 8 Dec 1743.

Census Records

• Primary Source, "United States Census, 1790," ^[2] : Data summary: In the 1790 census, Theophilus Beba, age (16+) was the head of a New London, Connecticut household. Members of the household include:

1. ) 1790 New London, Connecticut Census, Image 77 of 90: Theophilus Beba, two males age 16 and over. {Probably Theophilus Beebe Sr. age 59 and his son Theophilus Beebe Jr.}
2. ) Three females. "{Probably wife Mercy Rogers and two daughters.}
   1. ) One male under 16 {Probably Douglas Beebe.}

Probate Records

• Primary Source, Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 ^[3] Data Extract:

1. ) Estate Distribution; image 658 of 1284: Probate Court: distribution of the intestate estate of Theophilus Beebe, late of Waterford, Connecticut:
   1. ) Item: to Mercy Beebe, widow of the deceased, two pieces of land the first about 7 acres and the second one acre and 53 rods. Use of the largest south room in the house.
   2. ) Item: to Lemuel D Beebe, one of the heirs; two pieces of land. The first containing 2 3/4 acres, and the second containing 70 rods.
   3. ) Item: and as Theophilus Beebe {Jr.} an heir has purchased the whole rights of Rebekah Rogers, Hopestill Crandall, Patience Beebe, and Lucinda Wheelock, being the whole remaining heirs of the estate, we set of the remainder to the said Theophilus in two pieces, the first containing 11 acres and the second containing 2 acres and 21 rods.
   4. ) Dated 14 November 1801. {Editorial Notes (RRB); 1) Douglas was not mentioned as an heir to the estate and 2) the estate was tied up in probate court for 8 years.}

Biographic and Genealogical References

1. Secondary Source, Clarence Beebe in his book Monograph of the Descent of the Family of Beebe ^[4] cites Theophilus Beebe in profile (120). Data summary;

1. ) Monograph, etc., Page 31: Theophilus Beebe, son of Samuel Beebe and Ann Lester was born 1730 at Plumb Island {NY}. Father of Theophilus Beebe.

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

1. ) Beebe Genealogy Vol I, Page 24, 25: Parents: Samuel (67) and Ann (Lester) Beebe were the parents of Samuel (183), Elizabeth (184), Samuel (185), Eliphalet (186), Elnathan (187), Hannah (188), Amon (189), Theophilus (190), Lucretia (191), Silas (192), Hannah (193), Amos (Amon) (194), Jemima (195), Jerusha (196), and Anne (197).
2. ) Beebe Genealogy Vol I, Page 54: Vital data: Theophilus Beebe (190) was born 31 Januay 1731at Plum Island , Long Island, New York, and he died before 23 Dec 1793 at New London, Ct.
   1. ) Marriage. Samuel Beebe married Mercy (_____) who was born about 1740 and died 7 Aug 1793 at the age of 95.
   2. ) Biography. Theophilus Beebe lived on Plum Island, LI, NY, New London, Ct. and Waterford, Ct. His Wife Mercy is buried in Waterford, Ct.
   3. ) Children. Theophilus Beebe was the father of Lemuel D. (514), Theophilus (515), Rebecca (516), Hopestill (517), Patience (518), Lucinda (519) and Douglass (520)

Research Notes

1. ) The following definitions and syntax conventions apply to the preceding text of this profile:
   1. ) A Primary Source contains data that was recorded by the person in the profile; or by someone known to or with first hand knowledge of that person, during the person's lifetime, death or within two generations thereafter.
   2. ) A Secondary Source is a genealogical reference created as the result of a extensive study of available source material and it provides some evidence of the source documentation used to generate the text data.
   3. ) A Tertiary Source is a genealogical data source which is a collection of genealogical information that does not cite Primary or Secondary information sources, and the data may be factual or hearsay.
   4. ) Braces {Editorial Note Example} are used to insert editorial comments; that is to say, information or clarification that is not contained in the original, cited source material.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Connecticut Town Birth Records, pre-1870 (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. The following link REQUIRES PAID MEMBERSHIP: Vital records for Samuel and Ann (Lester) Beebe New London Church Records - OR - FREE ACCESS with this link: version Transcribed by Coralynn Brown. Vital Records for Theophilus Beebe (Barbour New London), once at the site, you will need to scroll down to BEEBE
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (Rev : accessed 10 December 2020), Theophilus Beba, New London, Connecticut, United States; citing p. 154, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1; FHL microfilm 568,141. Theophilus Beba in the 1790 US census
3. ↑ Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data:Connecticut County, District and Probate Courts.
4. ↑ Beebe, Clarence, 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; (ID 120) page 31. Clarence Beebe Genealogy online -Title Page
5. ↑ 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.

Other Sources

Web based Genealogies

• FamilySearch profile for Theophilus Beebe Sr.