Mary (Beach) McEathron (abt. 1774 - 1849)

Born about 1774 in Lanesborough, Berkshire, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 3 May 1849 at about age 75 in Brockville, Elizabethtown, Leeds, Canada West

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Biography

Mary Beach was born about 1774 in Lanesborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Bay Colony.^[1] She is the daughter of John Beach and Mary Todd.

Mary's father was a soldier in the British Queens Loyal Rangers and Colonel Jessup's Corps of Loyal Rangers. Due to the war, Mary was raised in Loyalist refugee camps. Her family lived on half-rations provided by the camp commissary. In 1778, when Mary was four years old, her father's land in Wells, Vermont was confiscated. Her family fled to Canada.

Her family lived for a short time in St. John/St. Jean, then transferred north of Montreal to camps at Machiche in 1778 to 1780, Vercheres in 1781 to 1782, and lastly at Riviere du Chene in 1783 to 1784 on the west Montreal shore. After her father's death there late in 1784, her mother applied for and qualified for a land grant from the British government. In 1789 the "Widow Beeches Heirs" were granted 100 acres in Augusta Township southwest of Maitland, Ontario. The name "Widow Beeches Heirs" is marked on the pre-1826 plat map. It is unlikely they ever lived there, as Mary and her brother were still children when it was awarded.^[2]

She married Daniel McEathron. They had at least six children.

1. John Reid McEathron was born in Augusta, Grenville, Upper Canada; baptized June 5, 1795/1796 at the Saint Andrew's Church in Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario, Upper Canada.^[3]
2. Nancy Anne (McEathron) Baxter was born in Augusta, Upper Canada; baptized June 5, 1796 at the Saint Andrew's Church in Williamstown, Glengarry, Ontario, Canada.^[4]
3. Stephen McEathron was born about 1801.^[5]
4. Alexander McEathron was born about 1802.^[6]
5. Peter McEathron was born about 1805.^[7]
6. Mary H (McEathron) Shipman was born about 1808.^[8]

Mary died about May 3, 1849 in Brockville, Elizabethtown, Leeds, Canada West. She is buried in the Read's Cemetery in Augusta, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada.^[1].^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/248359241/mary-mceathron: accessed 18 April 2023), memorial page for Mary Beach McEathron (10 Apr 1774–3 May 1849), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #248359241, citing Read’s Cemetery, Augusta, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by PEACE & LOVE (contributor 49208454).
2. ↑ Family Search, Mary Beach, (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LHDF-BCH). Note: need to find the original reference for this information. Mary Beach was raised in Loyalist "refugee" camps, while her father was a soldier in the Queens Loyal Rangers and Col. Jessup's Corps of Loyal Rangers. In 1778, when she was 4 years old, her father's land in Wells, Vermont was confiscated and the family fled to Canada (Quebec). She, her mother and 2 brothers often lived on half-rations provided by the camp commissary. They lived briefly at the military encampment at St. John du Richeleau, then transferred north of Montreal to camps at Machiche 1778-1780, Vercheres 1781-1782, and lastly at Riviere du Chene 1783 -1784 on the west Montreal shore. After her father's death there late in 1784, her mother applied for and qualified for a land grant from the British government. In 1789 the" Widow Beeches Heirs" were granted 100 acres in Augusta Twp. (Concession 1, Half Lot 34) southwest of Maitland, Ontario. The name "Widow Beeches Heirs" is marked on the pre-1826 plat map. It is unlikely they ever lived there as Mary and her brother were still minor children and orphans by the time it was awarded. But they seem to be guardianed or shepherded by Alexander Campbell, later Justice of the Peace, who became Daniel McEachron's stepfather? The only verification of her marriage [her married name] is provided in her children's baptism records (1796) as wife of Daniel McEachron, and in her brother's 1805 land petition as son of a United Empire Loyalist: it names all the "Beach Heirs" of John Beach, sergeant, including Stephen Todd Beach and Mary McEachron. There is little else recorded of Mary until her death notice in the Brockville News (family search): "10 May 1849 Died: In Elizabethtown on Thur. evening last, Mrs. Mary McEachron, aged 75 years."
3. ↑ "Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5MG-KPN : 10 February 2018), Mary Beech in entry for John Reid Mceacharn, 05 Jun 1796; citing SAINT ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN,WILLIAMSTOWN,GLENGARRY,ONTARIO; FHL microfilm 928,968.
4. ↑ "Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5MP-4X8 : 10 February 2018), Mary Beech in entry for Anne Mceacharn, 05 Jun 1796; citing SAINT ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN,WILLIAMSTOWN,GLENGARRY,ONTARIO; FHL microfilm 928,968.
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Stephen McEathron (5 Jun 1796–30 Nov 1874), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #230069047, citing Halladay Burial Place, Elgin, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by PEACE & LOVE (contributor 49208454).
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Alexander “Alex” McEathron (Mar 1802–1 Aug 1850), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #89453469, citing Lena Burial Park, Lena, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Diane Boand (contributor 47132567).
7. ↑ "Canada Census, 1851", database, FamilySearch (ark:/61903/1:1:MWT3-N34 : Mon Apr 03 21:41:26 UTC 2023), Entry for Peter Mc Erthon, 1851. Note: Census for son Peter.
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Mary McEathron Shipman (1808–23 Mar 1864), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #128168890, citing Read’s Cemetery, Augusta, Leeds and Grenville United Counties, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Eternal Peace (contributor 48793983).
9. ↑ Johnston, Lorna, Births, Marriages, Deaths Notices from the Brockville Papers 1830-1849 (Brockville: Leeds & Grenville Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 89-2), Family History Library, 35 N. West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA, U.S./CAN film 795,927 item 4. Arranged by date of issue; indexed, p. 80. Notes: entry date 10 May 1849. Died: In Elizabethtown on Thur. evening last, Mrs. Mary McEachron, aged 75 years."