James Beard (abt. 1604 - abt. 1639)

Born about 1604 in Tempsford, Bedfordshire, England

Husband of Martha (Wood) Beard — married 19 Jun 1623 in Epping, Essex, England

Descendants

Died about 1639 at about age 35 in at sea

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sanders Whitley [send private message] and Charles Taylor [send private message]

Biography

James Beard was baptised on 26 Feb 1604 in Tempsford, Bedford, England ^[1]

Very little is known about him. James Beard married on 19 Jun 1623 in Epping, Essex, England to Martha Wood(e) ^{[2] [3]} and their children were born in Epping, Essex, England and included ...

1. James Beard, bapt: 08 Oct 1626; ^[4] d: 1642 CT
2. John Beard, bapt: 24 Mar 1631 ^[5] occ: Capt.; d: 01 Sep 1690 CT; m: c1635 Mrs. Anna (HAWLEY) UFFOOTE (sister of Joseph Hawley of Stratford & divorced wife of John Uffoote); d: 1698;
3. Martha Beard, bapt: 12 Apr 1629 ^[6] d: 22 Jun 1706; m: 20 Dec 1649 John STREAM, d: 1685.
4. Jeremiah Beard, b: c1630; d: 1681 CT (disappeared ?)
5. Sarah Beard, b: c1631; d: Aug 1689 CT; m: c1651 CT to Nicholas CAMP, Jr.

About 1639 he emigrated from England, with his wife and five children. He died on the ship "Martin" enroute and was buried at sea on the way to New England. ^{[7] [8]}

In the spring of 1639, the widow Martha Beard and her children became part of the first settlers in Milford, Connecticut. Altogether there were probably about 200 individuals and 54 families in the settlement. These first settlers located on each side of the Mill river and West End brook. Their "house lotts" were laid out in parallel slips, containing about three acres each. In consideration of her affliction, the wdow Martha Beard was given an extra amount of "house lott", her share being 4 acres, 1 rod. Each planter had to erect a good house on his lot within three years, or it was to go back to the town. The Indian name of this town was Wepowage, becoming Milford in 1640.

His widow Martha died on 11 June 1649 in Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut ^[8] and was buried in Rev. Peter Prudden's garden. No gravestone remains. but there is a memorial stone with inscription, on the Founders Bridge over the Wepawaug River, which runs through Milford, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA.

Their son, Jeremiah died in 1681 without children. His estate was divided between his brother, Capt. John Beard, John Streame (husband of Martha) and Nicholas Camp (husband of Sarah).

Four generations later, the great great grandson of their daughter, Sarah Beard, (Joseph Whiting) married the great great granddaughter (Nancy Ann Gunn) of Sarah's brother John Beard.

Research Notes

Examination of the Olive Tree Passenger lists for all ships from England to New England between 1634 and 1639, did not show James Beard, Martha, or the children. Olive Tree's passenger list for "The Martin", which arrived before July 1638, apparently only contains the names of witnesses related to Sylvester Baldwin's death. ^[9]

Perhaps the Beard family came with the 1637 colonists ? ... "Martha Beard was one of the first settlers of Milford. In the spring of 1639, the English first began to make a settlement in Milford. The colonists arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, 26 June 1637, in two ships, one called "Hector". They came down to New Haven, Connecticut and remained there during the year 1638. On Feb. 2, 1639 agents in behalf of the settlers made the first purchase of land from the Indian proprietors. The consideration given was 6 coats, 10 blankets, 1 kettle, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, 2 dozen knives and a dozen small glasses (mirrors). The number of free planters in the colony was 44, no others having the liberty to act in the choice of carrying on public affairs in the plantation. They were all professors of the Christian religion. Altogether there were probably about 200 individuals and 54 families in the settlement."

Sources

1. ↑ FindMyPast, bapt: 26 Feb 1604 father: John Beard.
2. ↑ "England, Essex Parish Registers 1538-1997" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKDQ-GMW : 18 July 2017) citing Essex Record Office, England; FHL#571,180; for James Beard and Martha Woode, m: 19 Jun 1623 Epping, Essex, England.
3. ↑ Essex Marriage Index 1538-1900 for James Beard and Martha Woode, m: 19 Jun 1623 Epping, Essex, England.
4. ↑ "England, Essex Parish Registers 1538-1997" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKDQ-GK7 : 18 July 2017) citing Essex Record Office, England; FHL#571,180; for James Beard, bapt: 08 Oct 1626 Epping, Essex, England; father: James Beard.
5. ↑ "England, Essex Parish Registers 1538-1997" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKDQ-PXF : 18 July 2017) citing Essex Record Office, England; FHL#571,180; for John Beard, christened: 24 Mar 1631 Epping, Essex, England; father: James Beard.
6. ↑ "England, Essex Parish Registers 1538-1997" database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKDQ-PWT : 18 July 2017) citing Essex Record Office, England; FHL#571,180; James Beard in entry for Martha Beard, bapt: 12 Apr 1629 Epping, Essex, England.
7. ↑ Millennium File by Heritage Consulting on ancestry.com; b: c1599 England; d: 1639 at sea
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} "Genealogy of the Descendants of Widow Martha Beard of Milford, Connecticut" by Ruth Beard, et al & privately printed by Emerson Publishing Company of Ansonia, CT in 1915; Library of Congress #027 211 061
9. ↑ Passenger List for "The Martin"

• "America, the Great Melting Pot" for James Beard

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SBVH-FBF : accessed 2016-03-15), entry for James /Beard/.

• http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/p/o/p/Sandra-Popiel/BOOK-0001/0046-0001.html

Ancestry Family Tree with broken links ...

• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=100239701&pid=126
• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=43575023&pid=754
• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7505757&pid=162

Acknowledgments

• Beard-929 was created by Sandy Harris through the import of Clark Goudy Odenbaugh Price Family Tree_2013-02-04.ged on 04 Feb 2013.

• Beard-1102 was created by Charles Taylor on 27 Apr 2013.

• Beard-1148 for created by Caroline Domangue through the import of Bauer Family Tree.ged on 15 Jun 2013.

• Beard-1144 was created by Elizabeth Loftus on 17 Jun 2013.

• Beard-2157 was created by Ian Post through the import of PostFamilyTree_August2015.ged on 20 Aug 2015.

• Beard-2513 was created by Sanders Whitley through the import of Whitley Family Tree.ged on 24 May 2016.