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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 ...
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.
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."
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