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John Smart Beard (abt. 1705 - abt. 1780)

John Smart Beard
Born about in Bedford, Virginiamap [uncertain]
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died about at about age 75 in Bedford County, Virginiamap
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Profile last modified | Created 5 May 2011
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Biography

John Beard (c1705-1780) of Virginia. A John Beard first appears in Surry County records in 1717, in Prince George County records in 1720. John Beard appears in Prince George County records in 1723 purchasing land on Savages Run escheat land of Anne Salisbury.

John Beard married Elizabeth, last name unknown--possibly Rutherford--circa 1722. Their first daughter Agnes Beard was born circa 1723. She married William Rutherford c 1743.

John bought and sold several large tracts of land along the Falling River between 1746 and 1770. The area was once part of Brunswick County, later Lunenberg County, then Bedford County and finally Campbell County.

Children of John and Elizabeth Beard of Bedford were: Agnes Beard b.c 1723 in Lunenberg County, maried William Rutherford, c 1743. Adam Beard b 1725 in Lunenberg County, m. Elizabeth (LNU) d. 1777. Ann Beard b. 1727 Lunenberg County. Rachel Beard b 1730 Lunenberg County, m. Edward Pahir Farr 1748, d 1780. Elizabeth Beard b 1731 Lunenberg, m. Archibald Campbell c 1751, d.1777. Hanna Beard b 1735 Lunenberg, m. William Rutherford (second wife), d c 1755. Alice Beard b 1737, m. Henry Brown 1757, d 1773.

John Beard died in 1780 in Bedford County, VA. His will appears in the Bedford County Will Book 2. Elizabeth died in Campbell County (the boundaries changed that year) in 1782. - - -written by: Michael Beard

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William Rutherford b. 1733 Ireland or PA d. aft. 2/1791 Lunenburg Co., Virginia m. [1]Agnes Beard b. between 1724 - 1734 in Lunenburg, Co. now Bedford Co., VA. m. [2] Hannah Beard b. 1735 d. aft 1791 m. bef 9/27/1779 all children were with Agnes

Agnes and Hanna were d/o John Beard and Elizabeth John Beard was born in Virginia, and died about 1780 in Lunenburg Co., VA, now Bedford Co., VA. Elizabeth was born in Virginia, and died after 1787 in Campbell Co., VA. John Beard was a weaver

1749 - Deed for William Rutherford and wife Agnes Beard to William Acres, 350 acres lying on the upper side of Falling River, including both sides of Reedy Creek, this land granted by patent to John Beard, Jan 10, 1748. John Beard conveyed by deed to William Rutherford. Witnesses: William Bumpass and Thomas Dixon. recorded April 27, 1761. [widow’s terce?]

1750 - John Beard of Lunenburg County to William Rutherford "for love and affection I have for my son-in-law", 150 acres, Lunenburg County on Reedy Creek.Recorded 3, July, 1750. signed by John Beard

1754 - Bedford County was formed in 1754 from the northwest part of Lunenburg and a small part of Albemarle. In 1755 the Act creating Bedford County specifies that "Lunenburg be divided, from the mouth of Falling River up the said river to the fork, thence up the fork running by John Beard's to the head...and all that part of said Lunenburg shall be called by the name of Bedford..." - "The Old Free State" -pg 142

1757 - Bedford Co. Court Order Book 1, March 1757, "deed from John Beard to Vincent Glass was acknowledged by the said Beard and ordered to be recorded." Probably refers to Deed Book A- 1 for March 28, 1757, which has deed from John Beard to Vincent Glass, 200 acres both sides Falling River beginning at a maple on lower side of river to Joanes Corner onto Manley's line, for 50 pounds.

1760 - William Rutherford sold acres 1000 of land and his wife Agnes Beard released her dower rights. William was mentioned as the son of James Rutherford and his heir. 6/4/1760 Lunenburg County Deeds, book 2 page 261

1779 - William Rutherford sold acres 1000 of land to David Ross. His 2nd wife Hannah Beard released her dower rights. 9/27/1779 (Bedford County Deeds, book 6-F page 340)

1779 - Elizabeth Beard proved that in 1779 and 1781 she had furnished supplies to the Revolutionary War Army and was allowed payment. She witnessed the marriage of her grandson James Campbell in 1784/85 in Campbell Co. VA to Jane Means. She is listed in the 1785 and 1787 Campbell Co. Tax Lists, District 2.

1780 - April 20, 1780, John Beard died. His will is recorded Bedford County, Virginia Will Book I, Pages 384-385. William Rutherford cited as a son-in-law. The will of John Beard mentions: wife, Elizabeth; granddaughter Elizabeth Campbell; daughter Elizabeth Campbell; granddaughter Isabel Boze; granddaughters Rosannah Russell, Jean Rutherford, Rachel Dixon, Ratchel Robinson; grandsons David Beard, Samuel Beard and Adam Beard; former son-in-law Edward Phair and son-in-law William Rutherford.

1785 - Elizabeth Beard - "The 1785 Campbell County, Virginia Personal Property Tax List", District No. 2:2 blacks under 16, 3 blacks over 16, 5 horses and 14 cattle.

1791 - William Rutherford died after February 1791, in Lunenburg County, Virginia.

Summary: Agnes Beard, daughter of John and Elizabeth Beard of Lunenburg, now Bedford County, Virginia; m. William Rutherford. Hannah Beard, married William Rutherford, before 27 September 1779. William Rutherford was named as a son-in-law of John Beard in a deed 3 July 1750. William was named as son and heir-at-law of James Rutherford 4 June 1760 and his wife Agnes relinquished her dower rights. William sold a tract of land in Bedford County, Virginia, 27 September 1779 and his wife, Hannah, relinquished her dower rights. In 1780 John Beard again referred to William Rutherford as his son-in-law.

John Beard was probably the son of Matthew Beard and Mary Smart. He was probably born in Virginia in 1705, although the first record we find for him there is in 1720.

John Beard was a Revolutionary Patriot.

John Beard married Elizabeth (possibly Rutherford). They have several daughters among them Agnes, Rachel, Elizabeth and Hannah and at least one son, Adam.

According to Peter Viemeister in his book, From Slaves to Satellites, "Among the earliest settlers of Brunswick/Lunenberg/Bedford were John Beard and his wife Elizabeth (born 1710)."

Their children were:

  • Agnes b. c1723, Lunenberg Co m.circa 1743 William Rutherford, son of James
  • ADAM b. 1725 d. 12-2-1777 m. circa 1742 Elizabeth (LNU)
  • Rachel b. 1730 “ d.1778 Bedford, m.1748 Edward “Neddy” Phair Farr, Lynchburg, VA
  • Elizabeth b. 1731 Lunenberg Co d. 6 Dec, 1777, m. circa 1751 Archibald Campbell
  • Hanna b. 1735 “ d.1791+ m. circa 1755 William Rutherford

John and Elizabeth Beard owned thousands of acres of land along the Falling River in what became Bedford County and then in 1782 became Campbell County, VA. John appears often in the Lunenberg and Bedford County records from 1725-1780.

"In 1780 the Beards lost their family patriarch: old John Beard himself died, followed in a few years by his wife Elizabeth. John had been a very wealthy man...His estate was valued at 35,466.10.0 Pounds Sterling. In terms of an equivalent amount of silver, the estate would be worth today between $2.6 and $7.9 million.”

"John so respected his daughter Elisabeth, who had married a Campbell, that he named her in his will to be executor of his estate." [Peter Viemeister, From Slaves to Satellites]

Sources


  • "The Rutherfords of Roxburghshire" 
by Ora Z. Rutherford Story and Gary Rutherford Harding
 - 6 editions 1918 - 2002




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with John by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with John:

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Beard-4800 and Beard-234 appear to represent the same person because: same name, same birth and death, probably same spouse Rutherford
posted by Jack Graham

B  >  Beard  >  John Smart Beard