Thomas Beasley (abt. 1735 - aft. 1792)

Born about 1735 in Chowan Precinct, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Hardison) Beasley — married 28 Apr 1761 in Tyrrell, North Carolina

Died after 8 Sep 1792 after about age 57 in Beaufort County, North Carolina

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Biography

THOMAS BEASLEY, the possible though unproven son of Francis Beasley (Possibly the son of William Beasley), was born in Chowan Precinct, North Carolina, say 1735.

• Some researchers have claimed that Francis was the father of Thomas Beasley of Beaufort County on the basis of a deed of 10 October 1783. Recorded in Martin County, North Carolina, Thomas Beasley of Beaufort County sold to Francis Ward 320 acres on the side of Welches Creek, being part of the 640-acre patent of James Beasley of 1716.^[1] From this evidence Thomas would appear to be a grandson of James, but he could not have been the son of either James Jr. or Robert. That leaves either Francis or William as likely candidates for Thomas’s father, and his placement with Francis remains conjectural.

He died in Beaufort County, North Carolina, after 8 September 1792, testate.^[2] He married in Tyrrell County, North Carolina, on 28 April 1761, MARY HARDISON, the daughter of John and Olive (___) Hardison.^[3] John Hardison’s will dated 27 November 1778 in Martin County, North Carolina, included a bequest of £20 to daughter Mary Beasley.^[4] She died after 1792.

Thomas’s connection to the family of James Beasley is known solely from a deed of 10 October 1783 that was recorded later in Martin County, North Carolina. In it, he described himself as a resident of Beaufort County and sold to Francis Ward 320 acres on the side of Welches Creek, being part of the 640-acre patent of James Beasley of 1716.^[5] Witnesses included Benjamin Hardison and Nathaniel Webb. The deed does not delineate the identity of Thomas’s father, but presumably he was either Francis or William.

Thomas witnessed the will of Mary Smaw in Beaufort County on 12 April 1782.^[6] He wrote his own will in Beaufort County on 8 September 1792, but the date of its probate is uncertain.^[7] He gave to his wife Mary Beasley a loan of two-thirds of the plantation where he lived and the use of five slaves. To his son Thomas he left the remaining third of the plantation, “beginning on Thomas Smawe’s line… running back from the River … [and] millpond.” He was to inherit the remaining two-thirds upon his mother’s death. The elder Thomas left to his son Francis (called “Frances”), who was under 21, a tract of 186 and a half acres on Cross Swamp. He left two slaves to his daughter Sarah Beasley. Two more slaves were to be shared by the following children: James, Robert, Francis [Francis], Elizabeth, and Mary. His son James also received a slave. He named his sons Thomas, James, Robert, and Francis as joint executors. Witnesses included William Hardison, Sarah McKeel, and Rebekah McKeel.

Sources

1. ↑ Martin County, North Carolina, Deed Book A: 473; transcribed in Martin County, North Carolina, Abstracts of Deed Book A, 1774-1787 (Williamston, North Carolina: Martin County Historical Society, 1993), 84.
2. ↑ Beaufort County Genealogical Society, Beaufort County, North Carolina, Will Abstracts, 1720-1868 (Washington, North Carolina: Beaufort County Genealogical Society, 1990), 24; citing Beaufort County Will Book A: 243.
3. ↑ Frances T. Ingmire, Tyrrell County, North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1761-1862 (Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 2003), 6.
4. ↑ Frances T. Ingmire, Tyrrell County, North Carolina, Marriage Records, 1761-1862 (Signal Mountain, Tennessee: Mountain Press, 2003), 6.
5. ↑ Martin County, North Carolina, Deed Book A: 473; transcribed in Martin County, North Carolina, Abstracts of Deed Book A, 1774-1787 (Williamston, North Carolina: Martin County Historical Society, 1993), 84.
6. ↑ Beaufort County Genealogical Society, Beaufort County, North Carolina, Will Abstracts, 1720-1868, 297.
7. ↑ Beaufort County Genealogical Society, Beaufort County, North Carolina, Will Abstracts, 1720-1868, 24.