James Beasley (abt. 1720 - 1803)

Born about 1720 in Essex County, Colonial Virginia [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Ann (Reynolds) Beazley — married 19 May 1745 in Orange, Orange, Virginia

Descendants

Died 12 Aug 1803 at about age 83 in Orange County, Virginia

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James Beasley is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A008144.

Research Note

This profile is to be merged with Beasley-1655 which is the definitive version. I'm making some changes and comments in preparation for the merger.

• The DOB 10 Apr 1725 is frequently stated without documentation. Using abt 1720 is a more realistic date.
• Tht POB Orange County is not so as the the county was established in 1734 from Spotsylvania County which was formed from the outer reaches of Essex County in 1721. The Beazley families originated in Essex and later moved to the outer counties.
• James is sometimes referred to as "James T". That is incorrect.
• James lineage has been confirmed by YDNA
• Beazley is the most accurate spelling used by most members of his family and lineage.

Biography

JAMES BEAZLEY, a son of Henry and the brother of Bennet was born probably in Essex County, Virginia, say 1715-20. One website gives his birth date as “10 April 1725” but without documentation.^[1] He died in Orange County, Virginia, on or about 12 August 1803, according to a family Bible record of his son James that was at one time a part of his Revolutionary War pension file.^[2] He married in Orange County about 1745 (possibly 19 May) ANN (REYNOLDS?), probable daughter of Cornelius Reynolds, whose wife, Martha, was said to be Martha (Beasley).^[3] James and Ann would have been first cousins once-removed. Ann is said to have been born on 2 November 1725 and died in Orange County, Virginia, on 27 February 1810, from the same Revolutionary War application.^[4]

He is alleged to have settled in Swift Run Gap in Orange Co., Virginia in 1740.(5) James Walker Allen's SAR application indicates that "The Beazleys attended Swift Run Baptist Church in Orange County, Va...." In his treatise on the McMullan family, W.L. Davenport speaks of "James and Ann Beasley, who came over with the Scots-Irish during the 'Religious persecution...'" As the Reynolds family can be traced back to Essex County, and as James Beazley is likely related to the Beazleys of Caroline and Essex Counties, this statement seems unlikely.

James Beazley was in the road crew of John Blackey on November 26, 1747 in Orange Co., Virginia.(6) He purchased land from Thomas Chew on November 7, 1748 in Orange Co., Virginia.(7) "Indenture 7 Nov 1748 between THOMAS CHEW, Gent., and JAMES BEAZLEY, both of Parish of St. Thomas, Orange County .. for twenty six pounds .. deeds of lease and release .. for 300 acres .. by the Goose Pond Mountain .. Fork of Swift Run .. Thomas Wood's Plantation. . . ." This is the first recorded land transaction of James Beazley in Orange County.

James Beazley has been confirmed the son of Henry by YDNA testing.

As discussed previously under the entry for James, son of William, there is a great deal of confusion online about these two men named James Beasley. Both had wives named Ann and both lived in counties named Orange, one in Virginia, the other in North Carolina. It has been shown from deed records that William’s son James lived in Orange County, North Carolina, in 1778, while this James, the subject of this sketch, remained in Orange County, Virginia, throughout the eighteenth century. He was almost certainly the brother of Bennet Beasley, whose will he witnessed in 1758. The relationship is further strengthened by the fact that his daughter Sarah married Bennet’s son Jeremiah, who would have been her first cousin. Thus, direct evidence exists linking James to Bennet. However, while some indirect evidence exists to support Bennet’s link to Henry through the Peatross family, there is no evidence linking James to Henry, and indeed, James did not give the name Henry to any of his known children.

Like Bennett, James was involved financially with John Harvie. He first appears in records of Caroline County on 15 February 1745/6, when he brought suit against the estate of John Harvie/Harvey, and the court awarded him £1.10.½ current money.^[5] In other matters, on 10 March 1749/50, John Pickett brought suit against James and received a judgment of 500 pounds of tobacco.^[6] On 12 July 1751, William Bowler received a judgment against him for £1.13.9 while also obtaining a much more substantial settlement against Bennet.^[7] He offered testimony on 13 March 1752 that he has 100 pounds of tobacco in a case between William Johnston and Nicholas Willard.^[8] The following day the sheriff served him an attachment, ordering him to deliver that tobacco to the sheriff for sale.^[9]

James appears to have moved to neighboring Orange County, Virginia, slightly before Bennet. On 20 September 1748, he witnessed a deed between Benjamin and Elizabeth Coward and David Zachary in St. Thomas Parish.^[10] On 7 November 1748, he purchased from Thomas Chew a tract of 300 acres on Goose Pond Mountain at the fork of Swift’s Run adjoining Thomas Wood’s plantation.^[11] When Chew sold land on Swift Run to Thomas Wood on 24 January 1750, the deed described it as being above James’s land.^[12] His land was among those ordered by Zachary Taylor of Orange County on 28 June 1753.^[13]

After Bennet Beasley’s move to Orange County, the deed records show that the two had close associations. James’s land was described as adjoining that of Bennet Beasley and Thomas Chew at the Great Mountains and on both sides of Swift Run when Bennet purchased land there on 8 April 1754.^[14] On 25 September 1755, upon the application of James Beasley, the court ordered Bennet Beasley, with John White and David Zachary or any two to obtain apparently to assess a tract of 96 acres on the Goose Pond Mountain valued at £16.1.6 that included some 55 peach trees, 10 apple trees, and four cherry trees.^[15] James served as a witness of Bennet’s will in Orange County on 7 January 1758.^[16]

James continued to appear consistently in Orange County, Virginia, records until his death, sometimes purchasing land and often inventorying the estates of others. He purchased 96 acres from Charles Curtis and wife Margery on 28 August 1755, the land located at the Great Mountains and “the south east side of the Piny Mountain.”^[17] On 23 November 1758, James made a series of land sales and a purchase. He and wife Ann sold to John Page in two separate deeds a tract of 253 acres on Goose Pond Mountain, being part of the original grant to Thomas Chew, and a second tract of 96 acres on Great Mountain purchased from Charles Curtis.^[18] They sold to Robert Cave 47 acres on Swifts Run.^[19] Finally, they purchased 400 acres from Mathew Davis on that day.^[20]

James continued to have an interest in the area around Swift’s Run and purchased 285 acres there from John and Elinor Goodall on 24 May 1759.^[21] He purchased an additional nine acres there from James and Winnifred Coursey on 26 May 1762.^[22] On 28 March 1765, he and Ann sold to William Kendal 99 acres on Roches River, “being the land Mary Cave now lives on.”^[23] On 28 May 1767, they sold to Alexander Ogg 100 acres “lying on one of the branches of the Buffalo River joining lands which William Smith sold to John Mallory.”^[24] On 28 June 1770, he purchased 115 acres on Swift Run from George Anderson Jr. and wife Mary.^[25]

Of his duties as an appraiser, James was among several people who inventoried the estate of Francis Williams on 26 March 1767.^[26] He inventoried the estate of Honorias Powell on 24 March 1767 and that of Thomas Walker on 3 March 1770.^[27] Four years later he inventoried the estate of John Early on 20 October 1774.^[28] He witnessed the wills of Charles Goodall on 17 May 1776 and of William Riddel on 22 December 1776.^[29] On 2 September 1782, James entered into an agreement with his son-in-law, John McMullans of Rockingham County, over an unnamed slave woman in the possession of James’s daughter “Theodoshe” with a proviso that if the woman has children they should be distributed among McMullan’s children, named as James, Patrick, Mary, John, and Catharine.^[30] This agreement was referenced again in a later deed book dated17 September 1796, when James loaned the slave, now named as Pegg, to daughter Theodosia for her life and for the lives of Theodosia’s five children, now named as Thomas, Elizabeth, Nancy, William, and Milly (different from the earlier deed).^[31] Witnesses included James Beazley Jr., Charles Beazley, and William Beazley.

James supported the American Revolutionary War by providing supplies to the Continental Army in Virginia ^[32].

Even late into his life, James continued to be an active land speculator and investor. He purchased 100 acres on Swift Run from Mathew and Ann Davis on 28 August 1783, with Edmund Beasley as a witness.^[33] On 22 June 1786, James and Ann sold to John Williams 280 acres on Beaver Dam Run.^[34] He purchased 100 acres from Charles Pearsey on 28 April 1788.^[35] He purchased 287 acres on the Chapple Road from William and Elizabeth Bell and Thomas and Mary Barbour on 26 January 1793.^[36]

At the end of his life, James made a series of deeds to his married children and sons-in-law. On 17 February 1796, he and Ann sold to son-in-law Jacob Paul a parcel of just over 87 acres on Old Chapple Road, while James Beazley Jr. and wife Mary sold Paul a second parcel of just over 28 acres at the same location on the same day.^[37] James and Ann sold to their son James Jr. on 19 February 1796 a tract of 356 acres on Old Chapple Road.^[38] On 4 November 1798, he sold to four grandchildren, James Beazley, John Beazley, Nancy Beazley, and Sally Williams (all children of his son John), two tracts containing 100 acres on the Octunia Line.^[39] On 7 August 1799, after he had written his will, James and Ann deeded to son Charles Beazley 179 acres on Swift’s Run.^[40] On 22 March 1800, James and Ann sold to son James Jr. 100 acres on Swift’s Run.^[41]

Will

James made his will in Orange County on 12 December 1798. He named his sons James and Charles, leaving them both land. He also listed his other children, including Sarah Beazley, Ann Jones, Theodoshea Mullans, Elizabeth Watts, Mildred Neel, John Beazley (already deceased), Edmond Beazley, and William Beazley, all of whom had received their portions and “are not to receive any more of my estate.” Cash was to be divided among sons James and Charles Beazley and daughter Catey Paul. His wife Ann and son James were appointed executors, with David Goodall, William Davis, Jeremiah Benson, and John Beazley as witnesses. The will was probated on 24 October 1803.^[42]First Generation 1. James1 Beazley was born on an unknown date. He died August 12, 1803 in Orange Co., Virginia.(1)

James married Ann Reynolds on an unknown date.(2) The first mention of Ann as the wife of James Beazley was recorded in an Orange Co, Virginia deed dated November 23, 1758 (Deed book 12, p. 485-586).

Ann was born between 1716 and 1734.(3) SAR national application no. 36053 states that Ann was in fact "Mary Ann Anderson." No documentation has been found to support this assertion, and the linkage between Ann and the Reynolds family is largely circumstantial. Ann was the daughter of Cornelius Reynolds and Martha Margaret Beazley.

She died February 27, 1810.(4) She probably died in Orange Co., Virginia.

He made a will December 12, 1798 in Orange Co., Virginia.(8) The text of James Beazley's will:

In the name of God Amen, I, James Beazley, of the County of Orange and Commonwealth of Virginia do in perfect mind and memory make this my last Will and Testament. I commend my soul to God and my body to be decently buried, and as to my worldly goods I give in the manner following:

• To wit I give to my son James Beazley one hundred acres of land adjoining whereon I now live on the other side of the river which I purchased of John Goodall Junr.:
• To wit I give to my son Charles Beazley one half of the number of acres of land whereon I now live and bounded as followeth: Beginning at Isaac Davis's corner and mine upon swift run, thence up the said run till it shall extend half way from the beginning corner to Charles Goodall's corner and mine upon the above mentioned run, thence from the said run to my back corner adjoining David Goodall and Edward Ancell, also one Negro named Wiatt, but if my son Charles Beazley should be without his lawfully begotten of his body from this date, then shalt the above mentioned land be sold by my executor and divided between my children hereafter mentioned.
• To Wit: and whereas my children Sarah Beazley, Ann Jones, Theodosia Mullans, Elizabeth Watts, Mildred Neal, and John Beazley, Edmond Beazley and William hath received their portion, the are not to [receive] any more of my estate.
• To wit: I give to my Wife one bed and [illegible...] one cow and calf, also two Negros Dick and Doll to be at her disposal.
• To wit my desire is that the balance of my land whereon I now live after my Wife's decease shall be sold for cash and divide between my sons James Beazley, Charles Beazley and my daughter Caty Paul, also two hundred acres of land more or less which I purchased of Thomas Barbour and William Bell, also two hundred acres of land upon long point shall be sold giving twelve months credit and the money arising from the two latter tracks shall be divided between my three above mentioned children James Beazley, Charles Beazley and Caty Paul,
• and the balance of my estate both real and personal to be sold for cash and divided between my wife, my sons James Beazley, Charles Beazley and Caty Paul, any wife's part of the real and personal estate shall be at her disposal and
• I hereby appoint my wife Ann Beazley and my son James Beazley executors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore made.

As witness my hand and seal this 25th day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. James Beazley {seal}, in the presence of David Goodall, William Davis, Jeremiah Benson, John Beazley.

James's will was probated October 24, 1803 in Orange Co., Virginia.(9) His estate was inventoried July 13, 1804 in Orange Co., Virginia.(10) According to The Family of Early, Robert Sanford Beazley, great-grandson of James Beazley was "of English ancestry, a descendant of Robert Beazley who was a Burgess from Isle of Wight county in 1655."

The dates of birth of James and Ann’s children come from an undocumented website, and the dates cannot be verified.^[43]

James T Beasley was born on 10 Apr 1725 in Essex, Virginia. He died on 12 Aug 1803 in St Thomas Parish, Orange, Virginia. He married Ann Reynolds.

Slaves

Dick Beasley Doll Beasley

Sources

1. ↑ Family Central Family History Services, website (http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=6051:8056&ref2=6051:8057: accessed 12 June 2014).
2. ↑ Revolutionary War Pension Applications, James Beazley (Mary Beazley, widow’s pension), W5044. This file is now empty, and no documents are associated with it on Fold3. At one time it did contain records, which have been abstracted online, see “Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements and Rosters,” website (http://revwarapps.org/w5044.pdf: accessed 12 June 2014).
3. ↑ Ibid.
4. ↑ Descendants of James Beazley, website (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~dbcompton/beazley/i0000092.htm: accessed 12 June 2014).
5. ↑ Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part Three, 1744-46, page 64, citing original page 573.
6. ↑ Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1746-1754, Part Two, 1748-1750, 74, citing original page 214.
7. ↑ Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1746-1754, Part Three, 1750-1752, 32, citing original page 265.
8. ↑ Ibid, 65, citing original page 305.
9. ↑ Ibid, 67, citing original page 308.
10. ↑ Sparacio, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1743-1759), 99, citing Deed Book 11: 94-95.
11. ↑ Ibid, 100, citing Deed Book 11: 101-104.
12. ↑ Ibid, 115, citing Deed Book 11: 224-225.
13. ↑ Ibid, 147, citing Deed Book 12: 162.
14. ↑ Ibid, 220-222, citing Deed Book 12: 220-222.
15. ↑ Ibid, 128, citing Deed Book 11: 65.
16. ↑ Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2: 277-279, cited in Dorman, Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2, 1774-1778, 57.
17. ↑ Sparacio, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1743-1759), 161, citing Deed Book 12: 302-305.
18. ↑ Ibid, 177, citing Deed Book 12: 485-491.
19. ↑ Ibid, citing Deed Book 12: 491-494.
20. ↑ Ibid, citing Deed Book 12: 495-497.
21. ↑ Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1759-1778) (McLean, Virginia: Sparacio, 1986), 1, citing Deed Book 13: 9-11.
22. ↑ Ibid, 30, citing Deed Book 13: 279-281.
23. ↑ Ibid, 55, citing Deed Book 13: 493-494.
24. ↑ Ibid, 72, citing Deed Book 14: 135-136.
25. ↑ Ibid, 116, citing Deed Book 15: 224-225.
26. ↑ Dorman, Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2, 1774-1778, 76.
27. ↑ Ibid, 78, 84.
28. ↑ Ibid, 102.
29. ↑ Ibid, 107, 109.
30. ↑ Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Orange County Virginia, 47, citing Deed Book 18: 128-129.
31. ↑ Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Records of Orange County, Virginia, 1795-1797 (McLean, Virginia: Antient Press, 1995), 96, citing Deed Book 1795-1800: 162.
32. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Database.” database, Genealogical Research System (https://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A008144 : accessed 3 August 2023), James Beasley, A008144.
33. ↑ Ibid, 55, citing Deed Book 18: 218-219.
34. ↑ Ibid, 83, citing Deed Book 18: 486-88.
35. ↑ Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1786-1791 (McLean, Virginia: Sparacio, 1988), 57, citing Deed Book 19: 247-249.
36. ↑ Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1791-1795 (McLean, Virginia: Sparacio, 1988), 45, citing Deed Book 20: 173-174.
37. ↑ Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records: Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1795-1797, 32-33, citing Deed Book 1795-1800: 56-58.
38. ↑ Ibid, 34, citing Deed Book 1795-1800: 60-61.
39. ↑ Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records: Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1795-1797, 93, citing Deed Book 1795-1800: 396-397.
40. ↑ Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Virginia County Court Records: Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1799-1800 (McLean, Virginia: Antient Press, 1997), 47-48, citing Deed Book 1795-1800: 530-531.
41. ↑ Ibid, 71, citing Deed Book 1798-1803: 30-31.
42. ↑ James Beazley will (1798) in Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Will Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1778-1821) (McLean, Virginia: Sam Sparacio, 1985), 76.
43. ↑ Family Central Family History Services, website (http://www.familycentral.net/index/family.cfm?ref1=6051:8056&ref2=6051:8057: accessed 12 June 2014).

SOME BEASLEY FAMILIES OF THE COLONIAL SOUTH:

A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF CERTAIN FAMILIES WITH THE SURNAME OF BEASLEY-BEAZLEY-BEEZLEY-BEESLEY IN VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND NORTH CAROLINA, FROM THE SEVENTEENTH AND EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES

By John D. Beatty, CG Fort Wayne, Indiana Privately Published 2014

• James Beasley's Revolutionary War Pension Application

• Transcribed Will of James Beasley

• Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part Three, 1744-46, page 64, citing original page 573.

• Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1746-1754, Part Two, 1748-1750, 74, citing original page 214.

• Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1746-1754, Part Three, 1750-1752, 32, citing original page 265.

• Sparacio, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1743-1759), 99, citing Deed Book 11: 94-95.

• Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2: 277-279, cited in Dorman, Orange County, Virginia, Will Book 2, 1774-1778, 57.

• Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Deed Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1759-1778) (McLean, Virginia: Sparacio, 1986)

• James Beazley will (1798) in Ruth Sparacio and Sam Sparacio, Will Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia (1778-1821) (McLean, Virginia: Sam Sparacio, 1985), 76.

• Source: S962849802 Repository: #R950732880 Ancestry Family Trees (Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;) Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=70386494&pid=3564
• Repository: R950732880 Ancestry.com

Notes

James made his will in Orange County on 12 December 1798. He named his sons James and Charles, leaving them both land. He also listed his other children, including Sarah Beazley, Ann Jones, Theodoshea Mullans, Elizabeth Watts, Mildred Neel, John Beazley (already deceased), Edmond Beazley, and William Beazley, all of whom had received their portions and “are not to receive any more of my estate.” Cash was to be divided among sons James and Charles Beazley and daughter Catey Paul. His wife Ann and son James were appointed executors, with David Goodall, William Davis, Jeremiah Benson, and John Beazley as witnesses. The will was probated on 24 October 1803. First Generation 1. James1 Beazley was born on an unknown date. He died August 12, 1803 in Orange Co., Virginia.

James's will was probated October 24, 1803 in Orange Co., Virginia. His estate was inventoried July 13, 1804 in Orange Co., Virginia. According to The Family of Early, Robert Sanford Beazley, great-grandson of James Beazley was "of English ancestry, a descendant of Robert Beazley who was a Burgess from Isle of Wight county in 1655.

Notes

The following transcript is of an original record taken from the family Bible and certified by James Beazley, Jr. as being in the handwriting of James Beazley, Sr.: James Beasley Sen’r. was born August 10, 1760 and was married to Mary Sanford Jany 14 1779 And departed this life May 18 1821. Mary Beazley his wife was born September 11 1760. John Beazley was born August 6 1780 and was married to Lucy Porter December 23 1802. Lucy Beazley his wife was born September 22 1780 and Durrett Beazley was born February 9 1802. Also in the file are four pages from an account book with the following records: James Beazley was born on Sunday the 10 day of August in the year of our lord 1760 and was married on Thursday the 14 day of January in the year of Our lord 1779. Mary Beazley his wife was born on Thursday the 11 day of September in the year of Our lord1760. John Beazley was born on Sunday the 6 day of August in the year of Our Lord 1780. Sanford Beazley was born on Monday the 24 day of march in the year of Our Lord 1783. Nancy Beazley was born on Thursday the 11 day of May in the year of Our Lord 1786. Elizabeth Beazley was born on Wednesday the 4 day of February in the year of Our Lord 1789. Robert Beazley was born on Monday the 9 day of May in the year of Our Lord 1791. James Beazley was born on Tuesday the 18 day of February in the year of Our Lord 1794. Polley Beazley was born on Monday the 10 day of April in the year of Our Lord 1797. Mary Neel was born October 20 in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty-nine. Lucy Beazley was born on Friday the 27 day of September in the year of our lord 1799. Durrett Beazley was born on Thursday the 11 day of February in the year of our Lord 1802. Lucy Beazley Departed this Life on Tuesday the 17th day of March 1801. James Beazley Sen’r. departed this life on Friday the 12 day of August 1803. Ann Beazley wife of James Beazley Sen’r. departed this life on Tuesday the 27 day of February1810 Caty Paul departed this life on Saturday the 7 day of May 1810. Negro Moses born July 23 1795. Terry born march 20 1797. The Meriah born January 22 1800 and George born 1761. Jinny born 1764, Keziah born 1784, Jacob born 1786, Cloa born 1789, Aggy born 1791, George born 1793, Jannay born 1795, Tom born 1798, Harry born 1799, Dice born 1800, Abraham born 1800, Fanny born 1801, Barbary born 1801, Dudley born 1803 Willis[?] born 1804, Ben born 1804, Isaac was born June 1806, Annaca was born September 1806, Jim was born April 1808, Tanne was born august 1809, Albert was born march 1809, Agge born February 1811, Lette born May 1811, Gabriel born November 1812, Betty born July 1813, Barbary born May 1814, Felea born 1815, Horis born.