Edward Beeson (1659 - 1712)

Born 24 Feb 1659 in Thrussington, Leicestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Dorothy (Baldricke) Beeson — married 1681 (to before Nov 1682) in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England

Husband of Rachel (Pennington) Beeson — married 7 Nov 1682 (to before 1 Mar 1711) in Thrussington Parish, Leicestershire, England

Husband of Elizabeth (Grubb) Rich — married 1 Mar 1711 (to 20 Oct 1712) in Nottingham MM, Chester County, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 20 Oct 1712 at age 53 in Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania

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Biography

Edward was a Friend (Quaker)

Edward Beeson was born in early 1660 in his family's home in Thrussington, Leicestershire, England.^[1]

Edward married Dorothy Baldricke of nearby Melton Mowbray in 1680 or early 1681. Unfortunately, she died within a year of their wedding, possibly in childbirth; no child survived her. Note: the actual marriage record of a _________ Baldricke to an Edward Beeson in Melton Mobry is clearly in 1682 (not 1680 or 1681). Image links on Baldricke profile. The issue is that this is the same marriage date and year given for the marriage to Rachel Penington.

On November 7, 1682, just 22 years old, Edward married Rachel Penington of London in St. Mary's church, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England.^[2]

Although married in the Church of England, Edward and Rachel apparently soon joined the nonconformist Quaker movement then being persecuted by Anglicans and other Protestants in England. Older genealogies stated Rachel was the daughter of the eminent Quaker minister and writer Isaac Pennington and his wife Mary (Proud) Pennington, and a half-sister of Culielma Maria Springett, the wife of William Penn. However, an examination of the wills involved has shown this to be unproven and highly doubtful with at least one Quaker publication stating that this is a misidentification of Edward's wife.^[3] They were connected with William Penn in some manner and migrated from the English midlands to America in May/June 1683, at which time Pennsylvania was being settled by William Penn and his followers.

Pennsylvania, comprising 48,000 square miles, had been granted to Penn by King Charles in payment for $80,000 owed by the Crown to the Penn estate; and the Duke of York had given Penn a Quitclaim deed to the lower three counties that later became Delaware. The two provinces were governed by one governor or government even though Delaware was not originally settled by Quakers. Several thousands of settlers were already there--Swedes, Dutch, English, Germans, Huguenots. Four ships loaded mostly with Quakers came to Pennsylvania in 1681. More followed throughout the 1680s.

Edward Beeson and his wife, Rachel (Pennington) Beeson, came into Pennsylvania by way of a land grant from William Penn, a Quaker. It is not known if they were Quakers at that time. However, it is known that they lived in Chester Co., PA. Edward is understood to have been the son of Thomas Beeson and Ann Pecke of Lancaster Co., [sic: Leicestershire] England.

Children

• Edward (1683-1725)
  
• Richard (1684-1777)
  
• William (1687-)
  
• Ann (1690-)
  

Death: 20 October 1712 Nottingham, Chester, PA

Also found Death Date of 1712-08-20, variancy due to Style of Date, when October was the 8th month. [NOTE: Quakers used old-style dating to 1753 - written 20th, 8 mo,1712.Immigrated in 1682 or 1683 on one of the William Penn voyages from Stoke, Lancaster, England & settled in New Castle, below Philadelphia, in Delaware.

Tradition states that the Beesons were of French Origin, and there was an officer in the army of William the Conqueror named Bezon. After the Norman conquest he became an officer in the royal Guard. His descendants settled in the Isle of Man, where one of them married a daughter of the ruler of the island. He later returned to Lancashire where descendants are numerous. Note: this family is from Leicestershire, not Lancashire, this is family lore and should be moved to Research Notes.

An Edward Beeson purchased land in Nottingham in Jan. 1702, but it is unclear whether the purchaser was this Edward or his son. ^[4]

Edward and Rachel were favorable to the teachings of Penn; and although their recorded November 1682 marriage in Leicestershire makes it impossible for them to have been on Penn's ship "Welcome" (which left England on September 1, 1682 with about 100 Quakers accompanying him), they soon set sail for America, most-likely in May 1683.^[5]

As was the case at that time, Edward and Rachel's ship landed at New Castle, in what is now the county and state of Delaware, and, instead of traveling to Philadelphia, they settled in the nearby village of Irishtown, New Castle County, Delaware. They moved from there to Berkeley County, Virginia where there was a settlement of Quakers.^[6] Around 1701 they moved to the new community of Nottingham, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where large land-grants were being made to Quakers by the William Penn government. Records show that a land grant of 980 acres in Chester County, Pennsylvania was made to Edward Beeson in 1701.^[7]Edward's will, dividing this property among his heirs, originally dated June 1712, states that he was then living at Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania.^[8]

Edward and Rachel were parents of three sons and one daughter. After Rachel's death, about 1709 or 1710, Edward married Elizabeth Grubb, by whom he was the father of two more daughters. He died in August 1712, in Nottingham, Chester Co., Pennsylvania. His will was proven 9 March 1713 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Ellzabeth was born in 1711; Rachel was born posthumosly about April 1713. ^[9]

Will of Edward Beeson: ^[9] I, Edward Beeson of Notingham, being laid on a bed of sickness & not knowing how the Lord may dispose of me as to my natural Life therefore I do make this my last will & testament and does declare all other will or wills made or done by me to be void and of none effect, first my will is that I be decently buried & my funeral expenses and all debts be duly payd 2ly, I give to my son Edward & his heirs 142 acres & a half of Land Laying by nessamoney. 3rdly, I give unto my son Richard and his heirs one tract of Land Laying near Southhampton in the County of Bucks, containing 290 acres. 4ly I give to my son Richard and his heirs one tract of Liberty Land containing 25 acres Lying on Sculkill. 5ly I do give to my son William my west Loot Laying in Notingham also I give unto him 48 pounds which my Executors is to lay out for him in building him a house & buying him such necessaryes as they may see most needfull for him for making a plantation, also I give unto him all my wearing apparell except two great coats, which two coats I give to Edward & Richard, Edward is to have which he pleased, also I give to my son William one coat of the Carsey that is at the weavers, also my will is that if my son William should dy without ishew Lawfully begotten, then the Land is to go to the Lawful heirs. 6ly I give to my Daughter Ann Cloud Twenty pounds. 7ly, my will is that after my former wifes children have had their portions, that all my personall estate be divided betwixt my widow and my Daughter Elizabeth according to a Law. 8ly, my will is that my widow shall have the plantation whereon I live with all the profits thereof during her widdowhood or natural Life & after my widows marrying or decease, then I give it to my Daughter Elizabeth & her heirs. 9ly, my will is that my executors & their heirs shall have all that Land which I have purchased of Daniel Wharley & by Warrant to me by the Commissioners bearing the date of 14th day of Septr, 1709, to dispose of as they see occasion, and I desire yt my wife shall give to the child yt she is now great with, if it should live when born, forty pounds and Lastly for a full and finall performance of this will I do by these presents make & ordain my dear and well beloved wife and son Richard the sole executors of this my last will and Testament as witness my hand & Seal this Twentieth of the sixth month, called August 1712.

Signed Sealed & Delivered before us
Edward Beeson (Seal)
Andrew Job
James King
Chester County, S S;

Research Notes

This Beeson family noted as original lot holder (1700) of Nottingham MM.^[10]

On early Quaker families in Delaware, see:^[11]

Edward Beeson's name appears in the following deeds and conveyances:

April 28, 1702, a deed from Hance Peaterson, to Edward Beeson, 260 acres in Brandywine Hundred on the Delaware River, near Treedy Hook, is recorded in Deed Book B, Vol. 2, p. 171, New Castle County, Delaware.

By a deed also in the same county "Edward Beeson" conveyed this same land to his son, Edward on Jan. 7, 1709-1710.

Deed book F, 5, p. 546 Philadelphia, shows the following: "Daniel Warley, of Giles Chalfont, County of Buck's, England, and Mary, formerly Mary Pennington (Half sister to William Penn's first wife) conveys 1250 acres to Edward Beeson, of Irishtown, in the county of New Castle, Planter, Mar. 10, and 11, 1703."

"9br., 16th, 1706, granted to Edward Beeson liberty to settle on a tract near Nottingham, in which Tho. Taylor was settled, and the refusal of it is promised him given him for this under Ed. S., T. S. and J. L.' s hands. (Initials of the three Commissioners.)

On Sept. 28, 1709, a warrant was granted to Edward Beeson for 799 1/2 acres of land.

In the Manuscript Department of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a warrant, this paper is dated "Phila. X br. 14, 1709." It is the original order of Jacob Taylor to Isaac Taylor, Surveyor of Chester County, to survey and lay out to Edward Beeson the 799 1/2 acres above mentioned, the back of which is endorsed in the handwriting of Edward Beeson as given below. ^[12]

"This eightenth day of May, 1711, I Edward Beeson of Nottingham do asign over unto Richard Buffington, Benjamin Hickman, Thomas Buefingtong and Richard Buefingtong Juner all of Westown in the county of Chester, with this warant.

As witness my hand

Edward Beeson." [aka Beson]

Sources

1. ↑ He was christened on February 24, 1660 in Thrussington parish, Leicestershire, England. See http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Fred-Taylor-Tacoma/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0199.html citing
2. ↑ See Note 1, above.
3. ↑ The Quaker Yeoman, Vol 24, No 1, excerpted here.
4. ↑ [Broderbund Family Archive #354, Ed. 1, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, Date of Import: Feb 28, 1999, Internal Ref. #1.354.1.6043.6]
5. ↑ The name "Edward Beazar" could be Edward Beezon, a common misspelling; it is on the passenger list of the Comfort of Bristol that sailed from England for Philadelphia on May 28, 1683, landing in the port of New Castle a month later. See: http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/immig/ships1683.txt
6. ↑ NOTE by Chet Snow: I believe this is an error; the first Quaker settlement of Berkeley County, now WV, was in 1735-36, under the leadership of Richard Beeson, son of Edward Beeson, and his wife Charity (Grubb) Beeson. See: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2005-01/1107212196
7. ↑ November 14, 1701-petitioned for settlement on land in PA. January 07, 1702-land warrants issued. Signed Sealed & Delivered before us:
   Edward Beeson (Seal) Andrew Job James King Chester County S S;
8. ↑ August 20, 1712-recorded will: 1st will recorded in Chester County. Proven 9 March 1713. His will explicitly states: the child that my wife is ""now great with.""
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Edward Beeson in the Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825 on Ancestrylibrary.com. From: Lineages, Inc., comp.. Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Chester County Wills. Located at the Chester County Archives and Records Service. Description: Abstract of wills for Chester County, 1713-1825

   Edward Beeson of Nottingham, being sick. 6/20/1712. March 9, 1713/4. A:1. To son Edward, 142 1/2 acres of land, ""laying by Nessamony."" To son Richard tract of land near South Ampton, Bucks County containing 290 acres, also 25 acres of liberty land by Schulkill. To son William, my West ""look"" in Nottingham, also £48 for building him a house and wearing apparel. To daughter Ann Cloud £20. After former wife's children have had their portions personal estate to be divided between widow and daughter Elizabeth. Widow [not named] - to have plantation whereon I live during widowhood, afterward to daughter Elizabeth. Also provides for child that wife is now great with. Executors: wife and son Richard. Witnesses: Andrew Job, James King. Mentions land purchased of Daniel Wharley and warrant for survey September 14, 1709.

10. ↑ Maryland Quaker records: Nottingham Monthly Meeting, Cecil County
11. ↑ Quakers in Delaware in the Time of William Penn, by Herbert Standing; pp 130-31 mentions the Beeson family. NOTE: The marriage was in Thrussington Parish, Leicestershire, not "Thressington, Westmoreland" as mentioned in Herbert Standing's work.
12. ↑ LDS Salt Lake City, Utah: Bishop Transcripts 594970, 592579.

See Also:

• Hinshaw's Genealogy and Genealogy Assoc., Salt Lake City, Utah
• http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.beeson/595.1/mb.ashx
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/t/a/y/Fred-Taylor-Tacoma/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0199.html
• http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/immig/ships1683.txt
• http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/2005-01/1107212196
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/g/i/l/Brian-C-Gillum-MI/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0200.html
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=daniel%5Flangevin&id=P%2D2107619527
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=daniel%5Flangevin&id=P-2107619527
• https://www.pennock.ws/fam/fam02702.html
• Hinshaw's Genealogy and Genealogy Assoc.

• Pennsylvania Archives 2nd Series, Volume XIX, page 245, in the Minutes of the Meetings of William Penn's Commissioners of Property Sitting at Philadelphia, 14th, 11 month, 1701 -- C. E. Beeson. This is a petition of "Cornelius Epson for himself and several others to the number of twenty families to make settlement on a tract of land about half-way between the Delaware and Sussquehannah." Etc. On 7th, 1 month, 1701-2 land warrants were issued to these petitioners, among whom was Edward Beeson, who obtained 980 acres of land located in the southwestern corner of Chester County, Nottingham township, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland line. The land survey was made 3d month 1702.

• Diller, Corinne Hanna, "Immigrant Ancestors of Miami Valley, Ohio, Quaker Families." In Miami Valley Genealogical Society: Genealogical Aids Bulletin, vol. 13:3 (Winter 1984), pp. 64-67. Found online at: http://www.oocities.org/roseholly/Whicker.htm .

Acknowledgements

• Thank you to Karen Schroer, for creating this profile on Sunday, August 11, 2013.
• This page has been edited according to Style Standards adopted January 2014. Descriptions of imported gedcoms for this profile are under the Changes tab.