The Beasley family lived on land granted to Robert Beverley in Caroline County, Virginia. [1]
1705 Samuel Carter and Mary his wife of St. Annes Parish sold to William Beasley Senr. of same parish, for 2250 lb. tobo, a tract of land. Dated August 10. Signed Samuell Carter and Mary Carter. Wit: Thomas Harris William Thompson and George Loyde. [2]
1710 The will of Richard Ripley was dated on June 3, 1710 in Essex County, Virginia with probate date on June 14, 1711. The will named wife Elizabeth Ripley; Sons: Richard, Thomas, and John Ripley Daughters: Dorothy, Sarah, and Ann Ripley, Elizabeth Smith, Mary Beasley.
1717 An action involving John Beasley and Paul Micou was recorded in the Essex County Order Book. Dated May 22 (date shown on page 31). "The action upon ye case between Paul Micou gent. Plt. and John Beezely Deft. is dismst." [3]
1722 Will of William Beezley, being sick and weak in body, dated 21 Jan. 1718 (1719) To my eldest son William fifty acres of land adjoyning to the plantation where he now lives. After his decease to his eldest son William. To my son Benjamin forty acres of land adjoyning to the plantation where he now lives and also all the land I have of that side of the branch next to John Pitts. To my son Henry fifty acres of land lying next to my son Benjamin. To my son John fifty acres of land lying next to my son Henry's land. All the remaining part of my land to my son Charles Beezly. Unto my loveing wife Mary Beezly all my personall estate. My loveing wife Mary Beezly executrix. Signed by mark William Beezley Wit: Saml. Stallord, Ann (X) Phillips, Charles Adkion. 17 Nov. 1719. Presented in Court by Mary Beezley, executrix. Proved by Sam'l and Charles Atkinson. [4]
1729 John Beasley sold land in Essex County to Henry Beasley. [5]:
This Indenture made the fifteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & twenty nine between John Beazley of Caroline County of the one part, and Henry Beazley of Essex County on the other part. Witnesseth that the sd John Beazley for in consideration of the sum of fifteen hundred pounds of tobo [tobacco] cask to him in hand paid by the sd Henry Beazley doth hereby acknowledge hath granted, bargained, sold, enpowered, & confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain, sell, enpower, & confirm unto the sd Henry Beasley his heirs & assigns all that tract or parcel of land which was given to the sd John Beazley by William Beazley of Essex County decd. situate in the County of Essex and being by estimation fifty acres, and adjacent to the sd Henry Beazley's own land together with all & singular way, waters, woods underwoods - timber, & timber trees with all other the profits commodities hereditaments, & appurtenances, thereto belonging or in any wise appertaining (only the sd Beazley doth except half an acre of land conveniently adjoining and including the burying place) and the reversions & remainders unto & services & all the Estate, right, title, property claim & demand whatsoever of him the sd John Beazley of in & to the same to have and to hold the said fifty acres of with all its rights members & appurtenances unto him the sd Henry Beazley his heirs, & assigns for ever and John Beazley for himself his heirs & assigns to the only proper use & behoof of him the said Henry Beazley his heirs, & assigns the said granted land & premises with all its appurtenances, shall & will warrant forever defend by these presents, and the said John Beazley for himself his heirs, Execr's, & admrs, doth covenant promise & grant to &with the sd Henry Beazley his heirs & assigns & to & with every of them by these presents that the sd John Beazley now is lawfully seized in his dimifine? Of fee of and ? sd granted land & premises & hath good right & authority in & law to grant bargain sell & confirm the same, and every part & parcel therof and also that the sd land & premises now is & shall forever hereafter remain unto the sd Henry Beazley his heirs & assigns free & clear & freely & clearly acquitted exonerated & discharged or upon every reasonable request thereof to be made sufficiently kept & harmless & endemnified by the sd John Beazley his heirs assigns of & from all former and other bargains sales gifts grants wills entails &c and from all other charges & incumberances whatsoever the quit rents which shall hereafter become due & payable to our sovereign Lord King George his heirs & successors only excepted & foreprized? And that he the said Henry Beazley his heirs & assigns shall & may forever hereafter quietly and peacefully have hold occupy possess & enjoy the sd granted land & premises & every part thereof except the aforementioned half acre which is to be laid off at the discretion of him the sd Henry his heirs &c to include the burying place and that he the sd John Beazley his heirs & assigns at any time or times hereafter at the request and cost in the law of him the sd Henry Beazley shall do make power? & executie all & every such other act & acts devices, and as? In the law for the more sure making & conveying of the sd land and premises as by him the sd Henry or his heirs or assigns or by his or their councils learned in the law shall be reasonable devised & advised or required. In Witness whereof the parties to these presents interchangeably have set their hands and seals the day & date being first above written.
John (his mark) Beazley
Winefred (her mark) Beazley
Signed, sealed & deliverd in the presence of us
Sam Biswell
Richard Billups
Nicholas (his mark) Adkinson
At a Court held for Essex County on the 16th day of September 1729
John Beezley acknowledged this his deed in desired to Henry Beezley which on his motion is admitted to record
All the same day - Winefred Beezley came into Court & freely relinquished her right of dower in the land & premises conveyed by this deed to Henry Beezley which is admitted to record.
1730 Special roads called rolling roads were built for the purpose of transporting the tobacco to marketing locations. The tobacco would be packed in hogsheads and oxen would pull the hogsheads down the rolling roads. The second rolling road built in Caroline County, was known as the Three Knotch Road built in 1730. The road's construction was under the supervision of John and Charles Beasley [6]. The Three Knotch Road began at John Daniel's Mill and went to Francis Conway's tobacco warehouse on the Rappahannock River some 12 miles above Port Royal. Daniel's Mill was located near the Essex Co. line, and near Passing in the Bowling Green District. John and Charles also supervised the maintenance of various feeder roads including those leading from the lower Drysdale parish to Roy's warehouse. In 1765 Richard Beasley, William Cook, Thomas Cook, and Abel Cook were among those charged with maintaining roads in the lower Drysdale parish. If the roads were not well-maintained, road supervisors were fined. John and Charles along with a John Cheadle had the distinction of being the only three road supervisors who were not fined in colonial Caroline Co. Because of their records, the court would send the two Beasleys to areas in Caroline Co. which were remote from their homes to rebuild roads which gave the county trouble. [7]
1733 On petition of Charles Beasley, it's ordered Thomas Rucker be surveyor of the road in his room. It's ordered Edward Tinsley be surveyor of the road from Loyd's Quarter to Poe's bridge in the room of John Beasley. Dated May 10. [8]
1738 The Caroline County, Virginia Court attached tobacco in the hands of John and Charles Beasley for the estate of James Heran. Dated May 12. [9]
1739 Charles and John Beasley were ordered by the Caroline County court to view the most convenient way to make a bridle way to turn out Portobago road to the county line. Dated June 9. [10]
1743 John Beasley served on a jury on March 11, 1742/43. [11]
1743 Action of trespass, assault and battery. Henry Powell against Charles Beasley, Jr. Jury Jno. George, George Mash, James Samuel, Wm. Stone, Law Anderson, Robt . Lowry, Robt. Williamson, Josiah Wood, John Dyer, Jacob Johns, Thos. Hamm and John Pearson, find for the plaintiff 20 shillings sterlling. Dated May 13. [12]
1743 It is ordered Thomas Ship, John Beasley, Charles Beasley and David Tinsley appraise the estate of Richard Goode. Dated August 12. [13]
1744 It is ordered Charles Beasley, John Beasley, William Daniel Jr. and Cornels. Rennolds appraise the estate of Eliza. Cowing. Dated February 10, 1743/44. [14]
1745 Bennet and John Beazley were on the Fairfield County jury. Dated January 11, 1744/45. [15]
1745 Charles Beasley acknowledged his deed of gift to his son Charles Beasley. Dated April 12. [16]
1745 The last will and testament of Moses Daniel was presented in Court by James Lindsey the executor therein named and proved by Josua Lindsey, Abner Insco and Wm. Blanton, witnesses thereto. It's ordered John Sneed, John Beasley, Charles Beasley and Charles Beasley jur. appraise the estate of Moses Daniel. Dated September 13. [17]
1746 Charles Beasley Junr. was appointed constable of the precinct in which William Daniel Junr. is constable. Dated May 9. [18]
1747 Port Royal had a boom and bust. John Harvie of Essex failed financially. Harvie stole goods and then sold them. After his trial, John Beazley attached a chest of silver, Harvie's most liquid asset. [19]
1748 John Beasley and Charles Beasley were ordered to appraise the estate of Robert Foster. Dated October 14. [20]
1758 Aquilla and wife Elizabeth Johnson sold 300 acres of land in Spotsylvania to John Beazley, both of Caroline County, Virginia. [21]
1759 John Beazley, of Caroline County, sold land to son Charles, of Spotsylvania as a deed of gift. [22]
1761-64 James Beasley sold several tracts on Swift Creek, Johnston County, Virginia adjoining William Acock and James Tate. [23]
1763 John Beezlee witnessed a deed in Essex County, Virginia. Dated September 19. [24]
1768 John Beazley sold 200 acres of land in Spotsylvania to Wm. Chowning on June 5, both of Caroline County, Virginia. [25]
c1771 John Beazley and Winefred sold land to Henry Beazley. [26]
c1771 John Beazley sold land to Charles Beazley. William Beazley & Christopher [surname not given]. Deed of Trust. [27]
c1771 John Beazley sold land to Edmund Beazley. Deed of Gift. [28]
c1771 The will of John Beazley was proved in Caroline County. An inventory was ordered. [29]
1777 Land in Essex County, Virginia, adjacent to lands of Mary Beasley and Edward Vawter, was sold by Robert Waring to Thomas Pitts. Dated February 17. [30] See Henry Beazley to Edward Vawter. Essex County, Virginia Deed 22-113) [31]
1778 James and Ann Beasley sold land in Essex County, Virginia, to Younger Pitts, that James' mother Mary Beasley owned after the death of James' father, William Beasley. Dated March 9. [32] Other researchers suggest that James (1725-1803) was married to Ann Reynolds.
Research Notes:
The notes above suggest that the family of Winifred Beasley was from Virginia. The Beasley Y-dna project shows very different results for the descendants of John Beasley of North Carolina, spouse of Winifred, who is in the "Blue" group, southern branch. [33] we seek clarification of this discrepancy.
We are researching Winifred Beasley, wife of Micajah Pickett.
Winifred is plausibly a daughter of John and Winifred Beasley. [34]
See T. E. Campbell, Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia (1954):
Part of Essex Co. became Caroline Co. in 1727. John and his brother, Charles, were found living in Caroline Co. about the time the county was organized. The Caroline Order Books in the Clerk's Office at Bowling Green go back to 1732. It seems that Robert Beverly brought, among others, the Woolfolk, Broadus, Motley and Beazley families to the are a to become Caroline County. none of those families had crown grants in the territory but they were all settled on land that was originally Beverly property when the county order books begin.
The growing of tobacco was the main source of income at that time. The colonists bought and sold things using tobacco for money. Very little money was in circulation. Special roads called rolling roads were built for the purpose of transporting the tobacco to marketing locations. The tobacco would be packed in hogsheads and oxen would pull the hogsheads down the rolling roads. The second rolling road built in Caroline Co., was known as the Three Knotch Road built in 1730. The road's construction was under the supervision of John and Charles Beasley. The Three Knotch Road began at John Daniel's Mill and went to Francis Conway's tobacco warehouse on the Rappahannock River some 12 miles above Port Royal. Daniel's Mill was located near the Essex Co. line, and near Passing in the Bowling Green District. John and Charles also supervised the maintenance of various feeder roads including those leading from the lower Drysdale parish to Roy's warehouse. (In 1765 Richard Beasley, William Cook, Thomas Cook, and Abel Cook were among those charged with maintaining roads in the lower Drysdale parish.) If the roads were not well-maintained, road supervisors were fined. John and Charles along with a John Cheadle had the distinction of being the only three road supervisors who were not fined in colonial Caroline Co. Because of their records, the court would send the two Beasleys to areas in Caroline Co. which were remote from their homes to rebuild roads which gave the county trouble.
The Caroline Court required freeholders of land to register the slaves they owned. John Beasley had 2 and Charles Beasley had 5. In 1762 Isabelle and Daphne, the slaves of John Beasley, were sentenced to 15 lashes at the whipping-post for perjury after they were convicted of lying on the witness stand in the trial of Daniel, slave of John Pickett, for the murder of Pronton, slave of Samuel Major.
All free persons had a right to demand to be tried by a jury of their peers when they were charged with a wrongdoing. The Caroline Court tried to control the juries by controlling the selection of freeholders for jury service. Caroline juries were recorded in the Order Books from 1732 to 1745. The Order Books show the degree of confidence the magistrates had in the jurors by the number of times a freeholder was chosen to serve on a jury. Charles Beasley was chosen 4 times and John Beasley 10 times.
Source of the following: Caroline County, Virginia Order Book 1740-1746.
11Mar. 1742/43 John Beasley served on a jury.
13 May 1743 Action of debt. Mayes Pickett as well for our Sovereign Lord the King as for himself against John Beasley.
13 May 1743 Action of trespass, assault and battery. Henry Powell against Charles Beasley, Jr. Jury Jno. George, George Mash, James Samuel, Wm. Stone, Law Anderson, Robt . Lowry, Robt. Williamson, Josiah Wood, John Dyer, Jacob Johns, Thos. Hamm and John Pearson, find for the plaintiff 20 shillings sterlling.
12 Aug. 1743. It is ordered Thomas Ship, John Beasley, Charles Beasley and David Tinsley appraise the estate of Richard Goode.
10 Feb. 1743/44. It is ordered Charles Beasley, John Beasley, William Daniel Jr. and Cornels. Rennolds appraise the estate of Eliza. Cowing.
8 March 1744/45 Action of trespass on the case. Winney Weasley (sic) (Beasley), an infant under the age of 21 years, by John Beasley her next friend, agt. Mace Pickett and El izabeth his wife. Dismissed, being agreed.
12 Apr. 1745 Charles Beasley acknowledged his deed of gift to his son Charles Beasley.
13 Sep. 1745 The last will and testament of Moses Daniel was presented in Court by James Lindsey the executor therein named and proved by Josua Lindsey, Abner Insco and Wm. Blanton, witnesses thereto. It's ordered John Sneed, John Beasley, Charles Beasley and Charles Beasley jur. appraise the estate of Moses Daniel.
9 May 1746 Charles Beasley Junr. is appointed constable of the precinct in which William Daniel Junr. is constable.
Notes for John Beasley of North Carolina:
1685 John Beasley was born about this time to William Beasley and Mary Ripley (born c 1650), in Beasley Island, Craven, North Carolina.
1733 John Beasley signed a petition to have the Craven County council be in New Bern near the Neuse River. [35]
1738 John Beasley was granted 200 acres of land in Craven County, North Carolina on an island on the north side of Neuse River. [36] [37]
1745 John Beesley was granted a patent for 200 acres on the north side of the Neuse River in Craven County, this "Beesley's swamp". Dated April 20. [38]
1763 Benjamin Beezeley was taxed in Bladen County, North Carolina. [39]
1764 John Beasley was granted a tract of 86 acres at a white oak in Cypress Creek by Thomas Beasleys corner in Onslow County, North Carolina on February 28. [40] [41]
1781 John Beazley, of Buckingham County, Virginia, dated his will on November 18. He named wife Bridget and children James, Fuqua, Hiram, Charles, William, Winney, Mary, Sally, and Nancy. [42] Winifred, daughter of John and Bridget reportedly married Obadiah Hurt. [43]
Coghill, Zachariah, John & Elizabeth Beazley brought suit against John Dickenson & Sarah McDonald. [44]
Some researchers report John Beasley (1685-1755) of Beasley Island, Craven, North Carolina with spouse Sarah Joann Jenkins (1685-1755). We seek further evidence about this John Beasley.
[1] Thomas Elliott Campbell, Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia (Richmond, Virginia: 1954), 35-36, [GoogleBooks].
[2] Beverley Fleet, Virginia Colonial Abstracts, Vol. 29, 110.
[3] Essex County, Virginia Order Books, 5-53, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[4] John Frederick Dorman, Essex County, Virginia Records 1717 - 1722 (1959), 56, Will p. 119-120.
[5] Essex County, Virginia Deeds, 19-44, [FamilySearchImage], [FSCatalog].
[6] Thomas Elliott Campbell, Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia (Richmond, Virginia: 1954), 77, [GoogleBooks].
[7] Thomas Elliott Campbell, Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia (Richmond, Virginia: 1954), 108, [GoogleBooks].
[8] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1732-1740, Part One 1732-34/5 (Washington: 1965), 34,35, [GoogleBooks].
[9] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1732-1740, Part Three 1737-40/5 (Washington: 1967), 13.
[10] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1732-1740, Part Three 1737-40/5 (Washington: 1967), 56.
[11] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[12] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[13] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[14] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[15] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part Three 1744-46 (Washington:), 5.
[16] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[17] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[18] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1740-1746, Part One 1740-42 (Washington: 1971), [GoogleBooks].
[19] Thomas Elliott Campbell, Colonial Caroline: A History of Caroline County, Virginia (Richmond, Virginia: 1954), 121, [GoogleBooks].
[20] John Frederick Dorman, Caroline County, Virginia Order Book, 1746-1754, Part Two 1748-50 (Washington: 1968), 2.
[21] Virginia, Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850, [AncestryRecord].
[22] Virginia, Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850, [AncestryRecord].
[23] Margaret M. Hofmann, The Granville District of North Carolina 1748-1763, Volume 5 (1995), 90, citing deeds 4962, 4963, and 4964.
[24] Mary Marshall Brewer, Essex County, Virginia, Land Records, 1761 - 1772 (2006), 37.
[25] Virginia, Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850, [AncestryRecord].
[26] Essex County, Virginia Deed 19-44, [URL].
[27] Caroline County, Virginia Order Book (1765-1767)-411, [URL].
[28] Caroline County, Virginia Order Book (1765-1767)-411, [URL].
[29] Caroline County, Virginia Order Book (1770-1772)-115, [URL].
[30] Mary Marshall Brewer, Essex County, Virginia, Land Records, 1772-1786 (2006), 43, citing deed book 31-295.
[32] Mary Marshall Brewer, Essex County, Virginia, Land Records, 1772-1786 (2006), 59, citing deed book 31-380.
[33] Beasley Y-dna results, [URL].
[34] John D. Beatty, Some Beasley Families of the Colonial South (2014: Fort Wayne, privately published), 20, of 15-21, [BeasleyGenealogy].
[35] USGenWeb Archives, [USGenWeb].
[36] North Carolina State Archives, Land warrant 8-91, File 800, John Beasley, 1738, [NC Archives].
[37] North Carolina State Archives, Land warrant 9-385, File No. 1000, John Beasley, 1738, [NC Archives].
[38] NC Archives Search, MARS ID 12.14.50.1131, John Beesley, No longer found.
[39] North Carolina Tax Series, Bladen County 1763 Tax List (Mountain Press), 1, [InternetArchive].
[40] North Carolina State Archives, Land warrant 17-50, File No. 521, John Beasley, 1764, Grant 108, [NC Archives].
[41] North Carolina State Archives, Land warrant 18-46, File No. 616, John Beasley, 1762, Grant 108, [NC Archives].
[42] Magazine of Virginia Genealogy (Genealogical Society Quarterly) Vol. 5 (1967), 69, [Ancestry_VGSQ].
[43] John D. Beatty, Some Beasley Families of the Colonial South (2014: Fort Wayne, privately published), 53, [BeasleyGenealogy].
[44] Caroline County, Virginia Order Book (1771-1772)-231, [URL].