Elisha BECKWITH 1764–1846 – Genealogical Records

Sources

Genealogy Event 1
Event Type: Birth
Event Date: 24 Jul 1764
Event Place: East Haddam, Middlesex, Conniticuit

Genealogy Event 2
Event Type: Occupation
Record Source: Probate Documents
(verbatim transcription)

Chenango County SS: Lorenzo D. Beckwith of Pharsalia in said County being duly sworn saith that Elisha Beckwith late of Pharsalia in said County deceased died at a natural death at said town of Pharsalia his then place of residence [S]ome time in the month of march, 1836 according to deponents recollection and belief that said deceased at the time of his death left an instrument in writing purporting to be his last will and testament and which deponent varily believes to be his last will and testament and which relates to real and personal property, that said deceased at the time of his death left a widow surviving him named Polly who resides in Pharsalia aforesaid and the following heirs to wit: This deponent a son residing in Pharsalia aforesaid: Philura Borden, a daughter whose place of residence is unknown to deponent, Huntley H. Beckwith a son now deceased who left the following children, grandchildren of said deceased to wit: Norman, Betsy and Emily Beckwith residing at Fountain green in the State of Illinois; Walker Beckwith a son residing in the state of Illinois town and county unknown, Charles Beckwith a son residing in the State of Illinois near Fountain Green, Emily Gleason wife of Hart Gleason residing in the State of Illinois near Fountain Green, Milicent Robinson, daughter o & wife of Loyd Robinson residing near Fountain Green in the State of Illinois, Polly Carpenter, daughter & wife of Jesse carpenter residing in the State of Indiana town and county unknown. That said deceased left no other heirs or next of kin surviving him to the knowledge or belief of deponent. That this deponent is a devisee named in said will and as such makes application for a citation for the purpose of proving said will - that the said Emily and Betsy Beckwith are minors under the age of twenty one years all the other heirs are over the age of twenty one years.

Lorenzo D. Beckwith
Sworn before me
Oct. 5, 1846
Rowell __?__
Surrogate

Research notes

It's probably from the above document that researchers have taken the name of the eldest son to be Huntley H., instead of Elisha Huntley. We've all seen sufficient census records, marriage licenses, etc., to accept as fact that the use of legal names was not a stringent requirement in that era, not to mention that there was a lack of precise recording of ages. Land purchase certificate #5515 was issued from the Federal Land Office in Quincy, Illinois, on November 3, 1840, to Elisha Huntley Beckwith, of Pike County, Indiana; he was actually in Parke County. His tombstone is inscribed Elisha Huntly Beckwith.

Maxine Gleason Hertrich, second great-granddaughter of Emily Caroline Beckwith, brings to our attention that Emily was named as the wife of Hart Gleason, yet Emily and Hart weren't married Until Late August Of 1847. Since their first child was born in 1846, Maxine suspects that Emily had probably led her parents to believe that the marriage had already taken place.

Probate Documents (cont)

At a Surrogate Court held at the house of John Moyes in the village of Norwich in the county of Chenango on the 20th day of November 1846 before Rowell __?__ Surrogate of said county.

On the day and at the place aforesaid Lorenzo D. Beckwith a devisee named in the last will and testament of Elisha Beckwith deceased appeared for the purpose of proving said will and no one appearing to oppose. Whereupon I the Surrogate aforesaid proceeded to hear the proofs and allegations of the said devisee: and whereupon the said Lorenzo D. Beckwith produced satisfactory proof of lawful service of notice of this application on all the heirs of the deceased to wit: Polly Beckwith widow of said deceased residing in Pharsalia Chenango Co; personal service on Philura Borden wife of Joseph Borden residing in oxford Chenango Co, personal service on Ira P. Barnes of Sherburne Chenango Co. Special guardian of Betsy Beckwith and Emily Beckwith infants residing at Fountain green in the State of Illinois, more than eight days previous to the 20th day of November 1846 service on the said Ira P. Barnes was ore than twenty days previous to the 20th day of November 1846: Service on all the other heirs of the said deceased by publication of said notice once in each week for six successive weeks in the state paper called the "Albany Argus" commencing on the 9th day of October 1846.

Whereupon two of the persons who are the subscribing witnesses to the said will were by the said surrogate duly sworn to prove the execution of the said will and testifies as follows.

Source:
majorvillebeckwithetceterabeckwith_elisha_will.html

Genealogy Event 3
Event Type: Occupation
Record Source: Courtesy of Faye W. Johnston

This notice was published in the Albany Argus, Albany, New York, each week for five weeks successively, beginning on October 9, 1846. Verbatim transcription.

The People of the state of New York, to the heirs and next of kin of Elisha Beckwith, late of the town of Pharsalia in the County of Chenango, deceased, to wit:

Polly Beckwith of Pharsalia aforesaid widow of said deceased; Lorenzo D. Beckwith, a son of Pharsalia aforesaid; John D. Beckwith, a son, whose place of residence is unknown; Walker Beckwith, a son, residing in the state of Illinois, town and county unknown; Charles Beckwith, a son, residing near Fountain Greens in the state of Illinois; Milicent Robinson, a daughter and wife of Loyd Robinson, residing near Fountain Green, Illinois; Emily Gleason, a daughter and wife of Hart Gleason, residing near Fountain Greens, Illinois; Polly Carpenter, a daughter and wife of Jesse Carpenter, residing in the state of Indiana, town and county unknown; Norman Beckwith of Illinois, near Fountain Greens, a son of Huntly H. Beckwith deceased[,] and grandson of said Elisha Beckwith, deceased; Ira P. Barnes of Sherburne, Chenango County, special guardian of Emily Beckwith and Betsey Beckwith, infant heirs of said deceased.

Whereas, Lorenzo D. Beckwith, a divisee named in the last will and testament of Elisha Beckwith, deceased, have made application to the surrogate of said county of Chenango, to have the will of the said Elisha Beckwith, which relates to both real and personal estate, proved and admitted to probate; you and each of you are therefore hereby cited to appear, if you choose, before the said surrogate, at the house of John Moyes in the village of Norwich in said county, on the 30th day of November, 1846 at ten o'clock in the forenoon, to attent to the proof and probate of said will.

Genealogy Event 4
Event Type: Will
Record Source: Courtesy of Ima Jean Baker Young, a descendant of Emory Walker Beckwith. Ima Jean noted that she doesn't think this is the complete text of this document. This is a verbatim transcription.


The Will of Elisha Beckwith

I Elisha Beckwith of Pharsalia in the County of Chenango; Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, First, I give and devise unto my beloved wife Polly Beckwith all and every my messuage lands Tenaments with the appurtenances where of I am seized situate lying and being in the Town of Pharsalia in the county of Chenango on Lot No 76 That part of my holme farm lying north of the highway that leads from the Mill to Darius Babcock in McDonough So long as she remains my widow and after her decease I further give it to my son Lorenzo D. Beckwith his heirs and assigns all that messuage of tenament above described, also I give and devise to my son Lorenzo D. Beckwith all that land lying south of the highway that leads from the Mill to Darius Babcock on lot 76 when he becomes twenty one years old he is to have possession of the land. I will and order that my wife has the care and use of the said land I have given Lorenzo D. Beckwith until he becomes twenty one years of age, then it is to be his and lastly as to all the rest of my property that is to say personal Estate including stocks horses and sheep I give and bequeath the same to my said wife Polly Beckwith and Lorenzo D. Beckwith my son the property to be divided each to have one half, Lorenzo D. Beckwith is not to have possession of his part until he becomes twenty one years old and finally all the rest residue and remainder of all my Estate and Effects not herein before other wise Effectually disposed of after payment of my debts and personal Expenses and other charges and deductions as aforesaid, I do give and devise and bequeath unto my wife Polly Beckwith. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the 3d day of January 1836.

Elisha Beckwith (L.S.)

Signed Sealed and Published and declared by }
the testator as and for his Last Will and Testament }
in the presence of us who at his request in his } Erastus Brown (S.S.)
presence and in the presence of each other have } Gilbert S. ? (S.S.)
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto } Robert McMinn (S.S.)


Research notes

By 1836, when Elisha prepared his will, the eldest son, Elisha Huntley Beckwith, had married Betsey Scranton And Was Living In Indiana.

John D., the next eldest, would have been thirty-four. In the 1850 Illinois Census his occupation was listed as physician; in 1860 and 1870 he was reported to be a painter. He was, apparently, not anxious to be a farmer. Elisha passed the land on to Lorenzo, the third son, not yet 21 and presumably still living at home.

Source:
majorvillebeckwithetceterabeckwith_elisha_will.html

Genealogy Event 5
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 5 Oct 1846
Event Place: Pharsalia, Chenango, New York