52Ancestors: Capt. Edward Beeson - My Revolutionary War Patriot
This week, I'm deviating from the "siblings" theme of #52Ancestors because something momentous happened—I received my certificate as a new member of the Daughters of the American Revolution! After months of gathering documents and tracing my lineage, it's official. Today, I want to honor my patriot ancestor, Captain Edward Beeson, whose service helped secure our nation's independence.
A Son of North Carolina
Edward Beeson was born on January 1, 1757, in Guilford, North Carolina, to Benjamin Beeson and Elizabeth Hunter. The Beesons were a Quaker family, originally from Lancaster, England, who had settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania before moving south. According to Quaker Meeting Records from New Garden Monthly Meeting, Edward's birth was recorded in their official documentation, establishing his roots in this religious community.
By 1772, at just 15 years old, Edward appeared in Rent Rolls in Berkeley County, Virginia, suggesting the family had moved or that he had traveled there. By 1779, he had returned to North Carolina, appearing on tax lists in Randolph County.
Service to a New Nation
When the Revolutionary War erupted, Edward made the significant decision to serve - a choice that would have been complicated for someone from a Quaker background, as their faith embraced pacifism. Nevertheless, records show that Edward enlisted in the spring of 1778 and was commissioned in April 1779. He served as both a Lieutenant and Captain in Colonel Thomas Dugan's North Carolina Militia Regiment and in Captain David Brown's company.
Pension records document his military service. On September 29, 1833, at age 75, Edward was enrolled for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7, 1832. His annual allowance was $180, with payments dating from March 4, 1831. The pension records show he was still receiving payments through 1836, shortly before his death.
Family Life: Three Marriages and Blended Siblings
Though I initially planned to skip this week's "siblings" theme, I realized Edward's family history presents a fascinating study in blended families and half-siblings from three different marriages.
Edward's first marriage was to Selena (also called Betty) Lamb in 1776 in Guilford County, North Carolina. This union produced a daughter, Elizabeth (Betty) Beeson, born that same year. Betty would later marry Professor Gamon in 1794, and they had a son named Alford Gamon. Following Selena's death, Betty was raised by her father and eventually her stepmother.
After Selena's death (which must have occurred before 1790), Edward married Ann Pennington in 1790. Ann was born March 15, 1771, making her significantly younger than Edward. Together they had several children, including:
- Richard Dunn Beeson (born February 3, 1791) - who later married Frances M. Wade in 1811 and lived until 1872
- Jeremiah Samuel Beeson (born August 12, 1799) - who married Hannah Clay on July 13, 1819
- Curtis Grubb Beeson (born March 22, 1802) - who first married Sophia E. Thompson and, after her death, married Martha Clark who was born in Abbeville, South Carolina
Following Ann's death on January 24, 1823, Edward married for a third time to Dicy Louise Mullins (Mullen) in 1824 in St. Clair County, Alabama. This marriage produced additional children, including Dicy Ann (who married Logan Snead of Snead, Alabama) and Sylvester.
These three sets of children - Betty from the first marriage, Richard, Jeremiah, and Curtis from the second, and the children with Dicy from the third - created a complex network of half-siblings spanning three different maternal lineages but united by their father Edward. As they grew up in the developing American frontier, these siblings and half-siblings would have experienced different historical periods and geographical settings, from post-Revolutionary North Carolina to early frontier Alabama.
A Pioneer's Journey
Edward's life after the Revolution shows the westward movement common to many Americans of his era. The census places him in:
- Guilford, North Carolina (1790)
- Surry, North Carolina (1810)
- Guilford, North Carolina again (1830)
According to his Revolutionary War service records, Edward also lived in Stokes County, North Carolina before moving to Tennessee. He then settled in Murfreesboro and Jackson County, Alabama, before finally establishing himself in St. Clair County, Alabama.
Land records show that Edward received land grants in Alabama, including one dated October 16, 1835, in Etowah County. This suggests he was active in establishing his family in this new frontier well into his later years.
Final Days and Legacy
Captain Edward Beeson died on January 16, 1837, in Marshall County, Alabama, at the age of 80. He was buried at Beason-Union Cemetery in St. Clair County. According to records, around 1920, his remains were relocated to Beason Union Cemetery near the Methodist Church in Steele, St. Clair County.
Edward's legacy lives on not just in his direct descendants but in the nation he helped create. His willingness to serve in the Revolutionary War, especially coming from a Quaker background that traditionally opposed military service, speaks to his conviction and commitment to the cause of independence.
My Connection
Tracing my lineage back to Edward Beeson has been a journey of discovery, connecting me to a pivotal period in American history. My own line descends through Curtis Grubb Beeson, Edward's son with his second wife Ann Pennington. Curtis, born in 1802 and died in 1867, represents the generation that built upon the foundation their Revolutionary War parents established, as America expanded westward in the early 19th century.
Becoming a member of the DAR through this service line gives me a tangible connection to our nation's founding and reminds me of the personal sacrifices made by ordinary people in extraordinary times.
The various Sons of the American Revolution applications submitted by other descendants over the years (from as early as 1918 to 1963) show how generations of his family have honored Edward's legacy. Now, I'm proud to continue that tradition through my membership in the DAR.
As I look at the pension card that shows the payments made to Edward in his final years, I'm reminded that our nation recognized his service even then. Today, more than 240 years after the Revolution, I'm humbled to continue honoring his contribution through remembrance and service.
Do you have Revolutionary War ancestors? Have you considered joining lineage societies like the DAR or SAR? I'd love to hear your stories in the comments!
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*For a complete list of sources and additional information about Captain Edward Beeson, please visit his [WikiTree page](https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Beeson-127).*
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