| Rev. William Beesley William Beasley Rev. War Service: Pension #W9352 issued 6-6-1833, Pension Roll Vol 3 page 220 (Department of Interior, Revolutionary War Section, Washington, D. C. As submitted to the presiding Judge of Bulter County, by William Beasley, "In order to obtain the benefits of the Acts of Congress passed June 7, 1832" State of Kentucky? County of Butler) On this 8th day of October, 1832, appears in open court, before the open courts of said county, now sitting, William Beasley, a resident of the County of Butler & State of Kentucky, aged 70 years, who first being duly sworn, according to law, doth, in this make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herin stated. That he was drafted for 3 months, but can not recall the precise time, but recalls distinclty that he has served two months and 18 days at the time of General Gates Defeat at Camden, South Carolina, that he resided in the state of North Carolina when he was drafted and served under Captain david Roach, who was killed at Camden. Ensign Beasley sp. discharge Beasley. *Note Beesley is original spelling of name. In Col. Benjamin Aksom's regiment, later Col. Leasewell's & Majors Griffin & Nichols. That he rendesvouzed at the Ferry, Neuse River about forty miles from New Bern and marched to the Deep River and reamined there a short time and then marched across the Yadkin River & Rocky River by Blackstock House and the Cheraw Hills, on Peedee River to Camden and joined General Gates about a week before the battle, and remained in the service thereafter, 4 months, having served two months & 18 days before he crossed on the line between North and South Carolina, and served thereafter 3 months including the 18 days that he afterwards served in a Company of 8, under Captain Stevenson and marched to Wilmington and joined Col. R. Richard D. S. (illegible) and continued on march 30 days, 4 of which he had volunteered, after that, he was discharged,. February 1781, he enlisted for another four months under Captain S. L. Ives and Ensign Clarks-under command of Col. Benjamin Stiles, and Major Griffen McGee-which he believed was the Continental Service and has always been under that impression, but he was young at the time. *NOTE> Williamwas b 4-25-1762 & enlisted in February, 1781, prior to his 18th birthday. That he has resided in Craven County, North Carolina, when he entered the service and redesvouzed at Wilmington. From Wilmington he marched across the Black River and PeedeeRiver and crossed the Santee River at Nelson's Ferry and marched across the head of (illegible) River to P(illegible) Ponds in Carolina that he marched to Ashley River on Bacon Bridge, then down the river to Ashley Hill, within 7 miles of Charleston, where he continued until his service was out, when he marched back to Wilmington, and was discharged there on the (illegible) Ponds, when he joined the army under General Green and marched with him as stated to the place he remained until his time was finished. That he has no documentary evidence-and knows of no person whose testimony he can gather who can testify as to his service-but Joseph Taylor and William Coy of Butler in this state-knows that he was in the service but was not with him. That he was born the 25th day of April, 1762, but has no record of his age, that he continued to live in North Carolina until about 35 years ago (1797), when he moved to Warren County, KY, where he lived about 20 years (1817) and then moved to Butler County in said state, where he now lives. That he is acquainted with Rev. Pharris & Gary & Jacob Smith of his present neighborhood, who can testify as to cahracter for honesty and their belief as to his services as soldier of the Revolution. He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to, except pension & declares that his name is not on the pension Rolls of any other states. Subscribed & Sworn signed (William Beasley made his mark) Sources: DAR Patriot Index Vol. I p203 National Archives Pension # W9352 DAR National#710623 Marriage Bond dated 2-3-1874 Craven County, North Carolina signed and sealed by Moses Taylor, father of Bride and William Beasley, Grrom 1825 Bulter County, KY Deed Book "C" Copy page 64 Declaration of assets by William Beasley for Revolutionary War provision by act of Congress dated 3-18-1818, wherein he states "My wife is older than I" He was born 1762 Kentucky roll of rev war pensioners, #262195, page 220, volume 3 dept of interior burreau of pesnion re 3 W9352 states 'widow applied @@ age 90 in 1851' application for benefits by beasley's widow, elizabeth dated 1851 2age 90. 1820 butler County, ky census elizabeth age 59 1850 bulter county ky Census Elizabeth age 89 1856 declaration by elizabeth for wm's rev war benefits. --------------------------------------------------------- From: Akibbytay@@aol.com To Bee or to Bea; that is the question. The early spelling appear to have been Beesley for those coming from North Carolina. About 1810 a family moved into Butler County, KY from Virginia who spelled it Beasley. Many descendants of both families still live in KY and Beasley is now the dominant spelling. A review of telephone directories for nine west central KY counties shows only two listing as Beesley and over 100 as Beasley. I have Mary Catherine Beesley (Dec 1850 - Feb 1897) d/o William Elvin Beesley and Martha A. Lamaster. I do not have ancestors for William Elvin. I also have a Mary Beesley (b abt 1851) d/o John William Beesley, s/o John T. Beesley, s/o William Beesley and Elizabeth Taylor. Which is your line and/or how does William Elvin connect to William and Elizabeth? Cousin, Kibby |