Robert Beacham1

M, b. 1618, d. before 2 March 1690
     Robert was born in 1618 in England. On 19 December 1648, the residents of Ipswhich subscribed to pay their leader a certain sum yearly as long as he was their leader. Each resident committed to a yearly amount, Robert subscribed for four shillings.2 Robert appeared in Salem court records on 23 September 1653, regarding an issue concerning Thomas Scott of Ispwich. By 1655 he had removed to Norwalk, Fairfield County where he was one of the early settlers. By March 11, 1657/58 he was living at Maximus, Fairfield, as on this date the inhabitants voted to take as a co-inhabitant, Robert Beacham, formerly of Norwalk. Here he signed a deed with his wife, Isabel in 1659. He, as well as Joseph Lockwood were admitted as freemen on 13 October 1664 at Fairfield.3,4 On 20 June 1668, Robert Beacham and Elizabeth, former wife of Edward Jessup, are on record as signing a deed in the Riding of North Yorkshire, Long Island.5 On this same date, Thomas Hunt, son-in-law of Elizabeth, purchased all of the lands in Westchester that had formerly been Edward Jessop's.6 On 4 November 1668, Robert and Elizabeth Jessop obtained a license to marry in Westchester County, New York. Robert married 2nd Elizabeth Jessop on or shortly after 4 November 1668 in Westchester County.7 Robert finds himself again in court at Fairfield in a dispute of the ownership of his land called Maxemus in Westort, Westchester County, which had been priviously heard at Harford. In both cases, findings were for the Defendant, Robert Beacham.8 Robert made his will on 24 November 1688.

The Last will and testament of me Robert Beacham of Maximus Farms in fairfiled in ye territory of new England beinb week of Body but of perfet understanding is as followeth viz: Imprimis I Commit my soul into ye hands of my most merciful Creator hoping for Salvation and ye Alone merits & Satisfaction of my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ & my body to a comely buriall: & as for my worldly Goods my Just debt being first paid, I dispose of it as followeth, viz: I give & bequeath unto my Grand Child Robert Lockwood all my Lands & housing in ye said Fairfield, he to Enter upon & possess ye same after my widows decease: and paying within one year after ye same four score pounds to my Grand Child Susana Lockwood and three score pounds to my other two grand Children John Lockwood and Sarah Lockwood as they respectively arrive at age according to Law; Excepting only my Second division at Compaw which I have already given to Edward Jessop. – I give & bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Beacham ye use & improvement of all my housing ad Lands during her natural Life & ye return of what Estate I received with her according to a former agreement, She keeping in repaire ye housing & fences & Rile She so improves – I make and Constitute my Loving Son in law Joseph Lockwood Soall Executor of this my Last will and testament he to allow my said wife Seven pounds to lay out in Apparill for her Self In witness where of and for Confirmation thereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seall this twentifourth day of November in ye year of our Lord 1688 in ye fourth year of his Majesties Reighn Robert Beacham his mark – Signed & Sealled in presence of us John Bur Josiah Harnoye.9

Robert departed this life in Fairfield.10 The inventory of Robert's estate was taken on Thursday, 2 March 1690 by Daniel Lockwood & Josiah Harvey. The estate was valued at 179 pounds 10 shillings. His will was probated on 20 March 1690.11

Child of Robert Beacham

Citations

  1. [S2105] Robert Beacham, Robert Beacham was a founding settler of Norwalk, Connecticut. He originally settled at Ipswitch, Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1648. His land in Norwalk was immediately south of the present day site of the East Norwalk Historical Cemetery, and the bridge leading south from that area was formerly called Beacham's Bridge. Due to his location being in between the main area of the settlement and the area then called The Neck where cattle grazed, he served as a "gate-keeper." He left Norwalk in 1657 or 1658,[3] and settled near Green's Farms in present-day Westport. He was made afreeman of Fairfield in 1664.
    Born: England
    Died: prior to 1695
    Spouse Robert Beacham: First wife’s name unknown
          Elizabeth [widow of Edward Jessop]
    Children: Isabelle [child of Beacham’s first marriage].
  2. [S2101] Vital Records from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register: Volume 2 page 50.
  3. [S2103] Richard LaBaron Brown, Early Rehoboth Families and Events, page 237 - 21 Sept. 1653 – At the Quarterly Court held at Salem – writ: Joseph Jewett attorney to Richard Wright vs. Richard Bets and Robert Beacham. For damages sustained by Thomas Scott, Sr., of Ipswich taking away his corn, said Bets and Beacham being sureties. Bond dated 21:7:1652 Thomas Scott, Robert Beacham, [X] mark of Richard Beates, to secure Richard Wright from all damages from his father Thomas Scott, Sr. of Ipswich.
  4. [S2107] Henry Griswold Jesup, Edward Jessup of West Farms, Westchester Co., New York and his descendants, page 68.
  5. [S2102] Memoranda Concerning the Elliot, Lane and Jessup Families, page 357.
  6. [S2104] A. Hatfield Jr., Early Settlers of West Farms, page 240 - In the year 1666 Edward Jessop died making his will Aug. 16, of the same, to which John Richardson was one of the witnesses, leaving his estate, with small bequests to his children, to his wife Elizabeth without the usual condition of not remarrying. On the 20 June 1668, Thomas Hunt, his son-in-law, purchased of “Robert Beacham and Elizabeth, the wife formerly of Edward Jessop, all those hoeing lands and accommodations that were formerly Edward Jessop’s within the bounds & limits of Westchester that the said Edward Jessop and John Richardson purchased together.
  7. [S2083] New England Marriages Prior to 1700: Volume 1 page 113.
  8. [S2108] Connecticut: Minutes of the Court of Assistants, 1669-1711: page 92 - James Newton as Attorney for his Brother Israel Newton, is Plaintiff Contra Robert Beacham is Defendant, by way of Appeal from a Judgement of the County Court at Fairfield March 13th 1682/3 which Action was an Action of Trespass on the Case, for Illegally restraining and keeping possession of the Land and privileges of his Father Thomas Newton deceased, which now of Right belongs to Said Israel, being and Lying in a place called Maxemus, now bankside, whereby the Plaintiff is Damnified by being kept from his Inheritance. . . . This Court find for the Defendant Cost of Court, and confirm the former Judgement of the Said Court in April last. Cost allowed is, Twenty nine shillings and Six pence. The plaintiff appeals to the General Court in October next.
  9. [S2106] Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999.
  10. [S80] Donald Lines Jacobus, History and Genealogy of The Families of Old Fairfield, Volume 1 page 45 - He was of Ipswich, Mass., 1648, of Norwalk by 1655, and removed to Fairfield by 1658. He acquired the right at Bankside or Maximus [Westport] which had belonged to Thomas Newton. He m. [1] Isabel _______, who joined him in a deed, 1659; m. [2] in 1668, Elizabeth, widow of Edward Jessop of Westchester.
  11. [S2106] Connecticut, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1609-1999: Robert's will and inventory were presented and accepted; mentioned in the records were: his Lockwood grandchildren, Robert, Susanna, John & Sarah; his wife, Elizabeth Beacham; his son-in-law Joseph Lockwood and his daughter Isabelle.