Thomas Beal Sr. Timeline- Chatham County NCGenWeb

ABOUT 1740. THOMAS is born. This is an estimate based upon the fact that his son DANIEL was reported, in the 1810 U.S.Census. to be over the age of 45 and, therefore, born before 1765.

1752-1753. From the book The Genealogy of the BEALE Family 1399-1956 by Frances Beal Smith Hodges ( Mrs. Luke Hodges ), Wichita Falls, Texas, Published by Edwards Brothers, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1956, we have the following

The history of the BUFFALO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, now in GREENSBORO, GUILFORD COUNTY, lists THOMAS BEAL as one of the settlers who came from RISING SUN, MARYLAND in 1752/53. A son JOHN died in the Revolutionary War, May 1778, at VALLEY FORGE, PA. Children in will : DANIEL, JOHN, JOSHUA, BENJAMIN, THOMAS, BRITAIN, MARY SMITH, PATSY POPLIN, ANN TAYLOR, LYDA DOTSON, JENNY DOTSON. A note says that Buffalo Presbyterian Church was then in ROWAN COUNTY. The book is in the North Carolina State Library in Raleigh.

But, in a letter to Mrs. Mary Jayne Aylward on June 17, 1982, John D. Beal, Jr., of 3012 Bayless Drive SW, Huntsville, Alabama 35805 says " It seems that the JOHN BEALE of BUFFALO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH may be a false lead but no one has found records of CECIL COUNTY and RISING SUN, MARYLAND ".

We must regard this information with some degree of suspicion for now.

A QUAKER HERITAGE ?
Some have thought that that THOMAS BEAL who died in Chatham County, NC in 1823 was the son of THOMAS and SARAH ANTRIM BEALS of the NEW GARDEN MONTHLY MEETING. The writer believes that that is not the case. THOMAS and SARAH did have a son, THOMAS BEALS, JR., born on October 29, 1745, according to the Quaker Encyclopedia.
But, for the following reasons, it seeems that he is not the Chatham County THOMAS BEAL.

The Friends Historical Collection, at Guilford College in Greensboro, NC contains a letter written by Mr. Jerry L. Sanner of Honolulu, Hawaii in 1989. Mr. Sanner sent a William George family history which contains this information about THOMAS, the son of THOMAS and SARAH. It says that THOMAS was the father of TABITHA BEALS and that TABITHA was born in East Tennessee in 1786.

We know that THOMAS BEAL of Chatham County was living in Chatham County in 1786. This seems to rule out the possibility that he was the son of THOMAS and SARAH.

BEFORE 1760. THOMAS is married to ANN NORRIS. This fact is from a Beal family summary by MRS. LAURA WADDLE, Route 5, Box 4600, Lexington, Tennessee 38351. The before 1760 date is also implied by the date given for the will of DANIEL NORRIS, in the ORANGE COUNTY Abstracts, in which THOMAS is named as DANIEL's son-in-law. See the 27 MAY 1765 entry, below.

NOVEMBER 1763. THOMAS BEAL, DANIEL NORRIS, SAMUEL TEMPLES, THOMAS DOWDY and others were ordered, by the Orange County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, to lay out a road from BEAR CREEK to CUMBERLAND line. This information is from the book Abstracts of the Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Orange County in the Province of North Carolina, September 1752 through August 1766, compiled by Ruth Herndon Shields.

27 MAY 1765.DANIEL NORRIS, of Orange County, North Carolina, writes his will. He leaves the bulk of his estate to THOMAS BEAL, his son-in-law.
" Imprimus, I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, THOMAS BEALE, the plantation whereon I now live containing 220 acres of land lying on both sides the BEAR CREEK.
After the death of his mother, to him his heirs and assigns forever"......and all the rest of my estate I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife MATHEWS NORRIS during her life and after her death to the above named THOMAS BEALE.....lastly I do nominate, constitute and appoint my loving wife MATHEWS NORRIS and my son-in- law THOMAS BEALE executors of this my last will and testament......

NOTE: The above is from a typed copy of the will. In a book entitled Abstracts of Wills Recorded 1752 through 1800 in Orange County, North Carolina in Will Books A, B and C plus 20 pages in Book D. Compiled by Ruth Herndon Shields, Chairman, Genealogical Records committee of Davie Poplar Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; item A-37 says " Will of DANIEL NORRIS. Dated 27 May 1760, proved August 1765. " The discrepancy is that the will reads May 1765 and the abstract says that the will is dated 27 May 1765.

I will investigate this further by getting a copy of the handwritten will from the NC archives.

It is likely that the Abstract is correct. For DANIEL, the oldest son of THOMAS and his wife ANN NORRIS, was born before 1765. This is implied from the 1810 census, in which DANIEL is reported to be over the age of 45.

15 DECEMBER 1769. GEORGE POPLIN of ORANGE, planter, to THOMAS BEAL of same, thirty pounds, 75 acres, begin at the south side of BAIR ( sic ) CREEK at a small branch called Pine Pool Branch, up branch to head, S course to POPLIN'S line, sd. line E to a small drain called ROCKY BRANCH, down branch to BAIR CREEK, up creek to first station, part of 550 acres from GRANVILLE to POPLIN ; signed GEORGE ( X ) POPLIN; witness: CHARLES SMITH, BENJAMIN ( X ) MAULDEN; proved July term 1770 by MAULDEN. ( Ed. note: See also Granville Deeds and Surveys # 557 ).

NOTE: This abstract is from page 56 of the book " Orange County Records, Vol. III, Deed Book 3, Abstracts; edited by William D. Bennett, C.G.; Privately Published, Raleigh, NC, 1990 ". It is, apparently from page 291 of Deed Book 3.

15 DECEMBER 1769. GEORGE POPLIN of Orange, planter, to BENJAMIN MAULDIN, of same, thirty pounds, 75 acres. Begin on south side of BAIR ( sic ) Creek, at the mouth of a small drain commonly called ROCKY BRANCH, up branch to POPLIN'S line, along his line E. to a cor. white oak sapling on a hillside, along POPLIN'S end line north to BAIR CREEK, up creek to first station, part of 550 acres from GRANVILLE to POPLIN; signed GEORGE ( R ) POPLIN; witness CHARLES SMITH, THOMAS ( R ) BEAL; proved July Term 1770 by BEAL. ( Ed. note: See also Granville Deeds & Surveys # 557 ).

NOTE: This abstract is from page 61 of the above mentioned book, apparently from page 320 of Deed Book 3.

1772. THOMAS is in Captain JOAB BROOKS' company in the Chatham County Militia. This is reported in the book CHATHAM COUNTY 1771-1971 by Hadley, Horton and Stroud, Delmar Printing Co., Charlotte, NC, page 449. It is said that there is a record of his service in REVOLUTIONARY ARMY ACCOUNTS, vol. 12, p. 8. folio 2, #5808, 1 October 1783.

1774-1779 THOMAS is named many times in a book entitled EXCERPTS FROM CHATHAM COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA COURT MINUTES 1774-1779.

o He was one of a jury of 12 men appointed to review the road called Husband's from where it joins the Quakers road to Popland's ford on Bair ( sic ) Creek & from thence to the iron works.
o He recorded his mark. A crop and hole in each ear and half moon under the right.
o He was one of a jury appointed to lay out a road from Chatham Court House to Aaron Evans' mill and from thence into the road leading to Cross Creek.
o He was one of a jury of 12 appointed to lay out the best road from the iron works on Deep River to Cumberland line.
o He was appointed overseer of the road in room of Benjamin Clanton " in room of " (may mean " in place of " ).
o He was one of a jury appointed to lay out a road from Chatham Court House to Evans' mill and from the said mill to the county line by the most direct course to Robert Cheek's ford on Deep River.
o He was one of three men appointed assessors of District No. 5. District 5 included " all the lands on the south side of Deep River in this ( Chatham ) county below the road leading from Conner Dowd's mill to the county line down to Rigdon's Ferry road and north of Deep River from the mouth of Rockey River to the mouth of Bear Creek and up Bear Creek to John Nall's and thence along the road to Dowd's mill".
o Thomas Taylor appointed overseer of the road from Bear Creek to Rigdon's Ferry in the room of Thomas Beal.
o He was one of a jury to lay out a road the best way from the iron works to Cumberland line
o He was one of a jury to lay out a road from the Quaker road at the Ore Hill furnice (sic ) the best way to the forge on Deep River.
o He served as a juror at the Chatham County Court 5 times.

1781 - 1785 THOMAS is named many times in a book entitled EXCERPTS FROM CHATHAM COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA MINUTES 1781 - 1785

o Deed from Aaron Harlon and wife to Thomas Beal proved by William Hart
o Thomas Beal appointed overseer of the road from Bear Creek to Moses Terrell's
on Deep River.
o William Moody appointed overseer of the road from the widow Headen's to Thomas Beal's.
o Deed from Richard Mauldin to Robert Spires proved by Thomas Beal
o The will of Samuel Temple proved by Thomas Beal, a subscribing witness.
Whereupon Thomas Brooks Ju'r & Thomas Beal were qualified as executors.
o Deed from Richard Mauldin to Thomas Beal proved by John Thompson.
o Deed from George Poplin to Thomas Beal proved by James Boyd.
o Parish Self appointed overseer of the road in the room of Thomas Beal
o He served, 7 times, as a juror at the Chatham County Court.

FEBRUARY 1785 - MAY 1785 and MAY 1790 - AUGUST 1792 THOMAS is named in the book entitled EXCERPTS FROM CHATHAM COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA COURT MINUTES, VOL. 3 FEBRUARY 1785 - MAY 1785 ; MAY 1790 - AUGUST 1792.

o Major James Anderson appointed overseer of the road from Thomas Beal's on Bear Creek across his ferry on Deep River to Moore County line.
o William Goldston appointed overseer of the road from the widow Hunter's to the Foard ( sic ) of Bear Creek at Thomas Beal's in the room of John Headen.
o He served, 7 times, as a juror at the Chatham County Court.

15 JANUARY 1784. SAMUEL TEMPLE names " my trusty friend THOMAS BEAL and my son-in-law THOMAS BROOKS " executors of his estate. THOMAS BEAL is a witness to the will. Thomas proved the will at February 1785 Session of Chatham County Court. Notes compiled by Mrs. Laura Waddle, Rt. 5, Box 4600, Lexington, Tennessee 38351 say that Mary Temple married Thomas Beal. Mary is named in the will but not as Thomas' wife.

6 FEBRUARY 1784. THOMAS pays 100 pounds to RICHARD MAULDIN of CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NC for 640 acres on the head of CEDAR CREEK in CHATHAM COUNTY. See Chatham County Deed Book C, page 467.

NOTE: The head of CEDAR CREEK is just east of the present day village of GOLDSTON.

1 JANUARY 1785. THOMAS buys 75 acres from GEORGE POPLIN & his wife PATTEY and from AVERILAGH POPLIN for 50 pounds. The land is on the south side of BEAR CREEK adjoining THOMAS BEAL and G. POPLIN. See Chatham County Deed Book C, page 225.

NOTE: THOMAS' will of 1820 names PATSY POPLIN as a daughter of his. Can this be PATTEY ?

8 APRIL 1785.THOMAS buys 200 acres from BENJAMIN MAULDIN for 50 pounds. The land is on the south side of ROCKY RIVER. DANIEL BEAL is a witness. See Chatham County Deed Book D, page 164.

U. S. CENSUS 1790. Thomas and sons Benjamin, Daniel and John are named as heads of household. Thomas' household includes

o 1 free, white male over 16 ( Thomas )
o 2 free, white males under 16. ( Joshua & Thomas, Jr.: Benjamin, Daniel & John were heads of household. (Britain was not yet born ).
o 3 free white females
o 1 slave

4 JULY 1794. THOMAS buys 2 tracts from FRANCIS FARRELL for 21 pounds. The first tract is 75 acres on the north side of BEAR CREEK at BEACH SPRING adjoining GEORGE POPLIN. The second tract is on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining JAMES WILLIAMS, CHARLES SMITH and BRINKLEY. See Chatham County Deed Book G, page 359.

7 JULY 1794. THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA granted 200 acres to THOMAS for a price of 30 shillings per 100 acres. The land was on the waters of GEORGE'S CREEK adjoining JOEL PATTERSON and BENNETT. See Chatham County Deed Book J, PAGE 82.

7 JULY 1794. THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA granted 100 acres to THOMAS for a price of 30 shillings per 100 acres. The land was on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining McDONALD. See Chatham County Deed Book J, PAGE 83. See also North Carolina Land Grant no. 1157 issued 7 July 1794, entry no. 13, entered 17 March 1791, book no.82, page no. 357.

12 AUGUST 1794
The following is a copy of what appears to be a Bill of Sale.

Know all men by these presents that we LUDWELL EVANS of MECHLINBURG COUNTY in the STATE of VIRGINIA and JAMES ANDERSON of CHATHAM COUNTY, STATE of NORTH CAROLINA for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to us in hand paid by THOMAS BEAL of CHATHAM COUNTY, STATE of NORTH CAROLINA the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged hath bargained, sold and delivered and by these presents doth bargain, sell and deliver & confirm unto the said THOMAS BEAL, his heirs and assigns forever a certain Negroe girl named ROSE about 10 years old and do hereby warrant and defend forever the said Negroe girl ROSE unto the said THOMAS BEAL his heirs and assigns against all lawful claims or demands of any person or persons whatever whereby the title of the said Negroe girl might or may be affected or incumbered contrary to the true meaning and intent of these presents, in witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four, signed, sealed and delivered in presence of -
Witnesses are: THOMAS THOMPSON, THOMAS BROOKS, Jurat & ARCHIBALD BOYD.
The document is signed by LUDWELL EVANS and JAMES ANDERSON. A note at the bottom of the document says that the document was proved at February Term 1795 by the oath of THOMAS BEAL.

Immediately following this document is the following Bill of Sale

Know all men by these presents that I HUDSON TAYLOR of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina for and in consideration of the sum of forty pounds specie to me in hand paid by THOMAS BEAL of the County and State aforesaid, the receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge have bargained, sold and delivered and by these presents do bargain, sell and deliver unto the said THOMAS BEAL a certain Negroe Boy named CHARLES.....

I do not have the rest of this document

16 JULY 1795. THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA GRANTED 61 acres to THOMAS at a price of 30 shillings per 100 acres. The land was on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining JAMES Mc DANIEL, DANIEL BEAL,COX and BOYD. See Chatham County Deed Book J, page 84. See also North Carolina Land Grant records, Grant no. 1224, entry no. 76, entered 20 June 1792, book no. 87, page no. 395. FIELDS and DANIEL BEAL were chain carriers for the surveyor on 26 July 1793.

9 FEBRUARY 1796. THOMAS BEAL and WILLIAM DARK bought 640 acres from the estate of JOHN WILLCOX for 35 pounds, 11 shillings and 2 pence. The land was on both sides of the south fork of CEDAR CREEK.

13 OCTOBER 1797. THOMAS sold 2 tracts of land to GEORGE DODSON for 60 pounds.
The first tract was on the north side of BEAR CREEK adjoining GEORGE POPLIN and PATRICK'S BRANCH, 75 acres. The second tract was on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining JAMES WILLIAMS, CHARLES SMITH and BRINKLEY. See Chatham County Deed Book K, page 218.

NOTE: This is the same land that THOMAS bought from FRANCIS FARRELL for 21 pounds on 4 July 1794.

NOTE: THOMAS' 1820 will showed that he had 2 daughters LYDA and JINNY DOTSON.

1800. The THOMAS BIEL ( sic ) family is listed as follows in the U.S. Census for Chatham County.

o 1 free, white male over the age of 45
o 1 free, white female aged 10 to 16
o 1 free, white female over the age of 45
o 8 slaves

NOTE: Thomas's son Britain was born in 1805. It is unlikely that his mother was over 50 when she gave birth. The woman in this 1800 census may be Thomas' first wife Ann Norris, with Britain's mother being Mary Temple. See the entry for 15 January 1784.

28 FEBRUARY 1801. THOMAS and WILLIAM DARK sold 640 acres to RICHARD DOWD, JR. for 200 pounds. The land was on the waters of CEDAR CREEK & the waters of DEEP RIVER. See Chatham County Deed Book L, page 218.

17 SEPTEMBER 1802. THOMAS BEAL, assignee of FRANCES FARRELL, receives a 50 acre land grant from the State of North Carolina. Grant no. 1653, entry no. 76, entered March 16, 1792, Book no. 115, page no. 340. The land was described as follows

Survey the 26th day of September 1796. fifty acres of land for THOMAS BEAL, assignee of FRANCES FARRELL by warrant no. 76 on the waters of BEAR CREEK. Beginning at a pine FARRELL'S old line, running north 67 poles to a Spanish Oak, then west 119 poles to a forked pine, then south 67 poles to a white oak, PARISH SELF's corner, the east 119 poles to the beginning.
JOHN BEAL and ANDERS were chain carriers for the surveyor.

NOTE: This is probably the same tract, which THOMAS and WILLIAM bought from the estate of JOHN WILLCOX for 35 pounds, 11 shillings and 2 pence on 9 February 1796.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1806
Archibald McIntire is appointed overseer of the road from Brantly's Ferry on Deep River to Bear Creek in the room of Jesse Poe and is to have the following hands to work under him, to wit: His own hands, Col. Taylor's hands on Deep River, Johnston Parish, John Godfrey, Bennett Fields, James Bennett, Elijah Hinson, Henry Moody, Sen., William Dowdy, Balaam Dowdy, Thomas Beal's hands, Henry Poplin, George Poplin, Barney Stewart and Jesse Poe's hands.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1807
James Bennett is appointed overseer of the road, the ensuing year, in the room of Archibald McIntire from Brantly's Ferry on Deep River to Bear Creek and is to have the following hands to work under him, to wit: Archibald McIntire's hands, Col. Taylor's hands on Deep River, Johnston Parish, John Godfrey, Bennett Fields, Elijah Hinson, Henry Hodgkin, William Dowdy, Balaam Dowdy, Thomas Beal's hands, Henry Poplin, George Poplin, Barney Stewart and Jesse Poe's hands

29 DECEMBER 1807. THOMAS sold 100 acres to EPHRAIM OLDHAM for $110. The land was on the waters of CEDAR CREEK adjoining BEAL, MONS. See Chatham County Deed Book S, page 53.

19 MAY 1808. THOMAS BEAL, SR., planter, sold 61 acres to THOMAS FARISH, merchant, for $61. The land was on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining McDANIELS, DANIEL BEAL, COX and BOYD. See Chatham County Deed Book O, page 435.

NOTE: This is the land granted to THOMAS by the STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA at the rate of 30 shillings per 100 acres on 16 July 1795.

U.S. CENSUS - 1810 THOMAS and sons JOSHUA and DANIEL are named. THOMAS' household is listed as follows

o 1 free, white male under 10 ( Britain, born in 1805 )
o 1 free, white male in the 26 to 45 age range ( Thomas, Jr.: Benjamin, Daniel & John)
heads of household in the 1790 census. Joshua is a head of household in this 1810 census. Britain was 5 years old in 1810 ).
o 1 free, white male over 45 ( Thomas ).
o 1 free, white female aged 16 to 26.

NOTE: I identified THOMAS, JR. as being the 26 to 45 year old man living in this household by showing that all of the other sons of THOMAS, SR. were heads of household in their own right. I overlooked the fact that THOMAS, JR. was already married in 1810. Would he still have been living with his father ? That is certainly possible. If he was living with his father, then the free, white female is his wife NANCY DOWD BEAL.

4 MARCH 1813. JOHN BEAL buys 200 acres from THOMAS BEAL,SR. for 50 pounds. The land was on the south side of ROCKY RIVER.

1815 TAX LIST OF CHATHAM COUNTY, NC, Edited by William Perry Johnson, 1975. THOMAS is listed as follows

BEAL,THOMAS, SENR. 1 wp 2bp 1200 a. Bear & Cedar Creek $2000.

NOTE: wp = white poll bp = black poll

29 JANUARY 1816. THOMAS sold 240 acres to JOHN and WILLIAM TOMLINSON for 250 pounds. The land was on the west side of AARON'S CREEK adjoining OBADIAH BRYANT and HOLLINAN. See Chatham County Deed Book U, page 192.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1816
Ordered that James Taylor be taken off the road leading from Thomas Beal's to Brantly's Ferry on Deep River and put on the Court House road from Brantly's road to the Gulph, whereof John Tysor is overseer.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1817
Thomas Beal, Sr. is a juror in the case of the State vs John Davidson

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
MONDAY, NOVEMBER SESSION 1817
Thomas Beal, Sr. is summoned as a juror for February 1818 Session

10 NOVEMBER 1817. THOMAS BEAL, SR. sells 100 acrres to THOMAS BEAL, JR. for $50. The land was on the waters of BEAR CREEK adjoining " his own corner " now DANIEL BEAL,SR., FARISH. See Chatham County Deed Book X, page 327.

25 JULY 1818. THOMAS BEAL, SR. and son JOSHUA sold 240 acres to ARCHIBALD McINTIRE for $600. The land was on the waters of CEDAR CREEK and DEEP RIVER “ where JOSHUA now lives" on the east side of MUNN BRANCH, part of THOMAS' "old" claim. DANIEL BEAL was a witness.

XHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, AUGUST SESSION 1818
A deed from Thomas and Joshua Beal to Archibald McIntyre proved by Thomas McCarroll and James Fields, subscribing witnesses.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER SESSION 1818
THOMAS BEAL, ASSIGNEE vs JAMES CARTER
The jury find the bond declared on amounts to one hundred and ninety one dollars and ninety eight cents and ( ) that there is no set off and assess the plaintiff damages by way of interest to nine dollars and twenty seven cents with costs of suit

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1820
Deed from Thomas Beal to Daniel Beal proved by Daniel Beal, Jr.

1 MARCH 1820. THOMAS writes his will. The principal provisions are

o He gave 5 pounds to each of his sons Daniel, John, Joshua, Benjamin and Thomas and to his daughters Mary Smith, Patsy Poplin, Anny Taylor, Lyda Dotson and Jinny Dotson.
o He gave to his grandson, Archibald Beal, son of Joshua Beal, " all that tract of land whereon my son Joshua Beal now lives, lying on Cedar Creek adjoining Archibald McIntire and others..."
o He gave to his son Britain " all that tract of land whereon I now live estimated at 220 acres, lying on both sides of Bear Creek..."
o He gave his negroes Charles, aged 40 years; Rose, aged 30 years; and her four children Cela, Jack, Uriah and Amy to Britain.
o He appoints " my beloved friends " William Guthrie and Edward Rives his executors

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1821
A Bill of Sale from Thomas Beal, Sr. to John Tyson ( Tysor ? ), Jr. proved by oath of Thomas Beal, Jr..

25 FEBRUARY 1821. GEORGE W. GOLDSTON sells 25 acres to THOMAS BEAL for $25. The land is on the waters of BEAR CREEK

Beginning at a Hickory on THOMAS BEAL'S line on the main prong of GEORGE'S CREEK. Thence down said creek to the fork to a hickory & haw tree where two or three branches make together. Thence along the northeast prong of said branch to the east and west line between said BEAL and GOLDSTON to a post oak . Thence west along said line bounded by farm lines to the beginning. See Chatham County Deed Book W, page 217.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, AUGUST SESSION 1821
Deed from Thomas Beal, Sr. to Thomas Beal, Jr. proved by William Hart

A Bill of Sale from Thomas Beal, Sr. to Thomas Beal, Jr. proved by William Hart

22 DECEMBER 1821. This indenture made this 22nd day of December in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and twenty one between Thomas Beal, Senr of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina of the one part and Britian Beal of the said county and state, son of the said Thomas Beal, Senr of the other part witnesseth that the said Thomas Beal, Senr ( ?) for and in consideration of the natural love and affection which he hath and beareth and to the said Britain his son hath given, granted, aliened, infeoffed and confirmed and by these presents doth give, grant, alien enfeoff and confirm unto the said Britian Beal all that tract or parcel of land whereon I now live lying on both sides of Bear Creek including three hundred acres adjoining to the south which I purchased of Richard Mauldin. The whole of said two tracts bounded as follows:

On the north by Henry Fields and James McDaniel, on the east by James McDaniel and
William Dowdy, on the south by the Meeting House ( Meroney's ? ) tract and Merrill Hart, on the west by Henry Fields containing by estimation five hundred and twenty acres be the same more or less.

Also on the tract known by the name of the upper place which I purchased of George Poplin and Frank Grubs bounded as follows:

On the west by William Hart late purchaser of ( Asa ? ) Ledbetter. On the north by Bear Creek, on the east by the Rocky Branch which is the boundary line between this tract and Henry Fields, on the south by John Oldham containing two hundred acres more or less to have and to hold....

This indenture was witnessed by Henry Fields and Archibald McIntyre and was proved at
February Session 1822 of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

The indenture is recorded in Chatham County Deed Book W, page 312

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1822
A bill of sale from Thomas Beal, Sr. to Thomas Beal, Jr. proved by oath of Britain Beal.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY SESSION 1823
Thomas Beal is appointed guardian to Martha Straughan, a minor orphan, and entered into
bond in the sum of five hundred dollars with Thomas Dowdy and John Stinson his Securities.
Duly approved by ( Jesse ? ) Bray, George W. Thompson and Eli Lawler, esq's present and approving of said Securities.

A pre-printed form, dated February 11, 1823, records the fact that Thomas Beal was appointed guardian of Martha Straughan. This document was obtained from the estate papers of James Straughan.

Another document, also obtained from the estate papers of James Straughan, is a record from the Chatham County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, November Term, 1820. It is a petition from Anna Straughan to the Court, and it reads

The petition of Anna Straughan, widow and relict of James Straughan, deceased, respectfully sheweth that the husband of your petitioner died sometime in the month of ( month was not named ) leaving a small property and an infant unnamed, that he made no provision for your petitioner, that at the present Term of this Court John Fooshee was appointed administrator of the estate of her deceased husband.

Now your petitioner prays your worships that the following Justices ? and freeholders viz. Thomas Farish, Thomas Mann ?, John McIver, Jr., Evander McIver, Jr. be appointed a committee to allot & apportion to your petitioner a sufficiency for one year's allowance of the stock, crops and provisions & that a copy of this petition be served on John Fooshee, Administrator and that the committee report to next Court.

Taken together, it is reasonable to suppose that Martha Straughan was the daughter of James and Anna Straughan, the unnamed in fant in the 1820 petition to the Court. Since Thomas Beal became the guardian of Martha, one imagines that Anna was a Beal who married James Straughan. Was she a granddaughter of Thomas ?

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, MAY SESSION 1823
A deed from Thomas and Joshua Beal to Archibald McIntyre proved by the oath of Thomas Dowdy.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, MAY SESSION 1823
The last will and testament of Thomas Beal, deceased, was duly exhibited in open court and proved by the oath of John Poplin and Thomas Clegg, subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded, whereupon Edward Rives, one of the executors therein named, came into court and was duly qualified.

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
WEDNESDAY, MAY SESSION 1823
Ordered by the court that the bond of Thomas Beal, guardian to Martha Straughan, a minor orphan, be cancelled from and after this court, and that Anna Straughan be and is appointed guardian to the said minor orphan in the room of the said Thomas Beal, who entered into bond \ in the sum of one hundred and twenty five dollars with Archibald McIntyre and Henry Fields his Securities, duly approved of by William C. Stedman, James H. Rogers, Thomas Farish & George Luther, esq's present and approving

MAY 1823. THOMAS' will is entered into probate. The following is an inventory of his estate made by Edward Rives

Five negroes ( viz ) Charles, Rufus, Jim, Amy and Jinny, four head of hogs, one mare called Meg, two plows and hoes, one mattock, one grubing hoe, one axe, two weeding hoes, two potts, one skillet, one grindstone, three beds and furniture, four sitting chairs, two tables, one chest, one cotton wheel, one cupboard, three jugs, one crosscut saw, one handsaw, one iron wedge, one froe, two old hogsheads, two barrells, one pocket book, one paper box.

Old notes. One on Eleazar Andrews for seven pounds, seven shillings due 25 December 1790, desperate, one on George and William Dotson for 20 pounds due December 1799, desperate, one on John Doughort for thirteen shillings due 1 July 1791.

The subscribers sale on Britain Beal, youngest son of said deceased, furnishing him with $284, to pay debts.

Was the Negro CHARLES the same man that THOMAS purchased from HUDSON TAYLOR in 1794 ?

CHATHAM COUNTY COURT OF PLEAS AND QUARTER SESSIONS
TUESDAY, AUGUST SESSION 1823
An inventory of the estate of Thomas Beal, dec. was returned to this court and ordered to be recorded.

Donald H. Rielly
dhrielly@aol.com