NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: J. Percy Crayon, Rockaway Records of Morris County, N. J. Families, (Rockaway, N.J., Rockaway Publishing Co., 1902)

Three brothers, the sons of Rev. John BEACH, of Devonshire, Eng., Richard, John and Thomas BEACH came from England to the New Haven Colony. Richard is first mentioned in 1639, John 1641 and Thomas 1647. Richard removed to Elizabeth, NJ, 1665, and from thence to Morris county 1688. John died at Wallingford, CT, 1667. Thomas removed to Milford, CT,, probably died there. His son Zopher, with sons Epenetus, Josiah, Samuel and Zopher, came to Newark in 1685. Descendents of the three "Pilgrims" settled in Morris county, but more prominent in at Rockaway and its vicinity are those of Pilgrim John and wife Mary.

Children: Elizabeth, born Mar. 8, 1652, married Eliasalph PRESTON, son of William, of New Haven, had eight children. John Jr., born Apr;. 1654, married Hannah STAPLES, daughter of Thomas, of Fairfield, CT, Dec. 18, 1689, had five children. Mary, born Sept. 1656, married Capt. Thomas YALE. Thomas, born May 1659, married (1) Ruth PECK, daughter of Paul, had four children; (2) Phebe WILCOXSEN, 1687, had eight children. He died May 14, 1741. Nathaniel, born Mar. 1662, married Sarah, daughter of John PORTER, of Windsor, CT, Apr. 29, 1686. She was born 1667, had ten children. Hannah, born Dec. 1665, married (1) Zachariah FAIRCHILD Nov. 3, 1681, had nine children. He was born Dec. 4, 1651, died June 3, 1703. She married (2) John BURWELL May 5, 1708. He died Feb. 1, 1727. Sarah, born Nov. 1667; Isaac, born June 27, 1669, married Hannah BIRDSLEY, daughter of John, of Stratford, CT, May 3, 1693, had six children. He died 1741. Joseph, born Feb. 5, 1671, married Abiah or Abigail BOOTH, daughter of Ebenezer, had six children, died Dec. 17, 1727. Benjamin, born at Wallingford, CT, Mar. 3, 1673-4, married Mary HITCHCOCK, daughter of James, of Wallingford, CT, 1695, settled at Cheshire, CT, 1696, removed to Newark 1714, and from thence to Hanover 1717. His wife was born Dec. 10, 1676. Benjamin and his family were the pioneers of the BEACH family in Morris county.

Children of Benjamin and Mary, all born at Wallingford, CT: Peter, born Sept. 14, 1696; Eunice, born Aug. 3, 1698, married Obadiah HOTCHKISS. Benjamin and Mary, (twins) born May 19, 1702; Noah born Nov. 15, 1705, married Hannah HARRIMAN, daughter of Joseph, who settled at Denville, died at Hanover July 20, 1780. Abner, born Sept. 17, 1708, married Sarah HARRIMAN, sister of Hannah, Mar. 1734, lived at Denville, died June 11, 1768, probably buried at Rockaway. Tabitha, born Feb. 12, 1712; Lydia, born Aug. 27, 1713.

Children of Noah and Hannah, of Hanover: Stephen, born 1732, married Patience BEDFORD, probable daughter of Timothy, Jan. 1, 1766. He made will Apr. 26, which was proved May 19, 1791, date of death unknown. His wife’s funeral sermon was preached at Hanover church Feb. 14, 1802. Nathaniel, born 1734, married Sarah PECK Jan. 30, 1755, died May 21, 1799. Wife’s funeral sermon May 30, 1811. Enoch, born 1737, married Mrs. Susan DARLING, a daughter of Joseph DAY. She was born 1739, died June 8, 1777. Married (2) Mrs. Hannah WHEELER, a daughter of David YOUNG, born June 13, 1747, died Nov. 14, 1827. He died at Hanover Mar. 7, 1814. Peter, born 1740, married, name unknown, died Jan. 10, 1777. He had two sons: Aaron, born 1765, died at Kingston, NY, 1826, and Cyrenus, born 1771, died at Newark 1829.

Children of Stephen and wife Patience: Sarah, born 1766, married Joseph WADE, had ten children, died Oct. 14, 1815. He was born 1765, and married (2) Nancy (TYLER) ALLING, died Dec. 19, 1818.

Noah, farmer at Hanover, born Aug. 19, 1768, (twin) married (1) Joanna, daughter of Thomas and Abigail (ROSS, of Rockaway) THOMPSON, July 3, 1791. She died Aug. 25, 1797. (2) Elizabeth LINDSLEY, Mar. 27, 1798. She was born at Orange 1768, died at Hanover Jan. 9. 1857. He died May 19, funeral sermon May 22, 1825.

Hannah, born Aug. 19, 1768, married Rev. Calvin GREEN Dec. 27, 1787, had six children, died July 14, 1847. He was born at Hanover July 25, 1765, died Feb. 3, 1847. Notes of funeral sermons were taken from Calvin GREEN’s diary. Jemima, born Aug. 28, 1770, married Caleb TUTTLE as second wife, the son of David and Sarah (COE) TUTTLE, Jan. 2, 1801, died Apr. 2, 1844. He was born July 14, 1758, died Apr. 27, 1832, lived at Hanover Neck, had one child. Phinehas, born Apr. 24, 1772, married (1) Patience THOMPSON Oct. 20, 1795. She was born June 29, 1773, funeral sermon June 8, 1824. (2) Patty (COOK) BALL Oct. 23, 1825. She was born 1784, died Mar. 2, 1847. He died July 16, 1835, had eight children. Peter, born Mar. 14, 1779, married Hannah MULFORD July 18, 1798. She was born May 14, 1778, died Dec. 10, 1829; was daughter of Christopher MULFORD, of Hanover Neck, and wife Jane ROSS, of Rockaway, NJ. He died Jan. 9, 1854, had thirteen children.

Children of Abner and Sarah, of Denville, NJ: Phebe, born Oct. 1, 1736; Joseph, born Oct. 5, 1738; Eunice, born Sept. 16, 1740; Isaac, born Oct. 11, 1742. Benjamin, the progenitor of the Rockaway BEACHEs, was born at Denville, NJ, Apr. 26, 1745, married (1) Jane ALLEN, daughter of Job and wife Christiana, of Rockaway. She was born at Denville, NJ, Dec. 22, 1751, died Apr. 16, 1780. (2) Nancy (SARREN or SEARING as now written) BIGALOW, widow of Daniel BIGALOW, of Rockaway. She was born Jan. 23, 1752, died Oct. 10, 1830. He died May 17, 1827. All buried at Rockaway. Ann or Crin, born Mar. 11, 1747; Abner, Jr., born July 11, 1749; Sarah born Oct. 21, 1751; Abraham, born Mar. 13, 1755; Ephraim, born June 5, 1757; David, born Jan. 19, 1761, married Phebe DANIELS, died Jan. 31, 1815, buried at Rockaway.

Children of Benjamin and wives Jane and Nancy: Eunice, born at Rockaway Jan. 2, 1770, married Joseph LOSEY, had one child, died Aug. 26, 1791. Benjamin, born at Rockaway Dec. 11, 1771, married (1) Catharine MILLER Mar. 11, 1797. She was daughter of John and Martha (COUGHLIN) MILLER, of Beach Glen, NJ, born May 12, 1776, died Apr. 15, 1808, had five children. (2) Olive BRADLEY at Elizabethtown, NY, July 21, 1808. She was born Mar. 14, 1786, died Feb. 23, 1821, had eleven children. (3) Mary HALCOMB, at Mentz, NY, Sept. 8, 1821. She was a daughter of Jedidah and Lydia (HAYSINGTON) HALCOMB, born Apr. 3, 1799, died Feb. 12, 1877, had nine children. He died Oct. 1, 1838, having had three wives and twenty-five children. Ruth, born at Beach Glen, as were all the other children, Oct. 28, 1773, married at Beach Glen, Abraham MOORE, who was born May 7, 1763, died Feb. 3, 1824, had nine children. She died May 10, 1815. Elizabeth, born Dec. 17, 1777, married Jeptha GARRIGUS at Beach Glen. He was son of David and Abigail (LOSEY) GARRIGUS, born June 7, 1776, died Jan. 22, 1868. She died June 25, 1833. They removed West and had thirteen children. Job Allen, born Apr. 5, 1780, married (1) Susannah HATHAWAY at Rockaway, June 12, 1800. She was daughter of Capt. Silas and Prudence (BALDWIN) HATHAWAY, born Oct. 12, 1780, died Dec. 6, 1822, had ten children. (2) Judith CONNELLY Aug. 26, 1824. She was born Dec. 2, 1805, had ten children. He died Apr. 17, 1849. Samuel SEARING, born Jan. 4, 1782, married Jane HOFF at Rockaway, June 27, 1805. She was daughter of Charles and Hannah (TUTTLE) HOFF, born Aug. 6, 1785, died Apr. 11, 1874, had eight children. He died Jan. 19, 1859. Both buried at Rockaway. Solomon, born Nov. 16, 1783, married at Chesterfield, SC, Sarah TERRY June 9, 1810. She was born Nov. 10, 1790, had four children. He died Aug. 12, 1850, Nancy, born Sept. 24, 1785, died Apr. 6, 1786; Joshua Munson, born Dec. 22, 1786, died Apr. 28, 1806. Both probably buried at Rockaway. Jane, born Mar. 26, 1789, married (1) at Beach Glen, Samuel DAY Aug. 9, 1806. He was son of Samuel and Anne, born Nov. 6, 1784, died Apr. 24, 1826, had ten children. (2) Jonah LEWIS in Indiana, Aug. 18, 1834. She died June 10, 1852. Chillion, born Aug. 10, 1792, married to (1) Cornelia DeCAMP at Longwood, NJ, Nov. 2, 1814. She was daughter of Joseph and Jane (TUTTLE) DeCAMP, born June 27, 1791, died Nov. 25, 1832, had nine children. (2) Catharine (RIGHTER) HARTWELL at Rockaway, Mar. 5, 1834. She was daughter of Casper RIGHTER, and widow of Cyrus HARTWELL, born Mar. 6, 1795, died June 21, 1884, no children. He died Sept. 26, 1842, buried at Rockaway. Nancy, born Aug. 12, 1794, married at Beach Glen, Daniel HATHAWAY, son of Capt. Silas, July 12, 1817, had nine children. He was born Jan. 4, 1790, died Dec. 2, 1862. She died Aug. 2, 1869. Both probably buried at Rockaway.

Children of David and Phebe, all born in New Jersey, and removed near Lake Champlain and Canada; Sarah, born 1784; William, born 1785; Phebe, born 1787; David, Jr., born 1790; Abraham, born 1791; Mahlon, born Oct. 26, 1793, married Mercy May CLOTHIER. She was born May 12, 1798. Nancy, born 1785; Benjamin, born 1798.

Children of Mahlon and Mercy, from records of Benson C. REACH (BEACH?): Iquois, Ontario, Elizabeth, born 1817; David, born 1819; Phebe, born 1821; Emeline, born 1823; Lyman C., born 1825; W. Henry, born 1828; Asa, born 1830; Mahlon Ford, born Nov. 10, 1833, married Louisa C. WICKWIRE, who was born Apr. 26, 1835. John W., born 1837; Mercy Ann, born 1839.

Children of Mahlon Ford and Louisa C.: Charles A., born 1866, Frederick, born 1868; Benson C., and Anson W. (twins) born 1870; Mahlon W., born 1872; Howard B., born 1873; D. Easton and G. Weston (twins) born 1875; Daniel, born 1877; J. Russell, born 1878; Olin A., born 1882.

Children of Enoch and wives Susan and Hannah: Samuel, born June 28, 1761, married Mary L. THOMAS, had four children, died May 11, 1793. Darling, born 1764, married Keturah GREEN, daughter of Rev. Jacob and Elizabeth (PIERSON) GREEN, Mar. 31, 1790, died Aug. 31, 1793, had one child, Elizabeth Darling, baptized 1791, married Rev. Elisha SWIFT, Oct. 3, 1817. Nancy, born July 19, 1767, married Abraham HALSEY Oct. 20, 1791, died Oct. 10, 1805. They had children: William Ely, born July 26, 1792, died 1793; Susan D., born July 3, 1794, married William, son of Capt. Stephen JACKSON, of Rockaway, died June 26, 1868. Samuel B., born July 24, 1796, died Sept. 15, 1871; Abraham, born Oct. 8, 1798, died Mar. 17, 1852; Silas D., born Nov. 22, 1801, died Feb. 17, 1881 (bad type – could be 1884); Electa D., born Sept. 12, 1804, died Sept. 22, 1806. Electa baptized Oct. 22, 1769, married (1) Silas DICKERSON May 21, 1795. He was born 1772, died July 7, 1807. (2) Col. Joseph JACKSON, of Rockaway, May 8, 1808. Gabriel, baptized Apr. 26, 1772, died young; Abigail, baptized Feb. 27, 1774, died young; Susanna, baptized Feb. 28, 1779, married Philomen BATES Mar. 11, 1800, who was born 1769, died Oct. 20, 1840. Removed to New York State. Catharine or Caty, was born June 13, 1782, baptized Aug. 11, married Rev. Barnabas KING, of Rockaway, Oct. 24, 1809, died July 13, 1821, had children: Elizabeth, who married James. L. PIERSON; Electa, married Rev. Baker JOHNSON, son of Mahlon, May 8, 1832. He was born Oct. 23, 1803, died Oct. 18, 1886. Barnabas B., was major in Civil War of Missouri Regiment and was killed at Pittsburg Landing, Apr. 6, 1862. He married Matilda CARNEGY. Susan, married Rev. Joseph F. TUTTLE, many years colleague of Rev. B. KING at Rockaway, removed to Crafordsville, Ind. John was drowned at San Francisco, Cal., Dec. 22, 1851. Samuel, married Jane D. BEACH, daughter of Chilion. Rev. Barnabus KING, married (2) Clarissa STRONG, widow of William THOMPSON. She was born Mar. 18, 1782, died July 29, 1860. He died Apr. 10, 1862, buried at Rockaway.

John, son of Capt. Enoch was born Nov. 14, 1790, died Aug. 20, 1793.

I am indebted to many of my correspondents and records of Rockaway, Morristown, Hanover and Newark for this and other BEACH lines. For fear this sketch and the reader’s patience may grow somewhat unequal, I leave out very many of the lines of later date. Fred H. BEACH, of Dover, has made extensive research in the line of John of later date, and George M. BEACH, of Chicago, has over 5,000 of the line of Zopher who came to Newark.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

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