The Beaman Family

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

The Beaman Family

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

The name originally spelled BEMAN, now modernized to BEAMAN and BEEMAN. Gamaliel BEMAN settled at Dorchester, Mass., in 1636, his descendants removed to Connecticut and later to Vermont. One Simon BEMAN, of Springfield, Mass., married Alice YOUNG Oct. 15, 1654, and had sons, Josiah, (1) born Feb. 4, 1662; David, and perhaps others. There was a distribution of the estate of David, brother of Josiah, made in 1740, at Springfield, in which the property was divided among the representatives of his brother Josiah, then deceased, to John and Josiah (2) BEAMAN, and three sisters. There was also a grant of land to Josiah BEAMAN, Jr., in Brookfield, Mass., of 60 acres in 1717.

Josiah (1) married Martha _____, who died Nov. 1691. (2) Lydia WARNER Apr. 29, 1696, and had children: Simon, born Feb. 6, 1697; John, born July 16, 1699, moved to Brookfield, Mass., and Josiah (2) and three daughters.

After this date (1717) the name of Josiah BEAMAN (2) is lost in Massachusetts and is supposed to have gone West at a very early age and settled at or near Dover, NJ, and became interested in the iron business located there in 1720 by John JACKSON and the HURDs. There is tradition that he came from Vermont, but as Vermont was not settled at this early date, it is not probable. This Josiah (2) had sons: David, perhaps the oldest; Josiah, a daughter Abigail, who married Joseph EDMINSTER Feb. 19, 1747. She as his widow died Nov. 27, 1777, aged 50. Morristown Church Records show children: Hannah, baptized May 29, 1748; David, baptized Apr. 29, 1751; Ledia, baptized July 21, 1754, and Joseph, baptized Oct. 16, 1757.

David BEMAN, was a member of the Presbyterian church at Morristown, NJ, before the building of the church at Rockaway, and was one of the founders and builders, and original members of the church at Rockaway. He owned a forge, sawmill and gristmill at Rockaway, and was builder of some of the first gorges in this section, was forgeman, miller and carpenter. In the church he was sexton, elder, deacon and chorister.

David BEMAN, married (1) Mary STANSBORROUGH, daughter of Samuel. She died 1780. (2) Anna (JACKSON) AYRES, daughter of Gen. Joseph JACKSON, and widow of Robert AYRES. She was born Aug. 9, 1746, died Mar. 21, 1816, buried by the side of her first husband. David BEMAN died 1802, buried at Rockaway, but no monument, grave unknown.

Children of David and Mary: Josiah, baptized Oct. 3, 1756; Samuel, baptized June 10, 1759; Lydia, married Thomas CONGER, who was a blacksmith at Rockaway, and had children: Harriet, John, William, Phebe, Hannah and perhaps others. Joanna, baptized as adult Apr. 3, 1812, never married; Sarah, born July 13, 1765, married George STICKLE, died June 14, 1836, buried at Rockaway. Ruhama, married (1) _____ GREEN, of Denville. (2) ____ STRONG, who was lost at sea on a voyage to England about 1800. Children: Samuel, William, Susan, married _____ McELROY, of Denville, and Mary, who married (1) ______ SHOOR. (2) Beaman STICKLE as his second wife died at Aytelan, Wis., 1894.

Correction submitted by Kay Smith:
Children of David and Mary: Josiah, baptized Oct. 3, 1756; Samuel, baptized June 10, 1759; Lydia, married Thomas CONGER, who was a blacksmith at Rockaway, and had children: Harriet, John, William, Phebe, Hannah and perhaps others. Joanna, baptized as adult Apr. 3, 1812, never married; Sarah, born July 13, 1765, married George STICKLE, died June 14, 1836, buried at Rockaway. Ruhama, married (1) _____ GREEN, of Denville. (2) John STRONG, who was lost at sea on a voyage to England about 1800. Children: Samuel Beaman Strong married Susan E. Casterline on January 26, 1821 in Hanover Twp., William, Susan, married _____ McELROY, of Denville, and Mary, who married (1) Cornelius SHOOR. (2) Beaman STICKLE as his second wife died at Aytelan, Wis., 1894.

(Note: Susan E. Casterline was daughter of Daniel Casterline and Elizabeth Cave. Daniel was the son of Joseph Casterline (born June 10 1736) and Susannah Lyon.

Elizabeth Cave's surname of Cave is not listed in the Casterline section - Elizabeth was one of my great great great grandmothers. ~ Kay Smith (kaydsmith@hotmail.com))

Josiah BEAMAN, brother of David, was born 1732, married Huldah WINDS, a sister of General William WINDS, Sept. 11, 1760, died June 3, 1803. His wife was born 1729, died Aug. 15, 1792. Both buried at Rockaway. Children: Abijah, baptized June 27, 1762. Mention is made in General WINDS’ will, dated the day before his death Oct. 11, 1789, of Abigail, Huldah and Susanna BEEMAN, daughters of Josiah BEEMAN. "I give fifteen pounds each." It is probable that these were all the children living at that date of Josiah BEAMAN. [all spellings of BEEMAN and BEAMAN as listed in book]. The names Josiah and David are prominent in the family. The name is now not known, only through inter-marriage. Should any one know more of this family, once so prominent in the early enterprises, in church and Revolutionary service, I should be pleased to know so as to further preserve their records.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)

This page was last updated on 12/27/06