John Beebe of New London

HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF STONINGTON, County of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900, by Richard Anson Wheeler, New London, CT, 1900, p. 695

John Beebe III.,[v] baptized 4 Nov 1628 in Broughton, Northamptonshire, England,3 occupation Farmer Soldier, d. 14 Apr 1708 in New London, New London, Connecticut.[vi] He was a farmer and lived in Broughton, Northamptonshire, England. In 1649 he and his brother Samuel Beebe emigrated to the American colonies, and later that year they were living in Gloucester, Essex, MA. In late 1650 or early 1651 he moved to New London, New London, CT where he spent the remainder of his life.

His name appears frequently in early New London land records where he was granted land: house lots in Poquiogh and Fog Plain in the spring of 1651; one acre in 1651 Sep 4; five acres in 1651 Dec 2; six acres in 1652 Mar 5; and land situated east of the Mystic River in 1652. In 1651 he was listed as among the grantees and planters of New London, CT.

In the summer of 1676, Ensign John Beebe on New London, with Captain George Denison, was with a company which was raised in New London County for the Indian War. There was once a dispute between the New London and Lyme people over the right to mow grass on debatable land. When the Lyme people came with a constable who began to read a warrant for the apprehension of another ensign, Sergeant Beebe interruped him crying "we care not a straw for your paper." There was a struggle between the two parties which did not result seriously to either side. In 1671-2, he was brought before the court, with many others in New London, "for an attempt to drive Mr. Matthew Griswold and Lieut. William Waller by violence off their lands, resistance to authority and assault." Very likely he had been for some time on the plantation of New London in the service of John Winthrop, the founder. In 1707, he deeded 31 acres to his son Benjamin. This deed was recorded 28 April 1714 but he was probably dead at that time. He was called a "Leather Dresser" in a deed dated 1660. In 1675, he was appointed Ensign by the general court. During King Philip's War in June 1676, he went on several expeditions against the Indians to Rhode Island, Taunton and beyond Westfield, MA on the way to Albany. On one of these expeditions, the company ascended the Connecticut River to Northampton, where they joined Major Talcot with supplies of which the army was in urgent need. In 1690, he was commissioned a lieutenant.

Clarence Beebe in "John Beebe of Broughton," 1921, says his death was "about April 1714."