Judge David Beale

DAR# A007834

Note N15269

From - Here Comes Tomorrow. More Descendants of William Beale (1709 - 1800). p.323-324:

In Rachel's childhood, her family was twice driven out by the Indians. It is not known whether David accompanied his father and party to Juniata Co. in May, 1761, at the time the land was surveyed. He was a single freeman at Milford in 1772, and after that at Bealetown (Honey Grove).

David and Rachel settled on the farm owned by his father, the Quaker, William Beale, of West Whiteland, Chester Co. David's two brothers, Thomas and John, also settled nearby on land also owned by their father, but which lay in a northern direction. The grist-mill and saw-mill, owned by David, were first assessed in 1775. He owned and ran the mills until his death. The stone house in Honey Grovel, which they built in 1814, is on part of the property. David was commissioned Associate Judge in Mifflin Co. (later Juniata Co.) on 17 March 1800. Honey Grove was formerly called "Beale's Mills" because of the mills. A settlement grew up around them. In 1839, a post-office was established, and Francis Snyder, the first postmaster, objected to the name, as it conflicted with "Bell's Mills" and set about having it changed. A swarm of bees made a hive in a house of William Van Sweringen's, so the name was changed to "Honey Grove".

There are several references to the mill in his father's will. His father held on to the land until his death in 1800, when it was willed to his sons, and in the case of John Beale, who had died in the Revolution, to his grandsons. By this time, David and Thomas had been prosperous and were owners of many acres.

David was named executor of his father's will, with his brother-in-law, Samuel Hunt, of Downingtown, husband of his sister, Mary. In the will, David received £150 and 100 acres in Lack Twp. The stone house they built bears the inscription, "D and R Beale, 1814", which is still standing* and occupied.

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