William Beale, Sr.

brief biography

From Here Comes Tomorrow: More Descendants of William Beale. 1900. p. 7.:

At the time William Beale came to Pennsylvania, there was an intense persecution of Quakers around Calne. They were arrested for attending meetings, taken before the Justice, and their households plundered to meet the 'expenses of carrying them to gaol. This persecution began in 1656 and continued until 1713, when it seems to have abated.

William Beale (1709-1800) came to Chester Co, in 1728. He settled in the Great Valley at West Whiteland, about three miles east of the present town of Downingtown. He, with his wife and children, were received into membership at Uwchlan Monthly Meeting, just over the line from West Whiteland, on 3-21-1750.

In 1760, William purchased extensive tracts of land in the Tuscarora for his three sons, Thomas, John, and David. In the Chester Co. Tax Rates for 1781, William is listed under West Whiteland and is taxed for 300 acres. In 1781, he is taxed for 318 acres.

William and his first wife, Mary, are both buried on their farm in West Whiteland, which was sold after William's death.

notes

• Event: Type: Migration Date: 1728 Place: Uwchlan, Chester, Pennsylvania Note: #N14411[15][16][17]
• Event: Received into membership. Type: Association Date: 21 MAR 1750 Place: Uwchlan Meeting, Uwchlan, Chester, Pennsylvania[18]
• Event: Oath of Allegiance Type: Civil Date: 1778 Place: Chester, Pennsylvania Note: #N14410
• Event: Type: Will Proved Date: 22 DEC 1800 Place: Chester, Pennsylvania Note: #N15268[14]

Will of William Beale

Provides for wife Rachel, including interest of £300, principal to be divided at her decease between 30 ""poor persons of honest reputation, not drunkards and having children, all inhabitants of Chester Co."" Executors to sell all land in Chester County. To son Thomas all my interest in the tract of land whereon he now dwells in Milford Township, Milford Co., containing 200 acres, also £100. To son William £80. To grandson David Beale, son of John, deceased, tract of land in Milford Township, containing 200 acres. To son John's children, £100 to be divided, except David. To daughter Susanna Butler £150. To son David, tract of land in Lock Township, containing 100 acres, also £100. To daughter Mary Hunt £50. To daughter Edith Whittaker £50. To niece Mary Kenny £10. To niece Elizabeth Hawley £10. To nephew David Jenkin £10. To niece Gwen Few £10. Executors: Sons David Beale, Samuel Hunt. Wit. to Codicil: John Mather, William B. Hunt. Codicils: Nov. 26, 1798. Dec. 22, 1800.

Will

In the name of God, Amen, I, William Beale, of West Whiteland, being of sound and disposing mind, and memory; do make this, my last Will and Testament, in manner following: viz - first, I recommend my soule to Almighty God, who give it, and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor here-after named; and all my funeral charges and legal debts fully paid by them, I give and bequeath to my loveing wife, Rachel Beale, one horse or mare and all her effects which she brought with her, Goods and Chattles, being her property before marriage, Likewise all her wearing apparell and all she purchased since marriage, together with all the little things she claims in the house, Also I give and bequeath to her the Intrest of Three Hundred Pounds yearly and every year in lieu of, or as her full dower of my Estate, Real and Personal, during her natural life. The said sum of Three Hundred Pounds before mentioned, after her decease to be equally divided between Thirty poor Persons of honest reputation not Riotous or Drunkards, having children, all inhabitants of Chester County not chargeable to the Town. And my will is that my executors shall sell all my land that I hold in Chester County to be sold subjects to the Three Hundred Pounds which my wife is to have the use of, or in lieu of her dower, The Terms of sale and payments of the land to be at the discretion of my executor. 2nd, I give and bequeath to my son, Thomas Beale, his heirs or assigns forever all my right, title, claim, interest, &c, of, in, and to the Tract: of Land whereon he now dwells, in Milford Township, Mifflin County, bounded by Anderson's land, Thomas Beales', Tuscarora Creek, James Woralls and said Beales other land, a barren Ridge, Dennis Mellroy, John Mateer, John Beale, deceased, and my other lands hereafter named to my Grandson, David Beale, thence along the road from the meeting house to the old corner near the old Barn, on the Hill thence south twenty three degrees east forty two perches, to a small black oak, thence north, seventy eight degrees east untill the line comes within two perches of his mill thence up the course of the race, two perches from the same up to the point of Rocks, back of the old Garden, to the place of beginning containing Two Hundred acres more or less being the whole of the patent called Mount Pleasant, and part of Williamsburg with appurtenances thereunto belonging, Likewise I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Beale the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid out of my estate, 3rdly. I give and bequeath to my son., William Beale, the sum of Eighty pounds to him and his heirs to be paid out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands; Further, (I give my executors full power and Authority that if any person, or person, being Creditors of my son William shall being in any account legally attested the said executors shall have full power to pay the same so proven to the whole amount of his legacy, taking receipts for the same, which shall be a full discharge for the said sum or sums so payd by them, 4thly. I give and bequeath to my Grandson, David Beale, son of John Beale, deceased, all that tract of land lately occupied by Jno Harky, to him, his heirs, and assigns forever in Milford Township, beginning at the corner near the meeting house thence down the lane to the corner near the old Barn on the hill, thence south twenty three degrees east forty two perches of the Mill thence up to the Race within two perches of the same till it strikes the point of Rocks back of the old Garden thence up the creek including the small islands to the upper end of the Bottom, untill the line strikes the new survey, thence along Coxe's line till it strikes my old survey, thence along it, adjoining O'Reson's Land and so round to the meeting house, the Place of beginning, containing two hundred acres more or less. Providing nevertheless that the said David Beale or his heirs should renounce and forever quit claim to all and every part of his Father's John Beale's estate, real and personal, otherwise the last section shall be null and of none effect. Likewise I give and bequeath to my son John Beale's children the sum of One hundred pounds to be equally divided amongst them, share and share alike. (David Beale only excepted) as then and their Father John Beale's full share of my whole estate to be paid out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands and debarring the said heirs or any of them from any further division of my Estate. 5th. I give and bequeath to my laughter Susanna-Butler or her heirs the full sum of One Hundred and fifty Pounds to be paid out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands. 6th. I give and bequeath to my son David Beale his heirs and assigns forever all that tract of land in Lack Township bounded by Nicholas Frederick and his other lands containing one hundred acres more or less with the appurtenances "Called Security". Likewise I give and bequeath to my son David Beale 3r his heirs the full sum of One hundred pounds to be paid out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands. 7th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Hunt Fifty pounds to be paid out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands to be paid to her or her heirs. 8th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Edith Whitaker or her heirs the sum of Fifty pounds out of the money arising out of the sale of my lands to be paid her. 9th. I give and bequeath to my nephew Thomas Spackman or his heirs the sum of ten pounds. 10th, I give and bequeath to my nephew Isaac Spackman or his heirs the sum of ten pounds. 11th. I give and bequeath to my niece Mary Kenny or her heirs the sum of ten pounds. 12th. I give and bequeath to my niece Elizabeth Hawley or her heirs the sum of ten pounds. 13th. I give and bequeath to my nephew David Jenkin or his heirs the sum of ten pounds. 14th. T give and bequeath to my niece Grace Pew or her heirs the sum of ten pounds and when my executors have sold my whole Estate, Real and Personal, after paying all my just debts that they shall pay all those of my aforesaid Legatees in the proportionable sums to the sums left each Legatee as the payment of the land shall become due. Then after all my funeral charges &c and legatees afforesaid are discharged that then the Residue, Remainder, and Revision of my whole Estate, Real and Personal shall be divided equally amongst my children hereafter named viz. Thomas Beale, Wm. Beale, Susanna Butler, David Beale, Mary Hunt, and Edith Whitaker or their respective heirs. But if any of my children or their heirs shall bring in any account against me or my estate that my Books shall remain open against him or her or any of them but in case none of my children should bring in any accounts whatsoever against me then I hereby balance and close my book against him or her or all of them. Lastly I do ordain, nominate, constitute and appoint my sons David Beale and Samuel Hunt jointly to be the sole executors of this my will and Testament giving them my full strength and power to act as herein directed and for so doing they shall receive fifty pounds and no more commissions or reward for so doing - as witness my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and ninety Three, Wm. Beale Witness present signing and sealing James Milleson (removed out of the parts) Richard White Codicil I, William Beale, Senr., of West Whiteland do make this Codicil or addition to my last Will and Testament. Dated the Twenty Fifth day of May One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three., is as follows viz. first, I now do give and bequeath as mentioned in the aforesaid will to my son, Thomas Beale the tract of land with the appurtenances to him and his wife, Sarah Beale for and during and to the full end of their natural lives in such manner that said Thomas' creditors shall not disturb or molest him or them in the full enjoyment thereof during said term and after both their deaths said Tract shall descend as directed in the aforesaid will and further I do charge and enjoin it on my executors that they shall pay out of what falls or is willed to my son Thomas the amounts of what my son David Beale and Thomas Beale's son William Beale is bound for said Thomas out of the first monies that shall be coming to said Thomas out of my estate after my decease. And further I do authorize and appoint my executors or the persons appointed by them to have the whole management of the Tract of Land that is willed to my grandson David Beale, son of John Beale, and to lease it to the best advantage and give to the said David the rents or profits thereof as they may see cause or as occasion requires and if said David should die without lawfull issue then said tract shall be sold and the price thereof equally divided between his brothers and sisters or their re-spective heirs being descendants of my son John Beale. And I likewise in said will did give And bequeath Three Hundred pounds to the poor people of Chester County now I do revoke that clause concerning the same and I do hereby give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Beale the said sum of Three Hundred pounds in full of her dower. In Witness whereof I set my hand and al this twenty sixth day of November, 1798, William Beale

• Name: William Beale Year: 1778 Place: Pennsylvania Primary Immigrant: Beale, William Source Bibliography: WESTCOTT, THOMPSON. Names of Persons Who Took the Oath of Allegiance to the State of Pennsylvania between the Years 1777-1789.... Philadelphia: Campbell, 1865. 145p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1965.
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