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    • Four Generations Tree
  • History of the Phelps Surname
    • Possible Origins of the Family in Germany and Italy
    • Spelling and Origin of the Name
    • Welf and Guelph, Possible Ancestors to the Phelps
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    • Origins in Wales
  • William Phelps 1630 Origins
    • William Phelps First Generations
    • William Phelps of Crewkerne, England
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    • William Phelps of Dorchester, Colony of Massachusetts
    • William Phelps 1672 Will
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    • George Phelps 1687 Will
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    • Phelps Origins in Nether Tyne, Checkley, England
    • Decendants of James Phelps of Nether Tyne, England
    • Decendants of James Phelps of Tewkesbury, England
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    • Tewkesbury, England
    • Crewkerne, England
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  • Phelps Arrival in America
    • Nathaniel Phelps of Dorchester, Connecticut
    • William Phelps of Northampton, Massachusetts
    • Elnathian Phelps b. c1734
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    • Organization of the Church in Windsor
    • The Phelps Homestead in Simsbury
  • Phelps Family Letters
    • Isaac Ensign and Cornelia Phelps
    • Ensign Letters from Simsbury to Forsyth
    • Correspondance of Oliver Roswell Phelps and Georgia Phelps
    • Ensign Family Letters
  • Phelps from New York to Illinois
    • Nehemiah West Leads the Settlers West
    • Hoosiers vs. Yankees: A Slave State or Not?
    • The (Ill-fated) Boat Party
    • Pioneer Architecture: From Log Cabins to Homes
    • Galesburg Grows Amidst the Jackson Panic
    • Founding of the Knox Manual Labor College
    • Household Skills in Pioneer Galesberg
    • Commerce is Established With Colton's Store
    • Food and Clothing in Early Galesburg
  • Family Origins in Illinois
    • Noble Phelps Moves West to Illinois
    • Knox County Pioneer Noble Phelps
    • Noble Phelps' Prize Farm
    • Premium for Phelps Best Farm
    • Seraphina Princess Phelps and George Avery
    • Ronald Aaron Noble Phelps 1881 Bio
    • Avery Company History
  • Phelps Family in California
    • Bart Phelps, Navy Telegrapher Radioman
    • Bart Phelps, Yerba Buena 1916 Radio Operations
    • Bart Phelps, Wailupe 1921 Radio Operations
    • Bart Phelps, Alaska 1924 Radio Operations
    • Annabeth Beasley Phelps
    • Harold Bartle "Bud" Phelps III
    • A Generation Passes
  • Bartle Family
    • Bartle Family Genealogy
    • The Daily Journal of Births and Deaths
    • Bartle First American Ancestors
    • Henry Hart Bartle Obituary
    • Henry Hart Bartle 1858-1929 Biograpahy
    • Nathanial Sanburn 1723, Kingston New Hampshire
    • Francis G. Sanburn 1899, of Knoxville, Illinois
    • William Toy Bartle Ministry
    • Nathanial Sanborn, 1814, of Canandaigua, New York
  • Beasley Family
    • Beasley Family Genealogy
    • First Known American Ancestors
    • The Price of Slaves 1850
    • Luther S. Beasley 1925 Obituary
    • John T. Beasley 1883-1950
    • John Beasley and Lizzie Bremser Marriage
    • John T. Beasley 1950 Obituary
    • Jane Beasley Raph Professional Life
    • Jane Beasley Raph 2001 Obituary
    • Annabeth Beasley Phelps, Mother and Provider
    • Annabeth Beasley Phelps 2001 Obituary
    • Brandy Station in the Civil War
    • T/5 Myron K. Ricketts, WWII Veteran
    • A Hero in Our Midst—Mac Butler's "Battlin' Blue Bastards"
    • Ephraim Beazley 1797 Deeds and Records
    • William Beazley 1824 Court Records and Will
  • Bremser Family
    • Bremser Family Genealogy
    • Finding Heinrich Gottlieb Bremser
    • The Family History
    • Coming to America
    • The Search for Henry Bremser
    • Henry Bremser 1864-1848 Bio
    • Henry Bremser 1864-1948 Obituary
    • Elizabeth Bremser 1888-1952 Biograhy
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    • Bremsers Origins in Germany
    • Bremser-Familiengeschichte (Deutch)
  • Christy Family
    • Guy Christy Horseshoes Collection
    • Christy Family First American Ancestors
    • Guy H Christy, Kentucky to California
    • 27th Illinois Infantry Regimental History
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      • The Civil War Medal
      • A Short Biography
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      • Mystery Revealed
  • Claggett Family
    • Claggett Family Genealogy
    • Claggett First Ancestors in America
    • Robert Clagget 1490 in England
    • Edward Clagett 1670 Emigration to America
    • Thomas Claggett 1703 of London and Maryland
    • Thomas Clagett 1732 Will
    • Samuel Claggett 1821, Revolutionary War Surgeon
    • Samuel Claggett 1846 of Virginia
    • Samuel Claggett and Julia F. Sanford Marriage Contract
    • Bernard Johnson Claggett 1919 Bio
    • The Price of Slaves 1850
    • Julia {Sanford} Claggett 1876 Civil War Claims
      • Deposition of Columbia Claggett
      • Commision Standard Interrogitories
      • Deposition of Sgt. Ereastus Weaver
      • Deposition of Lt.Frank Foot
      • Deposition of Julia Claggett
      • Deposition of Thomas Claggett
      • Testimony of Craven King
      • Testimony of William Francis
      • Testimony of Erastus Weaver
      • Map of Clagget Farm
      • Claim Exhibits
      • Battle of Bull Run
      • Battle of Brandy Station
      • 121st NY Volunteers
      • Complete Commission Transcript
    • Claggett Family Move to Illinois from Virginia
    • Sanford Ramey Claggett 1895 Obituary
    • Ann Claggett Beasley 1898 Obituary
    • Rev. Thomas John Claggett 1816, First American Episcopal Bishop
    • Thomas J. Claggett 1901 Obituary
    • Columbia Claggett 1904 Obituary
    • Brice Clagett, Family Genealogist
    • Claggett Coat of Arms
  • Diuguid Family
    • Diuguid Family Genealogy
    • George Christian Diuguid of Kentucky
    • The English Royal Connection
    • Harriet Diuguid's Letter About Her Ancestry
    • Diuguid Origins in America
    • Origin of the Diuguid Name
  • Klein Family
    • Klein Family Genealogy
    • Klein Origins in Germany
    • Klein Visit to 1922 Germany
  • Morgan Family
    • Morgan Family Genealogy
    • Utah Pioneer John Morgan
  • Loveland Family
    • Loveland Family Since 1556
  • Notable Family Members
    • 1600-1699
      • John Phelps, Court Clerk at the Trial of King Charles I
      • Anson Green Phelps, Merchant and Philanthropist
    • 1700-1799
      • Richard Phelps, Bell-founder for English Churches
      • Dr. Francis Phelps, Representative and Senator
      • Judge John Phelps, Publisher, Judge, Merchant, and Entrepreneur
      • Noah Phelps, A Spy at Ticonderoga, A Patriot of 1776
      • Oliver Phelps, Land Speculator, Judge, Congressman
      • William Wines Phelps, Judge, Mormon Publisher and Writer
      • William Wines Phelps Letters to Wife
      • William Wines Phelps Revelation Given
      • William Wines Phelps in Church History
      • William Wines Phelps Letter from Liberty Jail 1834
      • Samuel Shethar Phelps, Jurist, Congressman, and Senator
      • Nathanial Sanborn, Pioneer Settler of Canandaigua, New York
    • 1800-1849 A-M
      • Alfred Aaron Phelps, Wild West Show Rider
      • Austin Phelps, Congregational Minister, Educator
      • Charles Edward Phelps, Congressman, Judge, Author
      • Delos Porter Phelps, Lawyer, U.S. Assistant Treasurer
      • Edward John Phelps, American Lawyer, Diplomat
      • George M. Phelps, Master Telegraph Instrument Maker, Inventor
      • Dr. Guy Rowland Phelps, Founder, Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company
      • Judge James Phelps, Judge, Congressman
      • Judge John Jay Phelps, Publisher, Judge, Merchant, Entrepreneur
      • John Smith Phelps, Lawyer, Legislator
      • John Wolcott Phelps, Brigadier General, United States Volunteers
      • Mary Phelps Rich, Pioneer Saint in Tazewell County, Illinois
      • Francis G. Sanburn, Pioneer Resident of Knoxville, Illinois
    • 1800-1849 N-Z
      • Mary Anne Phelps Rich, Mormon Pioneer
      • Rev. Philip Phelps, Founder, First President, Western Theological Seminary
      • John Wesley Phelps, Deputy Sheriff of Hartford County, Connecticut
      • Stephen Sumner Phelps, Illinois Pioneer
      • Thomas Stowell Phelps, Civil War Naval Officer
      • William Walter Phelps, Congressman, Ambassador, Judge
    • 1850-1899
      • Mary Phelps Jacob, Inventor, Publisher
      • William Lyon Phelps, Educator, Literary Critic, Author
    • 1900-2020
      • Chance Russel Phelps, Private, USMC
  • Phelps Family Arms & Crest
    • About Coats of Arms
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    • Heraldic Glossary
  • Selected Family Wills
    • Thomas and Katherine Phylypp Wills 1556, Over Teyne, Checkeley, England
    • William Phelps 1672 Will, Windsor, Connecticut
    • Anthony Phillipps 1648 Will, Nether Teane, England
    • Francis Phylyppe 1648 Will, Checkley, England
    • Thomas Phylypp 1556 Will, Over Teyne, England
    • George Phelps 1687 Will, Westfield, Massachusetts
    • Timothy Phelps 1639 Will, Windsor, Connecticut
    • Natnaniel Phelps 1702 Will, Northampton, Massachusetts
    • Thomas Clagett 1708 Will, Calvert, Maryland
    • Thomas Clagett 1732 Will, Prince Georges, Maryland
    • Julia F Sanford 1727 Marriage Indenture
    • Ephraim Beazley 1797 Wills & Deeds, Spotsylvania, Virginia
    • Ephraim Beasley 1797 Deed Spotsylvania, Virginia
    • Ephraim Beasley 1798 to Elizabeth Beazley
    • Ephraim Beasley 1798 Will, Spotsylvania County, Virginia
    • Henry Beazley 1804 Indenture, Spotsylvania, Virginia
    • William Beazley 1828 Will, Culpeper, Virginia
    • William Beazley 1824 Court Records and Will
    • William Beazley 1852 Will, Culpeper, Virginia
    • Cornelius Beazley 1834 Will
    • Ephraim Beazley 1833 Mortgage
    • John Loveland 1649 Will
    • Ephraim Beazley 1798 Henry Beazley 1815 Indenture
    • James Phelps of North Caroline 1786 Estate
    • Robert Valentine Phelps 1905 Australia
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Descendants of Ephraim Beasley

Circa 1735 Virgnia to Frontier Illinois

My fourth great-grandfather William Beazley (1758-1824) m. Elizabeth "Ellie" (or "Ellis") ______. His family of Culpepper County is often confused by amateur family history researchers with William Beazley (1766-1826) m. Elizabeth Carlton of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

William Beazley of Culpepper County

William Beazley's family is well-established by court records documenting his death in 1824. His will was cited in an April 1838 lawsuit over the negroes belonging to the estate.

In his will, William makes an unusual provision for a Negro slave and her children:

Secondly it is my desire that the following children (who are children of my negro woman Nutly) named Lewis, Job, Joel, Frederick, Eliza, Moriah, and Jane be kept and raised among my children until arrive at age, the boys 21 and the girls 18, at which time they are to be emancipated.

These slaves and five others named John, Temple, Robert, Edmund and Polly were named in both the will and the lawsuit.

Roadblock

roadblock

Known Facts

The Beazley family of Culpepper County is a dead end in my genealogical search. We have not yet found is a family link between the Beazleys of Culpeper County and those in Spotsylvania County.

Records Found

William Beasley (1758-1824) m abt 1776 Elizabeth "Ellie" (___). Likely born in Virginia.

Relevant Clues

  • Daughter Sarah b. abt 1778 in Virgnia.
  • William Beazley witnesses a deed from Jacob and wife Anne Crim to James Sims 15 February 1779
  • Ephraim Beazley of Parish of Saint Mark & County of Culpeper send to William Beazley. Deed of Mortgage 18 April 1791. This parish was first part of Spotsylvania County and St. George's Parish, when it was divided in 1730. It was later Culpeper counties in which many Beazleys and Beasley records are found. 
  • William Beazley witnesses a deed from George and wife Hannah Morton to Robert Beverley, Jr. 19 October 1795
  • Residence Culpeper, Virginia, 10 January 1797
  • Byrd Beverley to William Beazley. Indenture Culpeper, Virginia 10 January 1797
  • William Beazley is a witness to the will of Martha Richards 7 June 1805
  • Residence Culpeper 1820
  • Residence Culpeper 1824
  • Inventory of the estate of William Beazley (filing date) Culpeper 16 May 1825
  • Will proved Culpeper 18 October 1824

Ephraim Beazley of Spotsylvania County

William Beazley b. 1761 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia is also equally well-documented in his will and estate. In Deed Book P 1797-1800, it was recorded that his father, "Ephraim Beazley, deceased, father of the above named William, Ephraim, Sarah, Nancy, Ann, Charles, Elizabeth, Mary and Harry did in his lifetime sell to the above named Harry Beazley a tract of land and received of him the sum of 94 pounds..." For details, see Ephraim Beazley Wills and Deeds.

Plantation Landholders

The Beazleys were Virginians deeply rooted in the traditions of the Southern plantation system. According to the Federal census in 1810:

  1. Winnifred Waggener Beazley (1739-1798) widow of Ephraim (1735-1798) Spotsylvania County 34 slaves
    1. William Beazley (1761-1826) Spotsylvania County 8 slaves
    2. Ephraim Beazley (1762-1833) Spotsylvania County 14 slaves
    3. Henry Beazley (1765-___) Spotsylvania County 5 slaves

These Spotsylvania County Beazley family members were all enumerated on the same page in the census as shown below.

"The earliest record here is in 1759, when John Beasley of Caroline County sold 100 acres of land to Charles Beasley. On May 5, 1760, Charles and his wife, Susanna, sold 100 acres to Charles Curtis of 35 Shillings. Charles Beasley, it seems, was active in buying and selling farms and in the next 25 years, many similar transactions are noted in the land record. Two sons are also mentioned, Charles Beasley, Jr., and Henry Beasley."

"Ephraim Beasley first appears in the record April 6, 1761, as an overseer on the estate of Beverly Stanard. In 1763, he began buying land, and many transactions appear under his name, such as buying and selling farms, negro slaves, and tobacco. Evidently, Ephraim was the most affluent Beasley in this section."

"Little is known of my immediate Beasley family, but no doubt, more information is available in the records of Culpepper County, Va. Grandfather [Thomas Wesley] Beasley was a carpenter and farmer, and served with the famous regiment of Col. Mosby in the Civil War. Several books have been printed on Col. Mosby and his "guerilla band" who were feared and respected by the Northern Armies. The Beasley family home was located at Brandy Station, Virginia.

Arrival in Virginia

The Beazley family first arrived in Virginia before 1735. They were prominent slave and plantation owners for several generations in Spotsylvania County.

In 1851, Thomas Beasley of Virginia married Ann Elizabeth Claggett, the daughter of Samuel Claggett III and Lucy Sanford, and a granddaughter of the Revolutionary War surgeon Dr. Samuel Claggett Jr. The Daughters of the American Revolution report that in Dr. Claggett served in the Revolutionary War "est 1777 Charles Co. MD, while student of medicine at Port Tobacco, MD, as surgeon's mate; settled in VA after RW [Revolutionary War]; dd [died] 4th Monday of March 1821."

Thomas Beasley and Ann Claggett's fourth child, Luther Sanford Beasley (1859-1925), was born six miles from Brandy Station in Culpeper, Virginia. According to the obituary of Ann Elizabeth Claggett, Thomas Beasley's wife, "Her husband died in Virginia in October 1897." She died one year later on Jan 24, 1898 in Lexington, Illinois.

Thomas William Beazley was Johnson's grandfather. I could not find any records to substantiate his belief that Thomas Beasley fought with Col. Mosby's Confederate Army "guerilla band", the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry Partisan Rangers. Mosby's Rangers fought at Brandy Station from November 27th-29th, 1863, near where the Claggett and Beasley families lived. In fact, the individual was Thomas Johnson Claggett (1841-1901). He is the son of Samuel Claggett and Julai Frances Sanford, John Beasley's grandmother Ann Elizabeth Claggett's brother.

In the Provost Marshal's report, he was reported as was 17 years old. He was described as having light hair, 5' 10" tall, dark eyes, and fair complexion. He was captured by Union forces on September 20, 1864 at Rock Fork, Virginia. The report stated, "This man belonged to Moseby's Guerilla Band & was attached to Maj. Gen. August Comd'g Military District of Washington, D.C., by order of Maj. Gen. Sheridan Comd'g M. M. Dist." Thomas was released June 13, 1865.

Thomas Johnson Claggett  Confederate service record
Provost Marshal's report on Confederate captive Private Johnson Claggett, captured September 20, 1864 at Rock Fork, Virginia.

The men of the 7th Virginia Cavalry took part in the famous Jones-Imboden Raid into Western Virginia. On Thursday, November 26, 1863, Mosby attacked a heavily guarded wagon train near Brandy Station; Mosby escaped unharmed; his horse was not so lucky, receiving a ball in the breast. Brandy Station is located about six miles northeast of Culpeper, Virginia on State Route 29.

There are a large number of Beasleys and an almost equally large number of ways to spell the name: Beezly, Beazly, Beezly, Beazley, etc. Both black and white people carry the surname, so perhaps the blacks were given the name of their white slaveowners at some point.


Our thanks to cousins Kenneth Young, Lesley Carter, and Mac Crawford for their contributions to the record of the Beasleys or Beazleys. Kenneth, from Salt Lake, established a link back a generation for us that was a critical missing link. Lesley, close by Virginia in Maryland, has been a valuable hands-on researcher. Mac has hit the census and is looking up info on the families' whereabouts.

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