Jack Day's Worlds -- -- -- Browningsville Connections

Alexander Beall of Benets-Crick
ca 1742 - ca 1804
Major thanks to my fifth cousin, Janice Taylor who did the majority of the research looking up all the Beall wills and deeds that could be found.


Browningsville Area map


This map generated by Mapquest.com. Click here to obtain adjacent maps and zooms.

Bennetts Creek is the blue line proceeding from the red star at Browningsville downstream to Green Valley. One or more of the blue lines flowing downstream (up on the page) from Purdum to Bennetts Creek may be Maple Branch referred to in deeds.



B-WILSIMP-1 [Note 1] Alexander Beall, #72 on Jack Day's Ahnentafel b. G1742, NET 1722, NLT1742 (at least age 21 when father William [G1720] died 1762-1767). Alexander, "the landowner" was oldest son of William Beall, according to indenture following William's death (FCLO K:1310, 18 Jun 1767). Of Alexander, father of William Simpson Beall, nothing is proved except that he fathered a son in 1776 who later settled in Montgomery County near the Frederick County border on lands called Trouble Enough Indeed and Resurvey on Long Looked For, which William Simpson Beall purchased. Since William Simpson purchased from others land which Alexander the landowner previously sold, there is no proof that Alexander the landowner is Alexander the father.

Age.

If born 1742, would have been age 61 in 1803 at last land transaction and age 24 when William Simpson born. Could have been born as much as 30 years earlier, therefore NET 1722; assuming William was 21 when son Alexander was born, William would then be b. 1701 (see B-WILLSIMP [G1720]).

Descent.

Alexander Beall the landowner, was the eldest son of a William Beall, to whom Long Lookt For was patented 25 Feb 1762 (MCLO K:549, 19 Jul 1803); reference to 25 Feb 1732 (FCLO K:1310, 18 Jun 1767) is in error.

Real Estate Transactions - Bennetts Creek - Prior to Revolution.

18 Jun 1767 (FCLO K:310) Alexander completes a transaction his father William, recently deceased had started -- he had conveyed 505 acres of Resurvey on Long Looked For to John Bayne, who had sold it to Stephen West; now Alexander completed the transfer to Stephen West. 17 Mar 1768 Alexander conveys to William Harvey 51 acres of Resurvey on Long Looked For adjoining Thomas Witten's property for £2/11 (FCLO L:225). The same day, 17 Mar 1768, he conveys 44 acres of Resurvey on Long Looked For to Jonathan Browning, who gave his name to Browningsville, for £2/4. In 1773, Alexander has Trouble Enough surveyed; land was formerly part of a tract called Long Looked For and lies next to part of Berbadoes that William Simpson Beall bought in 1817. (See below, MCLO E:318, 9 Feb 1773). On Dec 10 1773 another transaction involving Resurvey on Long Looked For is recorded. (Taylor/Milligan). On March 19, 1774 and June 1, 1775 transactions are recorded involving Trouble Enough; for the first time in the records, wife Elizabeth waives dower. (Taylor/Milligan).

Marriage.

Alexander Beall the Landowner, below, whose land history commenced upon his father's death in 1767, showed no wife in land transactions until Mar 19 1774, when wife Elizabeth waived dower. She last waived dower in 1803. In the interim, she waived dower sometimes and was absent from the record, others, with it often being in association with Trouble Enough that she waived dower.

  • Alexanders who married Elizabeth. Wife Elizabeth could be Elizabeth Harding, sister of Elias Harding, b. NET 1731 and NLT 1745, who was unmarried in 1752 & was married to an Alexander Beall with at least 2 sons and 2 daughters before 1768, when she was aged between 23 and 37. William Simpson Beall was born 1776, when Elizabeth Harding would have been between 31 and 45. This is possible. However, the Alexander Beall of the Census of 1790 had 4 sons born after 1784, running to 1789 at the earliest, at which time Elizabeth Harding would have been between 43 and 58. This is a stretch! Therefore it would appear that Alexander, parent of William Simpson, could be Alexander married to Elizabeth Harding, or Alexander of the Census of 1790, but not both.

  • Alexanders marrying others. An Alexander Beall m. Crecilla Harvy 12 Dec 1799 (MCML) This would appear to be the daughter of Alexander's neighbor and friend William Harvey, and gives rise to the suggestion that B-WILLSIMP-1 Alexander had a son Alexander who was the groom at this wedding. An Alexander was m. during this period to Margery (B-NIN-119/1754), daughter of Col. Samuel Beall, Sr/1706) and his wife Jane (B-ALEX-241). Margery, however, was unmarried and at home in 1776, which renders her an unlikely mother for William Simpson Beall; Jane wrote her will in 1785 (MCW C:180 18 Jun 1785 - 1:319 17 Jan 1795) at which time Margery was married to an Alexander Beall, during the same time that Alexander, B-WILLSIMP-1, was married to Elizabeth. Alexander Beall B-WILLSIMP-1 could not have been B-ALEX-244/G1723 Alexander of James of Alexander, since this Alexander died unmarried and without children and willed his property to brothers and sisters in 1776.


    • Revolutionary War Soldier.

    Several Alexander Bealls served.
  • Probably not Alexander Beall, Jr, elected Captain of Prince Georges County Militia on 10 Apr 1776, since no other indication this Alexander went by designation "Jr."
  • In 1776 an Alexander Beall served in Captain John Burgess Company of Militia, which may have been in Anne Arundel County, although John Burgess later settled in Frederick County. (Md Archives, 18:42, Jul 1776). This fact is currently located with Robert Alexander Beall (B-NIN-11--), however Janice Taylor believes it belongs here due to presence in the Company of an Ensign William Simpson: "In April 1776 Major Henry Ridgely and others protested against the officers made by the Company under the command of Captain John Burgess, and it was resolved by the Council that they be rejected and commissions be made out of those elected by the people on the 9th of September last. viz John Burgess, Captain; Davidge Warfield, First Lieutenant; Basil Burgess, Second Lieutenant; and William Simpson, Ensign."
  • In August 1777, an Alexander Beall was Private, 4th Co., Lower Bn, Montgomery County Militia.
  • In 1777 an "Alexander Beal" (one taxable) lived in Linganore Hundred, the Northwest corner of Montgomery County in which Long Lookt For is located.
  • Before March 3, 1778, an Alexander Beall took the Oath of Allegiance before the Hon. William Deakins, Jr.
  • On July 15, 1780 two different Alexanders were serving in the Montgomery County Militia as Privates; one in the 8th class, 2nd Co, Middle Batallion and the other in the 6th Co, Middle Battalion (Clements:203).
  • A number of later residents of Browningsvile, MD, were in the 6th Co, Middle Batallion, and B-WILSIMP-1 may have been in the 6th Co in 1780.
  • On Sep 1, 1780 an Alexander Beall, presumably not the one who took the Oath of Allegiance March 3, 1778, took the Oath of Allegiance under the Act of May 12, 1780, having neglected to do so previously "due to ignorance of the duty owed the country."
  • In 1781 an Alexander Beall rendered aid by providing wheat for use of the military in 1781.

    How old were Revol. War soldiers? If Alexander Beall, soldier, was 18 in 1776, was b. 1758; if b. 1742, was aged 34. Did 34 year old farmers join the militia? There is no proof that any Alexander Beall, soldier, is Alexander Beall, landowner, or Alexander Beall, father of William Simpson Beall. Since the key detailed Revolutionary War accounts are in pension claims by veterans or their widows several decades later, this suggests that Alexander Beall, soldier, died early and left no widow who survived long enough to make a pension claim.


    Landowner-Bennetts Creek, Montgomery/Frederick Co - Post Revolution:

    12 Nov 1779 (Abstract, MCLO A:394, M. Co. Hist Soc) Alexander Beall, planter, to Daniel Lewis 305A Trouble Enough and 10A Close Tract, graveyard excepted, for £300; wife Elizabeth concurs. Could it be that William Beall and other kin are buried on Close Tract? Same transaction recorded 19 Nov 1779 (FCLO A:394); Alexander Beall of Montgomery County sells for £300 to Daniel Lewis of Montgomery County "all that tract of land called "Trouble Enough"...lying in Montgomery Co....beginning at a White Oak standing on the South Side of Maple Branch a draft of Bennets Creek...containing and now laid out for three hundred and five acres...also one other tract of land lying and being in Montgomery Co....called the "Gleve"(?) tract beginning at a white oak standing near a creek called (Halther?) Bennetts Creek.. Elizabeth Beall wife of Alexander Beall waived dower. (Daniel Lewis lived on Trouble Enough and gave the name Lewisdale to this area of Montgomery County.-- MCW B:220, Jun 11 1787. A great-grandaughter of Daniel, Aletha Ann Lewis, m. Elisha, a son of William Simpson Beall)

  • 4 Sep 1781 Alexander Beall & John Beall witness to will of Daniel Lewis in which Daniel wills to son Jeremiah tract Trouble Enough and tract called Claose Tract lying on Bennetts Creek containing 10 acres. (Malloy, Sween & Mamud, Abstracts of Wills 1776-1825 in M. Co. Hist Soc; MC Orph Ct, BF:220 4 Sep 1781 - B1:190 11 Jun 1787)

  • G1784 Alexander Beall conveyed portion of Trouble Enough in Frederick County on Bennetts Creek to Thomas Swearengen, which was bequeathed to son William Swearengen (Swearingen) in Thomas' will (MCW C:147 31 Jul 1794 - MCW 1:296 15 Oct 1794; Heterick II:7; M. Co. Orphan's Ct Records 1790-1794, C:203,204 1 Jul 1794) Note Thomas Swearengen's son Obediah m. B-ALEX-376 Rachel & B-ALEX-377 Martha Beall, daughters of B-ALEX-37/ca1719 Joseph Beall, Sr, who owned Layhill.

  • 12 Jun 1787 Alexander Beall with Samuel Baker witness to transfer from Daniel Lewis to Jeremiah Lewis, 150A Trouble Enough for £2000. (Abstracts of Land Rec, M Co, Jan 14 1785 - Oct 31 1787, at M Co. Hist Soc; C:539) 11 Mar 1789 - 2 Sep 1789 William Harvey conveys to Alexander Beall of Montgomery Co. 60A Siscilla Chance? or Crecilla's Chance? or Siscilla Inheritance; Alexander Beall conveys to William Harvey 100A Trouble Enough. Edward Burgess, J. Holmes, witness. Elizabeth, wife of Alexander, waives dower. (Abstracts of Land Rec, M Co, Nov 3, 1787 - Nov 18 1791, at M Co. Hist Soc; D:259). 13 Oct 1789 - 14 Oct 1789 Alexander Beall of Montgomery Co sells to John Ellice for a young mare 40 acres Trouble Enough touching Maple Branch. John Holmes & Laurence Neale witness; Elizabeth, wife of Alexander, waives dower. (MCLO D:277). 13 Oct 1789 - 14 Oct 1789 Alexander Beall of Montgomery Co sells to William Harvey, Jr, part of Trouble Enough, 40A, beginning at Daniel Lewis' dwelling line to the mouth of William Harvey's ___ branch. John Holmes & L. C. Neale, witnesses. Elizabeth, wife of Alexander, waived dower. (MCLO D:278).

  • 14 Oct 1789 Alexander Beall of Montgomery Co sells to John Beall (B-WILLSIMP-2/G1743) for £300 50 acres Cecil's Chance (Crecilla's Chance?) and 40 acres Trouble Enough. Witnesses J. Holmes, L. Neale; Elizabeth, wife of Alexander, waived dower. 29 Jul 1790 Alexander Beall buys Thomases Disappointment. (MCLO D:391.

  • 1792 John Beall patents Berbadoes. 1 May 1793 Alexander Beall and Bassil Harvey sell to Thomas Orme for £15 202 acres Trouble Enough (surveyed for Alexander Beall 9 Feb 1773) beginning at 31st line of Resurvey on Long Looked For, being formerly called Long Looked For but resurveyed and called Trouble Enough. Witness William Smith, Richard Green; no wives waived dower. (MCLO E:318) Note -- Alexander Edmonston Beall's sister m. a Nathan Orme 1800. 19 Jul 1803 Alexander Beall of Frederick Co. sells to Benjamin Oden (O'Den) of PG Co for 7 shillings and sixpence 193 acres Resurvey on Long Looked For granted to William Beall 25 Feb 1762. Witnesses Edward Burgess, Jr; Lewis Duvall. Elizabeth, wife of Alexander, waived dower. (MCLO K:549).

  • Feb 11 1810, Sheriff's sale at Nathan Browning's tavern in Clarksburg of right of Meshack Browning to lot in Clarksburg tract called Resurvey on Maple Branch, 150 acres, "across from Mr. Beall's barn", taken at suits of Humphrey Pierce and John Richards. (Western Md. Newpapers 1806-1810, p 240)

    Landowner-New Market/Frederick Co:

  • An Alexander Beall, closely associated with John Beall in Browningsville, may be the same Alexander associated with a John in the New Market area. 1777 Alexander Beal with John Beal on Levy List for Linganore Hundred (M. Co. Hist Soc). "Alexander Beal" lived in Linganore Hd (one taxable) in 1777. Peden, Patriots, 17. Possibly the same Alexander Beall who was taxed in the Linganore and Sugarloaf Hundreds in 1783 on total value of £141, with 8 white inhabitants. (M. Co. 1783 Tax List) Where was the Sugarloaf Hundred - did it include Bennet's Creek? Does this establish that the Bennett's Creek Alexander and the New Market Alexander was the same person? 30 Nov 1793 (recorded 8 Feb 1794), Alexander Beall with John Beall, both of Frederick Co, for £11, buy from Nicholas Hall of Ann Arundel County on indenture, lots 48 and 49 with back lots adjoining, 116 and 115, laying on the South Side of Main Street in New Market, Frederick Co. John Beall pays Alexander £53/15 and obtains indenture for Alexander's share of New Market property, presumably indenture will be released when Alexander repays loan. (FCLO 12:300, 12 Feb 1794) Unless otherwise noted, Prince Georges, Montgomery and Frederick Co. land transcriptions by Janice Taylor, Dec, 1992 and Feb 1993.

    Census.

  • Possibly same Alexander Beall, b. G1760,, 3 males over 16, 4 under 16, & 7 females, Montgomery County, Census of 1790. If so, however, there are a number of other people who have disappeared without a trace. However, a Crecilla Harvey married an Alexander Beall; William Harvey, above, named a tract Crecilla's Chance, suggesting she might be a daughter; Crecilla's husband Alexander therefore might likely be a son of William Harvey's neighbor Alexander.

  • Assuming Alexander the landowner is Alexander the father, one son. Possib. same Alexander Beall, with Joseph Belt and Esther Belt witnesses to 1753 will of Basil Beall of John, B-ALEX-235/1721. Probably same Alexander Beal who with Jonathan and Archibald Browning and Jeremiah and Margaret Louis [sic] witnessed wedding 28 Dec 1784 between "Parsell Hervey and Elisabeth Louis of "Benets-Crick". Proclaimed three times.

  • Possibly same Alexander Bell with wife Elizabeth who baptized daughter Prachta 1786 at Evangelical Lutheran Church, Frederick. Possibly same Alexander Beall who with Amos Beall was witness May 1801 to wedding of Nacy Wheeler Harvey & Delilah Banister.

  • Children:


    • General Notes

    The material above is from a database which uses many abbreviations. Some of the more commonly used abbreviations which appear above include:
  • Codes in front of a name are assigned to distinguish one individual from another. Using the "added digit" numbering system, the code is lengthened in each generation by adding the next person's birth order. Therefore B-WILSIMP-12 is "the second child of the first child of a Beall progenetor coded WILSIMP.
  • G in front of a date means that it is a pure guess for the purpose of placing the person approximately in time, and not to be cited for any purpose!

     Numbered Notes

  • Note 1. J. D. Warfield, The Founders of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, Maryland, Baltmore: 1973, Regional Publishing Company, p. 370.

  • Note 2. Clements:199; also Hodges, Margaret. Unpublished Revolutionary Records of Maryland, Volumes 3 and 5 (Baltimore: Privately compiled by the Author, 1939-1941); Volume 5:47; cited in Peden Patriots, p. 17

  • Note 3,Eleanor M. V. Cook, "1777 Tax List of Montgomery County," (MGSB, Volume 31, No. 1, pp 3-18, Winter, 1990) p. 9; in Peden Patriots 17

  • Note 4. Carothers, Bettie. 9000 Men Who Took the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity to Maryland During the Revolution. (Lutherville, MD: Privately compiled by the Author, 1978, 2 volumes.), I:38; and Hodges, Margaret. Unpublished Revolutionary Records of Maryland, Volumes 3 and 5 (Baltimore: Privately compiled by the Author, 1939-1941), 3:68; cited in Peden Patriots, 17

  • Note 5.Clements, S. Eugene and Wright, F. Edward. The Maryland Militia in the Revolutionary War (Silver Spring, Maryland: Family Line Publications, 1987), p. 201

  • Note 6. Frederick Maryland Lutheran Marriages and Burials 1743-1811" - Records of Marriages and Burials in the Monocacy Church in Frederick County, Maryland, and in the Evangelical Lutheran Congregation in the City of Frederick Maryland 1743-1811; p. 40

    Browningsville Connections Site Directory
    Home Pages: | Jack Day's Worlds | Browningsville Connections
    Ahnentafels: | Ahnentafel on Family Tree Maker | Ahnentafel on this site
    Colonial: | Daniel Lewis of Lewisdale | William Beall of Long Lookt For | Kittimaquund, Tapac of the Piscataways | Jacobs Family
    Revolutionary: | Alexander Beall | John Beall of Trouble Enough | Charles Miles of Mountain Home |
    Walker Family
    Post-Revolutionary: | John Duckett King of King's Valley |


    ©1999 Jackson H. Day on behalf of himself and other researchers. All Rights Reserved. Aggregation of the information on this page has represented a considerable investment in time and effort by many persons and is intended for publication by one or more of them in the future. Please feel free to use this material for your research, but please coordinate with the author if you intend to use this material in your own publication. This notice is not intended to try to 'claim' facts, or to take them out of circulation, but to promote the extension of professional courtesy.
    Updated June 10, 1999