The family of Christopher Beeks 1756 ish to 1814

 After years of research and many dollars spent by a Beeks family genealogist, we are still not sure who Christopher's parents are, or exactly where in England he came from.  Fortunately, we do know more about his time in the United States, and have at least some information about his wife and children.  As always, we wish there were more answers but also as always, there is always hope that more records and documents will be found.

Christopher was sent to Virginia with a 14 year indenture in lieu of being hanged for theft in 1770.  He did not serve his full indenture period because when the Revolutionary War started, Christopher had no trouble in choosing sides.  His decision may or may not have been influenced by knowing that if the patriots won, he was released from his indentureship.  I have not located a record of his marriage and find dates ranging from 1778 to 1786.  His first known child was born in 1786 so I tend to lean toward a date at the end of that range.  He married Catherine Barnes, who may be the daughter of Joseph Barnes or possibly John Barnes.  Again, I've not located anything I can be confident about.

However, when we get to the children, they are fairly well documented, although it is always possible that we are missing children who died in infancy.  

William is the first known son, born about 1786 and died in 1864 in Greene County, Ohio. He may have been married as many as three times.  His first wife is reported to be "Miss Puckett".  There are no known children from that marriage.  His second wife is Margaret Baker, whose parents are not yet known.  Their children are Silas, Samuel, William, and George.  His third wife is Mary Nimerick (various spellings), the daughter of Johann Gottfried and Elizabeth (unknown maiden name) Nimerick.  Their children are Nancy, John, Catherine, Sarah, and Caroline.  I will follow this third family in my next blog post.  

Thomas is also reported to have been born about 1786, so take these early dates with a grain of salt.  He died in 1854 in Belmont County, Ohio.  His wife is Nancy Pumphrey, the daughter of Beal and Elizabeth Meek Pumphrey.  Their children are Francis, John, Catherine, Frank, Christopher, Drucilla, Mary, William, Leander and Amanda.  

Nancy, the first daughter was born in 1788 and died in 1843 in Bartholomew County, Indiana.  She married George May, the son of George and Elizabeth King May.  Their children are George, Thomas, Elizabeth, Mary, Catherine, Caroline, William, James, Benjamin, Nancy, Sarah, Daniel and David.  

Elizabeth was born in 1790 and died in 1847 in Champaign Couunty, Ohio.  She married Eli Henry Adams, the son of Eli and Sophria Addams Adams. (I'm not sure but the different spellings appear to be two unrelated families, as far as I can determine.) Their children are Christopher, Emerine, William, Eli, Eliza, Jacob, Parker, and James.

Mary was born in 1792 and died in 1869 in Weldon, Illinois.  She married William Powers, and he may have been the son of William and Rhoda Deane Powers.  I'm still trying to sort that out.  Their children are Mary, Arabella, William, James, Martin, Richard, Jane, Eliza, Nancy and Sarah.  There may be a second Richard, also.

John was born about 1793 and died in 1830 in Spalding County, Georgia.  He married Sarah Coker, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Clark Coker.  Their children are John, William, Letitia, James, and possibly Hunter.  

Henry was born about 1796 and died in 1865, in Indian Territory.  His wife was Artemia or Artemisia Choate, the daughter of Jim and perhaps Tlisa Choate.  She may be of Cherokee or Choctaw heritage, as the couple is found on "Indian" enrollment forms.  Their children are David, Henrietta, Sarah, John, and Nancy.  Some trees say that he also married Melvina Kelley Whitsel, but I am not convinced this is the same man.  My mind can be changed by documentation, or course.

Samuel was born about 1798 and died in 1867 in Worthington, Jones County, Iowa.  He married Elizabeth Lambdin, the daughter of James oand Prudence Harrison Lambdin.  Their children are Christopher, Lourvina, William, Mathew, Catherine, Rebecca, Mehemiah, Thomas, James, and Samuel  (Quite possibly I have a couple of these names not quite correct; they seem to be children of Samuel and Elizabeth but the spellings vary considerably.)

And then came Catherine, born in 1801 and died in 1845 in Delaware County, Indiana.  She married George Smith, the son of Abraham and Sarah Crane Smith.  Their children are an unknown infant, Catherine, Nancy, James, John, Sarah, Emarine, William, Margaret, and Matilda.  

Christopher, born in England and transported to Virginia as a punishment, contributed much to the growth of America.  Besides serving faithfully in the Revolutionary War, he fathered at least 9 children, and the list of Christopher and Catherine's grandchildren includes about 80 names.  These grandchildren may have served in the Civil War, or perhaps in the Mexican war.  I would love to have time to research more about these children and grandchildren, for they lived in interesting times, and in several different parts of the country.  Christopher, we're glad you came to what became the United States, regardless of the circumstances!