With my wife, Diane expecting our first child about three years ago, I wondered if my son (thanks to the ultrasound) would be interested in knowing about his ancestors someday. So I started examining a 14-page document of Beal ancestors (the Beal author is unknown) passed down through the family that my parents had. The document contained names and dates in random order, so it did not show me who were my direct descendants. With the assistance of my computer, I started to input the information into a computer software program for genealogy. After I recorded the information into my computer, I was then able to determine who were my direct ancestors starting from William Beale, Sr. that can be proven up till now. Now that was just the start, I became more interested in obtaining more information, like filling in the missing dates for births/deaths/marriages. I then started to go to the local libraries in search of more information. Next I started corresponding with other family genealogist, passing along information to one and other. I also wanted to find out more about my direct descendants, like where they lived, what they did, how they helped shape early America in the various wars and their way of life. Along with that information, came other questions about the towns that they lived in, the changing names, boundaries that I encountered while trying to decipher the information at hand. Local history books can be found in the various libraries to tell you all about the different towns interesting histories. Additional research was done by writing letters to the various Government levels to finds documents with vital information on them that my ancestors gave at the time. I sometimes found records at the State of Massachusetts Archives because Maine was part of Massachusetts until 1820 when it became a State. Deciphering dates and places that contradict sometimes, was another challenge for me. Not always believing that everything you read in a book or official record is always correct, because there are mistakes, I found out. All of my data of information, dates, places, names and spellings may not necessary be 100% correct. Conflicting information from sources were found, but I have chosen what I believe to be the reasonable choice through my research. Finally, I went back to the towns where my ancestors lived and died at to find out more about them and their families to satisfy my need to complete this publication. Here are their brief life stories for you to enjoy and pass along for others to enjoy. I am reminded by the gravestone of Stephen Beal that tells us not to forget him. That is exactly the reason why I have put together this information, so we won't forget them. Stephen's headstone reads: "Gone but not forgotten".
Charles Lewis Beal
21820 Kern Street
Yorba Linda, California 92887-3719
(714) 777-1013
December 1, 1995
I tried to attach available pictures of my ancestors to this book. But they did not appear. I do have them available on my web site where this book is located.
