Eleven members of this branch of the extended Beck family served in the 
Revolutionary War.  My focus is my fourth great-grandfather, Leonard 
Beck, but this article also includes information on: Leonard's brothers 
George Beck, John William Beck Jr. and Frederick Beck; Leonard's father, 
John William Beck; Leonard's uncles John George Beck and John Jacob 
Beck; Leonard's cousin John Henry Beck; Leonard Beck's brother-in-laws 
Caspar Altman and Martin Eshbach; Leonard's father-in-law John Dieter.

William M. Beck's 1940 history of the Beck family states that: ''LEONARD 
BECK, fourth son of William Beck, and brother of Frederick, was born in 
Northampton County, PA. in 1759.  Before he could answer the call of the 
soil and settle down to the industrious and happy life of a farmer in rural 
Pennsylvania, he had to enter his county's service to protect that soil in the 
War of the Revolution.  He must have been about 20 years of age when he 
enlisted in the Continental army, and the period of his services must have 
extended to 1785. ''

Certified information I've obtained from the Pennsylvania Division of 
Archives and Manuscripts (which holds service records for those who 
served with the Pennsylvania Line, the Pennsylvania Navy and the 
Pennsylvania Militia from 1887 through 1783) shows that Leonard Beck 
served as a private in the First Company, Third Battalion, in Colonel 
[Nicholas] Kern's Northampton Militia unit.  The company commander was 
Captain Paul Knows.  A ''Military Accounts'' record, dated August 18, 1781, 
shows that Leonard was a substitute for Adam Lechner and notes that ''the 
basic record proves active duty. ''

A second record, dated October 3, 1781, shows that September 8 was the 
time of entry for Leonard Beck into a militia unit commanded by Lieutenant 
Colonel Christian Shouse.  The company commander was John Ritter.  The 
duty was for ''actual service on the frontiers''  and it is also noted that 
''the basic record proves active duty. ''

Other Leonard Beck archive records that do not prove active duty include a 
class roll, dated February 25, 1782, showing Leonard residing in Moore 
Township, Northampton County, and serving under John Ritter in the First 
Company, Third Battalion, ''Class 2nd''; two certificates, both dated 
December 14, 1785, one for 10.13.6 pounds, the other for 11.0.6 pounds, for 
service in the Northampton Militia.  There is a notation on the payment 
certificates which says ''Militia Loan of 1 Apr. 1784 and 30 Mar, 1785. ''

The Pennsylvania Militia, organized under an act of March 17, 1777, 
mandated the compulsory enrollment by the constables of all able-bodied 
white males between the ages of the eighteen and fifty-three.  The militia 
replaced an earlier voluntary organization, the Associators, which collapsed 
in the winter of 1776-77.  According to the Pennsylvania Archives, militia 
soldiers who served during the years 1770-1780, when the currency was 
depreciating, were paid in ''Continental bills of Credit'' which quickly lost 
value.  To make amends for such depreciation, each man who remained in 
Pennsylvania Line service in 1781 was awarded a substantial sum in 
Depreciation Pay Certificates, which were both interest-bearing and 
negotiable.  Since Leonard Beck was still in service at that time, 
Depreciation Pay Certificates may have been the source of the money which 
William M. Beck says Leonard received from the military and subsequently 
used to purchase land.

To date, I have been unable to find details about the militia unit's activities.  
William M. Beck speculates ''With what pride the spirits of his grandfather, 
Yahon Heinrich Beck, and his father, Yahon William Beck must have 
looked down on their sturdy descendant as he strode to the defense of the 
land they had helped to settle, and with other patriots filled the hearts of the
populace with strains of martial music.  Many must have been the inspiring 
rat-a-tat-tats he beat upon his drum, as he marched with his company which 
saw plenty of action.  Note-Leonard's brother [John] George, too, was a 
drummer and soldier. ''

Leonard's brother, [JOHN] GEORGE BECK was born September 21, 1753 
in Northampton County, PA.  He died December 1, 1836 in Armstrong 
County, PA. at the age of 83.  He married Anna Margaretta Loux about 1778 
on a farm north east of Knox, PA.  They had ten children.

Another brother of Leonard, JOHN WILLIAM BECK served in the 
Revolutionary War and obtained a soldier's warrant for 426 acres of land 
near the present site of Greensburg, PA.  John William was born on 
December 3, 1750 in Northampton County, PA. and died in 1819 in 
Hempfield Township, Westmoreland County, PA. at the age of 69.  He 
married Susanna Dreisbach about 1783 in PA.  They had nine children. 

Still another brother of Leonard, FREDERICK BECK, is listed as a private 
on a General Muster Roll for June 18, 1777 for Northampton County's 3rd 
Battalion militia in the 3rd company, commanded by Captain Christian 
Marburger.  Frederick was born Oct 3, 1747 in Northampton County, PA. 
and died there in 1819 at the age of 72.  About 1771 in Northampton 
County, Frederick married a woman named Margaretta who was born there 
in 1751.  They had ten children.

Leonard Beck's uncle was JOHN GEORGE BECK who was born in 1723 in 
Alsace-Lorraine, France, and died in 1792 in Nazareth Township, PA. at the 
age of 69.  According to Miss Clara A. Beck, Daughters of the American 
Revolution ID #150828,  [John] George Beck was a member of the General 
Committee for Forming New Government, from Bethlehem, Northampton 
County, PA, 1776.  John George married a woman named Elizabeth and 
they had three children, one of which was John Henry Beck.

JOHN HENRY BECK, who was also Leonard Beck's cousin, served as a 
private from Northampton County in the Pennsylvania militia, again 
according to Miss Clara Beck.  John Henry was born March 31, 1758 in 
Hecktown, Northampton County, PA. and died January 18, 1822 in 
Hecktown at the age of 63.  He married Catherine Wolf on December 19, 
1780 in Easton, PA.  They had eleven children.

Another uncle of Leonard Beck was JOHN JACOB BECK who was born in 
1731 in Alsace-Lorraine, France.  The Sons of the American Revolution 
graves' database lists John Jacob as a private from Northampton County in 
the Pennsylvania militia.  The database lists John Jacob's year of birth as 
1736.  He died in 1819 at the age of 88 and is buried in the Old Beck 
Cemetery, Mt. Bethel Township Northampton County, PA.  John Jacob 
married Anna Marie Weidman in 1774 in Mt. Bethel.  They had thirteen 
children.

JOHN WILLIAM BECK, Leonard's father, is listed in the Daughters of the 
American Revolution Patriot Index.  In exactly what capacity he served I do 
not know.  I'm awaiting the arrival of some Northampton County records to 
learn more.  John William was born September 21, 1721 in Alsace,-
Lorraine, France and died March 30, 1777 in Petersville, Lehigh Township, 
Northampton County, PA. at the age of 55.  He married Anna Eva Eshbach 
about 1746 in PA.  In addition to the four sons listed above, the couple had 
two daughters, Susanna and Eva Elizabeth.

Susanna Beck, Leonard's sister, was married to CASPAR ALTMAN.
He served as a private in the John Nicholas Werholt's company.
He is also listed in the Sons of the American Revolution graves' database.
Caspar was born April 17, 1741 in Herbitzheim, Alsace-Oermingen.
In 1755, Caspar married Susanna who was born May 15, 1749 in Northampton
County, PA. Caspar died December 28, 1818 at the age of 77 in Northampton 
County while Susanna died there sometime after 1818.  They had nine children.

Leonard's other sister, Eva Elisabeth, was born in 1755 in Northampton 
County, PA. and there she was married in 1776 to MARTIN ESHBACH.  
Martin, who was born in 1751, was a fifer at the same time that Leonard was 
a drummer in the First Company of the Third Battalion of the Northampton 
County Militia commanded by Nicholas Kern in 1780.  The couple had at 
least one child.

Leonard Beck's father in-law, and my sixth great-grandfather, was JOHN 
DIETER [which is also spelled Deeter].  John, who was born in 1731 and 
died in 1824 at the age of 93, served as a Captain in the Revolutionary War.  
He is listed in the SAR and DAR graves' databases.  The latter lists him as 
being buried in Kreidersville, PA. in the Zions' Stone Church Cemetery.  
John was married to Elizabeth Bier [also spelled Beer] about 1750 in 
Northampton County, PA.  They had eight children, including my fourth
great-grandmother, Susannah Dieter, who was born September 18, 1757 and 
died on her birthday in 1844.  September 18 is also the birth date of my 
daughter, Heather, who was thus born on her fifth great-grandmother's 
birthday.

As another aside, I learned during my research of Elizabeth Bier that a 
strange fate befell two of the four children of Elizabeth's brother, Moses 
Beer.  Northampton County, PA. Orphan's Court records show that Moses' 
children Jacob and Rachel were captured and ''being at present prisoners of 
the Delaware Indians, '' as of March 20, 1788.

To return to Leonard Beck, archival records show that he served in the 
militia from at least 1781 to 1785.  Although the Revolutionary War ended 
in 1783, the militia still had plenty of work to do in dealing with the Indians, 
a conflict which needs to be addressed in a separate paper.  In any case, 
Leonard seems to have remained in the military long enough to achieve the 
rank of colonel.  Whether this achievement was through active or reserve 
service I do not know.

Another descendent of Leonard Beck, Ron Bauerle, transcribed on May 20, 
2000, an interesting account from the Pennsylvania Archives, 2nd series, 
Vol. 14, 1888, pages 623-4, which involves a number of the principals listed 
above in a more personal skirmish detailed at a meeting in 1777.  The following 
information is taken verbatim from Bauerle's website at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bauerle/beck/beck.htm.

''At a Meeting of the Standing Committee held at Easton, the 30th day of 
January, 1777, present, Abraham Berlin, Arthur Lattemore, Anthony Moore, 
Timothy Reed, Jacob Shoemaker, & Jeremiah Trexler.

Col. Yost Dreisbach vs. Wm. Beck, Senr, Fredk Beck, Wm. Beck, Junr, 
Leonard Beck, Geo. Beck & Martin Ashbach.

The Colo. complains that Fredk Beck lately assaulted him at the house of 
Major Kryder & caught him by the throat, having a stick in his hand, lifted 
up threatening to Strike the Colo, and that Wm. Beck, Senr, being present 
said to the Colo. that if he resisted ag'st Fredk. Beck he the Colo. should be a 
dead man; that sometime ago, the Colo. sent to the said Wm. 's house for a 
Drum belonging to his Battalion, the sd Wm. 's son Leonard being a Com'y 
Drummer &  refused to go with the Battalion; that Wm. Beck replied he 
should  not have the Drum & that if the whole Battalion were to come they 
should not have it, for he had Powder & Lead in his house for 24 hours & 
would defend himself; Martin Ashbach, being also present, said, yes, & for a 
much longer time.

Major Kryder confirms what the Colo. says, & that all the Becks above 
named were present at his house & had hold of Colo. Dreisbach.

Robt. Young saw Fred'k Beck lay hold of Colo. Driesbach by the Neck and 
drag him towards the Stair Case.

Capt. Strouse testifies to the same purpose.

William Beck upon his examination confesses to the charge laid against him 
by Colo. Dreisbach and that he is sorry for what he has done.

Upon hearing the parties and their Evidences, it is Ordered that William 
Beck, Senr, ask pardon of Colo. Dreisbach & his Officers for offending them 
in such a Manner, and promise to behave himself for the future, and that he 
give Security for the same and pay his Costs; And that the other Defnd'ts, 
being all Associators, return to their respective Battalions, and there be tried 
by a Court Martial for their bad conduct.

William Beck, Senr, tent in (L) 40, Samuel Wilson tent in (L) 20, Philip 
Storm tent in (L) 20, Cond'd, for the good behavior of the said William 
towards the Colo. Dreisbach and his Officers for the space of one year, & 
pay Costs.

Note that both William and Leonard are listed in the DAR Patriot Index, and 
Leonard is listed on page 245 of the PA Archives, Vol. 8, 5th series, 1906 as 
being present in the Class Roll of the First Company of the Third Battalion 
of Northampton County Militia Comended (sic) by Lieut. Coll'o (sic) 
Nicholas Kern in the state of Pennsylvania.  1780. (c.)

Drummer & fifer.  Lenard Becke, Martin Eshpach.

Since Leonard was granted land in Westmoreland Co, PA for his Rev. War 
service, the above incident was either forgotten, or not held against him . ''

In any event, William M. Beck writes that at the conclusion of Leonard 
Beck's military service, ''Now Leonard could quit soldiering, scouting and 
enlivening the waning spirits of his comrades with his martial music, 
forsaking the open air barracks of Central Pennsylvania, and could go to 
Pittsburgh with his wife, the former Susanna Deeter, whom he married in 
1781 [in Hendryville, Westmoreland County PA.].  Proof that the young 
couple resided in Pittsburgh for a time is found in reference to a statement 
found by S. Roberts at the Hendryville Lutheran Church, Northampton 
County, PA.  The news that the Colonel was to receive depreciation pay for 
military service pictured young Leonard and his wife a rosy future.  Events 
had moved rapidly in the 40 years since Leonard's grandfather emigrated to 
these shores. ''

''Pittsburgh had doubtless been a rallying point for scouting parties 
patrolling the western part of the state and Col. Beck naturally felt at home 
within its borders....Following a brief residence in Pittsburgh, Col. Leonard 
and his wife moved to Westmoreland County, where they took up land 
granted to Leonard by the government, as his soldier's bounty for military 
services from the very beginning or the war until its close.  To have right 
and title to 177 acres of virgin soil such as the Colonel received as part of 
his reward for helping to win America its freedom was one of the few good 
pieces of luck to befall this young soldier and his wife and their young son 
Adam. ''

''Their first step taken toward the erection of a home was the clearing of land 
selected as a likely location for the house.  Then the house was built, and 
later the outbuildings and the barn, to assist in the construction of which 
neighbors came from surrounding farms, it being among pioneer customs 
that each farmer should help the other.  A huge fireplace held an iron crane 
on which were hung the family kettles and pots in which the roasting and 
baking were done.  The young Beck couple held a 'housewarming' and 
families from miles around attended [and] partook of the appetizing viands, 
among which were such delicacies as roast wild turkey and roast venison, to 
be had for the taking, and the price of a charge of powder from the old
'blunderbuss. '''

''Col. Leonard named his wide and fertile acres 'The Continent' and on this 
estate their nine children were born and grew to manhood and womanhood, 
all marrying in time, and for the most part, had homes of their own. ''  In 
referring to the nine children, the writer does not include twin boys, George 
and Leonard, who were born to Leonard and Susanna on June 11, 1801.  
They may have died at, or soon after, birth.  Aside from their birth, which is 
recorded in the Latter Day Saints' database, I can find no other records about 
the twins.

The other children of Leonard and Susanna were: Adam, who married 
Mariah Wegley (Wagle) and had nine children; John, who married Mary 
Ann Bell and had four children; William, who married Mary Mariah 
Fritchman and had five children; Elizabeth, who married John Singhaus; 
Jacob, who married Mary Croft and had six children; Michael, who married 
Mary Long and had six children, and who later married Roxanne Moore and 
Eva Bair; Susanne, who married Simon Bell and had eleven children; 
Daniel, who married Hannah Fisher [my third great-grandparents] and had 
ten children; and Katharine, who married Abraham Suter.

''As time advanced and circumstances seemed favorable, '' William M. Beck 
reports, ''ninety-four acres [of Leonard's land] were sold to an adjoining 
land-owner.  The Colonel gave the purchaser a deed in the presence of a 
competent witness.  The Colonel was sued for non-performance, but proved 
his testimony correct--that the deed (Westmoreland County Records) had 
been delivered.  The reduction of the farm acreage indicates that help had 
grown less [and] it may he inferred that most of the sons and daughters had 
found mates, and had set out for themselves. ''

''Leonard Beck died March 14, 1831, at his home.  During the year 1834, 
William Beck, his second son, petitioned the court, for a settlement of his 
father's estate, stating that his father left a widow and property, but had died 
intestate.  The court acceded to his wishes, whereupon the property was 
appraised according to law, the value reported at $1832.  William was 
named executor.  The widow received one-third of the appraised value, but 
was to receive interest thereon for life.  On May 19, 1834, Adam Beck, the 
oldest son, went before the court and accepted the land and instructions to 
provide for his mother, and at the end of one year to pay the heirs their 
respective shares and interest for one year.  Adam Beck and William Beck 
were each held for $1046 as surety. ''

''Daniel, one of the grandsons, farmed the homestead.  Then David Beck, 
youngest son of Daniel, farmed it and then became owner--the last farmer to 
own it, as he sold the farm to the Westmoreland Coal Company, by whom 
the coal was mined and sold. ''

It has now been almost seventy years since William M. Beck wrote that ''the 
Beck family graveyard is in Seanor Cemetery, located in Hempfield 
Township (formerly North Huntington Township) in Westmoreland County, 
PA,, about nine miles from Greensburg, the county seat.  The graves have 
the old sandstone headstones and are in a remarkable state of preservation 
and are still standing.  The grave of Leonard Beck is visited annually and a 
small American flag was waving over it on the occasion of the visiting 
writer about 2:30 o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday, 23, 1933, a bright 
and sunshiny day.  The inscriptions on the grave of Leonard and his wife, 
Susanna are as follows, and marked by D.A.R. markers. ''

In
Memory of
Leonard Beck, who
died March the 14,
1831 in the 72nd year
of his life.
REV.
Soldier
-
In
Memory of
Susanna, Relict
of
Leonard Beck,
who died Sept. 18, 1844
Aged 87 years.

[According to Marjorie Ann Ramsay Laing, descendents of Leonard Beck 
replaced his tombstone at some point because of its poor condition.  
Susanna's tombstone was left untouched.]

Leonard's son Daniel Beck was born May 31, 1795 in Hempfield Township, 
Westmoreland County, PA.  He and Hannah Fisher, who was born June 6, 
1803 in Hempfield, married in about 1823 in Hempfield.  Daniel died 
September 14, 1869 and Hannah on December 13, 1885.  Their children 
were: Susanna; Leonard, born May 7, 1821; Amos; Eli; Cyrus; Abraham; 
Catherine; William S.; John; and David.  

Leonard Beck, who was born May 7, 1821 in Hempfield Township, married 
Mariah Mathias, who was born January 8, 1832 in Boquet, Hempfield 
Township, in about 1852 in PA.  Leonard died on February 22, 1909 while 
Mariah died on August 16, 1912.  Their children were: Cyrus Franklin; 
Catherine Elizabeth, born January 1, 1855 in Boquet; Sanford LeRoy; 
Michael Mathias; and Sarah Jane.

Catharine Elizabeth Beck married Josiah Allshouse on August 31, 1876 in 
Hempfield Township.  Josiah was born May 24, 1850 in N. Huntington 
Township, Westmoreland County, PA. and died on May 19, 1911.  
Catharine died on March 19, 1933.  Their children were: Samuel Leonard; 
Maurice Norman; Sarah Irene; Nina Mariah, who was born February 20, 
1888 in Hempfield Township; Harry Josiah; Clarence Elmer; Robert 
Raymond; and William Kenneth.

Nina Allshouse married Robert Alexander Ramsay, Sr. on June 8, 1910 at 
443 W. Pittsburgh Street, Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA.  Robert 
was born on September 16, 1884 in Trotter, Fayette County, PA. and he died 
on June 29, 1970 in Ligonier, PA.  Nina died July 24, 1967 in Greensburg, 
PA.  Their children were: Robert Alexander, Jr., born on January 1, 1912 in 
Byrnedale, Elk County, PA.; Donald Allan; Catharine Elizabeth, known as 
''Betty''; Morris; Marjorie Ann.

Robert Alexander Ramsay, Jr., who achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel 
in the U.S. Army and served in World War II, married Marion June Graham 
on June 5, 1935 in Morgantown, West Virginia.  Marion June was born on 
September 11, 1914 and died on July 4, 1997 in Jeannette, PA.  Robert died 
on November 11, 1967 in Pittsburgh, PA.  Their children were: June; 
Gretchen; Barbara; and Deborah.

Barbara Ramsay married Mark Joseph Silvestri on August 30, 1975 in 
Jermyn, PA.  Their children are: Carrie Beth; Mark Damian; twins Erik 
Michael and Jason Paul; Heather Marie; and Adam Christopher.

Compiled by: Barbara Beck-Ramsay, August 7, 2000