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Descendants of George(Major) Beck, Sr.

Generation No. 1

1. GEORGE(MAJOR)³ BECK, SR. (DAVAULT (DAWALT/DABOLT)², UNKNOWN MR.¹) was born Abt. 1762 in Berks County, PA; to Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; then Washington Co., IN 1808, and died 16 August 1847 in Bur. Beck's Mill Cem., Washington Co., IN. He married ELIZABETH "BETSY" CLAVER Abt. 1783 in Rowan Co., NC; moved to Washington Co., IN 1807, daughter of GEORGE CLAVER and MARGARET CLAVER. She was born Abt. 1764 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and died 24 January 1847 in Bur. Beck's Mill Cem, Washington Co., IN.

Notes for GEORGE(MAJOR) BECK, SR.:
Sources:
History of Washington County, Indiana
Pioneer Pickings (Heffren), Washington Co., Indiana
Land Deeds in Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina
Will of Davault/Debolt Beck,Rowan Co., North Carolina
Deeds in Washington County, Indiana
Researched, compiled and documented by Joyce Nell (Beck) LaGrone-Truitt, a descendant.
1994 - 1999 - Email: Texas1933@aol.com

Revolutionary War Patriot Soldier: Private, Served on the Forks of the Yadkin River, North Carolina.

George Beck was born about 1762/63 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, the son of Davault (Dewalt/Theobald) Beck and wife, Catherine, and was baptized on June 3, 1764, at Zion's Lutheran Church; in 1767/68 his parents moved to Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina. George served in the American Revolution and in his old age liked to recount his experiences.

The History of Washington County, Indiana records: "Among the very first settlers in this county, and the first in Howard township, were the Becks, who figured very prominently in every enterprise or move that furthered the development of the county. George Beck, Sr. was a Revolutionary soldier of considerable note on account of his bravery and daring adventures. He lived in Rowan County, North Carolina, and fought all through the Revolutionary War, always insisting that no British bullet could hit him, and they never did. In every engagement he was in, he was always found in the thickest of the fight, and always came out unscratched. Upon one occasion the patriots and the British occupied different sides of the Yadkin River, in the Old North State, and George Beck concluded he must capture a prisoner. Pickets were posted by each army along the banks of the stream, and Beck's comrades endeavored to dissuade him from the rash attempt, but to no purpose. He got a canoe, and with some assistance they carried it some distance up the stream and launching it, Beck floated gently down the stream in the darkness, until he had passed the outlying pickets when he slowly drew near the shore, and landed among some underbrush. Fastening his canoe he stole stealthily up the bank, when he halted, and presently a sentinel passed within a few feet of him making his rounds to see that 'all was well.' As he passed, Beck arose and with a club felled him on the spot, tied and gagged him, took him to the canoe and carried him to the American lines. Of course he was the hero of that day.

At another time, it was desirable to know how many British troops were encamped in a certain place, and Beck volunteered to find out. Under the cover of night, and with the craft of a border spy, he penetrated their camp, went all through it while the troops slept, passed the lines of the sentinels and returned to the patriot forces undiscovered. Beck was at the battle of Tippecanoe, where he ranked as major, and his bravery in B hat fight was highly commended."

The following was printed in Biographical Sketches of Early Pioneers of Washington Co., Indiana. Additional research has proven other details. "George Beck, Sr. was born in North Carolina in 1762. His ancestry is supposed to go back to Germany, where Jacob Beck, a relative of the Hapsburg family, left his home and came to North Carolina. This Jacob Beck had a son, Dewalt Beck, who was the father of George Beck, Sr."

About 1784 George married Elizabeth Claver in North Carolina and on April 24, 1786, he bought 200 acres on Pounder's Fork of Abbott's Creek from his father for 6 English pounds; he sold it to Martin Trantham on March 12, 1795. He served on juries and as a road overseer several times. In the fall of 1807, he moved to near Louisville, Kentucky, and the following year he moved to (now) Washington County, Indiana, where he and his sons built a gristmill, raised their own crops as farmers, and he and his sons were known as renowned hunters.

From "History of Washington County" published in 1884, it states: George Beck and family came to this portion of the county <Howard Township> from North Carolina in November 1807. The family cut their way through the woods and during the winter occupied a shanty of the most primitive kind and the next spring built a substantial log-cabin. The boys were John, George, Andrew, William and Jacob. In December John and George went coon hunting and came back with reports that they had found the headwaters of Blue River. They had heard the sound of water at the spring. Here it was that the famous old Beck Mill was built the following year. It was constructed of logs, was 15x15 feet, with an overshot wheel and one pair of small buhrs. It is still a famous mill. The Becks raised a crop of corn the summer of 1808. A saw-m8ill was added to the frist0mill late in 1808. The Beck Saw & Grist-Mill was the first in the township as well as the first in the county. This family also operated an early distillery. In 1825-26 a larger building took the place of the old mill and in 1864 the current frame was constructed. The mill has ever been operated by water run in spouts from Organ Spring, so named from the fancied music made by the dripping water of the cave. The water pours out of the cave a distance of 200 feet from the mill and is conveyed to the turbine wheel by wooden spouting. A dam at the cave mouth collects water for the head or fall. The first birth in the township was that of George Nugent in 1811 at Beck's Fort, which was across the road from the mill. David Beck's death in 1811 was the first." (Then this was added: A special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. W. B. Smith, descendent of Jonathan Rogers, sister of Anna Rogers Beck.)
In 1828 the Major gave one acre to the trustees of the school meeting house, and on February 13, 1828, he gave 112 acres to his son John, 47 acres to his son George, and 94 acres to his son Andrew, all in Sec. 11, T1N, R3; at the same time he gave 80 acres of Sec. 1, T1N to his son William. In 1837 he gave Andrew and George, Jr. other land and in 1842 he gave land to John. He made his
will on July 26, 1847, leaving his property to be evenly divided among all his children; he died August 16, 1847.

Synopsis: Major George Beck, born about 1763 in Berks Co., PA; moved to Rowan (now Davidson) County, North Carolina, then to Howard Township, Washington County, Indiana. He married Elizabeth "Betsy" Claver in North Carolina. He built in 1808 the now famous "Beck's Mill" in Howard Township, Washington County, Indiana. Both George and Elizabeth are buried in Beck's Cemetery on Beck's Hill near the mill.

These are my great-great-great grandparents and I have viewed the Beck's Mill site, walked in the footprints of my ancestors along Beck's Mill Road, climbed Beck's Hill and reflected on years gone by as I stood serenely at their grave sites beside the hickory nut trees atop the hill in Beck's Cemetery. We took photographs of the old mill, now in disrepair in 1997. Again in October, 1998 we visited the area, and I cried as I viewed the site, so overgrown with weeds, a posted sign on the fence, and more deterioration. Many of our Beck descendants in Texas desire to contribute money to have the mill restored for generations to see in the future.
Source: Indiana Territorial Pioneer Records, 1801-1815, compiled by Charles M. Franklin, 1983 :
January 15, 1812 - Harrison County - Muster Roll of a Company of Indiana Infantry Militia of the County of Harrison called into the Service of the United States by general order of his excellency John Gibson, acting governor and Commander in and of the said Territory, under the command of Capt. Henry Dawalt, Commanded by Col. Joseph Paddacks, this 27th day December A.D. 1812:
John Colglazier, Seargt, John Daugherty, Jacob Hedrick, George Beck, among others.
Source: John V. Beck, a genealogist - 906 D Maxwell Terrace, Bloomington, IN 47401 - Email: jbeck@kiva.net stated in an email to me dated 21 May 1997:
      Do you know that George Beck was married a second time? A considerably younger woman (named Mary, as I remember). She took off and he filed for divorce saying he had "no idea" why she fled !! In the Deed records for Washington County, Indiana (E338) George Beck, Sr. and wife Mary, to George Streepy Sr. & Michael Streepy 1 December 1929, part of NW Qtr 11-1N-3E and part of SW Qtr same, 80 acres. (E339) George Beck, Sr. and wife Mary, to George Streepy Sr and Michael Streepy, N 1/2 SE Qtr 2-In-3E, that part North of the road from Salem to Fredricksburg, 80 acres 30 Dec 1829.
      Deed (O-396) George Beck Sr (no wife signed) to John J. Beck, 13 Jan 1842 for $20.00 5 acres, part of SW Qtr 11-1N-3E (Section 11, Township 1 North, Range 3 Est). Both of Washington County.
      Deed (T-558) George Beck Sr (no wife signed) to George Beck, Jr. 7 Mar 1837 for $500.00 both of Washington Co., 45 acres, part of SW Qtr 11-1N-3E.
      Other George Beck deeds: G-51, K-331, L-80 & L-533.

Subj:      Geo Beck Genealogy
Date:      11/08/1999 12:28:10 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:      JGHill@worldnet.att.net (Jack Hill)
To:      texas1933@aol.com
Ms. Truitt:
Thanks for the quick response concerning Wm B Beck. Also the list of ch of Geo Beck, Sr. I've researched the family for several years but did not know about his children Jacob and Wm B.

I've ran across your work from time to time and want to congratulate you on your tenacity and thoroughness. As a matter of fact, that's what prompted me to contact you with the question about the possibility of Geo having a son, Wm.

As info., i'm looking for the father of John A Beck (b1807) who married (Washington Co - 1827) Harriett McCollum. I'm convinced he's related to Geo.

Ms. Truitt, there's a couple of items concerning the ch of Geo that I can't explain. Please allow me to run them by you:

1) The 1790 NC Federal census reflects Geo has three males, 1 +16 and 2 -16, and 1 female in his household. It's generally agreed the males include Geo and his son, John Jacob, but who is the other male child? Is it possible Geo had another male child, b before 1790, that has not been identified?

2) Have you considered the possibility that John J may have been married before his marriage to Anna? As you know, John would have been 21 a year before the family moved to IN. And, according to available records, he did not marry Anna until about 1814, when he was 29 years old. I believe that seems a tad late for most male Becks.
Your thoughts/commcents would be appreciated.
Thanks again. Jack

Notes for ELIZABETH "BETSY" CLAVER:
Source: Betty Ralph, 7620 Charlotte Drive SW, Huntsville, AK 35802 - BRalph@HiWAAY.net - CLAVER FAMILY
Source: Ronald G. Schuyler - bugdr@csd.net:
      2/8/99 Dear Nell: My info came through my wife's grandmother, Edith Claver Schmidt of Fort Lupton, CO and Delores Claver of Billings, Montana. They list Elizabeth Claver, daughter of George Baltus Claver, as married to George Beck (or Bock or Beek). Also Elizabeth's sister, Susannah Claver, married a John Elliott. Their brother, John Claver, married Margaret Moser.
      After John Elliott died in Rowan Co., NC, Susannah Claver Elliott took her nine children and her brother, John Claver, and they accompanied the Becks to Washington County, Indiana. Susannah is buried there also. She died in 1814. As these Elliott children grew to adulthood, several went to live in Clay and Shelby Counties, IL. Possibly other relatives lived there.

Subj:      Re: CLAVER/ELLIOTT/BECK
Date:      6/9/1999 11:24:46 PM Eastern Daylight Time
From:      Mack921
To:      Texas1933 Nell, A copy of the paper is in the mail, I hope you can use it. I have recently had some corections to it though. On page 3, Susannah and John were married Sept. 18, 1787.
            Susannah was the sister not daughter of John Claver
            George Balster Claver b. 1724, wife Catherine on ship Patience 9/16/1748 with
            Capt. John Brown. They were from Rhineland, Pfalz in Germany
            The Becks came in 1750 on the ship Phoenix.

If you want more info contact Betty: bralph@HiWAAY.net She has helped me. Thanks Mack

Children of GEORGE(MAJOR) BECK and ELIZABETH CLAVER are:

2.	i.	Capt. (Capt)John Jacob⁴ Beck, b. 25 August 1785, Rowan (now Davidson) Co.,NC; to Washington Co.,IN 1808; to Kaufman Co.,TX 1844; d. 06 July 1858, Bur. College Mound Cem; Kaufman Co., TX.
3.	ii.	Susannah Beck, b. 09 September 1790, Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; d. 05 November 1840, Bur. Beck's Cem, Howard Twp., Washington Co., IN.
4.	iii.	George Beck, Jr., b. 04 July 1792, Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; d. 21 September 1876, Howard Twp., Washington Co., IN; Bur. Beck's Cemetery.
	iv.	David Beck, b. Abt. 1794; d. 1811, First person to die in the county - Washignton Co., IN.

Notes for David Beck:

"David Beck (Jr.) was the first man to die in Howard Township; he died from measles in 1811."

5.	v.	Andrew M. Beck, b. 05 July 1795, Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; to Washington Co., IN 1808; to Kaufman Co, TX 1854; d. 19 August 1875, Kaufman Co., TX; Bur. College Mound Cem., Kaufman Co., TX.
6.	vi.	Jacob Beck, b. Abt. 1800, Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; d. 11 January 1849, Bur Gosset Cemetery, Porter Co., IN.
7.	vii.	William B. Beck, b. 08 April 1803, Rowan (now Davidson) Co., NC; Washington Co., IN; Putnam Co., IN; Parke Co., IN; d. Unknown, Pbly Parke Co., IN.

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