William Beattie

b. between 1760 and 1762, d. 4 April 1860
William Beattie (cropped)
photo courtesy Bernie Becker
FatherJohn Beattie1,2 d. 1790
MotherElinor Gilmore
Birthbetween 1760 and 1762 William Beattie was born between 1760 and 1762 on Cars [Kerr's] Creek in Rockbridge (then Augusta) County.3,4,5 
 William's year of birth is often given as 1760 due to the fact that his headstone states that he died at about "100 years of age". However, his age at death was given in the 1860 federal census mortality schedule as 98 which is consistent with the age reported for him on the 1850 population schedule where he was recorded as an 87 year old living with his son Madison. Madison, who quite likely provided the information on the mortality schedule, further clouded the issue when he stated in an 1880 letter to the historian Lyman Draper that his father was born in 1760.3,6,5 
Marriagecirca 1780 He married Mary Allison, daughter of Robert Allison and Elizabeth (?), circa 1780. The estimated date is calculated from his great granddaughter's statement that William was 19 at the time of his marriage.7,8 
DeviseeSep 1790 John Beattie, William's father, wrote his will in August 1790. He died shortly thereafter as his will was probated the following month. William, who was not married at the time, was directed to care for his mother and in return was to receive the land on which the family was living.9 
Guardian14 Sep 1790 William was named guardian of Margaret Buchanan, his niece, on 14 Sep 1790. This may have been a part of the probate proceedings for Margaret's grandfather, John Buchanan who died earlier in 1790.10 
Land-Buy15 Mar 1791 On 15 Mar 1791 William purchased 1,163 acres on a branch of the middle fork of the Holston River in Washington County, Virginia from his father's estate. It was part of a tract patented to James Wood on Sept. 10, 1755. William paid 5 shillings for the purchase, suggesting this was the land left to William in his father's will.11 
  Here William and Mary raised their family which eventually included 10 sons and 3 daughters.5 
Exec-Legatee27 Jul 1805 In July 1805 one John Harris of Washington County wrote a will in which he left his daughter Jinny Duncan 60 pounds but left personal articles to various people whose relationship to him, if any, is not known. He left "Capt. William Beattie" a saddle and bridle. He left William's son John Beattie a watch, and he left Robert Beattie a linen shirt. The will also mentioned Isabelle Clark, wife of James Clark, and James, son of James Clark, as well as Rosannah Stewart. John Harris asked that Mary Beattie, wife of William distribute the rest of his clothing. William Beattie and John Stewart were named as executors.12 
Executor  William was also named as executor in at least 2 other wills: James Kincannon written in 1798 and William's brother David Beattie, written in in 1805. However in both cases, when the will was presented in court (James in 1812 and David in 1814), William refused to execute.13,14 
Land-Gift27 Oct 1814 On Oct. 27th, 1814 William sold 350 acres of land in Pulaski County, Kentucky to John Beatie [his son] for 1 cent. William sold James Beatie [also his son] an adjacent tract on the same day; also for 1 cent.15 
Land-Gift6 Nov 1822 On 6 Nov 1822 William deeded (for 1 cent) an additional tract of land containing 116 acres on Pitman Creek in Pulaski County to John and James jointly.16 
Widowed16 Apr 1830  Mary died on 16 Apr 1830. 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  The 1850 census was the first federal enumeration to record the names of everyone in the household. William was recorded living in Washington County with [his son] Madison Beattie.6 
Death4 Apr 1860 William died 4 April 1860 in Washington County, Virginia, of old age.4,3 
Burial He was buried in Old Glade Springs Cemetery, Washington Co. Virginia.4 
Will-Recd28 May 1860 William's will was written almost 26 years before his death. In it he mentioned his sons Fountain F., Madison, William, James G., Robert, Absalom, Josiah, John and daughters Nancy (now wife of R.B. Edmondson), Elizabeth (now wife of William Byars) and Eleanor White. William appointed Robert B. Edmondson and his son Madison Beattie as his executors. Fifteen years later William added a codicil clarifying the distribution of several slaves.17 
Anecdote Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett, with the help of her mother who was William's niece, wrote the following around 1871: "I can remember of seeing old Uncle Billy Beaty (as he was called) he died since I was married; lived to be a very old man somthing over 90 years old. He had a large family lived and died on his father's old home, some of them I new very well, they were mother's full cousins, only second cousins of mine. Several of the boys moved to Missouria before I was married and some of the girls did also".18 

Related Links and Images:

The home built by William's son Madison abt 1853 and now known as Morningside - William spent the last years of his life here. The home sat on land left to William by his father John Beattie. William then passed the land to his son Madison19
William's will
William's great niece, Mary Jane B. (Davis) Moffett recorded a few comments about the Beattie family in a journal. To read her writings go to Mary Jane's Journal and in particular, read p. 1 and 2
Letter written in 1880 from Madison Beattie to William Lowry (clerk of the Washington Co. court) in answer to questions from the historian Lyman Draper. Madison referenced his grandfather John Beattie and John's sons David, John and William
Also see the Beattie files in the Redmond Cole Collection
William's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed William as a member of household number 301. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Mary Allison b. 1763, d. 16 Apr 1830
Children
Last Edited13 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S957] John Beatie will (recorded Sept 1790), Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 1: 160. John's will, written 18 Aug. 1790 was recorded at the Sept. court session in 1790. John's will named his sons David and William, and sons-in-law David Sawyer, James Logan, James Dysart and Mathew Ryburn.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 1.
  3. [S672] John and Rubinette Nieman, Washington Co., Virginia 1860 Census, p. 3 (of mortality schedule) . William Beatie, 98, born in Virginia, died in April of old age.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. William Beattie Sr, d. 4 Apr 1860, age "abt 100 years."
  5. [S2180] Letter from M[adison] Beattie, Glade Spring Virginia to Lyman C. Draper, dated Dec. 20, 1880; Draper Manuscript Collection, Series DD (King's Mountain Papers Vol 14-15), compiled by Lyman Draper (1815-1891), item 14DD72. Madison Beattie, son of William Beattie, provided information on David, John and William Beattie.
  6. [S367] Madison Beatie household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88b (stamped), dwelling 301, family 301, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 42 of 289. Madison Beatie, b. VA, 38, farmer, owns property valued at $14,950; Martha 24, b. VA; William F. 4, b. ?? [Tenn?]; Geo 2, b. VA; William 87, b. VA.
  7. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 34. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore, who stated William married at age 19.
  8. [S2180] Letter from M[adison] Beattie, Glade Spring Virginia to Lyman C. Draper, dated Dec. 20, 1880; Draper Manuscript Collection, Series DD (King's Mountain Papers Vol 14-15), compiled by Lyman Draper (1815-1891), item 14DD72. Madison stated that his parents married in 1789 but this appears to be in error by about 10 years.
  9. [S957] John Beatie will (recorded Sept 1790), Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 1: 160. John's will, written 18 Aug. 1790 was recorded at the Sept. court session in 1790.
  10. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 5. William Beatie named guardian of Margaret Buchanan, orphan of Robert Buchanan, deceased. Bond: 600 pounds. Surety: James Duffey.
  11. [S1046] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 1: 194. Deed dated 15 Mar 1791.
  12. [S616] John Harris will (recorded 1805), Washington Co., Virginia Will Bk 2: 513. John's will, dated 27 Jul. 1805 was recorded 20 Aug. 1805.
  13. [S617] James Kincannon will (1812), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Bk 3: 249. The will was written 7 Feb. 1798 and entered at court 18 Feb. 1812. John Stewart and William Beattie were appointed executors and James Dysart, David Beattie and John Porterfied were witnesses.
  14. [S131] David Beaty will (recorded 1814), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 56-57. David's will, dated 30 Jul 1805, lists beloved wife Mary, sons James, William, David, Armstrong and John, and daughter Polly. It was recorded 17 May 1814 on oath John Stewart and Mathew Ryburn.
  15. [S2457] Pulaski Co., Kentucky Deed Book 2: 422.
  16. [S2458] Pulaski Co., Kentucky Deed Book 5: 136. The deed was dated 6 Nov. 1822; the purchase price was 1 cent.
  17. [S851] William Beattie will (recorded 1860), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 33. William's will was written on 14 Oct. 1834 with a codicil added on 14 Jul 1849. It was not recorded in court until 28 May 1860. The will was originally witnessed by Samuel Dunn, James Porterfield and Beattie Ryburn. However, by the time the will was recorded only Samuel Dunn was living. James C. Porterfield and Arthur D. Hutton testified that they were well acquainted with the handwriting of these two witnesses. Madison Beattie took the oath of executor with a bond of $2,000.
  18. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 1, 2.
  19. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  20. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  21. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 34. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore.
  22. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 18. Absalom Beatie, 64y, wid, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o William & Mary Beatie AND Permelia Hill, 45y, wid, b. Henrico Co., VA, resid WCV, d/o William & Susan Staples; 25 Dec. 1866.