John, Beaty Sr.

John, Beaty Sr.

John Beaty, Sr. was born about 1725 or 1730, in Ireland. About 1750, he came over to Pennsylvania and married Margaret Montgomery. The identity of John's parents is not known. The identity of Margaret's mother is not known. But her father probably was the Thomas Montgomery who died in 1803, in Washington County, Virginia. If so, then Margaret had 2 sisters: Abigail Montgomery, who married Samuel Preston; and Ann Montgomery, who appears to have had no husband or children at the time of their father's death. His will, dated May 19, 1803, refers to "my daughter Margaret Beaty," and "my daughter Abigail Preston," and "my daughter Ann." Also "the children of Margeret Beaty and Abigail Preston." And also, he mentioned John Beaty. And, as executors of his will, he appointed William Stuart, John Beaty and Samuel Preston. The witnesses were William Snodgrass, William Ryburn and John Evens. The securities were Robert Preston and David Craig. And by June 21, 1803, Thomas Montgomery had died. In the will, he mentioned "being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory." Then, on August 21, 1823, James Beaty and John Beaty Jr. sold their share of the land that they inherited from their grandfather, Thomas Montgomery, to their brother Alexander M. Beaty. And, in the deed, it is stated that these 3 brothers "are a part" of the children of Margaret (Montgomery) Beaty who are mentioned in the will. John Beaty, Sr. and his wife Margaret were still living on the tract of land, on August 21, 1823. The will and deed both, it appears, are still on record in the office of the County Court Clerk, in Washington County, Virginia.

On May 5, 1834, Andrew Beaty, born in Pennsylvania, in 1758, (another of the Beaty sons, and an ancestor of mine) appeared before a Justice of the Peace, in Fentress County, Tennessee, to apply for the back pay on his Revolutionary War pension of thirty dollars per year, which was supposed to have started March 4, 1831. And, on May 29. 1834, he was given a certificate of $105.00 in hack pay. In order to collect it, he gave an oral history of his military service. He stated that he first enlisted in the spring of 1777, in "what was called Washington County, Virginia," for a period of 8 months. He signed up for another 3 months in March 1779. Then, in 1780, he enlisted for 3 more months, and fought in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Several other men who were in that battle settled in Fentress County later on. Among them were Robert Crockett, born August 13, 1755. He was a grandfather of William Nelson Crockett, Jr. who migrated here to Casey County, Kentucky. He was also an uncle to Davy Crockett, and a brother to the William Crockett who lived at Boatland, in Fentress County. And Andrew Beaty was personally acquainted with this Robert Crockett. Actually, Andrew Beaty was living in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee, when he entered military service. (The state line between Virginia and Tennessee was in dispute for a number of years). Andrew married Elizabeth Cooper there, after the war ended. Her father, John Cooper, died on Beaver Creek there, in 1800, leaving 150 acres of land to his sons, Andrew Cooper and Thomas Cooper, and to his daughter, Elizabeth (Cooper) Beaty. Andrew Beaty stated that he moved to Cumberland County, Kentucky, in 1799. James Beaty, William Beaty and Alexander Beaty each had a land grant there, of 200 acres, on Lick Creek. And their brother, Martin Beaty, had one on Beaver Creek containing 2l0 acres. All of the land grants were dated May 1, 1799.

Andrew's older brother, James Beaty, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War too. He was residing in Rowan County, North Carolina, when he entered military service, in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in the latter part of 1775. And he served, off and on, during the whole war. In his military records, he stated that he was born in 1752 or 1753, in Nottingham, Chester County, Pennsylvania. That he had a twin sister and an older brother. He said that he continued to live in Rowan County, North Carolina, a number of years after the war ended. Then he resided ten years or more in Sullivan County, and in Greene County, Tennessee. Then he went to Cumberland County, Kentucky, and lived there about 20 years. That he went from there to Rutherford County, Tennessee. (However, he must have stopped off briefly in what is now Fentress County. For he is listed in the 1820 census of Overton County, Tennessee). Then, apparently, he and his brother William spent the rest of their lives in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

Another brother, Martin Beaty, spent the rest of his life in Kentucky, after going there (presumably) in 1799. He drilled salt water wells for a number of years. He accidentally struck oil, near Burkesville, Kentucky, in 1819. This was said to have been the world's first oil well. Later, he became prominent in education, and in politics; serving a term as a state senator. He died in Owsley County, Kentucky, in 1856. He said that he was from Washington County, Virginia. Beattyville, Kentucky, was named for these Beatys, it is said. John Beaty, Jr., David Beaty, Sr. and George Beaty were in Fentress County by about 1810. It is said that they came there from North Carolina. The other Beatys arrived in Fentress County a little later.

So, the records indicate that John Beaty, Sr. and his wife, Margaret (Montgomery) Beaty, were the ancestors of all, or of most, of the Beatys in the Fentress County area. (But probably not including all of those in southern Kentucky). It appears to me (with the information that I have at present) that the children of John Beaty, Sr. and Margaret (Montgomery) Beaty were as follows: Thomas Beaty; James Beaty. born in 1752 or 1753, and Phoebe Beaty, twins ?; Andrew Beaty, born in 1758; William Beaty; Pleasant Beaty; Alexander Beaty, born in 1768; Martin Beaty; John Beaty, Jr., born in 1780; David Beaty Sr., born in 1783; and George Beaty, born in 1785. All of the children may have been both David and George as having been born there.

Fentress County historian, Albert R. Hogue, stated that John, Jr., David and George were first cousins to Davy Crockett. But I don't see how that could have been. And it was said that William Beaty was kin to Andrew Jackson, whom he fought under in the Battle of New Orleans, during the War of l812.But l don't know how that was either.

Here is where some members of this family probably are buried: The parents -- John Beaty, Sr. and Margaret -- probably are buried in Washington County, Virginia. James and William probably are buried in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Andrew is thought to be buried in the Joel Beaty Cemetery, at Riverton. Martin probably is buried in Owsley County, Kentucky. John, Jr., David and George probably are buried in the Buffalo Cove area. And I don't really have much of an idea as to where Thomas and Phoebe are buried, Alexander and Pleasant may be buried in Fentress County, or in northeastern Pickett County, Tennessee.

by Roscoe Hollis Wright
Back to main page
Posted with permission from Curtis Media Corporation
This page was last updated on 09/13/98.