George Beaty

George Beaty

George Beaty was born in 1785; in Pennsylvania, according to the census records. He was a full brother to John, Jr., born in 1780, and to David Beaty, Sr., born in 1783. His parents probably were John Beaty, Sr., who was born 1725 or 1730, in Ireland, and came over to Pennsylvania, about 1750; and Margaret (Montgomery) Beaty, who probably was born during the early 1730s; perhaps in Pennsylvania ? For there was a John Beaty, Sr. and wife, Margaret (Montgomery) who were living in Washington County, Virginia, during the years 1803 to 1823, who had sons named James Beaty, Alexander M. Beaty, and John Beaty, Jr. If George was a son of that John Beaty, Sr. and Margaret Beaty, then he was a full brother to all their other children. Which included 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; and Martin Beaty; as well as John Beaty, Jr. and David Beaty, Sr.

Fentress County historian, Albert R. Hogue, stated that John Beaty, Jr., David Beaty, and George Beaty came from North Carolina to Fentress County, Tennessee; (probably between 1800 and 1810). But that could easily be explained. James Beaty came from Pennsylvania to Rowan County, North Carolina, about 1775, and joined the army there. And he continued to live there until the late 1780s. And Andrew Beaty, a brother to James, was in Sullivan County, Tennessee, (which was a part of Washington County, Virginia, at that time) and entered the military service there, in the spring of 1777. And, after the birth of George, the parents -- John Beaty, Sr. and Margaret -- could have moved from Pennsylvania to Washington County, Virginia, or to Rowan County, North Carolina, with their other children. And they could have been in Washington County, Virginia, by 1799 or 1803. And John, Jr., David and George could have remained in North Carolina when the others left there. Or, more likely, they could have gone to there from Washington County, Virginia, about 1803, stayed a few years, and then have gone directly from North Carolina to Fentress County. But, if they were sons of this Margaret Beaty, I don't think that they were first cousins to Davy Crockett. But, no doubt, they were acquainted with him, in either case; whether they were Margaret's sons or not.

George Beaty married Lydia Ann Wilson, about 1809. In Fentress County, probably. But, I don't have any information on her parents, or shout her background. The children of George Beaty and Lydia Ann (Wilson) Beaty were as follows: 1. Matilda Beaty, b. July 12, 1810; d. Jan. 21, 1905. 2. Fleming Beaty, b. 1812; d. 1882. 3. David "Tinker" Beaty, b. Feb. 19, 1817; d. Aug. 22, 1876. 4. James Beaty, b. 1818. 5. John Beaty, b. 1820. 6. Anne Beaty, b. 1822. 7. Charlotte Beaty, b. 1824. And 8. Elizabeth Beaty, b. 1826.

The marriages of George Beaty's sons and daughters were as follows: Matilda Beaty m. Capt. John Boles, b. June 16, 1802; d. Mar. 18, 1860. Fleming Beaty m. Sarah Cobb, d/o Jesse and Jenetta (Stephens) Cobb. James Beaty m. Armilda Mullinix, d/o Eli and Englantine (Stephens) Mullinix. John Beaty m. Lodici Franklin. Ann Beaty m. Thomas Linder. Charlotte Beaty m. Andrew Jackson Stephens, s/o Zorababel and Susan (Hayes) Stephens. And Elizabeth Beaty m. Burton Stephens, s/o Zorababel and Susan (Hayes) Stephens.

Some of the grandchildren of George Beaty and Lydia Ann (Wilson) Beaty were as follows. Matilda's children were: 1. Robert F. Boles, b. July 4, 1829. 2. Polly Ann Boles, b. Apr. 3, 1831. 3. Elizabeth Boles, b. July 21, 1833; m. Bill Allred. 4. Catherine Boles, b. Mar. 17, 1836. d. Apr. 19, 1921. 5. John Boles, Jr., b. June 16, 1838. 6. Matilda Boles, b. Nov. 17, 1840. 7. George Washington Boles, b. Dec. 6, 1845; d. Feb. 5, 1941; m. Deborah Smith, d/o David and Fannie (Cobb) Smith, in 1864. 8. James C. "Major" Boles, b. Mar. 24, 1849. And 9. Alexander Boles, b. Sept. 25, 1851; d. Apr. 15, 1853. Fleming's children were: 1. Matilda Beaty, b. 1836; m. (1) John Boles, Jr. m. (2) William Wright, b. 1829; s/o Matthew W. Wright and Margaret Ann (Ritchie) Wright. 2. John Beaty, b. 1838; m. a Stepp, and moved to Kentucky. 3. Lydia Beaty, b. 1840. 4. Balaam Beaty, b. 1847; m. (1) Louisa Choate, d/o Thomas and Polly Choate; m. (2) Nina (Wright) Bowden; d/o Jacob Wright, Sr. and America (Hinds) Wright. 5. Jesse Beaty, b. 1849; m. Jane Richards. 6. Fannie Beaty, b. Feb. 25, 1853; m. James L. Cooper. 7. James Ecker Beaty, b. July 12, 1854; d. Jan. 21, 1917; m. Catherine Hogue, d/o Solomon and Nancy Hogue. She was a first cousin to Albert R. Hogue. 8. Mary E. Beaty, b. Nov. 5, 1856; d. Jan. 13, 1935; m. William M. Wright, s/o Jacob Wright, Sr. and America (Hinds) Wright. And 9. David Beaty, called Dave "Nose" Beaty, b. 1858; d. May 29, 1936; m. Emeline Wright, b. Jan. 29, 1858; d. July 15, 1955; d/o Jacob Wright, Sr. and America (Hinds) Wright. David "Tinker" Beaty's children were: 1. Charlotte Jane Beaty, b. 1840; m. (1) Jonathan Moody; m. (2) Elijah Waters. 2. James M. Beaty, b. Nov. 25, 1842; d. Mar. 20. 1876; m. Elendor Jane Smith, d/o David and Fannie (Cobb) Smith. 3. Claiborne Beaty, b. Feb. 4, 1844; d. 1927; m. (1) Lodici Beaty, d/o David and Jane (Smith) Beaty; m. (2) Lavannah Stephens, d/o George Stephens. 4. Harvey Beaty, b. 1848; d. Nov. 4, 1914; m. (1) Margaret Moody; m. (2) Martha 5. John Fleming Beaty, b. Mar. 10, 1851; d. Apr. 18, 1872 ? m. Sarah E. Smith, d/o David and Fannie (Cobb) Smith. 6. Jones Beaty, b. 1856; d. Jan. 30, 1910; m. Emerine Stephens, b. Mar. 21, 1861; d. Dec. 26, 1937; d/o Balaam and Lottie Jane (Beaty) Stephens. And 7. Collier Beaty.

Capt. David "Tinker" Beaty gained fame during the Civil War, by organizing and leading a guerrilla group of Union troops, called "The Home Guard' and "Beaty's Independent Scouts," which, later on in the war, was recognized as a unit of the regular Union Army. "Tinker Dave," as he was sometimes called, was married to Ava Collier, a daughter of David Collier, who fought in the Battle of New Orleans, during the War of 1812. Tinker Dave's two oldest sons, James M. Beaty and Claiborne Beaty, also were Union soldiers during the Civil War. James M. Beaty held the rank of lieutenant. I don't recall what rank that his brother, Claiborne Beaty, held. I have visited the grave of "Tinker Dave," in the Beaty or Lacy Cemetery, and the grave of his son, James M. Beaty, in the Doogan Smith-Linder Cemetery, at Manson. (The Lacy Cemetery is located in the Buffalo Cove, near Boatland, in Fentress County). Several other Beatys their close kin -- are buried in the Buffalo Cove area. John Beaty, Jr., a brother to George, is buried in the Dr. Chism Cemetery, located across Highway 52 from the West Fentress Elementary School.

I am kin to "Tinker Dave" -- a first cousin, 4 times removed. He was a first cousin to my great-great-grandfather, Thomas Beaty. And to William Beaty, Sr., born in 1794 or 1796, who migrated here to Casey County, about the time of the Civil War, and was a brother to Thomas Beaty; and was a grandfather to John William "Billy" Wood, and to Claude Beaty.

by Roscoe Hollis Wright
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This page was last updated on 09/19/98.