Mathew Beckwith

  Noted events in his life were:

• History: From Moore and Allied Families, The Ancestry of William Henry Moore, L. E. De Forest and A. L. De Forest, 1938, Page 73. MATTHEW BECKWITH, founder of an interesting and useful New England family, is said to have been a descendant of a good Yorkshire family and to have been born on September 22, 1610, in England. The late Charles E. Banks, a well-known expert on pre-American origins, is understood to have investigated this claim and rejected it.

Nothing is really known of the origin and background of Matthew Beckwith. He apparently came to New England as a young and unattached man. The first reference to him on the records shows him involved in a drinking party, probably a youthful outbreak. On August i, 1639, he was one of five men “Censured & fined for vnseasonable and immoderatt drinking att the pinnace.” Beckwith drew the smallest fine, ten shillings. This was at Hartford, Connecticut, where Beckwith first settled and where he early had land, and the incident may have been part of the efforts of the Hart¬ ford authorities to control the river traffic, for years a source of disturbance. In February, 1639/40, Nicholas Disbrow's land was described as “abutting on Mathew Beckwethe's land on the East,” and Benjamin Burr's property as “abutting on Mathew Beckwiths Land on the North.”

Matthew Beckwith must have married by 1642 as his first child was born in or about 1643. His wife had the Christian name Mary, but her surname is unknown. She was born about 1625, as on May 22, 1665, she testified that she was then aged about forty years. She survived Beckwith and married as her second husband, Samuel Bushnell, also called Bucknall and Buckland. Mary Bushnell died probably in 1692 as receipts showing the distribution of legacies from Matthew Beckwith's estate were dated early in 1693. More¬ over, Samuel Bushnell remarried on January 30, 1694.

On March 2,1642, “Math Beckwytt" appeared before the Particular Court as plaintiff against Matthew Allyn, and recovered eight shillings damages and costs. The nature of the complaint is not known. Again in September, 1644, Beckwith and Thomas Hungerford appeared as plaintiffs against WiUiam Edwards in an action of slander in which they recovered twenty shillings damages and costs.

Although it has been established that Beckwith occupied land at Hartford as early as February, 1639/40, the record of his lands there appears under date of March, 1644/45. His dwelling house, which he had bought of William Pratt, he later sold to William Williams, and Williams had resold it before April, 1652. Beckwith also owned a six-acre lot, which he sold to Williams, and about fourteen acres of land which he sold to Andrew Sanford before April 8, 1651. In addition to the fourteen acres he also sold Sanford six acres of woodland which did not appear in the list of March, 1644 /45.

On April 24, 1649, Matthew Beckwith was brought before the Particular Court, this time as a defendant in an action of defamation. The plaintiff was Matthew Marvin who asked damages of fifty pounds. The case was settled: “the defendt making his publick penitent Confession of his euill in Slaundering the said plt was remitted by the Courte and pit." Beckwith appeared before the Particular Court in several cases in 1651. In June he asked for fifty shillings damages from William Williams, and for fifteen shillings in an action of debt against Thomas Hubberd. The first case was decided against him and he was ordered to pay Williams two shillings. He recovered, however, twelve shillings and the costs of Court from Hubberd. Possibly the case against Williams had something to do with the sale of his land as the next record of him before the Particular Court is on September 4, 1651, when “The Creditors of Mathe Beckwith had publique notice to bring in theire Debts to the next Quarter Courte or to the Secretary before the Courte, and then appeare there and theire Causes shall bee heard."

According to Caulkins, the historian of New London, Beckwith was granted a house lot and settled there in the spring of 1651. This house seems to have been within the present limits of Lyme, but the land extended into New London. Possibly he was at Saybrook, Connecticut, in January, 1654/55, as John Mason wrote from that place on January 28th to John Winthrop, Jr., (probably at New London), as follows: “Sir-I received your booke with your letter. I have read it ouer with amazment, that men should bee soe sottish. I haue now retorned it by Goodm Beckwith, with many thanks .... Sir, I am enformed by Beckwith that Tho: Rowell hath Stolne seuerall hogges, and that seuerall of his goods are already attacht, to make good the damage; although Rowell is bound with a surety to answer. I haue likewise graunted a stoppage of such goods of Rowells as doe yet remaine vpon the farme att Nayantick to secure the rent due to Bull. Beckwith also tells mee that he threatens to take away his life, and that hee will doe other notorious outrages. I doubt not but that you will carefully looke vpon these matters; only he desired mee to wryte. . . .” Evidently in connection with this same case, Beckwith appeared before the Particular Court as plaintiff against Thomas Rowell suing for sixteen pounds. The jury found for the plaintiff and granted him damages of fourteen pounds, nine pence, and the costs of Court on June 13, 1655. On the same day “The Courte Appoints Mr Brewin Hugh Calkin and the Constables of pequott to aprize the estate of Tho Rowell att Niantick and pequott according to whose apprizement execution is to pass vppon it and do order yt Leiftent Bull and Mathew Beckwith should bee first Satisfied out of the Estate of Rowell att Niantick so farr as it will goe and the rest out of his estate Secured by attachment in the Town of Pequott.”

In May, 1655, “Matthew Beeworth” inherited two pounds, two shillings from Peter Collins of Pequot, whose will was made on May 7th and inventory taken May 14th. Collins apparently had no wife or children as his estate was distributed among men of different surnames. A land dispute disturbed the town of Pequot in 1655. John Austin forfeited his land to the town, and subsequently sold the property to Samuel Lathrop, who complained that the townsmen confiscated his land, which he had bought and paid for. On June 13, 1655, Matthew Beckwith was one of ten men named as petitioners to the Particular Court to hear and settle the dispute about this land.

John Winthrop, Jr., who began in 1657 to serve almost twenty years as Governor of Connecticut, was a man of many talents. He was interested in medicine about which he had some theories, such as the influence of heredity. Often called on for medical advice or treatment, he made a point of keeping records in which he noted the relationships between his patients. In 1657 he evidently visited the Beckwith family at Pequot and then made a list of the members of the household. The eldest child, Mary Beckwith, was entered as fourteen years old. From the entry she was apparently living in Hartford in the household of Bartholomew Barnard. At Pequot were the others, as follows:

“Matthew Beckwith and Wife at Pequot.
“Matthew aged 12 years
“Elizabeth aged 10 years.
“Sarah aged years
“Joseph aged 4 years.”

Winthrop made one other record of the family: on April 2, 1660, an unnamed child, aged “3/4 years,” is mentioned as sick.

On May 20, 1658, “Matt Becquett” was made freeman by the General Court of Connecticut. On May 15, 1660, Beckwith was brought before the Particular Court by Richard Hartley who asked twenty-four pounds damages. The jury found for the plaintiff “the debt according to Bill and the forfeiture of ye 2d payment on ye Bond and costs of ye Court.” On the same day Beckwith appeared as plaintiff against Thomas Brooks in an action of debt by bill, asking damages of fifty pounds. The result of this action is not recorded. On September 4, 1662, “John Richards Pt contr Georg Halsey, Math Beckwith, Peeter Blachfield and Tho Stafford in an action of ye case respecting an assault and Battery.”

On December 14, 1664, John Lay, Sr., Matthew Griswold and William Waller were “appointed by the inhabitan of Saybrook on the east side of the River to Lay out a parcell of land for Mathew Becket, sen. of sixty ackers of Land Lying at the end of ne hant neck River. ...” This deed was recorded on May 27, 1681.

Miss Caulkins believed that Matthew Beckwith owned the bark Endeavor. One Simeon M. Fox of Manhattan, Kansas, interested himself for many years in the Beckwith history and published several letters on the subject in the genealogical department of the Boston Evening Transcript. Mr. Fox was convinced that Matthew Beckwith had no investment in the ship Endeavor and explained the transaction in this way:

“In 1665 Robert Gerrard bought a third interest in the bark Endeavor; on Sept. 9, about to sail as master of the Endeavor, he made over his one-third interest 'to my father, Matthew Beckworte of New London, that in case I do depart this life before my return that my father aforesaid might take possession of my part of sd bark to improve and dispose of, etc.' On the same date he made his father-in-law, Matthew Beckwith, his lawful attorney, etc. This was practically a deed of trust and when the next year the bark was sold to three men of Barbadoes, Matthew Beckwith makes deed to transfer his nominal interest.”

Mr. Fox also quotes in the Transcript of September 28, 1927, a deposition made by Beckwith on March 5, 1671/72, in which he states that Beckwith says that his house was within Lyme bounds and that he always paid his rates in Lyme, and in another personal letter supplies the further details of this deposition: “Further the deponent sayth that about eight yeares ago he went unto Mr Bruen then Commissioner for new London desiring him to marry his daughter & that he would please to come to his house, but the sayd Mr. Bruen sayd he would not come to the west side of the sayd Bound marke it being out of their Bounds but if he would come to the east side of the sayd Bound marke he would do it for him, which according he did....” There had been some uncertainty at one time about the bounds between Lyme and New London, and the towns resorted to an extraordinary measure to decide their dispute. There was a tract four miles wide between the two towns which both laid claim to, but rather than undergo the danger and expense of sending representatives to the General Court through fifty miles of wilderness, among possibly hostile Indians, the inhabitants of both towns agreed to let the decision rest on the outcome of a fist-fight between four men, two to represent each town. The Lyme champions were victorious and Lyme took possession of the land and has held it since.

On June 3, 1673, Matthew Beckwith was freed from training by the County Court, showing that he had served in the local Train Band before that time. On June 2,1674, again according to Mr. Fox, Elizabeth Jarrard was presented before the Grand Jury and the Court ordered that “the Estate of Joshua Grant, now in the Custodie of Matthew Beckwith shall be improved & had use of for Elizabeth Jarrard her child wch she chargeth the sd Grant to be the ffather of.” On March 13, 1676/77, thirty acres of upland were granted to Matthew Beckwith, Sr., by the town, “Sd Land-being formerly Joshua Grants,” and another grant of five acres.

On March 27, 1675, Matthew Becket, Sr., gave thirty acres which were laid out to him at Lyme on that date to his son Joseph. On March 13, 1676/77, Beckwith registered his ear mark for cattle and horses. On January 28, 1680/81, Matthew Beckwith, Sr., of New London gave thirty acres to his son Matthew of Lyme which transaction was acknowledged on June 8, 1681. Sixty acres were laid out to him on May 27, 1681. The last record of Matthew Beckwith appears in the County Court records of September 20, 1681, when Matthew Beckwith, Sr., entered a complaint against John Robbins. This record is also given on the authority of S. M. Fox. The record of Beckwith's death appears in Governor Simon Bradstreet's journal as follows: “1680 Octob 21. Matthew Becket Senr. aged about 70, missing his way in a very dark night, fell from a Ledge of rocks about 20 or 30 foot high, and beat out his braines against a stone he fell upon. Another man yt was wth him was wthin a yard of ye place, but by gods Provide came not to such an end.” This date, however, is apparently in error. At the session of the County Court at New London, June 9, 1682, “presentment was made to this Court Concerning the Causuall death of Matthew Beckwith Senior of New London, upon the body of whom there was a jury of inquest who made returnes to this Court, that they found yt he came to his death by mistaking his way in a darke night & so falling down from a clift of rocks brake his forehead into his brains & so died.” It is very unlikely that this record would have been so long delayed if Beckwith had died in October, 1680.

Three days earlier, on June 6, 1682, “Mrs. Mary Beckwith, widdow plaintiff” brought suit against the estate of Mr. Richard Houghton. She exhibited her husband's inventory on June 8,1682, and was then appointed administratrix. There were several other law cases in settling Beckwith's estate. The inventory was filed on December 13, 1681, and he had evidently died between September 20, 1681, and December 13 th of the same year.

This inventory amounted to two hundred and ninety-three pounds, one shilling, and included thirty-one swine, hogs and shoats, nineteen cows, calves and oxen; nine horses, mares and colts, and fourteen sheep and lambs. He had ten acres of plough land and meadow, about thirty acres in fence and two houses, and about one hun¬ dred acres of rocky wood land. The inventory also included “40 Acres of land at ye head of nyantub Riuer 30 Acres of which said to bee beelonging to Nathaniel.”

Matthew and Mary (-) Beckwith had the following children:
i. Mary, who was born probably in or about 1643.
ii. Matthew, who was born in or about 1645 or 1646 [see further).
iii. Elizabeth, who was born in or about 1648 or 1649.
iv. Sarah who was born in or about 1649.
v. Joseph, who was born in or about 1653.
vi. Nathaniel, whose will of December 25, 1725, was probated on
January 10, 1725.
vii.-a child, name unknown, who was treated by John Winthrop on
April 2, 1660, and was then nine months old.
viii. John, who was born in or about 1663 or 1665. When he died on
December 8,1757, his neighbor Hempstead said he was aged
ninety-two. The Boston News Letter published an obituary
notice giving his age as ninety four.

• History: From The American Genealogist, Pages 259 - 265. Mathew Beckwith and His Family
By the late Gen. Simon M. Fox of Manhattan, Kansas

Fox disputes the history given by Paul Beckwith and Francis M Caulkins. Starting on page 263 he provides the following alternate family history for Mathew and his family:

• History: From Additional Beckwith Notes by Frederick H Beckwith, Stratford, Connecticut, 1956. Page 1 and 2

Matthew Beckwith - (Beckett, Beckley)

The late Gen. Simeon Pox of Manhattan, Kansas, a capable Genealogist with a good knowledge of the early families of New London writes "that Matthew Beckwith, the immigrant was not the son of Mar maduke Beckwith of Dacre and Clint, England, and was probably born in Essex, England. His wife was Mary and not Elizabeth.

Matthew immigrated to this country before 1639, possibly as early as 1630. My belief is that he was a Trader who came over in one of the maiy vessels, name unknown, with a group from England who settled first in Watertown, Mass., and later at Windsor, Weathersfield and Hartford, Conn.

Matthew was in Hartford, Conn., 1 Aug. 1639 (Hartford Public. Records p. 29) aboard a pinnace (small schooner) with other members of her crew. He probably married one of the families from the above towns. His two daughters married Watertown, Mass, men; indicating a close tie with these families.

These schooners were used as trading vessels bringing needed supplies to new settlements and returning with beaver skins to Boston, Providence, New Amsterdam and other seaports.

He apparently continued as a trader going from one port to another. His home port was at Lyme, Conn., where he kept his boat This was known as Beckwith Cove (New London, Conn. Rec. 7 April 1767 William Smith of Lyme, Conn., conveys land to head or Beckwith Cove).

While Matthew was married by 1641/2 he did not acquire a home lot until 1645. This would indicate he lived on his vessel as his dau. Mary b. abt. 1643 (and possibly his wife) stayed with B- Barnards in Hartford, Conn., until he built a home.

Three of his children, Joseph, Mary and Sarah, courted a long distance from home indicating that Matthew sailed to these ports giving his children the opportunity to become acquainted in distant seaports. His daughter Elizabeth married a sea captain.

In 1645 Matthew bought land in Hartford, Conn., from Wm. Platt, and in 1650 bought land in Hartford, Conn., from Thomas Porter. In the Spring of 1651 he was given a house lot in New London (East Lyme), Conn. His wife was at the Hartford Court 22 May 1665 where she gave her age as 40.

CHILDREN - First 4 probably b. in Hartford, Conn. Last 3 in East Lyme, Conn.

1.- Mary b. abt. 1643 m (1) abt. 1664 Benj• Grant b. 6-7-1641 Watertown, Mass., m. (2) 10 May 1667 at Watertown, Mass., Samuel Daniels.

2 - Matthew b. abt. 1645 d. 14 June 1727, m. (1) abt. 1666 Elizabeth, m. (2) Elizabeth Griswold, div. wife of J. Rogers, widow of P. Pratt.

3 - Elizabeth b. abt. 1647, m. (1) 1665 Capt. Robt. Jerrard m. (2) John Bates of Haddam.

4 - Sarah b. abt. 1650 probably m. Joshua Grant b. 11 Apr. 1636 Watertown, Mass.

5 - Joseph b. abt. 1653 E.. Lyme d. first half 1707 m. Susanna Tallman of Portsmouth R. I.

6 - Nathaniel b. abt. 1656 m. abt. 1678 wife Martha mentioned in his will was his second wife.

7 - John b. abt. 1665 E. Lyme d. 8 Dec. 1757 age 92, Hempstead Diary, m. abt. 1688 Prudence Manwaring.

In Wintrop Medical Journal p. 379, Pequot (New London), Conn., 1657 gave ages of the children as follows: Matthew Beckwith age 12, Elizabeth Beckwith age 10, Sarah Beckwith age 7, Joseph Beckwith age 4, Mary Beckwith age 14 at B. Bernards. She was apparently living with the family of Bartholomew Bernard of Hartford, Conn.

"In the Spring of 1682, Matthew Beckwith Senior, age abt. 70, missing his way in the very dark night, fell from a ledge of rocks about 20 or 30 feet high and beat his brains against a stone he fell upon. Mr. Simeon Bradstreet - Journal N. E. Hist. & Gen. Reg. 6 9-501." Inv. filed 6 June 1682 Est. 393 h - Birth about 1612. After the death of Matthew Beckwith, his widow Mary, married one Samuel Buckwall (or Buckland). She died before 30 June 1694.

* American Genealogy Vol. XXVI p. 152

• History: From Beckwith Note 6, by Albert C. & Edward S. Beckwith, 1907, Page 1. MATTHEW, born in England about 1610; bought a home-lot at Hartford, of William Pratt, in 1645; removed about 1652 to New London and Lyme, - his land lying in both towns, (house in Lyme); killed by accident, Oct. 21, 1680. His estate, from inventory made Dec. 13, 1682, was valued at £293 10s. ELIZABETH, his widow, was married to Samuel Buckland, and died before 1690.
2. MATTHEW.
3. JOHN.
4. JOSEPH.
5. NATHANIEL.
6. ELIZABETH.
7. Mrs. Robert Gerard widow in 1680.
8. Mrs. Benjamin Grant widow in 1680.

• Obituary: From History of New London, Francis M Caulkins, 1895: Lyme, New London, Connecticut. CHAPTER XIX.
OBITUARIES OF THE EARLY SETTLERS

Page 298

Matthew Beckwith died December 13th, 1681.

His death being sudden and the result of accident, a jury was summoned, who gave their verdict, that "he came to his death by mistaking his way in a dark night, and falling from a clift of rocks." Estate £393. He left wife Elizabeth, and children, Matthew, John, Joseph, Benjamin, and two daughters, widows, the relicts of Robert Gerard (Frequently written Jarret) and Benjamin Grant, both of whom were mariners, and had probably perished at sea. Benjamin Grant died in1670. He was a son of Christopher Grant, of Watertown or Cambridge, and left a son Benjamin, who in 1693, was of Cambridge. No other children are mentioned in the brief record of the settlement of the estate; but Nathaniel Beckwith, of Lyme, may upon supposition, be included among his sons.

Mathew married Mary. (Mary was born about 1625 and died after 30 Jun 1694 in Connecticut.)