Mathew Beckwith Jr

  Noted events in his life were:

• Family: From The Ancestry of Emily Jane Engle, Dean Crawford Smith, 1992, page 228. MATTHEW, born circa 1645 (age 12 on 15 February 1657([/8] [Winthrop Medical Journal 1:379] and age 19 years 22 May 1665 when he deposes that he heard Sam Smith say he got Mrs. Tinker with child, [Crimes & Misdemeanors, III:200]); died Lyme, CT 4 June 1727 in his 84th year (LVR p.220); married first say 1666 ELIZABETH ; married second as her third husband after 24 March 1688 (death of her second husband) ELIZABETH (GRISWOLD)(ROGERS) PRATT, divorced wife of John Rogers, widow of Peter Pratt, died probably before 1700 when her father's will was probated and she did not appear), daughter of Matthew Griswold (Griswold genealogy, p.190); married third before 19 March 1714/5 when he wrote his will (NL Probate #372) SARAH ( ) STARKEY, widow of John Starkey, who was living 30 January 1728/9 (Saybrook Deed 4:162).

Second wife Elizabeth had children with her first husband, surname Rogers: Elizabeth and John. She had a son with her second husband, surname Pratt: Peter, born circa 1680 (Griswold genealogy, p.190).

Third wife Sarah had a son with first husband John Starkey, surname Starkey: Thomas.

Children with first wife, surname Beckwith:
1) Matthew, born Lyme 13 April 1667 (LVR p.220)
2) John, born Guilford 1669, not in father's will (Beckwith Notes 6:3)
3) James, born New London 1 June 1671 (ibid.)
4) Jonah, born New London 27 December 1673 (ibid.)
5) Prudence, born New London 22 August 1676 (ibid.)
6) Elizabeth, born Lyme 4 February 1678[/9] (LVR p.220)
7) Ruth, born Lyme 14 March 1680/1 (ibid.)
8) Sarah, born Lyme 15 [25] December 1684 (ibid.)

Child with second wife, surname Beckwith:
9) Grisell, born say 1692, named in father's will (NL Probate #372)

• Family: From Moore and Allied Families, The Ancestry of William Henry Moore, L. E. De Forest and A. L. De Forest, 1938, Page 81. Matthew Beckwith was certainly born in or about 1645 or 1646, as he testified on May 22,1665, that his age was nineteen years, while the Winthrop medical journal, already quoted, showed that he was twelve years old in 1657. He was not baptized until May 14, 1671, the same date as his wife. She was Elizabeth, but her surname is not known, nor the date of their marriage. They must have married when young as a child Matthew was born on April 13, 1667, at Guilford, Connecticut, where the family lived from about 1667 to about 1670.

One of the earliest references to Matthew Beckwith shows that at some time between 1664 and 1666 he was sued before the Court of Assistants by the famous sachem Uncas “for burning a wigwam of his.” By 1687 his father had died and his own son, Matthew, had nearly reached his majority, and consequently Beckwith was known as “senior.” At the fourth division of Lyme lands on October 20, 1687, he was granted twenty acres and twenty rods of upland “in Nehantic plaine.”

There was a tax laid under Governor Andros referred to as “an accot of Each mans Estate Reall and prsonal including theire heads with ye assesment of one peny upon the pound.” Under date of August 27, 1688, there was taken “an accot of the Lystable Estates in the Towne of Lyme,” when Matthew Beckwith's estate was valued at a hundred and sixty-two pounds and he was taxed thirteen shillings, six pence. The full entry reads as follows:

£ s d
1 prson 20 00 00
house and Lands 07 00 00
8 oxen 8 Cowes 64 00 00
3: 2 yerlings 6 horses 36 00 00
66 sheep 2 hogs 35 00 00
162 00 00

On July 10,1691, Susannah Waller of Stratford sold to Matthew Beckwith of Lyme, “planter,” land which had been granted to her father, Richard Waller. This may refer to the seventeen and a half acres formerly Waller's which were recorded for Beckwith in 1692. Another sixty acres were laid out for him on January 5, 1693 /94. In fact, there is little to say about the life of this Beckwith except that he continued to add to his land-holdings. In 1693 he gave to his son Matthew forty acres of land at Niantic, together with a house, and in 1695 sold ten acres to his brother Nathaniel Beckwith.

In or about 1691 Matthew Beckwith married as his second wife Elizabeth, daughter of Matthew Griswold. She had already had two husbands. She first married and divorced John Rogers. She married secondly, on August 5, 1679, Peter Pratt, who died on March 24th in 1685 or 1688. John Rogers attempted to regain his divorced wife after she had married Beckwith. Writs were issued against Rogers in January, 1702/3, and in June, 1703, and Beckwith finally had to go to Court and charge Rogers with breach of His Majesty's peace, saying that Rogers was threatening his life.

Beckwith received more land from his new father-in-law. On September 7, 1698, Matthew Griswold gave to Matthew and Elizabeth Beckwith twenty acres in Lyme and also ten acres “where thare house stands,” and a neck of land, his rights in commonage in Lyme and Saybrook for life. After the Beckwiths died this property and the rights were to go to their daughter Griswold. A report made June 15, 1700, of the distribution of Matthew Griswold's estate showed that Matthew Beckwith had received on behalf of his wife the sum of thirty-two pounds, eleven shillings, six pence. In 1702 there were recorded for Beckwith twelve acres “at the Dry pond to the eastward of hogg swamp.” On September 20, 1703, Matthew Beckwith gave to his son James “all land on flatt Rock hill which accrued to me in the second part of the forthe devision.” Recorded at the same time was a deed of December 23, 1695, by which James also received from his father land on Black Hall river. More land went to James on March 11, 1713/14.

Matthew Beckwith made his will on March 19, 1714/15. His wife Sarah was then alive and the date of her death is unknown. Possibly she was the Sarah Beckwith who in a deed of January 30, 1728/29, mentioned her son Thomas Starkey. Beckwith himself died on June 14, 1727. His gravestone inscription says he was then in his eighty-fourth year. At the Court of Probate, June 27, 1727, the will of Mathew Beckwith, late of Lyme, deceased, was exhibited, approved, and ordered recorded. The inventory was also exhibited, accepted, and ordered recorded. The will follows:

In the name of God Amen the nineteenth day of March In ye year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fourteen or fifteen I Mathew Beckwith of Lyme In the County of New London and Collony of Connecticut being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be Given to God Therefore Calling to mind the Mortallity of my body and knowing That it is appointed for man once to Dye Doe make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally and fast of all I give and Recommend my Soul into ye hands of God that Gave it Hopeing through the Merrits Death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to Inherit Everlasting Life and my body I Comit to ye Earth to be Decently buried at ye Discretion of my Executor hereafter named Nothing Doubting but att ye General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again Through ye mighty power of God. And as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath Pleased God to bless me In this life I Give Devise and Dispose of ye same In ye following manner and form That is to say First I will that all those debts and Dutyes which I doe owe In Right or Conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid In Convenient time after my Decease by my Executor hereafter named.

Item. I Give and bequeath to Sarah my Dearly Beloved Wife the Sum of Two pounds equivalent to money In addition to what I engaged to give her by Covenant before Marriage and also one whole year provision to be paid by my Executor hereafter named within two months after my decease.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Seven children wch I had by my first wife namely, Mathew James and Jonah Prudence Elizabeth Ruth and Sarah all my Goods and Credits together with all my moveable Estate, viz., as Cattle horses sheep and swine as also all my household stuff Beding with all ye appurtinances thereunto belonging or in any ways appertaining as also all things of what sort or kind soever In ye sd house as Puter Brass Pots kettles &c. also all my Carpenter tools and tools of husbandry of all sorts as Cart plows yoaks chains axes hoes &c. To equally be Devided amongst my said seven children viz. Share and Share alike and the Distribution thereof to be made as soon as may be convenient after my Decease Leaving ye same to my Executor &c.

Item. I doe hereby Constitute and appoint my well beloved Son James Beckwith to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. Item. I give and bequeath to my Beloved Daughter named Grisel which I had by my Second Wife and to her husband Eliakam Cooley my new Dwelling house and my barn with all ye rest of my buildings and fences wch I have erected on the Land or Messuage which I now possess the said Land being willed to her my sd daughter by her Grandfather Mr Mathew Griswold Deceased By Deed of Gift after her Mothers and my Decease. I doe therfore also hereby Will and bequeath to her my said Daughter Grisall and to her husband Eliakim Cooley all ye Lands and Meadows wch was given to her by her said Grandfather with all ye buildings and fences thereon erected as abovesd &c.

I Desire also that Ensign John Coult would assist my Sd Executor of this my Last Will and Testament In Deviding my Estate among my Children &c.

Ratifeing and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.

In witness whereofI have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and Year above written.
Mathew Beckwith [Seal)

Signed Sealed Published
Pronounced and Declared
by the sd Mathew Beckwith
as his Last Will and Testament
In the Presents of us the Subscribers viz
Thomas Starke
Samuel Marvin
William Lee

Lyme May the 25 of May 1716 I Mathew Beckwith make this Codicill to my Will viz that I have my children what Lands I intended for them or not mention them in my will above but would have all and each of them be satisfied about that and not contend about it that this is my will with the rest above written I declare by setting my hand and seal
Matthew Beckwith [Seal)

In presence of
William Ely
Deborah Ely

Lyme. June ye 27 1727. then and their personally appeared Samuel Marvin and William Lee and made Solemn Oath yt they saw ye within Testator sign and seal ye within written Testament and yt ye sd Testator (at ye time of signing and sealing) was of sound Mind and Memory and to ye best of our Remembrance Thomas Starke was present and signed as Witness with us. Before me
Stephen Whittlesey Justice of peace.

The will was probated June 27,1727. The inventory of the estate was taken June 14, 1727, and amounted to two hundred and three pounds, eighteen shillings, four pence.

It will appear that some of the children of Matthew Beckwith were recorded at New London and it should be remembered that [his father] Matthew Beckwith made a deposition in which the Beckwith property was described as on the New London line.

Matthew and his first wife Elizabeth (_) Beckwith had the following children:

i. Matthew, who was born on April 13, 1667, at Guilford, Connecticut.
ii. John, who was born on February 4, 1668 /69, at Guilford.
iii. James who was born on June 1, 1671, at New London, Connecticut.
iv. Jonah who was born on December 23,1673, at New London {see further).
v. Prudence, who was born on August 22,1676, at New London.
vi. Elizabeth, who was born on February 4, 1678, at Lyme, Connecticut.
vii. Ruth, who was born on March 14,1680/81, at Lyme.
viii. Sarah who was born on December 15 or 24, 1684, at Lyme

Matthew and his second wife Elizabeth (Griswold) Beckwith had the following child:

ix. Griswold, a daughter.

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

Page 298

Obituary of his father, Mathew:

Matthew Beckwith, Jun., like his father, and most of the family, was a seaman. The births of his two oldest children, Matthew and John, are registered in Guilford, where he probably married and resided for a time. The next three, James, Jonah and Prudence, are on record in New London; and three more, Elizabeth, Ruth and Sarah, in Lyme, where he fixed his abode in 1677. These were by his first wife. His second wife was Elizabeth, relict of Peter Pratt, by whom he had one daughter, named Griswold. All these children are named in his will except Sarah. He died June 4th, 1727.

• Family: From Vital Records of Lyme, Connecticut to the End of the Year 1850, p. 220. The birth and names of the Children of Mathew LLR1:61
1679 Berkworthi his Daughter Elizabeth was born 4 february 1678
Ruth was born the 14 March 1680/81
1685 Sarah was borne 15 [25] December 1684
July 4 1729 Mathew Beckwith the son of Mathew and Elizabeth Beckwith
was born the 13 Day of April 1667 LLR2:355
[ ] copy taken out of Guilford records october ye
15th 1719 A.D.
T F Samuel Hill Town Clerk
July 1727 Mathew Beckwith senior dyed the 4 [14] day of June 1727 LLR2:47

• Family: From Beckwith Note 6, by Albert C. & Edward S. Beckwith, 1907, Page 1. MATTHEW, born about 1637: died at Lyme, June 4, 1727, aged 90; (will dated March 19, 1714-5). He went from Guilford to New London in 1671, and to Lyme in 1676. Married 1st, ELIZABET H, perhaps at Guilford, where two sons were born; 2d, at Lyme in 1691, ELIZABETH GRISWOLD, (Matthew), divorced wife of John Rogers and widow of Peter Pratt; 3d, SARAH, (named in his will, - dated March 19, 1714-5). As to his first and third wives will as copied runs: "To Sarah, my dearly beloved wife &c. * * * * To my seven children which I had by my first wife [naming them and omitting John]." In town record of New London, vol. i., p. 7, are three entries of birth-date; namely, for James, Jonah, and Prudence, - each one written son or daughter of MATTHEW and ELIZABETH. In an entry at Saybrook, vol. iv. p. 162, deed dated Jan'y 30, 1728-9, Mrs. Sarah Beckwith mentions son Thomas Starkey; whence it is here inferred that Widow SARAH STARKKY was third wife of MATTHEW BECKWITH.

9. MATTHEW.
10. JOHN.
11. JAMES.
12. JONAH.
13. Prudence, born at New London, Aug. 22, 1676; living, March 1715.
14. ELIZABETH.
15. RUTH.
16. Sarah, born at Lyme, Dec. 15, 1684.
17. GRISWOLD.

• Gravestone: From Find a Grave, Jun 1727, Old Lyme, New London, Connecticut. Matthew Beckwith, Jr
Birth: 1644 Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, USA
Death: 4 Jun 1727 (aged 82–83) Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, USA
Burial: Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, USA
Memorial #: 15307201
Family Members
Parents
Matthew Beckwith 1612-1681
Elizabeth Mary Lynde Beckwith 1617-1682
Spouse
Elizabeth Griswold Beckwith 1648-1727
Half Siblings
Nathaniel Beckwith 1656-1725
Children
Elisabeth Beckwith Birchard 1678-1767
Ruth Beckwith Royce 1681-1747
Sarah Beckwith Leonard 1684-1773

Created by: James Charles Rogers III (46852234)
Added: 12 Aug 2006
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15307201
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 29 September 2018), memorial page for Matthew Beckwith, Jr (1644–4 Jun 1727), Find A Grave Memorial no. 15307201, citing Duck River Cemetery, Old Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by James Charles Rogers III (contributor 46852234) .

Mathew married Elizabeth.

Mathew next married Elizabeth Griswold, daughter of Mathew Griswold and Anna Wolcott, in 1689. (Elizabeth Griswold was born in 1648 in New London, Connecticut and died in 1737 in Old Lyme, New London, Connecticut.)

Mathew next married Sarah.