Sylvanus Beckwith

  Noted events in his life were:

• Baptism: From East Lyme Society Records, 27 Jun 1742, Lyme, New London, Connecticut. June 27, 1742, Silvanus ye son of Hezekiah Beckwith baptized (pg. 34)

Source Citation
[East Lyme Society]. Record of baptisms, marriages, and persons who owned the covenant, 1737-1761, MS 83382, Connecticut Historical Society (CHS), Hartford, Connecticut. Transcribed by Julia Morrow, CHS Collections Associate, February 2022.

• Family History: From Additional Beckwith Notes by Frederick H. Beckwith, 1956. Sylvanus Beckwith, son of Hezekiah, b. 22 May 1742, Lyme, Conn. d. 30 May 1839, age 97 yrs. 8 dys. (g.s.) m. Amy Southerland dau. of William b. 20 April 1743 d. 22 Oct. 1817 age 75 (g.s.). Both are buried in the old Baptist Cemetery Yard at MacIntyre, Stanford, N. Y.

Sylvanus Beckwith left his home in East Lyme, Conn., as a traveling carpenter probably about 1764 or 65 settling in Charlotte Precinct, N. Y., say about 1767. The probable reason for leaving home was the depression.

"In 1764 the American Colonies were in the grasp of one of those economic depressions which certain later generations of Americans were to feel acutely. From Boston there were complaints that the number of vessels engaged in the East Indian Trade had been cut down by four-fifths caused by the Sugar Act of 1764". History of New York State by A. C. Flick.

Furthermore, being a Baptist, he naturally went to that section where they were not prosecuted and where large numbers of Baptists were moving in this undeveloped section. Among those, you will find Edward Avery, Valentine nightman, Nehemiah and Samuel Smith, Christopher Sharpe and many others closely connected by marriage and religion with this Beckwith family.

"In 1800 Valentine Nightman or Whitman, was in the possession of the Mount Ross Mills (It may have been previous to this.) and kept a store. (Log Building) Besides being a merchant, Nightman had the distinction of being a town officer, for at divers and sundry times, he served a summons venue and a warrant in 1800 and 1801 which he was faithful to record. These were halcyon days for pettifoggers (lawyers) and justices, and also for tavernkeepers, who sold N. E. Rum for three cents a drink. Law suits were' a sort of poker game, the chips being the cost." (History of Nine Little Partners, etc. by Isaac Huntting) This valentine Wightman was probably the grandson of Rev. Valentine Wightman of Groton, Conn. - See Wightman Family.

"Here seems to have been a distinguished resort for Baptist when they were but few in any other part of the State". (N. Y.) History of Baptist Denomination by George Benedict.

"The Baptists had a bad name as religious radicals. They were democratic, did not believe in infant baptism, advocated by the absolute separation of the church from the state and frequently choose as ministers untrained and unordained men". History of New York by A. C. Flick.

"Stranger still is the recollection of how these Puritans, having braved terrible hardships for personal liberty in worship, refused it to others, in many Instances whipping Quakers and Baptists out of the Colony". Connecticut Trilogy - Allis.

"The stirring times of the Revolution was approaching and like his Baptist brethren elsewhere Elder Burrows at once esposed the cause of freedom and saw in that struggle not only the political enfranchisement of the land, but a boom which to him his oppressed people were still dearer - freedom to worship God independently of Civil Power". History of Groton, Stark; also see History of New London, Caulklns.

Note: The reference includes details of the decendents of Sylvanus that are not included here.

Sylvanus married Amy Southerland.