John Beckwith

  Noted events in his life were:

• Family: From The Ancestry of Emily Jane Engle, Dean Crawford Smith, 1992, page 233. JOHN, born New London, CT perhaps before 1700; died between Jun 1752 when he signed a receipt and 28 June 1753 when his son took a bond for administration of his estate (NL Probate #350); married New London 24 May 1722 (NL Ch 1:165) HANNAH BROOKS, daughter of Henry Brooks.

Children, surname Beckwith:
1) John, born circa 1722-3
2) Elisha, born before 1732
3) Anna, named on receipt in father's probate

• Church: From East Lyme, Our Town and How it Grew by Olive Tubbs Chendali, 1989, Page 115, 1748, East Lyme, New London, Connecticut. John Beckwith was among those "read out" of the East Lyme Society Church. John's brothers, Benjamin and Richard Beckwith are also in the list.

Following on the heels of the Great Awakening, came dissention in the ranks, which coincided with the appearance of several new religious groups in the Colony of Connecticut. In 1748 Samuel Smith of East Lyme organized a Separatist movement and gradually the membership of the East Society dwindled. Finally, we have a record of 25 of the Church members being "read out of the Church" to join the Separatists who had been meeting at a home on Meetinghouse Hill, now known as Niantic Hill on the Boston Post Road.

This list appears in the Minutes of the Society Records:

Joseph Lee Joseph Tubs
Quorle Smith Isaac Tubs
James Smith Wm. Tubbs
Elijah Smith Aaron Huntley
Stephan Smith Richard Beckwith
Simon Smith Benjamin Beckwith
Samuel Smith John Beckwith
Daniel Smith Joseph Way
Joseph Smith Samuel Austin
Nicodemus Miller Peter Tubs
Elisha Miller Silas Smith
Nathan Miller Philip Oc- (Occuish?)
John Lewis

These men were to form the beginning of the First Baptist Church in our whole area. They were organized under Ebeneezer Mack and records show that Elisha Miller "at sundry times officiates as a Publick teacher among ye Separatists". Their meeting place was the home of Silas Smith who lived on what is now known as Stone's Ranch Road.

• Probate: Heritage Quest, Number 350, 1753, Lyme, New London, Connecticut. John Beckwith Jr.

No will. Inventory filled by his son John.
No mention of his wife.
Variety of records of debts owed and paid. One dated 14 March 1749/1750 is witnessed by Joseph and Benjamin Beckwith believed to be brothers of John Beckwith Jr. Another makes reference to "his daughter Anna" but it is not certain that it is referring to John Beckwith Jr's daughter.

John married Hannah Brooks, daughter of Henry Brooks and Elleph, on 4 May 1722 in New London, Connecticut. (Hannah Brooks was born about 1705 in New London, New London, Connecticut and was christened on 29 Sep 1706 in New London, New London, Connecticut.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Banns: Joshua Hempstead Diary Records, Connecticut Historical Society, 25 Feb 1722, Lyme, New London, Connecticut. Sund 25 Feb 1721/22 Jno Beckwith & Hannah Brooks published.

• Marriage: From Family Search org, 4 May 1722, New London, New London, Connecticut. Event Place Note: First Church of Christ
Name: John Beckwith
Sex: Male
Spouse's Name: Hannah Brooks
Spouse's Sex: Female
Marriage Date: 4 May 1722
Marriage Place: New London, New London, Connecticut, British Colonial America
Marriage Place (Original): First Church of Christ, New London, New London, Connecticut, United States
Source Details: 1011944

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Hannah Brooks Wife F

Digital Folder Number: 007608619
Microfilm Number: 1011944
Originating System: EASY
Indexing Batch: M54001-3

Citing this Record
"Connecticut Marriages, 1630-1997", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7PB-K92 : 11 January 2020), John Beckwith, 1722.