Born in England, he was married to Mary (1788-1856) They are buried at Fairvally.
At the same generation, James Cook (1774-1860) married Susan Beard.
The two families settled in the same area of Medonte Township.
Other families with close ties are the Rix family, the Baird family and the Thompsons.
James 2nd Beard (1815-1881) m. Charlotte Fitzgibbon (1819-1868)
Mary Ann (1816-1886) m. John Kirsupp (1812-1894)
In visiting the Aurora cemetary we found a stone with William Kirsopp d. 1859 @73, and Maria Beard d. 1861 @ 70. Capt 20 Foot Reg. On the side is Mary Anne, d. 1886. The records from the cemetary show that John and Mary A. are buried here.
John 1st William (1818-1915) m. Elizabeth Whalen (1821-1847) then Elizabeth Martin (1828-1902)
Elizabeth 1st (Betty) (1821-1908) m. William Thompson (1808-1875)
Sarah 1st (1823-1893) m. John Cook.(1815-1891)
Joseph 1st (1825-1892) m. Bay Willoughby. She and Charlotte FitzGibbon were half sisters
Robert 1st (1829-1890) m Ellen Johnson (1839-1916) They used the Baird spelling.
Eliza (1831-1863) m. Joseph Smith (1825-1890) They took the name Beard
After Mary's death, James 1 married Rebecca(McNamee) Ball, the widow of Joseph Ball.
Their children are
Sarah 2nd Anne (1837-1912) m Christopher Shire (1834-1891)
One account of James Beard's coming to the Jarratt area states that "Beard and Shire arrived at Prices Corners on June 1st 1832"
The Shires settled at Jarratt as well on the West half of Lot 1 Concession 10 Medonte.
James 3rd (1840-)
Rebecca Jane (1843-)
Thomas David (1845-)
Stephen (1846-) He went to St. Louis, Missouri.
Mary Hannah (1848-1926) m. Samual Luck (1847-1925).
Joseph 2nd (1849-1922) m Agnes Ball (1864-1926)
Charlotte m George B Tudhope(1853-1919)
Josiah Silas (1851-1927) m Laura Short (1871-1947) They went to Washington State.
John 4th Ephraim (1857-1937) m Chistina Tudhope (1855-1923)
George (1858-1877)
Matilida (1860-1948) m. Robert McKinlay
After Charlottes death, James 2 married Jane (Cotton) Rumbold. She was a Cotton whose family had come to Oro but she had remained in England and married a Rumbold. After he died, she immigrated to Canada and married James 2 Beard
She came from Lot 7 Concession 12 Medonte.
They had one child
James 4th (1845-1924) m Bessie Osborne
Their children are;
Mary Louisa (1849-1932)
Frances (1853-1933) m Richard Rix (1839-1903)
Maria Theresa (1854-1922) m John James Rix (1845-1932)
John 2nd (1855-1928) m Francis Perigo
Elizabeth 2nd Jane (1857-1936) m John Rosser
William (1858-1861)
Walter (1859-1859?) Walter and Alfred are the twins who died at birth.
Alfred (1859-1859?)
Sarah 3rd Anne (1862-1878)
Helen Matilda (1863-1939) m William John Rix (1863-1935)
Phoebe (1866-1889)
Albert Edward (1868-1953) m Sarah Walker (1871-1952)
Arthur William (1870-1949) m Mary Ellen Thompson then Susannaha Graham then Bertha Ellis
Micheal (1849-1920)
Mary (1850----)
Sarah G. (1852-1912) m F. H. Farrer
Isabella (1855-----)
John (1857----)
Elizabeth (1860-1867)
James (----1864)
Caroline Elizabeth (1841-1930) married Elias Leatherdale
Jonathan (1843-1893) married Catherine McKinley
Emma Jane (1845-1931)
Eliza Ann (1848----) married Micheal Cavanaugh
(Mary) Hannah (1849-1918) married John R Bell
Susan (1852-1918) married Abe Mitchell
Robert Benjamin (1855-1931) married Ellen Reid
James Appelby (1857-1913) married Mary Isabel Bell
Maria (or Marion) Sarah (1860) married Ben Cottrell
Emily Jemima (1863-1866)
Martha (1869-1894)
Charles William (1866-1948)
Some records show a child named Anne Marie as well, and do not show Emily.
Hannah appears to be shown as Mary in some records
Maria appears to be shown as Marion Sarah in some records
They used the Baird spelling. Their children are:
Charles Samuel (1858-1928) m. Mary McCalman. They went to Alberta.
Emma Jane Ellen (1860-1942) m James Williamson. They lived at Jarratt.
Robert 2nd Wesley (1861- ) m Hannah Lewis. They went to Marquette Michigan.
Ephraim Taylor (1863-1913) m. Belle Newton
They lived in Pittsburg Pennsylvania at the time of his death from complications with appedicitis. They had one son Max McMurray Baird.
Samuel (1865-1865)
Elizabeth Anne (1866-1947) m. Jordan Houck then John Gorrell. They lived in Orillia.
Mary Esther (1868-1925) m Melborne Fox. They lived in Los Angeles.
Matthew Mark (1847-1955) m Aletha Bunt than Pearl McClean. He lived on the farm at Lot 2 Conc. 11 E. (1/2)and then Orillia.
Nina A (1876-1960) m James O�Donogue. They lived in Toronto.
Eliza was the youngest of James 1st�s children She married Joseph Smith and they took the name Beard. He was born in Essex County in England.
Their children are
Mary Anne (1853-1861)
Esther (1855-1861)
Sarah (1857--- )
Elizabeth Anne (1859----)
Emily (Emma) (1862-1902) m. Farquhar McCrimmon
After Eliza�s death in 1863, Joseph married Mary Adair Reid, and they had two sons, James and John. They kept the name Beard.