BEASLEY BEASLEY
Soldiers in the
T
his portion of our History section is devoted to the Beasley men who served in the State Militias and the Continental Army and fought for the independence of our nation during the American Revolutionary War for Independence, 1775-1783. These are true American heros -- the founders of our nation.This site is sponsored by the Beasley Family Association, a national family club dedicated to gathering and preserving our Beasley, Beazley, Beesley, Beezley, Beasle, Beesley family heritage.
If you have information on any Beasley who served in the Revolutionary War, please let us know. We would greatly appreciate any family history on them as well as information on their military service during the war, especially xerox copies of any documents.
If you came directly to this site, be sure and visit the Beasley family club's HOME page, the main Beasley family HISTORY site and our other history pages, the Beasley family QUERIES section, the "FAMOUS BEASLEYS" section and the Beasley family NEWSLETTER pages. Click on HOME at the bottom of this page to get started.
Beasleys in the American Revolutionary War BENJAMIN BEASLEY
Virginia Militia. Living in Grayson Co., Va. when he filed application for a veteran's pension. He was then 70 yrs old. No info on military service available.
CORNELIUS BEASLEY
Private in Colonel Ephraim Bolling's Regiment, North Carolina Militia. He was B ca 1754 in Charlotte Co., Va. His company marched to Halifax, NC, then to Roanoke and reached Guilford, NC before the famous battle there. He remained in the army until British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown, Va. and for some time guarded prisoners.
He later moved from North Carolina to Cobb County, Ga.; then moved to Tennessee and later back to Georgia. He later moved to Marengo County, Alabama where he applied for a veteran's pension 3 Feb 1844. His pension was rejected; no reason was given. He stated he had six brothers in the military service during the War. One brother named Thomas was killed in action at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, NC. Cornelius died sometime after 1850. He was listed on the 1850 Marengo Co., Ala. census as 99 years old.
CORNELIUS BEASLEY
Virginia Militia. Later moved to Pike County, Missouri where he died.
JAMES BEASLEY
Virginia Militia.
The correct identity of this James is still in question.
JEREMIAH BEASLEY
Virginia Militia. Served as a Captain in the Virginia Militia. Name spelled Beesley on records.
JOHN BEASLEY
North Carolina Militia.
It is highly unlikely that he would have gone back to Craven County, NC to enlist in the militia there rather than in South Carolina--where he had lived for several years. Instead, this appears to be another John, who had remained in Craven County. He was paid on 12 Jan 1782 for his service in the NC Militia. The pay receipt states he lived in Craven County, NC at the time.
Formerly, this John has been identified as John Jr. who moved from Craven Co., NC to Darlington Dist., SC. However, this is a mistake. This John is different--related but not the same one who moved to Darlington Dist., SC several years before the Revolution.
THOMAS BEASLEY
North Carolina Militia. Thomas served in the NC Militia during the War. He was killed in action at the Battle of Guilford Court House, NC (Guilford Co.). He was a brother of Cornelius Beasley
WILLIAM BEASLEY
North Carolina Militia. William was born 25 Apr 1762 in Craven Co., NC; he enlisted before he was 18. He applied for a veteran's pension which was issued 6 Jun 1833 (Pension #W9352).
As submitted to the presiding Judge of Butler County, by William Beasley, "In order to obtain the benefits of the Acts of Congress passed June 7,1832"
State of Kentucky County of Butler
On this 8th day of October, 1832, appears in open court, before the open courts of said county, now sitting, William Beasley, a resident of the County of Butler & State of Kentucky, aged 70 years, who first being duly sworn, according to law, doth, in this make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of The Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated. That he was drafted for 3 months, but can not recall the precise time, but recalls distinctly that he had served two months and 18 days at the time of General Gates Defeat at Camden, South Carolina, that he resided in the State of North Carolina when he was drafted and served under Captain David Roach, who was killed at Camden. Ensign Beasley sp. discharge Beasley. In Col. Benjamin Aksom's regiment, later Col. Leasewell's & Majors Griffin & Nichols. That he rendesvouzed at the Ferry, Neuse River about forty milkes from New Bern and marched to the Deep River and remained there a short time and then marched across the Yadkin River & Rocky River by Blackstock House and the Cheraw Hills, on Peedee River to Camden and joined General Gates about a week before the battle, and remained in the service thereafter, 4 months, having served two months & 18 days before he crossed on the line between North and South Carolina, and served thereafter 3 months including the 18 days that he afterwards served in a Company of 8, under Captain Stevensen and marched to Wilmington and joined Col. R. Richard D. S. (illegible) and continued on march 30 days, 4 of which he had volunteered, after that, he was discharged. February 1781, he enlisted for another four months under Captain S. L. Ives and Ensign Clarks-under command of Col. Benjamin Stiles, and Major Griffen McGee-which he believed was the Continental Service and has always been under that impression, but he was young at the time. That he has resided in Craven County, North Carolina, when he entered the service and rendesvouzed at Wilmington. From Wilmington he marched across the Black River and Peedee River and crossed th Santee River at Nelson's Ferry and marched across the head of (illegible) River to P(illegible) Ponds in Carolina that he marched to Ashley River on Bacon Bridge, then down the river to Ashley Hill, within 7 miles of Charleston, where he continued until his service was out, when he marched back to Wilmington, and was discharged there on the (illegible) Ponds , when he joined the army under General Green and marched with him as stated to the place he remained until his time was finished. That he has no documentary evidence- and knows of no person whose testimony he can gather who can testify as to his service- but Joseph Taylor and William Coy of Butler in this state-knows that he was in the service but was not with him. That he was born the 25th day of April, 1762, but has no record of his age, that he continued to live in North Carolina until about 35 years ago (1797), when he moved to Warren County, Kentucky, where he lived about 20 years (1817) and then moved to Butler County in said state, where he now lives. That he is acquainted with Rev. Pharris & Gary & Jacob Smith of his present neighborhood, who can testify as to character for honesty and their belief as to his services as soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to, except pension & declares that his name is not onthe pension Rolls of any other state.
Subscribed & Sworn
William [his X mark] Beasley
to main Beasley Family HISTORY page
to Beasley Family Association HOME page18 June, 1998