OUR ROOTS

WILLIAM BEAN -- THE FIRST GENERATION

At the time William Bean came to America, the great powers of Europe were all anxious to conquer and rule this newly discovered land. King George III of England was determined to get his share of the land. In 1753 the British government passed a law known as the Duty Law (later modified and known as the Bounty law.) Under this law people were offered land, identified as Bounty Land, if they would pay the expense of their transportation to the new land plus a small fee.

Under the provisions of this Duty or Bounty Law, William Bean, poor Scotch-Irish immigrant, arrived in Charleston in the latter part of 1767 with his wife and three children. We first learn of their presence from the following record: ⁽¹⁾

"Meeting of January 5, 1768. The Clerk also reported that he had in pursuance of his Excellency the Governor's directions been on board the ship Admiral Hawk, John McAdams, Master, who had lately arrived in this Province from Londonderry with poor Irish Protestants on the encouragement of the Bounty given by the Act of the General Assembly . . . .:

William Bean age 40

Nomiah Bean age 30

William Bean age 13

Thomas Bean age 3

Two separate ocean crossings of the 1760s and l770s are most informative and typify what our Bean ancestors must have experienced in their voyage from Londonderry to America in 1767. (Fig.4)

William Bean was given a Royal Land Grant from King George III of Great Britain, France and Ireland, consisting of 250 acres of land on the South Fork of Duncan's Creek. ⁽²⁾ Duncan's Creek runs into the Enoree River (Fig. 5) and was named for John Duncan, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. A number of Irish and Scotch-Irish located along its course within the northern part of Newberry County and the southeastern part of Laurens, (both these counties were formed in 1782 from the 96th District). (Fig. 6) According to the Bounty Law land was awarded commensurate to the size of the immigrant's family or for specific public service performed by him. William received one hundred acres as his allotment, fifty for his wife, and fifty for each of his two children listed. The third child, Agnes, was not old enough to be counted nor was she enumerated on the ships list.

William Bean was to pay three shillings of sterling, or four shillings proclamation money, for every one hundred acres of land, payments to start in ten years. He was ordered to cultivate three acres out of every one hundred per year, until he became a patented owner. From July 1761 each immigrant above the age of 12 years of age was given 20 shillings sterling to purchase tools and provisions. (Fig. 7) The grant was approved 5 January 1768, confirmed 12 August 1768 and registered (called Memorials) 18 Oct 1768. The surrounding land was vacant (Fig. 8) until later in the year when John Prather Odell came onto the land bordering on the north boundary of William Bean's property.

Six years later on 12 August 1774, William was granted an additional 150 acres ⁽³⁾ for three more children, Agnes being one of these. The new acquisition bordered his original grant on the northwest. By this time, several neighbors had arrived such as Mathias Gore, whose property joined that of Bean on the southeast side. George Bush, William Gilbert, and David Beatty were other new neighbors.

Land in Laurens and Newberry Counties was considered to be some of the finest land in the back country of South Carolina, with its abundant streams and fertile soil. (Fig. 9) The rapidity with which it was settled attests to its desirability.

The fork between the Broad and Saluda rivers was especially inviting. (Fig. 5) The area includes the present counties of Newberry, Laurens, Union and Spartenburg, and small sections of Lexington and Richland. It had been the hunting ground of the Cherokee and was renowned for it luxuriant woodland richness. Its forests, with no ugly undergrowth, consisted of large oak, hickory and pine trees that were spaced so far apart that deer or buffalo could be seen from afar. The forests were carpeted with wild pea vines and flowers of every hue. Cane grew along the banks of the streams in great profusion -- the soil was deemed as being only ordinary when cane grew no higher than a man's head but fertile when it attained a height of twenty or thirty feet. The streams and rivulets were not then polluted or discolored from the soil but clear and teaming with fish of every kind -- shad, sturgeon, rockfish, herring, trout, perch, pike, and cat. Wild turkeys, geese, ducks, and pigeons darkened the skies. All who visited the Fork in those days were enchanted by its beauty.

This was real frontier land with all its pristine beauty and hazards. Indians and claim jumpers were part of the environment in which the Beans were living, thus making life fearsome and uncertain. These early settlers were the first to turn the sod of Upper South Carolina as agriculture was the main occupation and the farms were small.

The Bean family was patriotic, civic minded, and literate as shown by the following: William Bean served on the Petit and Grand Jury of the 96th District Court House between 1778-79; ⁽⁴⁾ they kept the vital statistics concerning their children in their family Bible, last known to be in the possession of their daughter Molly Bean Storment; William (2) and his brothers, Isaac and Thomas and sister, Agnes, could all write their names (Fig. 10); and Thomas and William (2) served in the South Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War on the side of the Colonists. ⁽⁵⁾

The Revolutionary War was very close to the Beans as 137 separate battles were fought on the soil of South Carolina.

William Bean (1) was born 1727 and his wife Naomi 1737. He was dead before 30 September 1784 (being only 57 years of age). The cause of death is not known. By this date, his widow, Naomi, had obtained a State Grant of 150 acres of land on Little River in the Camden District ⁽⁶⁾ which in 1785 became Chester County. (Fig. 5)

Why did Naomi leave their home in Laurens County after the death of her husband? Maybe she had relatives or close friends in Chester County, or maybe there was still some vacant land available or was it because of the South Carolina law which named the eldest son the heir in case the parent died intestate (without a will)?

George Washington Bean (James, William, William, William) traveled to South Carolina in 1895 and recorded a discussion he had on 26 August with John W. Bean (descendant of Isaac, third son of William and Naomi) of Madisonville, Kentucky. He said that John "had been over nine States trying to establish his relationship to Tom C. Bean, who left an immense estate in Texas." He added that "we (George W. and John W.) are both offshoots from the old William Bean who emigrated from Ireland..." ⁽⁷⁾

While on this trip, he apparently copied entries from an extant family Bible said to be in possession of the Storment descendants, giving the birth dates and names of the children of William and Naomi Bean.

The maiden name of Naomi has eluded us. Flora Bean Horne, daughter of George Washington Bean, and early family genealogist listed Naomi as daughter of an Isaac Bates, from New England. This has been proven false, at least as to that Isaac. On 12 August 1768 an Isaac Bates received a large tract of land in Craven County, South Carolina. ⁽⁸⁾ His large acreage suggests that he had a large family. However, research has not established any link between his family and the William Bean family.

William Bean and Naomi family consisted of the following known children. Their names all appearing in the extant Bean Bible:

CHILDREN: surname BEAN:

i. William, see further.

ii. Thomas, born 21 February 1765, Ireland. We know little more about Thomas except that in 1782 he served 37 days in the South Carolina Militia under Captain John Turner. His signature appears on this document. It would seem that he died before 1793 or left the state as no more is known of him.

iii. Agnes, born 6 July 1766, Ireland, married J. F. Shaw of Chester County, South Carolina. (A John Shaw came on the ship "James and Mary" in 1768 as did our William Scott family). She died before the 23 August 1836 and was preceded in death by her husband. She would have been about 70 years of age at that time.

CHILDREN surname SHAW:

i. William James, born 9 August 1797, married Mary Wilson, died 4 October 1844;

ii. Jane A., born about 1799;

iii. Naomi B., born about 1801, went to Perry, Pike County, Illinois;

iv. Daniel Thomas, married (1) unknown; (2) Danah, also went Perry, Pike County, Illinois.

The above named children appear on the selling of 116 and 1/4 acres situated on Rocky Creek in Chester District Aug 1836, originally granted to their mother, Agnes Bean, on 1 June 1792 for a schilling from John McClurkin and heired by them at her death. ⁽⁹⁾ This land seems to have been a gift to Agnes. Isaac Bean was witness. We have not been able to establish any kin relationship between Agnes and John.

iv. Isaac: born 27 July 1769, Laurens County, South Carolina, married Polly Jones who was born 1779, South Carolina. On the 16 May 1793, Isaac, now about 24 years of age sells the 150 acres heired him from his father, William, who received it by grant 15 August 1774 on Duncan's Creek. ⁽¹⁰⁾ On the 8 September 1795 Naomi Bean deeds her 150 acres in Chester County to him for 25# sterling. The 27 November 1799 Isaac buys 100 acres of Mary Glaze in the same county. ⁽¹¹⁾ The 7 September 1807 Isaac and Polly sell this land and 50 acres of the original 150 acres granted him by his mother which she had received in 1795.

He served on the Petit Jury in Chester County in June 1795 and January 1797. On the 21 January 1797, he was appointed overseer of the road leading from the fork of Flintons Road to the Fairfield County line. A suit of South Carolina vs Isaac Bean was dismissed 1 February 1799. ⁽¹²⁾ Information as to the cause of this grievance has not been located.

In 1809 he appears on the tax list of Christian County, Kentucky, on 200 acres on Elk River with several horses. ⁽¹³⁾ This was about 3 miles south of Elkton. (Fig. 14) He, like his brother William, is able to sign his name on his land transaction. His will is dated 26 May 1837 and probated 11 December 1837 in Todd County, Kentucky.

CHILDREN surname BEAN: (Fig. 11)

i. Robert M., born 1797 South Carolina, married 6 February 1821, Todd County, Kentucky, Mary W. Roberts - went to Yamhill and Lane County, Oregon; They had 10 children: Napoleon B., James R., Isaac W., Mary Jane, William Ward, Obadiah Roberts, Sarah Ann, David Warren, Robert Miller and Susan Frances;

ii. Mary (Polly), born 1803, South Carolina, married 8 December 1825, Thomas R. Graham, born 25 August 1801, died 11 April 1861 in Yamhill County, Oregon;

iii. William R., said to have been born 9 March 1799, South Carolina, died 6 December 1865, Elkton, Kentucky, unmarried. He served as postmaster for 27 years in Elkton;

iv. John W., born about 1801, South Carolina. He had one child, a son, Brainard Millard Bean given a bequest in his grandfather, Isaac Bean's will. It is not known whether this is the same John W. who married Sarah Dobbs 17 July 1826 in Adair County; ⁽¹⁴⁾

vi. Martha, born 1805 South Carolina, married 11 September 834, Todd County, Kentucky, John M. Graham.

v. Mary, called "Mollie", born 23 August 1772, South Carolina, married about 1799, Chester County. South Carolina, Samuel Storment born South Carolina (he was 76, she 78, according to the 1850 Census, Jefferson County, Illinois, District No. 10:314). He is called son of John Storment and Nancy Wilson.(Gil Storment, STORMENT Genealogy). He was born 16 April 1773 in South Carolina and died 2 Nov 1854 in Dix, Illinois. Mary Bean Storment, died 18 February 1855, aged 84. Both were buried in the Jefferson County, Illinois, Gilead Cemetery. (Fig. 12) Molly Bean is found in Chester County, South Carolina, where her brother, Isaac, sister , Agnes, and mother, Naomi, settled. On 9 February 1798 Adam Mills sells her 92 acres on Sandy River. ⁽¹⁵⁾ (Fig.5) Witnesses were Daniel and Agnes Shaw. She would be about 26 years of age at this time. The 11 November 1805 Samuel Storment sells this 90 acres to Samuel McCowan for $200. Mary Storment relinquishes her dower right, 22 October 1806.

CHILDREN surname STORMENT: (Fig. 13)

i. William, born 16 April 1900, South Carolina, married Elizabeth Cathcart, born 20 August 1794. He died 30 April 1886, aged 86, she died 11 January 1865, aged 70, both buried Walnut Hill Cemetery, Randolph County, Illinois.

ii. John W., born 20/30 March 1803, South Carolina, married 24 February 1829, Margaret Kell ⁽¹⁶⁾ who was born 19 March 1812, Chester County, South Carolina, daughter of Thomas and Margaret A. (Gaston) Kell. He died 1 June 1849, aged 46. She died 27 July 1864, aged 52, both buried Walnut Hill;

iii. David C., born 1 April 1806, Chester District, South Carolina, married (1) Mary Storment, 13 February 1834 Gibson County. She was born 2 April 1812, died 5 August 1846 age 34. He married (2) Mrs. Baird. He died 25 March 1861, age 54. He and first wife are buried in Walnut Hill Cemetery;

iv. James W., farmer and miller, had both of his parents living with him when the 1850 Census was taken. He was born 1811, Kentucky.(age 39) and his wife Harriet McCreary (age 34) born South Carolina;

v. Thomas - no further is known.

vi. John, born 18 October 1776, South Carolina. (No further is known except what appears in Volume 2 "The Clan McBean" as shown per Chart A.) No effort has been made to verify this information by Arlene Bean Meservy.

vii. Matthew: born 11 April 1781, South Carolina. (It has been said that he went to Carbondale, Jackson, Illinois, but we have not located him there).

1. A Compilation Of The Original List Of Protestant Immigrants To South Carolina 1703-1773:3 - Janie Revill

2. Royal Land Grants - S.C. Archives, Columbia, - Vol 3-D:417; Memorial Vol 8:274

3. LDS Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Film #022613 Colonial Plats S.C.Archives Vol 13:154; Memorials Vol 13:235

4. The Jury Lists of S.C. 1778-1770:77 - Hendrix & Lindsay (1975)

5. Stub Entries to Indents for Revolutionary War Claims, Book O-Q:218 #17 - Thomas; Book R-T:164 #368 - William

6. State Grants Vol 13:62 S.C. Archives dtd 5 June 1786; Plat Bundle 10 Plat 85 S.C.Archives dtd 30 Sep 1784

7. Autobiography of George W. Bean:237 - Flora b. Horne - 1945

8. Royal Land Grants - S.C.Archives Vol 17:516

9. LDS Family History Library, Film #023330 Deeds of Chester Co. S.C. p 292-3 #274 dtd 28 Aug 1836 list heirs of Agnes Shaw

10. Deeds Of Laurens Co. S.C. Book E:267-269 dtd 28 Feb 1797

11. LDS Family History Library, Film #023325 Deeds of Chester County, S.C. Book N:484-6 selling dtd 23 Mar 1808; F# 5410 pt 5 Book J:82-3 #51 buying dtd 7 Nov 1797

12. 975.747 p2s Chester Co. S.C. Minutes of the Co Court 1788-1700, Book B:324,361,371,412

13. LDS Family History Library, Film #007926 Christian Co. Ky Tax Lists 1809

14. Marriages of Caldwell and Logan Counties, Kentucky - Daughters Of Revolution Records

15. LDS Family History Library Film #023325 Chester Co. S.C. Deeds Book N:66-67 dtd 9 Feb 1798

16. Jefferson County, Illinois Marriages