Thomas Beard, fourth son of John and Rebecca (Sterrett) Beard lived in Hanover Township, Northampton Co., Pa., and migrated to Augusta County, VA ca 1750.  Other Scotch-Irish friends and neighbors migrating to Augusta County at this time were the Steele, McNutt, John Mills, and McClure families many of whom were intermarried with the Beard Families.  Thomas Beard married Jean McNutt, daughter of Elder James McNutt who died in 1753, and his son-in-law was named executor his estate.  Thomas Beard was "very aged" in 1764 and exempt from taxes, according to Lyman Chalkey in his "Records of Augusta County, Va.".  His will, dated 15 May 1769 and proven 18 October 1769 had his son-in-law James Mitchell as executor. 

This picture taken April 2007, shows Beard Road in Augusta County, Virginia.  It is located at the same approximate location as the map shows the original Beard land purchase.

Esther Beard, eldest daughter of Thomas and Jean Beard, married Robert Alexander.

Must have been born in Ireland before 1700 - Came to America with parents and family 1719.  1764 was "very aged" exempt from taxes.   Settled in Augusta Co., VA.

Thomas Beard, the ancestor of that name in Augusta, Greenbrier, and Pocahontas Counties, and his brother Edwin came from Scotland with the Scotch-Irish.  Edwin went to Georgia while Thomas settled in Augusta County near what is now the New Hope vicinity.   His family consisted of two sons, John and Thomas; and 5 other daughters.  

(Ed Note : The above account is not consistent with the account of Pauline Beard Cooney, History of the Beard - Bedichek - Craven and Allied Families, published 1979.   It is the Editor's opinion that the research by Pauline Beard Cooney is correct; and the above account is incorrect.  Note the above account, even though published in the History of Pocahontas County, is derived from the writings of Williams Thomas Price in the Pocahontas Times.  It is not consistent with other information available about Thomas Beard and Jean McNutt).

James McNutt's estate, by Thomas Beard, 15th August, 1753: Paid for land bought by Beard's wife before marriage, 1751. Paid quitrents for land for 10 years, 1751. Paid quitrents, 1744. Paid to Mr. David Hays debt before marriage.   Paid to Robert Alexander for schooling James and Robert McNutt, one year, 1748. Paid to James Dobbins, same, for Alexander McNutt, 1748.

One very curious development is I am starting to doubt that John Beard (who settled Renick's Valley before the Revolutionary War) was really the son of Thomas Beard and Jean McNutt.

The original research (unsourced) from Paul Franklin Beard identified Thomas Beard and Jean McNutt as the parents of John Beard.   There are some reasons why I believe this may not be so (or there may be two Thomas Beard's in Augusta County at the same time):

1. The will of Thomas Beard from Oct 18, 1769 (the year Thomas died) mentions all of Thomas's children, with the exception of John Beard.   It is possible that John fell out of favor with his father, perhaps that is the reason John moved to Renick's Valley in the first place; but it is curious that John is not mentioned whereas ALL of the other children are mentioned, and many grandchildren (none of them John's) is mentioned.  Also in that will, unfortunately, Thomas did not mention his wife by name so we cannot be certain who his wife was before she died.

2. Various online sources from ancestry.com state that Thomas Beard married Esther, not Jean McNutt.  Some sources link this back to Pennsylvania.

3. One source states that Thomas Beard married Jean McNutt (McNought) in 1728.  This is AFTER the birth of many of the children (Hugh, William, Mary, Esther).

4. The John Beard will does mention his children's "Aunt Elizabeth" (and Elizabeth only, John's sister).   Thomas Beard did have a daughter Elizabeth Beard (Mitchell), who is mentioned in his will, but this was a common name at the time.

5. The "History of Pocahontas County, WV, 1981" Published by the Pocahontas C0unty Historical Society mentions that Thomas Beard came with his brother Edwin (Edwin moved on to Georgia) and settled in Augusta County, new New Hope.  His family consisted of two sons (John and Thomas) and 5 other daughters.   Note that I do not list a Thomas as a son of Thomas Beard (where is he?).

[Ed Note : Update 5 Mar 2007] I am starting to believe that Thomas had two wives, the first named Esther ? and the second Jean McNutt.  The children were mainly by Esther; this is based on some other family tree information.   Perhaps Thomas came to VA so late in life because his first wife passed away?   As there seems to be some reference to New England Beards with DNA evidence and also some reference to neighbors having horse that "passed away before leaving New England".

[Ed Note : Update 17 Jun 2007] A reference in Chalkey's Augusta County Chronicles says:

Page 40.--16th August. 1W8. John Fulton, farmer, and Mary, to Wm. Fulton, £40, 200 acres in Borden's tract, Thomas Beard's line, on Moffet's Creek; Wm. Kennedy's corner. Teste: Hugh Fulton

AND

Page 249.--18th March, 1760. Thomas ( ) Beard and Margaret to William Beard, £100, 605 A., 1 R., 28 P., in Borden's tract, on side Moffet's Creek; corner Jno. Roseman's land. Delivered: Wm. Beard, August 12, 1791

This appears to be giving William Beard (son of Thomas) 605 A for compensation of £100.  Thomas's wife here is Margaret, and some sources site Margaret Eakin as wife of Thomas (2nd wife, first wife was Esther..).   If this is the same Thomas Beard as our Thomas, then we have definitely established that Thomas's wife in March of 1760 was Margaret, not Jean McNutt.   In Thomas's will in 1767, he left most of his lands to Hugh (his eldest) and no land to William (although he left some monies to William's son Thomas).

(Ed. Note 18 Oct 2007 : The above speculations are mainly due to the conflict between William Thomas Price's account of the Beard Family published in the Pocahontas Times; and other facts.   The account of Pauline Beard Cooney, History of the Beard - Bedichek - Craven and Allied Families, published 1979, is, in the Editor's opinion, correct; and that research clears the confusion of Thomas Beard, his wife Jean McNutt, their emigration to America with his father John Beard, settlement in Pennsylvania and eventual migration to Augusta County, Virginia)

Page 511.--18th July, 1752. James Fulton's will, farmer--Son, Hugh, 250 acres joining Samuel Steel's line. One horse died in New England, and 1 horse died here. Son, James, to take care of the widow for her life. Son, William. James to take care of the 2 young boys, David and Thomas, and 3 daughters, Elizabeth, Elliner, and Jane. Son, John. To daughter, Elizabeth, a mare brought from New England. Son, David. Wife, Sarah, and son, Hugh, executors. Teste: Robert Ramsey, Thomas Beard, Robert Alexander. Proved, 15th August, 1753, by all witnesses, and executors qualify with sureties John Brownlee, Thos. Beard.

Virginia Land Deed Records (Augusta and Ohio Counties)
AUGUSTA CO. LAND DEEDS PER CHALKLEY (Abrev):
Compiled by Norma Jennings1997-1998
265 19 Nov. 1747 (432) L27 Current money Virginia, George Brackenridge to Thomas Beard, 309 1/2 acres in Beverly Manor; corner to James Lynn :& John Tate; corner to David Steel. Teste: James FULTON, Samuel Wilson, Samuel Steel. Acknowledged by George, 18 Nov. 1747 and Ann rel, dower.

Deed Book #4
304 7 June 1752 (345) Borden Etc. to John FULTON, planter, 200 acres of 92,100, Moffett's Creek; Thomas Beard's line; James Trimble's corner.

Deed Book # 8
352 18 Aug. 1758, (40) John FULTON, farmer, & Mary, to William FULTON, L40, 200 acres in Borden's Tract, Thomas Beard's line, on Moffet's Creek, William Kennedy's corner. Teste: Hugh FULTON

20 August 1746
p. 21: (74) Cap. Daniel McAnaire to be overseer of above road with following tithables: Samuel Wallis, Alexr. Crawford, John Elliott, David Trimble, John Hogshead, Alexr. Gardner, Sampson Archer, Alexr. Gibson, Robt. Davis, Thomas Gardner, Walter Trimble, John Sixby, David Stuart, Ro. Renix, Francis Gardner, John Trimble, Thomas Beard, R. Gilkason, John Archer, James Bell, James Mills, James Dyer, Charles Clendening, Wm. Hogshead, Ro. Ralston, John Moffet, Saml. Lusk, James Phillips, Danl. Brealey, Mathew Edmonston, James Trimble, John Ferguson, Wm. Anderson, John Spears, John McKenney, Wm. Brady, Ro. Armstrong, James Miller

15 April 1765
p. 120: (335) Court of Claims and Grievances. Wm. Elliott, provisions. John Finley, provisions. Mary Trimble, relict of John Trimble, for horse of John's impressed and provisions. Wm. Armstrong, provisions. Henry Criswell, horse impressed. Samuel Wilson, provisions and horse impressed. John Miller, provisions. David Doage, provisions. Ralph Laverty, provisions. Thos. Beard, provisions. John Trimble, provisions. Nathan Gilliland, carriage of "Flower." John McClary, provisions

NOVEMBER 21, 1764. (162) Israel Robinson, Peter Bowman and Thomas Beard, exempted from levy.
 

APRIL 15, 1765 (335) Wm. Elliott, provisions. John Finley, provisions. Mary Trimble, relict of John Trimble, for horse of John's impressed and provisions. Wm. Armstrong, provisions. Henry Criswell, horse impressed. Samuel Wilson, provisions and horse impressed. John Miller, provisions. David Doage, provisions. Ralph Laverty, provisions. Thos. Beard, provisions. John Trimble, provisions. Nathan Gilliland, carriage of "flower". John McClary, provisions.

MARCH 20, 1781 (325) Admn. of estate of Hugh McEvoy, a soldier killed in the service, granted Thomas Beard

Although no definitive connection to the Augusta, Virginia McNutts listed in Chalkley's Chronicles has been established, there is one connection that is hard to ignore: AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA - CHALKLEY'S CHRONICLES; Vol 3, PP 30 - 49:
Thos. Beard, administrator. Paid to Robt. Alexander, for schooling James and Robert McNutt. Paid to James Dobbins, for schooling Alex. McNutt. Paid one new Bible, for Alex. McNutt. Paid one new Testament, for James McNutt. Paid one new spelling book, for the children, Also, Page 516.--15th August, 1753. John Brownlee's bond as guardian (appointed) to Alexander McNutt, orphan of James McNutt, with sureties Samuel Doake and Arthur Hamilton [15 August 1753].
 

Thomas Beard appears to have been appointed administrator of the Estate of James McNutt, who left three orphan boys [James, Robert, and Alexander]. These records were created in 1753. At that time, there was a Thomas Beard, who was the husband of Jean McNutt, and his grandson Joseph Beard married Sidney Sprowl, daughter of William Sprowl and Susannah Ewing -- sister of Sidney Ewing -- wife of our Lieutenant James McNutt! Thus, our index of suspicion is high that there is some sort of connection between our Francis, James & John McNutt and the Augusta County McNutt clan.

Several sources have confused Lieutenant James McNutt with the James McNutt who was the grandson of Alexander McNutt through his son Alexander; the son Alexander also settled in Augusta County, Virginia. The latter James McNutt has no apparent Revolutionary War service record; he was born in 1740 to Alexander (a brother of another James), married Margaret McElroy in 1768, and died in Augusta County, Virginia on 6 September 1811. Lieutenant James McNutt was also probably born in 1740, but married Sidney Ewing in Greenbrier County, Virginia on 6 February 1781, and then removed with his family to Bourbon County, Kentucky and then Franklin County, Ohio before 1806. He died 30 November 1809 in Franklin County, Ohio
 

December 29, 1792, p. 297. Vol. II. Robert Morton and Sarah Sorrels, daughter of Joseph Sorrels (consent); witnesses, Thomas Beard, Kezzeyar Beard; surety, Nathaniel Kelley.

Waddell, the well-known historian of Augusta County, tells us that the homes were for the first fifteen years or more, hardly better furnished than the wigwams of the Indians, and that while most of their owners had horses, cattle, and Bibles, their minute inventories mention no furniture. Kercheval in his "History of the Valley," draws a similar picture. Instead of "feather-beds and furniture," these sturdy folk had pillows, bolsters, and bed-ticks filled with straw or chaff, laid on the floor or on rude home-made bedsteads, and it seems that these and such tables, stools, and benches as necessity must have compelled them to knock up were not deemed worth appraisement. They had linen brought by the Scotch-Irish emigrants from their own country, but not until 1749 does the first table found in the records by Mr. Waddell appear. It was custom in The Valley, as in Eastern Virginia, to keep pewter on hand for the molding of table-ware, and many spoon molds are mentioned. In 1751 David Flourney left a dozen pewter plates. In 1762 Delft ware appears in The Valley inventories. In 1764 a corner cupboard. In 1769 Thomas Beard bequeathed his wife an elbow chair, and by this token of leisure we know that the prosperity for which nature destined The Valley had set in, the log-cabin age was soon followed by the stone-house age and barness to give place to comfort.
 

Page 125.--28th November, 1779. Thomas Beard's estate appraised by Jno. Montgomery, Wm. Moore, Thos. Wilson.

Page 126.--Above estate settled--Paid Wm. Berkley, Jno. Eakin, Wm. Perrins, Thomas Alexander's and Thos. Beard's legacies; Esther Alexander's legacy; Thomas Mitchell and his mother; Thos. Dunlap and his mother; Robt. Ramsey and children; Martha Mitchell's legacy.

REF: On 20 Nov 1790 a Thomas Beard, signed a Petition in Greenbrier Co., VA,
APSPG495 - Vol. 3, No. 2, Apr 95 "Early Greenbrier Co., WV\VA", Appalachian
Springs.

REF: Submitted query to [redacted] - 10 Dec 97

Oct. 18, 1769

WILL BOOK 4 Page 257: In the name of God Amen I Thomas Beard of the County of Augusta being sick and weak of Body but Perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almighty God Calling to mind the Mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed to all men one to die make this my last Will in manner and form follow-that is to say Principally I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body I commit to the dust to be buried in a Christian like and decent Manner at the discretion of my Executors and touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give devise and bequeath as follows Imprecise I give and bequeath to my wife all my cleared Land lying on the side of the Meadow where the house stands with the upper part of the Meadow as low as the Partition Fence half of the orchard and order her to give my daughter Jane what hay she thinks fit my dwelling house Barn and all my other office houses with Liberty to clear the land for Turnip where they last grew Provided it don't exceed three acres to be possessed by her during her widowhood and no longer I give my Wife my Negro child Dick and at her decease order him to fall to my daughter Jane if she have lawful Issue If she have no lawful Issue I order him to be sold and the Money arising from the sale to be divided among all the rest of my children I give my wife twelve cows and Calves my Roan horse and bay horse and all my household goods to be equally divided betwixt my wife and daughter Jane except two bed steeds my Elbow Chair Walnut Table two large Pewter dishes and six best Plates I order my Wife and Son Hugh to be equal shares in my Cart and Harrow til the wood is near out and then the sole property to fall to Hugh I give my Wife my Plough Tackling Spade Grape shovel Solomon's Mattock an ax Maul Rings and Iron Wedges and one half the fall crop now in the ground and the use of my Negro Tom till the crop is put in next fall and a week after that to provide fire wood she shall not have liberty to take the wood of said Plantation. I give her six sheep my black horse paying eight pounds ten shillings I give my daughter Jane my Negro wench Hannah six sheep my young roant mare my old roant mare and the other half of my household goods Except before Excepted Item I give and bequeath my son Hugh all the land on the West side of the Meadow and all the Meadow below the Partition Fence to take immediate Possession thereof My slave Solomon and I also devise and bequeath unto him two hundred acres of land with all my houses and improvements at my wife’s marriage or decease to him his heirs forever Provided it shall not be lawful for him to sell or in otherwise dispose of said land or Slaves without the consent of my Executors first obtained under their hands and Seal. Item I give and bequeath to my Grand child Thomas my son Hugh's son and the child’s heirs forever one hundred seventy five acres land lying next John Montgomery Thomas Hill and the other neighbors land Joining that part of my place I order my wife and Hugh each to pay the one half of the Suit rent I give and bequeath to my Grand Children Thomas Alexander, Thomas Beard (William's Son) Thomas Mitchell, Thomas Dunlop ten pounds each and twelve pounds ten to Robert Ramsey's children Viz my Grand children I order my son William Beard my Negro Tom next fall Payment forty one pounds and the money arising from sale to be divided among the Legatees two years after delivery I give and bequeath to my daughters Ester Alexander, Elizabeth Mitchell and Mary Dunlop ten pounds each to their heirs I give my Grand Children Ann Alexander and Martha Mitchell to each of them a large Pewter dish and three plates to my son William my Elbow chair

Page 2
Thos Beard
WILL Book 4
Page 257

and to my son Hugh, Table bedstead and the one fourth part of the fall crop and the other one fourth to Jane I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Mitchell a Crass Heckle I order my young bay mare to be sold and the money let out at Interest for the use of my Daughter Jane 's Issue and if she have no Issue to be equally divided among all the rest of my Children I order a Brown Heifer with a Bull calf to be sold valued at ten pounds ten t~m only for the Legatees I order my son Hugh to pay Ester Alexander, Elizabeth Mitchell Mary Dunlop Thomas Alexander Thomas Beard (William's son) Thomas Mitchell Thomas Dunlop and Robert Ramsey's Children ten pounds ten shillings to be equally divided among them six years after my decease Lastly I constitute James Mitchell and Thomas Hill my Executors and revoke all former Wills In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 15th May 1769 I order three years to pay the black horse Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of His
John Eakin Thomas T.B. Beard
James Eakin Mark
Andrew Eakin

At a Court Continued and held for Augusta County Oct. 18, 1769 This Last Will and Testament of Thomas Beard was Proved by the Oaths of John Eakin and James Eakin two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of James Mitchell and Thomas Hill (Executors therein named) who made oath according to law Certificate is Granted them for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form they having with Security entered into and Acknowledged their Bond according to law Test

Note: This is a Xerox copy of the typed copy which I secured from Miss Catherine Anderson, a Staunton, Va. Genealogist.

Esther Beard, dau. of Thomas above, married Robert Alexander. Robert Alexander in about 1749 founded a small classical school which ultimately developed into Washington and Lee University.
Signed: Edward Aull

Marriages--Virginia to 1800
Beard, Thomas married Jameson, Sarah 12 Apr 1785 in Rockbridge County, VA

Page 511.--18th July, 1752. James Fulton's will, farmer--Son, Hugh, 250 acres joining 
Samuel Steel's line. One horse died in New England, and 1 horse died here. Son, James, 
to take care of the widow for her life. Son, William. James to take care of the 2 
young boys, David and Thomas, and 3 daughters, Elizabeth, Elliner, and Jane. Son, 
John. To daughter, Elizabeth, a mare brought from New England. Son, David. Wife, 
Sarah, and son, Hugh, executors. Teste: Robert Ramsey, Thomas Beard, Robert Alexander. 
Proved, 15th August, 1753, by all witnesses, and executors qualify with sureties John
Brownlee, Thos. Beard	

1656 - 10 Feb 1745

ID Number: I78242

Family 1 :

1. +Alexander MCNUTT "the Immigrant"
2.  William MCNUTT
3.  Abraham MCNUTT
4.  Jean MCNUTT
5.  Barnard MCNUTT
6. +James MCNUTT "the Immigrant"

"Albemarle County, Virginia Surveyor's Plat Books 1744-1853"

AUGUSTA PARISH VESTRY BOOK.

ADMINISTRATORS' BONDS.

page 434

Page 17.--James Fulton and John Mitchell make returns, viz: 1748, 26th March, processioned for Samuel Doak, present Samuel Braford; processioned for John Mitchell, present Samuel Doak; processioned for Samuel Braford, present Samuel Doak; processioned for John Buchanan, present James Cowen; processioned for Martha Mitchell (widow), present John Buchanan; processioned for James Cowen, present David Mitchell; processioned for David Moor, present Jas. Cowan; processioned for Robert Wilson, present Andrew Alexander; processioned for Andrew Alexander, present Robert Wilson; processioned for Patrick Campbell, present Joseph Reed; processioned for Joseph Reeds, present Chas. Campbell; processioned for Chas. Campbell, present Pat. Campbell; processioned for Patrick Hays, present Wm. Robinson; processioned for Robert Alexander, present Robert Ramsey; processioned for Robt. Ramsey, present Pat. Hays; processioned for Sarah Ramsey (widow), present Robt. Ramsey; processioned for John Lockhart, present Pat. Hays; processioned for Thos. Beard, present John Lockhart; processioned for Samuel Wilson, present Robert Wilson; processioned for David Doak, present Samuel Wilson; processioned for Eleanor Mitchell (widow), present Robert Wilson; processioned for John Teats, present Thos. Beard; processioned for James Linn, present Samuel Doak; processioned for John Brownlee, present Wm. Smith; processioned for George Breckinridge, present, ---- Breckenridge; processioned for James Robinson, present Anthony Black; processioned for Anthony Black, present Jas. Robinson; processioned for Wm. Robinson, present ---- Robinson; processioned for Jas. Fulton, present Alex. Brownlee; processioned for Samuel Steel, present John Fulton

Conveyances in Borden Track 1741-1780

Dunlap, Samuel -- 5591/2 - 16p 15s 9d - 1742 corner to John Houston; 170 acres sold, 1750 to David Dunlap for 23p; 389 1/2 acres sold, 1753 to Thomas Beard for 140p.

Fulton, John -- 200 - 6p --1752 -- Moffett Cr. adjoining Thomas Beard -- sold to Thomas Fulton, 1758 for 40p.

Hill, Thomas -- 50--2p--1754 corner to Thomas Beard

Logan, John -- 195 - 6p 15s --1755 -- adjoining Thomas Beard.

Pollack, William -- 190-30p-1765 - adjoining Thomas Beard and John Montgomery

Dunlap, David -- to Hugh Beard - 170-29p-1757 adjoining John Cunningham and William Lockridge.

Young, Daniel - to Samuel Beard -- 260-12p-1764 - Snoden's Spring.