GERSHOM

The GERSHOM BEACHes In The Line Of John¹

By Eugene H. Beach, Jr.

Reprinted from the Beach Family Journal, Vol. IV, No. 1 (Spring, 1996)

The given name "Gershom" (sometimes spelled "Gershon", "Gersham", "Gresham", etc.) derives from the Hebrew "ger", meaning a "stranger" or "exile." It is first recorded as the name of the eldest son of Levi, c. 16th century B.C., See: e.g., Gen. 46:11; Exod. 6:16-17; Num. 3:21-26. It was later given by Moses to the first child by his wife Zipporah, during the sojourn in Midian, in recognition of Moses being a "stranger in a strange land." See: Exod. 2:22. In the 5th century B.C. the name was also borne by a descendant of the high priest Phinehas, who returned with Ezra to Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile, See: Ezra 8:2.

Among the New England Beach family the name first appears with Gershom Beach³, Thomas², John¹, b. May 23, 1697, and those who bear the name thereafter all appear to descend from this one man. Indeed, we can think of no other instance where a particular given name is so confined to a specific branch of the family. Even the unusual name "Zophar", which seems limited to the descendants of Thomas Beach¹, is nonetheless found among two widely divergent branches of that family, i.e., those descending from John², Thomas¹ in Connecticut and those descending from Zophar², Thomas¹ in New Jersey.

The fact that all other known Gershom Beaches descend from Gershom³ might seem, at first glance, to facilitate the genealogist's task. In reality, however, it has complicated matters considerably as references to "Gershom Beach" are assumed by some to denote one man, while others attribute them to another of the same name. Compare: the confusion often encountered in trying to distinguish the John Beaches of early Wallingford, i.e., John¹; his son John², John¹; his nephew John², Thomas¹; etc. It therefore seems appropriate to examine this family anew and attempt to sort out which Gershom is which. In so doing we are mindful of the fact our conclusions may generate some controversy, as spouses, children or accomplishments long claimed for one Gershom may end up being attributed to another. For such reasons we invite any readers with different views to submit their arguments and authorities, which we will be pleased to publish in a subsequent issue.

A Gershom Beach Ancestral Chart

We begin with the following chart, illustrating the relationships between the various Gershom Beaches hereafter discussed:

As can be seen, there are at least six, and possibly seven men under consideration: one in the third generation; one in the fourth generation; two in the fifth generation; perhaps two in the sixth generation, and one in the seventh generation. In the discussion which follows, Gershom⁵, Gershom⁴ will be called simply "Gershom⁵", while his cousin, Gershom⁵, Aaron⁴, will be called "Sergt. Gershom⁵". The two men in the sixth generation are somewhat more problematic, as they may be one and the same, but the following convention should suffice to identify each: Gershom⁶, Philip⁵, will be called simply "Gershom⁶", while his (alleged) cousin, Gershom⁶, Gershom⁵, Gershom⁴, will be called "Gershom⁶-⁵-⁴". The generational superscipt numbers alone should suffice to identify Gershom³, Gershom⁴ and Gershom⁷. Any confusion while reading the following accounts should be readily resolved by referring back to the chart above.

Gershom³

Gershom Beach³ (Thomas², John¹), the first of the name, was b. May 23, 1697; d. Jun 27, 1729; m. Oct 26, 1721, Deliverance How or Howe, dau. of Daniel and Margery (Andrews) How, b.c. 1705, d. Dec, 1748. She m. 2nd, Daniel Andrews, as his third wife. Gershom Beach³ resided at Cheshire, Connecticut, where he is buried. His children were: (i) Ruth, b. Aug 21, 1722; (ii) Joanna, b. Aug 17, 1724; (iii) Aaron, b. Jan 14, 1727; and (iv) Gershom, below. See: Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, pp. 36-37.

Gershom⁴

Gershom Beach⁴ (Gershom³, Thomas², John¹), the second of the name, was the ancestor of Alfred Holmes Beach, editor of the Beach Family Magazine. No doubt for this reason the publication devoted considerable space to this Gershom's life and exploits, See: Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 17-19, and Vol. I, No. 3, p. 65. He is said to have been b. Sep 24, 1729, and bpt. Nov, 1729, Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, p. 37. Other authority, however says he was b. Sep 14, 1728, at Cheshire, Connecticut, See: Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 32. His wife was Mary Salter, with the Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 17, giving the year of marriage as 1746, although the couple's first child, Samuel, was not born until 1752.

According to Alfred Holmes Beach, Gershom's "... early life undoubtedly took him to New Jersey near his Uncle Benjamin who lived in Morris county for we find that both he and his brother Aaron, of Chittenden, Vermont, were blacksmiths and armourers...," Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 17. The basis for this assertion is, however, unclear. The "Uncle Benjamin" in question is presumably Benjamin³, Benjamin², John¹, of Morristown, New Jersey, but he is not known to have been a blacksmith, armourer or otherwise associated with the ironworking trades. All that is known of Benjamin³ with certainty is that he was b. May 19, 1702; was a member of the Morristown church in 1742, but was suspended from membership in 1756. Perhaps for this reason Alfred Holmes Beach would later write: "His early life is supposed to have been spent in N.J..., but no proof of this has been found. He may have stayed with his mother in Connecticut after she married Daniel Andrews." Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 3, p. 63.

Alfred Holmes Beach also noted a "Tradition" that Gershom⁴ "... went from that state [i.e., New Jersey] some time after 1761 to Virginia but records show him to have been in Lanesboro, Mass., in 1769, and to have married his second wife, Jane Keeler, of Pittsfield, Mass., at Lanesboro in March or April, 1771, " Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 17. The last assertion, however, is demonstrably in error as more recent authorities have shown. On the contrary, it appears Gershom Beach⁴ married but once, to Mary Salter. The Gershom who married Jane Keeler was instead Sergt. Gershom⁵, with the marriage banns published Mar 28, 1771, See: Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 37. This conclusion is buttressed by the fact that Jane (Keeler) Beach is buried beside her husband, Sergt. Gershom⁵, at Wetmore Cemetery, Chittenden, Vermont.

Gershom Beach⁴ appears as a resident of Rutland, Vermont, in a deed there dated June, 1770, but seems to have moved back and forth between Vermont and Massachusetts with some frequency. As noted below, a deed dated Apr, 1775, gives his residence as Lanesboro, although Alfred Holmes Beach claims he was in Rutland by May of that year. Pension papers of his son Aaron⁵ claim the family fled to Williamstown, Massachusetts, in July, 1777. During this time he and his sons served in the battle of Bennington, before returning to Rutland the next winter, Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 32.

At least two stories about "Old Gashem" Beach have been preserved. On one occasion he complained about some cornmeal that was so coarse he had to sift it through a ladder. Another time he was surprised that a squirrel he was aiming at failed to fall after being shot at three times. Only then did he discover that the squirrel was actually a louse perched on his eyebrow as he was sighting his rifle, Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 33.

The role which Gershom Beach⁴ played in the Revolution has provoked seemingly endless controversy. By tradition he is the man who on May 8, 1775, made an historic sixty-four mile run to rally the Green Mountain Boys for Ethan Allen's raid on Fort Ticonderoga. Alfred Holmes Beach devoted three pages of the first issue of the Beach Family Magazine to refuting claims this "Hike", as it has come to be known, was instead made by Gershom's eldest son, Samuel⁵, Gershom⁴, See: "Who Warned the Green Mountain Boys", Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, pp. 17-19. Still, the issue remains hotly debated, as the following quote from a more recent study makes clear:

There is no evidence to indicate that the reputed run through Rutland, Pittsford, Brandon, Middlebury, Whiting and Shoreham, Vermont, was made by Gershom Beach. The original source for the story is not specific, merely stating that the feat was performed by a Major Beach. See: Josiah F. Goodhue, History of the Town of Shoreham, Vermont, p. 13 (1861). If this run was really made, it is possible that Samuel Beach made it. Gershom Beach was forty-five in 1775, and no record indicates he was ever a major.

Vermont Historical Society, The Expeditionary Force To Ticonderoga In 1775, typescript, Montpelier, Vermont, 1942, p. 71.

Even assuming the hero was a "Gershom Beach", his identification with Gershom⁴ remains uncertain. As noted, Gershom⁴ would have been in his late 40's in 1775, leading some to argue the "Hike" was made by a younger man, with both Gershom⁵ and Sgt. Gershom⁵ having their respective partisans. Our own review of the various published accounts makes it impossible for us to form any definitive opinion. We note, however, that a deed dated April 5, 1775 - a month before the "Hike" - shows Gershom⁴ to be living at Lanesboro, Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 32. Suffice it to say that a trek on foot of 60-plus miles in a span of 24 hours, through the wilderness of colonial Vermont, is a notable accomplishment for any man, regardless of age or identity.

Following the Revolution, Gershom⁴ accompanied several of his sons to western New York. In November, 1786, he sold his farm in Rutland to Adam Willis. He is the one on the 1790 Census for Herkimer, Montgomery County, New York, where his son Moses⁵ also seems to have been living at the time. Around 1791 he located at Scottsville, New York, where son Jesse⁵ had settled. The 1800 Census for Ontario County, New York (which then included Monroe and other counties), p. 314, shows Gershom Beach with one male 10-15 years old; 1 male over 45 years old; and 1 female over 45 years old. On the same page appears son Jesse Beach⁵, with 3 males under 10 years old; 1 male 26-45 years old; 2 females under 10 years old; 1 female 10-15 years old; and one female 26-45 years old. Thereafter, Gershom Beach⁴ moved to Niagara County with son Philip⁵.

There is considerable confusion over the date and place of this Gershom's death. The Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, p. 37, claims he "drowned 1812, buried Salisbury, Vt.". See also: Vol. I, No. 1, p. 18, which says Gershom⁴, baptized in 1729, "met his death by drowning at the age of 82", i.e., c. 1811-1812. This is in error, however, since it was his son, Gershom⁵, who drowned in 1812. More reliable is the obituary which appeared in the Middlebury (Vermont) Mercury for Feb 5, 1806, which states:

Died near Niagara Falls, State of New York, on the 2d day of September last, Mr. Gershom Beach on the day he had completed his 77th year. He was one of the first settlers of the town of Rutland, and took an early part in the Rev. War. Was with three of his sons, in the famous battle fought near Bennington.

Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 33.

This is consistent with Gershom⁴ having moved to Niagara County, New York, with son Philip⁵.

Perhaps fittingly, the children of Gershom Beach⁴ and Mary Salter are themselves a source of confusion. The Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 3, lists a total of eleven, but suggests the list "may be incomplete". Those given are (i) Samuel; (ii) Moses; (iii) Aaron; (iv) Ruth; (v) John; (vi) Jesse (vii) Mary; (viii) Philip; (ix) Sally; (x) Maybee; and (xi) Freelove. More recent authority, however, adds a son Gershom⁵ while omitting Sally, Maybee and Freelove whom, it seems, are the children of son Gershom⁵ rather than Gershom⁴. See below for further discussion of this issue.

Sergt. Gershom⁵

Gershom Beach⁵ (Aaron⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹), the third of this name, was born November 19, 1747, at Farmington, Connecticut, the son of Aaron and Esther (Keeler) Beach, Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, p. 57; Vol. II, No. 1, p. 115; Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 37. The Beach Family Magazine refers to him as "Sergt. Gershom" to distinguish him from others of the same name; a convention we have adopted for the sake of clarity and consistency. He is the one who appears on the 1790 Census for Chittenden, Vermont, and is accordingly also called Gershom of Chittenden, to distinguish him from his cousin Gershom⁵, Gershom⁴ of Rutland. He is probably the Gershom Beach to whom, with 65 others, the Vermont General Assembly chartered the town of Chittenden on Mar 16, 1780.

As noted above, the authorities now seem in agreement that it was Sergt. Gershom⁵ - not Gershom⁴ - who m. 1st, Jane Keeler, at Lanesboro, Massachusetts, with the marriage banns published Mar 28, 1771. See: Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 37. She is said to have been from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and was possibly related to Sergt. Gershom's mother, Esther Keeler. Jane (Keeler) Beach gave birth to an infant son Feb 11, 1792, and died the same day. Thereafter, Sergt. Gershom⁵ m. 2nd, Dorcas Keeler. Her relationship to either first wife Jane Keeler and/or mother Esther Keeler is unknown, but possible.

Sergt. Gershom⁵ d. at Chittenden Feb 17, 1798, of consumption, and is buried at Wetmore Cemetery, Chittenden, Vermont. His tombstone bears the following inscription:

GERSHOM BEACH Died Feb 17th, 1798 in the 50th year of his age This monumental stone you see Is freely placed here by me His eldest son since his decease Oh! may his body sleep in peace Til Gabrils trump Shall shake the earth & skies Sounding awake ye dead To judgement rise

Nearby is a hand carved field stone, crudely lettered, marking the grave of his first wife, bearing the inscription:

In Memory of JA NE BEACH Relick of Ger shom Beach Deceased Fe bruary 11 1792 aged 41

The reference to "Relick" is curious, since that term usually denotes a widow whereas Jane Beach predeceased her husband. Also nearby is the tombstone of one Capt. Seth Keeler, d. Dec 28, 1791, ae 47, who is possibly a brother of Jane (Keeler) Beach and/or Dorcas (Keeler) Beach.

Sergt. Gershom's will, dated Jan 27, 1798, is reprinted in full in the Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 2, p. 57. An account of his descendants was previously published in the Beach Family Journal, Vol. II, No. 2, pp. 303-307, based upon research by Norma J. Baker. This gives his children as: [by Jane Keeler] (i) Ebenezer Keeler; (ii) Cynthia, b. Oct 12, 1775; (iii) Samuel, b. Dec 6, 1788; (iv) Phebe, b. Dec 30, 1780; (v) Rebecca, b. Jun 13, 1784; m. Aug 19, 1804, Manasah Sawyer; (vi) Esther, b. Dec 19, 1786; m. Sep 12, 1805, Edward Gibbs; (vii) Lucina, b. Aug 30, 1789; (viii) Infant, b. Feb 11, 1792; d. Feb 20, 1792; [by Dorcas Keeler] (ix) Moses, b. Jan 13, 1793; m. Irena Brown; and (xi) Chauncey, b. Apr 16, 1795; m. Amy Woodruff. Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 38, has the same list, but gives additional/different information for the following children, i.e. (i) Ebenezer, b. Aug 8, 1773, at Lanesboro, Massachusetts; (iv) Phebe, m. Simeon Foot; and (x) Chauncey (rather than Moses), m. Irena Brown, b. May 17, 1796, dau. of Elijah, Jr. and Sarah Brown.

Gershom⁵

Gershom Beach⁵ (Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹, ), the fourth of the name, has truly lived up to its Hebriac meaning of "stranger" or "exile." Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 35, notes that "Unfortunately, all published material has confused Gershom [i.e., Gershom⁴] with his son, Gershom, Jr. [i.e., Gershom⁵], and in most cases the latter is not even mentioned." This is certainly the case with the Beach Family Magazine, which nowhere acknowledges such a man, except to the extent it confuses his date, place and manner of death with that of his father. His existence, however, seems beyond question. He is the Gershom who appears on the 1790 Census for Rutland, since his father had by then moved to Montgomery County, New York, appearing on the census there, while his cousin Sergt. Gershom⁵ is the one on the 1790 Census for Chittenden.

Swan, supra, cites a history of Salisbury, Vermont, referring to Gershom⁵ as "the Virginian" and suggests he was born in that state c. 1756. It is he, rather than his father, who died in 1812 after falling through the ice and drowning at Canada East. A crude fieldstone marker with a metal plate is said to stand at the West Salisbury cemetery. It reads "Gershom Beach with Allen at Ticonderoga." Since his children resided at Salisbury it is suggested they erected it in their father's honor, as his body may not have been recovered for burial. This inscription again raises the question whether it was Gershom⁵, rather than his father, Gershom⁴, who made the famous "Hike" to rally the Green Mountain Boys. Note, in this regard, that Gershom⁵ is said to have "served from Rutland" during the Revolution. Not until 1801 did he sell his farm to Moses Hawks and move to Salisbury, Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 36.

Gershom⁵ married Freelove a/k/a Love Whitney, b. Dec 18, 1758, at Princeton, Massachusetts, dau. of Silas and Jane (Pearson) Whitney. She d. Sep 4, 1799, at Rutland, Vermont, and is reportedly buried with her parents in the Marsh Cemetery, although no gravestone marks the site. Swan, supra, pp. 36-37, gives the couple the following children:

i. SARAH, b. Jan, 1780; d. Feb 25, 1858, ae 78 yrs, 1 mo.; m. Solomon Thomas, who d. Dec 10, 1848, at age 80 years. Both are bur. at Holman Cemetery, Salisbury, Vermont. NOTE: This is the "Sally Beach" whom the Beach Family Magazine, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 117, gives as a daughter of Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹, when it appears she was in fact his granddaughter.

ii. ELIZABETH.

iii. PARSON(S) a/k/a PEARSON, b. 1784; m. Dec 3, 1807, Electa Bump. It is claimed they removed to Michigan. See the discussion below of his son, Gershom⁷.

iv. PHILIP.

v. PHEBE, b. Dec 12, 1789; m. 1st., Sep 14, 1808, Joshua Graves, b. Jul 9, 1784, d. Aug 4, 1825; m. 2nd, Richard Whitney. BUT NOTE: The Beach Family Magazine, Vol. I, No. 1, p. 15, identifies this Phebe as the dau. of Aaron Beach⁵, Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹. See also: "The Ancestry and Posterity of Phebe Beach⁶", Beach Family Journal, Vol. III, No. 2, pp. 307-308. A photocopy of the birth record of "Pheby Beach" born Dec 12, 1789, certified by the Director of Public Records for Vermont, clearly shows her parents to be "Lieutenant Aaron Beach" and his wife "Rachel".

vi. FREELOVE, age 61 years on the 1850 Census for Rochester, Vermont; d. Jan, 1853, at Rochester, Vermont; m. Jan 23, 1814, Calvin Emerson. NOTE: The Beach Family Magazine, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 117, gives her as a daughter of Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹, when it appears she was in fact his granddaughter.

vii. GERSHOM. See below.

viii. JANE W., d. Feb 16, 1861, at age 65 years; m. Asahel B. Martin, who d. Mar 6, 1885, at age 85. Both are bur. at Holman Cemetery, Salisbury, Vermont.

ix. MERIBA, d. Jun 21, 1876, at Salisbury, Vermont, ae. 77 yrs, 3 mos. 16 days; m. Dec 14, 1819, Cornelius Gibbs, Jr., of Pittsford, Vermont, who d. Dec 12, 1872, ae. 74 yrs. Both are bur. at Salisbury Village Cemetery, Salisbury, Vermont. NOTE: This is the "Maybee Beach" whom the Beach Family Magazine, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 117, gives as a daughter of Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹, when it appears she was in fact his granddaughter.

Gershom⁶ and Gershom^6-5-4

It is necessary to consider these two men together, as they may well be one and the same. The Beach Family Magazine, Vol. II, No. 1, p. 117, in an account of Philip⁵, Gershom⁴, gives him a son "Gershom, d. in youth, but see 1812 pension records which I believe is this man." At Vol. III, No. 1, p. 230, this Gershom⁶ is again identified with the man who served "in Col. Caleb Hendee's Vermont militia at Pittsford" in the War of 1812 and later m. May 20, 1820, at Cambria, New York, Rebecca Kelly. While conceding that "Other authority [is] to the effect that this Gershom (i.e., Gershom⁶, Philip⁵) died young", the entry again states "I believe that the soldier is correctly placed as the son of Philip." In reliance on this entry we ourselves previously identified the Gershom [Gersham] and Rebecca Beach on the 1850 Census for Salisbury, Addison County, Vermont, as Gershom⁶, Philip⁵, Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹, See: "Index to Persons Named BEACH/BEECH In The 1850 Federal Census for Vermont", Beach Family Journal, Vol. III, No. 1, pp. 251-260, at p. 254.

Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, p. 36, however, assigns the 1812 veteran and husband of Rebecca Kelly to Gershom⁵, Gershom⁴, Gershom³, Thomas², John¹. The basis for this is not given, but it may be no more than that, as of 1850, he resided in the same locale as Gershom⁵ some 40 years before. By the same token, one wonders if Alfred Holmes Beach would have identified him with the son of Philip⁶ had he realized the existence of Gershom⁵. Regardless, the question remains whether there were one or two Gershom Beaches in the sixth generation, and if one, who was his father.

Our own analysis of the problem begins with the age of the Gershom on the 1850 Census of Salisbury, i.e., 54, so born c. 1795-96. As noted above, however, Swan also assigns Gershom⁵ a daughter Jane W., who d. Feb 16, 1861, at age 65 years; therefore presumably born between Feb 17, 1795 and Feb 16, 1796. While it is conceivable the two children might be born close enough together to make the dates "work out", perhaps even as twins, there is reason to question whether both could be children of the same parents.

Recall too that, at the outbreak of the War of 1812, many families on the western New York frontier fled back east, including that of Aaron Beach⁵, Gershom⁴. In the process he may have taken with him other family members, including nieces and nephews. This might explain how a son of Philip⁵, Gershom⁴, who had himself settled in New York, ended up serving in a Vermont militia company during the war, but was back in Cambria, New York, by 1820 where he married Rebecca Kelly. Following such marriage he could then have returned to Vermont, where he appears on the 1850 Census, and lost touch with other family members, leading to a belief he had "died young." For such reasons we question whether there were in fact two Gershoms in the sixth generation. The Beach Family Magazine may well be right that there is only one, a son of Philip⁵, Gershom⁴. It is hoped this article will stimulate those interested in this branch of the family to undertake the further research needed to clarify this matter.

Gershom⁷

As noted above, Gershom⁵ had a son Parson, a/k/a Parsons or Pearson Beach⁶, born 1784 and married Dec 3, 1807, at Salisbury, Vermont, Electa Bump, the daughter of Salathiel and Mary (Strong) Bump. Swan, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, claims this family removed to Michigan, but we know of no Parson/Parsons/Pearson Beach or Beech on either the 1840 or 1850 Censuses of Michigan, although this is not necessarily dispositive.

Additional data comes from the Genealogical Society of Vermont's Vermont Families in 1791, Vol. I, which includes an account of the Bump family at pp. 20-21. The marriage of Electa Bump and Parsons Beach is again given as Dec 3, 1807, at Salisbury, Vermont, according to the vital records of that town. Electa Bump is said to have been born Jun 8, 1788, and to have died Aug 24, 1888, while Parson Beach is given as having died Sep 9, 1851, according to a Bump family history. This same source also lists the couple's children as follows, i.e.:

i. RICHARD, b. Jul 11, 1809.

ii. RUSSELL BUMP, b. Aug 8, 1811.

iii. GERSHAM (sic), b. Jul 31, 1814.

iv. ESTHER, b. Jul 18, 1817.

v. CYRUS, b. Jan 5, 1820.

vi. LYDIA, b. Jul 21, 1822.

vii. PHILO, b. Feb 23, 1826.

viii. SAMANTHA, b. Feb 3, 1828.

It thus appears there is yet another Gershom/Gersham Beach who, like his grandfather, was either unknown or unrecognized by the Beach Family Magazine and other published histories of the family. Unfortunately, we ourselves know nothing at present beyond the limited information above. The fact such "new" descendants of Gershom⁴ have now been (re)discovered at all, however, presents a potentially fertile field for additional research and investigation. We cannot help but wonder how many presently "disconected" Beach families might at last be linked up if, for example, this Gershom⁷ or the other sons of Parson/Parsons/Pearson Beach⁶ are found to have as yet unknown children of their own.

Conclusion

While the foregoing discussion has served to clear up a number of questions about the Gershom Beaches of Vermont and New York, it has likewise highlighted others which require further research and analysis before the answers, if any, can be stated with confidence. The acknowledgment that Gershom⁴ had a son Gershom⁵ seems a major advance, since it corrects a glaring omission in the previously published literature and helps explain a number of mysteries, e.g., why there are three Gershoms on the 1790 Census. At the same time several interesting questions remain. We are, in particular, still in doubt as to whether there were one or two Gershom Beaches in the sixth generation and the identity of his/their father(s). We are likewise curious to know whether Philip⁶, Gershom⁵, or any of the sons of Parson/Parsons/Pearson⁶, Gershom⁵ had descendants of their own. Needless to say we would welcome any further information which might shed light on the many issues which still surround this branch of the family.

References

Beach, Alfred H. and Cora M., Beach Family Magazine

Swan, Marvel G. and Swan, Donald P, Early Families of Rutland, Vermont, Rutland Historical Society, Inc., Rutland, Vermont

1790 Censuses for Vermont and New York

1800 Census for New York

1850 Census for Vermont, abstracted in Beach Family Journal, Vol. III, No. 1, pp. 251-260

"Ancestry and Posterity of Gershom Beach⁵", Beach Family Journal, Vol. III, No. 2, pp. 303-307

"Ancestry and Posterity of Phebe Beach^6", Beach Family Journal, Vol. III, No. 2, pp. 307-308

Genealogical Society of Vermont, Special Publication Number 1, Vermont Families in 1791, Picton Press, Camden, Maine, Vol. I, pp. 20-21 [Our thanks to Dr. and Mrs. Fred Nelson for sharing this item with us last October]

Vermont Historical Society, The Expeditionary Force to Ticonderoga in 1775: Lists of Participants and Possible Participants, Analysed and Documented, with Biographical Data, typescript, Montpelier, Vermont, 1942, p. 71.

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