Jacob F. Beecher ^{1 2}

   Other names for Jacob were Jacob Beacher, Jacob Bicher and Jacob Bucher.

  Christening Notes:

Baptism appears in the Personal Register of Reverend Traugott F. Illing. The translation as provided by author F. Edward Wright in his Church Records of the 18th Century volume: "Jacob, of John Bucher and wife Maria, b. 9 Jan 1796; bapt. 19 Apr. 1796. Sponsors not given."

Curiously, it is listed in the front portion of Illing's register associated with his baptisms performed in the Middletown vicinity. As explained by author F. Edward Wright in Lancaster County Church Records of the 18th Century:

"In one part of Illing's register are recorded the marriages and baptisms that centered around his activities while pastor at Middletown Lutheran Church in (now) Dauphin County. They were for Lutheran and Episcopal families who resided in townships within a few miles of Middletown, on both sides of the Susquehanna River, including: Donegal and Mount Joy Townships in Lancaster County; Newberry, Manchester, and Hellam Townships in York County; Rye and East Pennsboro Townships in Cumberland County; Paxtang and Derry Townships in now Dauphin County; and Lebanon Township in now Lebanon County.

In another section of Illing's register are recorded marriages and baptisms in the easternmost part of Lancaster County and adjacent townships of Berks and Chester Counties, while Rev. Illing was serving as pastor at Bangor Episcopal church in Caernarvon Township, Lancaster County, and at Forest Lutheran Church and Allegheny Lutheran Church in nearby Berks County (and possible also at Pequea (St. John's) Episcopal Church on the boundary between Lancaster and Chester counties."

Note: Jacob's mother, Mary Ann Albrecht, was buried at Pequea Church, which is also near Bangor Episcopal Church in Churchtown. From other records we know the family was living in this area when Jacob was born.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Alt. Birth, Abt 1797, , Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ^{1 6}

• Census, 1820, Earl Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁷ In Earl Township in the 1820 Census was listed Jacob Becar with this household:
Males (born)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father Jacob
Females (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 2 daughters
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 mother

On the same page is Peter Segner, whose brother George married Jacob's sister Elizabeth. Immediate neighbors listed are Samuel Yount, Philip Snyder, Michael Schmeader, Caleb Hudson, Dorothy Haldrey, Henry Wolf, Henry Conell.

• Church, 6 Feb 1821, New Holland: Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁸ The child of Jacob and Catherine Bucher, John Valentine, is baptized at Trinity Lutheran in New Holland in 1821.

• Tax List, 1829, Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁹ Jacob Beecher "labour, no horse, 1 cattle, taxed 0.12"
John Beecher "labour (no house), 1 cattle, tax 0.25"
Benjamin Beecher "freeholder. 116 acres 3rd rate land, 4 horses, 3 cattle. Assessed value $3090, tax 4.02 p."

• Census, 1830, Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁵ In 1830 in Salisbury Township is listed the household of Jacob Beacher with:

Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 2 sons
5-9 (1821-1825) = 2 sons
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1 Jacob
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter
20-29 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter
50-59 (1771-1780) = 1 wife

• Alt. Death, 1848. ³

• Census, 1850, Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹ Jacob Beecher, age 53, laborer, is living with his wife, Susanna, 32; Lorenzo H., 5; George W., 2. Also with them is Sophia Connelly, 63, perhaps Susanna's mother? Within this same home but identified as a family is John Connelly, 20, laborer, with his wife Amanda, 19, and George McGalager, 33, laborer. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania except Susanna and Sophia who were born in Maryland.

• Pension, 1854. ¹⁰ Following in a copy of a letter from U. S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Pensions, received by Mrs. Harry Kennett McAdams, 309 N. Broadway, Lexington, KY. [Ms. McAdams is a descendent.]

"I advise you that form the papers in the Revolutionary War Pension Claim, S.39982, it appears that John Beecher, or Becher, enlisted in Lebanon, in what was later Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, April, 1788, served as a Private in Captain Meng's Company, Colonel Benjamin Flowers Artillery Artificers Regiment and was discharged April 3, 1779.

"He was allowed a Pension on his application executed November 28, 1818, while a resident of Berne Township, Berks County, Pa., aged over fifty-six years. He died March 22, 1819.

"Soldier's wife, Mary Ann Beecher, died November 11, 1837. Her maiden name and date of marriage not stated.

"In 1854, Jacob Nyswender and Henry Carpenter stated in Columbus, Ohio, that the following were the children and only heirs of said John and Mary Ann Beecher:

"John Beecher, of Berks County, Pa.

"William Beecher and Barbara Nyswender, both of Franklin County, Ohio.

"Margaret Mulliner, of Philadelphia, Pa.

"Benjamin Beecher, Jacob Beecher, and Catherine Paxon, all of Chester Co., Pa.

"Samuel Beecher, of Lancaster Co., Pa.

"Lydia Cook, of Clark Co., Va.

"There is no record in this bureau of land having been granted by the United States, on account of the service of the above named Revolutionary War Soldier, John Beecher, or Becher.

"Respectfully,
Winfield Scott, Commissioner, Rev. and 1812 Wars Section."

• Residence, 1854, , Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹⁰

• Census, 1860, West Brandywine Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹¹ Jacob Beecher, age 64, occupation carter, is listed in the 1860 Census in West Brandywine Township in Chester County. He is living with wife Susan, 41; Lorenzo, 14; George, 12; Benjamin, 8; Emma, 2; and Leah Doan, 64, seamstress [could be Jacob's mother-in-law?]. His real estate was valued at $0 and his personal possessions at $200. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Coatesville, Pa.

• Census, 1870, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹² Jacob Bucher, 75, no occupation, is living in Philadelphia in the 88th Division 26th Ward, with Susan, 51; Lorenza, 25, works in rollin mill; George, 22, works in rollin mill; Benjamin, 17, clerk druggist; and Emma, 12, at school. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. Jacob's real estate was worth $1,900.

• Census, 1880, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁶ Jacob Beecher, age 84, is living with wife Susannah, 61; son Benjamin C., 27, who "works in store"; and daughter Susan E., 21. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania except Susannah was born in Maryland.

• Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ⁴ Jacob married Catherine Brown, his cousin. He died 1883. Had 9 children. They lived in Chester Co., Pa.

• Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ¹³ Jacob Beecher, 12th child of John Beecher and Mary Ann Albert, married his cousin, Catherine Brown, of Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pa. She was a daughter of Catherine (Katy) Albert and Mr. Brown. (Katy's sister, Mary Ann Albert, married John Beecher.) Margaret Albert, another sister, married Mr. Epler (his family built Epler's Church). Children of Jacob and Catherine Beecher:
1. John Valentine Beecher. Died 1886; aged 65; married two times.
2. Jacob Franklin Beecher married Catherine Elizabeth Bracket, March 28, 1844; had one son, Dr. A. C. W. Beecher, of Philadelphia, Pa.
3. Paris Epler Beecher.
4. Kaziah Beecher married Mr. Thompson.
5. William Lightner Beecher.
6, 7, 8, 9 no record.
[Note: This book notes that some information was provided by Dr. A. C. Beecher of Philadelphia, and he is one of the children named above.]

Jacob married Catherine Brown, daughter of Brown and Catherine Albert. (Catherine Brown was born in 1802 in Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, USA and died in 1850 ⁴.)

Jacob next married Susanna Andrews, daughter of Unknown and Sophia Connelly, on 21 Dec 1842 in Lancaster: St. James Episcopal Church, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. (Susanna Andrews was born about 1819 in Westminister, Cecil County, Maryland, USA ⁶.)