John Beecher ^{1 2 3}

   Other names for John were John Becher, John Beecher, John Bicher, Johann Bucher and John Bucher.

  General Notes:

In the Summer Hill Saint Pauls Church where Johann baptizes his son Johannes are records for families Bernheisel, Albrecht, Braun, three surnames associated with the Johannes Bucher (John Beecher) buried in 1818 in Epler's Church, Bern Township, Berks County. It appears several associated families migrated from Berks County to Schuylkill County at the same time. Further research needed.

  Burial Notes:

In memory of John Beecher son of John Beecher, born January 27 1789, married to Elizabeth Bernheisel, died March 17, 1865, aged 76 years 2 months 17 days.

[Note: the years, months, days given do not compute correctly for the birth and death dates. Assuming the death date was correct, the birth date would be 31 Dec 1788. Assuming both dates are correct, then the inscription should have read 76 years, 1 month, 21 days.]

  Noted events in his life were:

• Census, 1810, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁶ The household of John Beiher is listed with:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 2 sons
26-44 (1766-1784) = 1 father John
Females (born)
Under 10 (1801-1810) = 1 daughter
16-25 (1785-1794) = 1 wife

Neighbors are Philip and Nicholas Klein, Peter Machemer, and Martin, John, and Daniel Witman.

• Church, 1819, South Manheim Township: St. Paul's Church (Summer Hill), Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, USA. ¹ His son is baptized here so he was living in or near Manheim Township.

• Pension, 1854. ⁷ 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, , Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁷

• Census, 1860, Bern Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania, USA. ⁴ John Becher, age 72, laborer, is living with wife Elizabeth, 70; and daughter Hannah, 28. His real estate is worth $0 and his possession $70. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Reading.

• Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ⁷ John married; lived Berks Co., Pa.; died, aged 71; had three children.

John married Elizabeth Bernheisel. (Elizabeth Bernheisel was born about 1790 in , , Pennsylvania, USA ⁴.)