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Author: daveyjess
Surnames:
Classification: queries
Message Board URL:
http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.rhodeisland.unkn...
Message Board Post:
Hello there,
First off I need to apologize on the 3 year reply, there have been some deaths and
births and time (and my mind) just slips away too quick sometimes. I would love to hear
and see what you have on the line. As I am married into the family, figuring out who came
from who has been a bit harder of a challenge than doing my own family, so any help would
be amazing! Let me give you the "jist" of what I found at our home.
This home is in NH was bought by Stevens Grandson Burt William Beckwith, my husbands
great grandfather. After doing some remodeling on the old home, which was built in 1655,
we found a slew of pictures, one of Stevens and his wife, the second I believe. That is
where I get a bit confused. The records here in America are very scattered and I am having
a hard time finding out who Stevens children were, and to what wife. If some went to
Australia, that would explain why I couldn't locate them here!! Honestly I had no clue
some of the family went there until I read your post!! How fun. The records in Europe are
well detailed but once he gets to America they seem a bit spacey. Stevens Beckwith came
from a family of 18th century Silversmiths and was admitted to Freedom of the London
Goldsmiths Company by Patrimony in 1847. I have the framed, very old, original
"Freedom of the London Goldsmiths Company" document that Stevens received from
Queen Victoria in October of 1847, th!
e day is unreadable. Then came to America on Dec. 5th, 1849. From that I found a line
of Beckwiths that go back to Jonah Beckwith, born around 1700, who was the first in the
line of Beckwiths to obtain a qualified Siversmith "Goldsmiths Freedom"
apprenticeship. For 7 years he(Jonah) worked with Richard Wade, the silver turner of
Little Britain, London. Now, this is what I know about him(Stevens)....He was married
twice, first to Margaret August Shepherd (b&d) 1833-1874, then to Emma Copping
(b&d) 1840-1916. I do not know when both marriages took place. I have found the names
of some children; Edward, Frederick, William, Emma, Mary August. I cannot confirm if those
girl names were actual children or the mothers of the boys named. Also I may be wrong with
Frederick, Is his full name Frederick William or is William another son? I have no info on
which of the Beckwiths we descend from Stevens, that generation is missing. No birthdays,
no death days. And thats where we come ba!
ck to the line I know, Burt William Beckwith, 1888-1963 (Stevens Grand
son).......Now that I am writing this out....and Burts middle name is William.....I am
thinking William is a separate person and that may be who we come from. Anywho, If you
have Stevens children's information and to which wife that would be amazing! Thanks
for your time, sorry about the late response, and I look forward to hearing about your
family line and seeing if we can match these lines up somewhere!!
~ Jessica Overholser Purkis
ps.. I tried sending this via email but was unable to send, So I am putting it up on
here!
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