Genealogy of the Beers Family of China Point, P.E.I. (c. 1750

First Generation

1. Joseph Beers. Born abt 1753 in Greenwich, Sussex Co., New Jersey. Joseph died in China Point, Lot 50, Prince Edward Island, abt Apr 1810; he was 57.

Joseph Beers was a resident of Sussex County, New Jersey. He enlisted as an ensign in the First Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers on 16 December 1776. He later appears on the muster rolls of the Fifth Battalion New Jersey Volunteers (19 Nov. 1777, 8 Jan. 1778 and 8 March 1778). Sometime in 1779 Joseph Beers transferred to the King's Rangers which was formed in May 1779. The King's Rangers were stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia at one point. The First Battalion of the King's Rangers of which Joseph Beers was a member, was sent to guard the Island of Saint John (now P.E.I.) in 1782.

Joseph Beers received a grant to 500 acres in Lot 50, Prince Edward Island. The grant is dated 1 October 1788. He was given the grant "In consideration of losses sustained and loyalty and attachment to his Majesty". The 1798 census for Prince Edward Island states that Joseph Beers, Esq. and his family resided at Lot 50. The household of six consisted of one male aged 16-60, one female aged 16-60, one male younger than age 16,and three females younger than age 16. Joseph Beers became High Sheriff of Queens County, Prince Edward Island. ("An Island Refuge: Loyalists and Disbanded Troops on the Isle of Saint John, edited by Orlo Jones and Doris Haslam [Charlottetown, PEI: 1983])

On 9 Feb 1779 Joseph first married Mary Barton in Staten Island, New York.1 Born abt 1750/1760. Mary died in China Point, Lot 50, St. John’s Island, bef 1795; she was 45.

They had the following children:

2i.

Mary (~1784-1879)

3ii.

Anna (1788-~1820)

4iii.

Isabel (~1792-)

In 1795 Joseph second married Margaret Hayden, daughter of James Lewis Hayden & Christina Hawes / Haes, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Born on 18 Mar 1776 in Cherry Valley, Ulster Co., New York. Margaret died in Cherry Valley, Lot 50, Prince Edward Island, in Mar 1860; she was 83. Buried on 3 Mar 1860 in Cherry Valley, Lot 50, Prince Edward Island.2

They had the following children:

5i.

Joseph (1796-1872)

6ii.

Matilda Maria (1798-1879)

7iii.

Henrietta Christina (1799-1886)

8iv.

Margaret (1802-1881)

9v.

Thomas (1804-1896)

10vi.

Charles (1807-)

11vii.

Maria (1810-)