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Baumwart, Henry (1754-1829) was born in Elizabeth Hundred (Hagerstown), Frederick County (now Washington County, Maryland on June 21, 1754 to Johann Henrich and Anna Maria Baumwart. Johann Henrich came with his first wife Elisabetha Bendel and children Catharina Elisabetha and Anna Barbara from Fénétrange, Lorraine (now Moselle département), France.

Henry married in Hagerstown in Sep 1776, Margaretha Prockunier (1759-1844), daughter of Peter and Margaretha Prokunier, born in Elizabeth Hundred, Washington County, Maryland on 17 Nov 1759.

The family came to Norfolk County, Upper Canada between April 1801 and March 9, 1803 when Henry served on the London District Court as a Traverse Juror. On January 8, 1806 Henry Baumwart purchased from James Monro 200 acres in Lot 12, Concession B, Walsingham Township located on the west side of present Highway 59 at the neck of Long Point west of Port Rowan near Port Royal. On 6 Apr 1810, he sold 60 acres of his land to his son-in-law Christian Rohrer then on June 8, 1812 purchased 298 acres in Lot 8, Concession B on Lake Erie at Port Royal from James Secord.

The genealogy includes parentage and six generations in Ontario, in western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Rohrer, Decow, Potts, Fares, Overbaugh, Williams, Procunier, Spencer, Dawson, Teeple, White, Scott, Stoddard, Harris, Burtch, Brown, Grace, Hynes, Rockefeller, Gordon, McKay, Wood, Willison, Anderson, Buda, Paulitz, Sugden, Smallwood and many more.

Baxter, David (c. 1741- 1841) was born in Ireland and came with his wife Margaret to Canada in 1785 or 1786. The couple pioneered in Lot 3 Concessions 1 and 2 fronting on Lake Erie in present Waverly Beach a short distance west of the village of Fort Erie in Bertie Township, Welland County. In 1794 he received a further grant of three hundred acres of land in Lots 26 and 27 Concession 1, Bertie Township which now includes the west part of the village of Crystal Beach.Margaret was the mother of David’s four sons Thomas, John, William and James named in their respective land petitions, abstracts of deeds and township papers records. David married second after 1797 widow Christina Rebecca (Putman) Bowen and then by 1812 Elizabeth Alward. David was aged nearly 100 years old when he died according to the death record in the register of St. Paul’s Anglican Church Cemetery in Fort Erie.

Includes four generations of descendants in Welland, Elgin, Brant and Oxford Counties in Ontario, and extensive biographies. Descendant surnames mentioned: McCausland, Hershey, Graham, Winger, Ramsden, Schooley, Fawell, Haun, Matthews, Ogden, Crandon, Bouth, Fewster, Dennis, Harper, Scott.

Beach, Michael (c. 1765-  ) and his wife Elizabeth Huffman lived in Churchtown, Columbia County, New York, a hamlet located in the Town of Claverack east of the Hudson River and southeast of the city of Hudson. They brought their family to Upper Canada by 1796 and settled on a 200 acre land grant in Lot 8 Concession 1, Humberstone Township, Welland County. This was located on the east side of Wyldwood Road between Garrison Road (Highway 3) and Lake Erie west of the hamlet of Sherkston.

The genealogy includes six generations coast to coast in Canada and the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: McKay, Michael, Aitken, Zimmerman, Noyes, White, Massey, Hammersmith, Kaiser, Badina, Wean, Shaubel, Burns, Kew, Pfeiffer, Parker, House, Winger, Guerin, Bertran, Blakely

Beacham, William (c. 1770-  ). William Beacham and his first wife Mary Ann lived in Maryland then came to Canada by 1796. William received a grant of Lot 7, Concession 5, Gainsborough Township, Welland County on 22 Jun 1796. This was located along the east side of Rosedene Road between Concession 4 Road and Fifteen Road. The hamlet of Rosedene is located on the southwest corner of the farm. After Mary Ann died he married second Tabitha Strowbridge.

The genealogy includes seven generations in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Smith, Clouse, Bloomfield, Beemer, Gordon, Quick, Masecar, Groff, Matthews, Brady, McGilvery, Shoff, McNab, Piggott, Archer, Vanatter, Redmond, Robson, Maidment, McMillan, Moore, Lange, Connors, McCaul, Martin, Riddell and many more.

Beal, Barzillai (1764-1837) was born in Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts to Joshua and Elizabeth (Leavitt) Beal married in New Jersey to Margaret Corlis (1770-1842).

The moves of Barzillai and Margaret (Corlis) Beal closely parallel those of Margaret’s brother James Corlis. They moved from Monmouth County, New Jersey during the mid-1790s and settled at the Town of Warren, Herkimer County, New York south of the Mohawk River and the Town of Herkimer. The Beal and Corlis families continued to Townsend Township, Norfolk County, arriving by 1804.

On 27 Oct 1804, Barzillai Beal purchased from Gideon Omstead Lot 14 Concession 3, Townsend Township, a 200 acre farm about a half mile east of the village of Boston, and sold the west half to James Corlis on the same day. This was located between Norfolk County Road 19 and Concession 3 Road about 1 mile east of the hamlet of Boston. 

The genealogy includes ancestry, biography and five generations of descendants in Norfolk and Elgin Counties in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Crandell, Camfield, Masecar, Cole, Blake, Slaght. Dean, Clark, Parney, Van Loon, Campbell, Reed, Beardsley, Reeder, Snively, Evans, Pearse, Hazelton, Churchill, White, Atkinson, Osborn, Davis, Taylor, Smith, Sutherland, Sayles and many more.

Beal, John (1817-1894) and Jacob Beal (1823-1896). John and Jacob Beal were born in Alsace Lorraine, France. The two neighbouring principalities were along the borders of France and Germany and long subjects of dispute between the two countries. During the period of John and Jacob Beal they were in French hands and continue today. At times their Canadian records state they were born in France and other times in Germany.

John Beal farmed 100 acres of land in the east half of Lot 23, Concession 8, Windham Township on the north side of LaSalette Road and west side of Windham Road 19. The hamlet of LaSalette is located in the south part of the lot. Jacob Beal farmed 100 acres of land in the west half of Lot 23, Concession 8, Windham Township on the east side of Regional Road 37 and north side of LaSalette Road west of the hamlet of LaSalette. 

The genealogy includes four generations in Ontario and Michigan and Ohio. Descendant surnames mentioned: Secker, Henderson, Murphy, Crown/Krohe, Spera, Mallory, Wagner, Studier, Kneller, Avery, Greene, Marten, Barber, Hutton, Schoenherr

Beam, Abraham (c. 1720-1799), of Swiss Palatine background was born in Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to Jacob Beam and his wife Barbara Kendig. In colonial times, Abraham Beam lived on a part of his father’s home farm at Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania deeded to him by his father in 1755. He purchased land and a mill in nearby Bart Township, Lancaster County in 1768. During the American Revolution, Abraham Beam supported the British and Loyalist forces with livestock and supplies for which he was imprisoned and fined the substantial sum of £800. Abraham, his wife Barbara nee Kendig (1729-1822) and their son Martin moved to Upper Canada in 1788 and purchased the rights to 250 acres of land in Lots 1, 2, and 3, Concession 1 with the broken front on the Niagara River in Willoughby Township, Welland County. This was located around the confluence of Black Creek with the Niagara River. On a modern map the property runs north from Baker Road to the Riverside Campground with the Niagara River Parkway in the east. Netherby Road runs through the north part then angles south through the west part of the land. The hamlet of Black Creek grew up on this land in later years.

Son Martin Beam (1774-1844) located his 200 acre grant in Lots 8 and 9 in the first Cross Concession of Willoughby Township and received the permission of the land board for this along with land purchased by his father in Lot 3 Concession 1. Martin’s grant was located along the south side of Baker Road to the west of Sodom Road. The hamlet of Snyder (formerly called New Germany) is located to the southeast of the farm. Martin had thirteen children and eighty grandchildren.

Includes ancestry, a story of the Palatine migration to Pennsylvania, biographies and seven generations of descendants located coast to coast in Canada and the United States. Descendant surnames included: Baker, Cutler, Matchett, Hare, Tindell, Lindsay, Pond, Penn, Rutherford, Hill, Bray, Barnhart, Climenhage, Dunn, Richardson, Everett, Grant, Rogers, Misener, Winger, McWilliams, Cornell, Kennedy, Cunningham, Collins, Schermerhorn, Fenton, Butler, Roome, Andison, Turner, Tayor, Henderson, Badgely, Butt, Blakley, Lejeaune, McNeal, Reid, Smith, Krauss, Houstoun, Schillinger, Carlson, Olk, Carroll, Sider, Kellam, Near, Hughes, Spear, Lawson, Reck, Hart, Bennett, De Lapp and many more.

Beam, Jacob (1728-1812) was born in Germany and immigrated to Sussex County, New Jersey before 1759. He married Anna Catherina Buchner (1737-1820) and farmed in Mansfield Township, Sussex County, New Jersey.

Jacob was a farmer in Sussex County, New Jersey before and during the American Revolution. He supported the British cause during the war and collaborated in the escape of several British prisoners from a Patriot jail resulting in a heavy £500 fine and imprisonment, clapped in irons. Following the conflict, Jacob moved to Mansfield Township, Sussex County, New Jersey and became influenced by itinerant Baptist preachers. He established a small congregation of eighteen members in his community.

In the spring of 1788, Jacob disposed of his property and removed with his family to Upper Canada, bringing with him his wife and six of their children, two sons and four daughters. Jacob Beam received a 600 acre Crown grant in Clinton Township, Lincoln County given to him by the Land Board. The village of Beamsville named for his family grew up later on his land about three miles north of Lake Ontario below the Niagara escarpment and west of the present city of St. Catharines.

Includes biographies and five generations in Ontario, western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Kitchen, Smith, Corwin, Bentley, Lyons, Matthews, Miles, Benner, Henderson, Tobin, Kinney, Bailey, Schram, Prentice, Hopkins, Moore, Dorr, Tyrell, Setter, Bradley, Cook, Schneider, Goheen, Hunter, Nieland, Sorum, Cradddock, Matchell, Harriman, Osborn, Batchellor, Kearnes, Fisher, Bingham, Doan, Luey, Upper, Carter, Wood, West, Fielding, Schmidt, Tribe, Redman, Shannon, White, Saunby, Wright, Lowry, Alford, Bryce, Sutherland, Robinson, Cline and many more.

Beam, John (1754-1813) was born to Martin Beam and his wife Eve Steiner in the ancestral family home in the village of Willow Street, Conestoga Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He married Barbara Walter (c. 1755-1851). On 20 Jun 1783, Martin Beam deeded to his son John Beam a 96 acre part of the homestead for £800. John Beam moved with his family to Upper Canada arriving on 4 Mar 1802. A year after his arrival, on 16 Apr 1803, John Beam purchased from Edward Carney 200 acres in Lot 22, Cross Concession of Willoughby Township and the adjoining Lot 16, Concession 9, Bertie Township. This was located on the north and south sides of the Townline Road east of Black Creek Trail.

Includes ancestry, a story of the Palatine migration to Pennsylvania, and biographies and five generations in Ontario, Western Canada, and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Longenecker, Hilton, Relyea, Buck, Luther, Detwiler, Krupp, Franklin, Lawrence, Chant, Eyer, Ponting, Miller, Wells, Hess, Drake, Whipple, Cox, Donovan, Miller, Hardow.

Bearss, David (1761-1853) was born in New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut on 6 Feb 1761. He married Rhoda Richmond (1758-1853).    Following their marriage David and Rhoda Bearss lived in Connecticut. The couple brought their family to Upper Canada in June 1793.

The Executive Council approved a grant of 200 acres of land to David Bearss. He located 100 acres in Lot 8 Concession 5 from the Niagara River in Bertie Township, Welland County. This was located on the west side of Pettit Road and south side of Bowen Road about five miles west of the town of Fort Erie.

The second 100 acres making up his grant was located on Lot 3 Concession 3 in Willoughby Township, Welland County. This was on the south side of Morningstar Road between Ort Road and Sodom Road.

In 1833, David Bearss purchased 200 acres of land in Lot 6 Concession 2 Humberstone Township on the north side of Garrison Road and on the north side of his Sherkston location. He sold off parts of this property in 1834 and 1837, retaining the southwest quarter.

The genealogy includes biographies, ancestry in New England and five generations in southwestern Ontario, western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames include Abell, Kilmer, Losie, Bullock, Eckler, Mills, Plato, Porter, Bacon, Dutton, Symington, Chambers, Totten, Fiekert, Sherk, Whitaker; Neff, Shippy, Kreiger, Dewey, White, Evans, Powley, Gowan, Hardy, Fletcher, Bradshaw, Lamond, Melville, Smith, Wetzler, Dibbem, Zavitz, Minor, Moss, Henry, Schooley, Harriett, Flagg, Smades and many more.

Beasley, Richard (1761-1842) was born to Henry and Maria (Noble) Beasley in Albany, Albany County, New York. During colonial times, Richard Beasley grew up in Albany and came under the influence of Richard Cartwright, husband of his aunt Joanne Beasley. By the early 1770’s the elder Cartwright established himself as a pillar of the community in Albany, owning a successful inn and a valuable tract of land near Cherry Valley. He served as deputy postmaster of Albany.

The life of the Cartwright and Beasley families in New York were totally disrupted by their Loyalist sympathies and active support of the British cause in the American Revolution. Richard Cartright Jr. and sixteen year old Richard Beasley left Albany for Quebec in 1777 then made his way to Fort Niagara, the British post at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario where he served as Assistant Commissary or storekeeper, a responsible position he held for several years.

Following the war, Richard Beasley took up a tract of land on Burlington Bay running as far back as the escarpment and Fennel Avenue in Lot 20 Concessions 1 and 2 and Lot 20 Concessions 3 and 4 Barton Township. In Beasley’s time this area was entirely rural. The west end of the City of Hamilton (established in 1833) later grew up here. Richard Beasley built a wharf on the Bay to carry on his fur trading activities, and also put up a substantial log home where Dundurn Castle now stands.

The genealogy includes biography and six generations in Ontario, in western Canada and in Michigan. Descendant surnames mentioned include: Stegman, VanEvery, Hammill, Ferrie, Ford, Keller, Tinley, Bowman, Springer, Burdon, Misner, Rough, Moore, Dennis, Young, Hood, Simonds, Davidson, Kiteley, Barron

Beattie, William (1784-1861) was born to William and Jean (Innes) Beattie in Ballochduie, Glenbucket Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. William Beattie and his first wife Elizabeth (McDonald) lived on “Broomhill Farm” in Tarland Parish, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

William Beattie and his second wife Ann (Glennie) came to Canada in 1839 settling on a 107-1/2 acre farm in Lot 7, Concession 8, Nichol Township, Wellington County which they purchased from James Horn on 19 Sep 1839 for £170.  The farm, named “Castle Farm” was located on the north side of Nichol 8 Line and east of Sideroad 6 near the hamlet of Ennotville. This was next to his brother, George Beattie (1799-1888) and the Mutrie family farm was across the road on the south side of Nichol 8 Line.

According to family tradition, on the same day they were married in 1835, George and Margaret Beattie sailed for Canada in a three masted sailing vessel, The Aberdeen. They spent six weeks on the ocean. After their arrival, they went to Hamilton then made their way with a team of oxen through the woods to Guelph, then a budding hamlet. Passing on northward, they came to the eighth concession of Nichol Township where they purchased Lot 6 Concession 8 for $2.50 an acre and named it “Green Bank Farm”

The genealogy includes ancestry in Scotland and six generations in Ontario, in western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames included: Duncan. Hickson, Mutrie, Hastings, Simpson, Hudson, Pritchard, Patterson, Rankin, Allen, Willard, Pierce, Mills, Black, Murray, Phillips, Metcalf, Armitage, Thomson, Elgie, Borden, McGregor, Smith and many more.

Beaupré, Francois Charles (1772-1855) was born Pierre Rene and Marie Anne Angelique (Martin) Beaupré on 12 Jan 1772 and married as his first wife Josephte (Josette). Francis and Josette Beaupré were first recorded in Norfolk County in the 1812 Census of Woodhouse Township. In this record, Francis Beaupré was listed aged 36, his wife Josette 28, and children Sophia 9, Edward 7, Julia 8, John 5 and Charles 2.

During the War of 1812, Francois served as a private in McCracken’s Detachment and Mead’s Company of the Norfolk County Militia raised in Woodhouse Township. Following the war, Francis Beaupré was active in community affairs often appearing in court to post bonds and giving evidence. Josephte died by 1838 and Francis married Josephine Emily Raymond.

The genealogy includes five generations in Norfolk County, Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Bezzo, Winter, Perry, Slaght, Trinder, Johnson, Carder, McDonald, McDonald, Craven, Roberts, Terry, Costello, Carr, Ryan, Ferris, Hamilton, Matthews, Garner, Powell, Miller, Dickson and many more. 

Beck, Johan Jakob (Jacob) (1783-  ) was born in Echterdingen, Esslingen District, Württemberg, Germany to Christian and Christina (Schlecht-Weber) Beck). He and his wife Christina Barbara Stollsteimer lived in Echterdingen, a small town in the district of Esslingen, Baden-Wurttemburg in southwest Germany located about 10 kilometers south of the city of Stuttgart and west of the Rhine River.

The Beck family left Württemberg in 1832 and arrived in New York on 10 Sep 1832. They lived first in Pelham Township, Welland. Jacob Beck then settled on a 100 acre farm in the north half of Lot 42, Concession 2 South of Talbot Road, Middleton Township in 1844. This is located on the south Side of Concession 1 Road at the east side of Schafer Side Road southwest of the Town of Delhi.

The genealogy includes ancestry in Germany and five generations in Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Descendant surnames mentioned: Kohl, Wilson, Mason, Bade, Lammerts, Gihring, Cramer, Albright, Karges, Beyer, James, Van Schoonhoven, Empey, Smith, McKenzie, Graham, Saenger. Slagle, Birney, Huetinck, Hagelbarger, Beard, Wallace and many more.

Becker, Jacob (1761-1854) was born to Johann Ludwig and Anna Sophia (Muller) Becker), in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York. During the American Revolution, Jacob Becker refused the oath of loyalty to the United States and was imprisoned by the Patriots in 1776-77 when only fifteen years old. After his release, he was drafted into Captain Phillip Smith’s 8th Company, 10th Regiment of the Albany County Militia for nine months from April 1777 to January 1778.

Jacob Becker returned home and married Elizabetha Schneider. The couple farmed in Catskill, Albany (later Greene) County, New York on the west side of the Hudson River. In 1815 Jacob and Elizabeth Becker moved to Walsingham Township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada to join their sons-in-law Frederick Fick and Stephen Burger. Jacob and his son John L. Becker purchased Lot 2, Concession B, Walsingham Township on the Lake Erie shore west of Long Point near the Houghton Township line.

The genealogy includes parentage in New York and five generations in Norfolk and Elgin Counties, Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Fick, Burgar/Burger; Martin, Jackson, Dedrich, Misener, McCaffery, Birdsall, Lowrie, Trumm, Kidwell, Maginnis, Millard, Keay, Hutchinson, Willis, Treadwell, Raymond, Frayer, Dawson, Franklin, Wilson, Davis, Strickland, Lucas and many more.

Becker, Johannes (John) (1748-1813) of Palatine German ancestry, was born to Johann Peter and Anna Margretha (Emmerich) Becker) in Catskill (now Athens), Greene County, New York and married Elizabeth Broodbeck. 

John and Elizabeth Becker lived in the area of West Camp and Katsbaan, hamlets in the Town of Saugerties, Ulster County, New York on the west side of the Hudson River along Highway 9W north of the village of Saugerties. St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church where the oldest two children were baptized is located a short distance north of West Camp. Katsbaan Reformed Dutch Church where the younger children were baptized is located about three kilometres to the west of West Camp. The town of Catskill where son Johannes was baptized borders the north side of the Town of Saugerties.

The first record of John Becker in Norfolk County was his purchase on 2 Mar 1807 from John Parsin of 12 acres in the west half of Lot 21, Concession 1, Walsingham Township.  This property, with later additions and the marsh in front, finally totaled 113 acres. It ran along the shore of Long Point Bay and stretched inland crossing the Front Road to the main road from St. Williams to Port Rowan in the north.

The genealogy includes ancestry in Germany and New York and five generations in Ontario, in western Canada and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Baumwart, Steel, Killmaster, Steinhoff, Ramsdell, Hilts, Fitzsimmons, Gordon, Slaght, Dellar, Anderson, Morrison, Hayes, Fick, May, Finnesbo, Spencer, Gale, Smith, Wheeler, Nixon, Wisner, White, Warren, McFarland, Cofell, Ede, Woolsey, Bear, Kinsley and many more. 

Beebe, Joshua (1738-1779), son of Joshua and Hannah (Brockway) Beebe was born in East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut on 10 Oct 1738. He married in Pennsylvania, widow Marie (Secord) Krookston, baptized by Daniel and Catherine (Mabie) Secord in the Dutch Reformed Church at New Rochelle on 3 Mar 1736.

During the American Revolution, Joshua Beebe enlisted in Captain Walter Butler’s Company of Butler’s Rangers. In 1779, Joshua was sent on a mission to New York City to deliver a message. He was sent because of his skills and it was thought that he would be able to get through the enemy lines, which he did. While he was in New York City he contracted small pox and died there in October 1779.

Following her second husband’s death, Marie married for a third time in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec on 1 Oct 1781, Christopher Pearson. n Following the peace of 1783, Christopher and Marie Pearson settled on a land grant in the Town of New Carlisle in Bonaventure County, established on the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec.

The genealogy includes ancestry, biographies and six generations coast to coast in Canada and the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Caldwell, McIntyre; Smith, Blair, Chatterton, Travers, Flowers, Dobson, Bates, Huntington, Ramier, Dow, Mann, Renouf, Garrett, Chambers, de St. Croix, Corbin, Vanderlip, Beecroft, Westbrook, Beacham, Foley, Haines, Goold, Campbell and many more.

Beecraft/Beacraft/Bigcraft, Benjamin (1746-  ) was born in Loonenberg, Greene County, New York on 5 Sep 1746 to William and Sarah Maria (Hexdyle) Becraft. This family surname had a wide number of variant spellings among the descendants, the most common being Becraft and Bigcraft.

During the American Revolution, Benjamin Beecraft went to the British post of Fort Niagara at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario and served in the Indian Department, a Loyalist force of native peoples and men of European descent who campaigned against the patriots in upstate New York and northern Pennsylvania. Following the peace, Benjamin Beecraft married Elizabeth Westbrook, and like a number of others in the Indian Department went to the Grand River where Chief Joseph Grant had a grant of all lands on both sides of the river and leased out blocks to European settlers.

Descendant surnames mentioned: Hunt, Lawrence, Dutton, Losie, Van Brocklin, Ryan, Moore, Dirk, McBride, Sommers, Dennis, Broughton, Chanter, Wild, Green, Hutchinson, Gable, Caughell, Hagyard, Seymour, Shaw, Waldick, Stevenson, Cheeseman and many more.

Beemer, Johan Phillipus (1738-1811) was born to Johan Wilhelm Böhmer in the area of Frankfort-Am-Main, Hessen, Germany on 8 Feb 1738/9 and sailed with his father to the Port of Philadelphia, on the ship, Neptune on September 23, 1751. He settled in German Valley, Morris County, New Jersey in 1763 where he married Anna Marie Dewitt and raised his family.

Philip Beemer came with his family to Upper Canada in 1800 and purchased Lot 9, Concession 4, Townsend Township, stating in a 17 May 1802 letter that he had lived on the land for a year and a half.  This was located on the north and south sides of Lutesville Road east of Old Highway 24 east of the village of Boston.

On 13 Jun 1804, he purchased from Jacob Long 72 acres in Lot 6, Concession 6, Townsend Township and sold this to Henry Beemer on 4 Oct 1806. This was located between the south side of Concession 6 Road and the north side of Concession 7 Road a short distance west of Old Highway 24 north of the village of Waterford. Philip and Anna Marie Beemer continued on this farm with their son Henry until their passing.

The genealogy includes biographies and seven generations from coast to coast in North America. Descendant surnames mentioned: Lewis, Dudridge, Steinhoff, Pettit, Merritt, Smith, Lyon/Lyons, Crosby, Bowlby, O’Carr, Johnson, Sovereen, Glover, Howarth, Clayton, Slaght, Scovell, Robinson, Woodley, Buchner, Barton, Granger, Turnbull and many more.

Bell, John (c. 1767-1845) came from Scotland. He came to Upper Canada in 1796 and lived in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County for a time then kept a shop in the village of Vittoria, Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County. He located in the northeast quarter of Lot 20, Concession 3, Charlotteville Township on the south side of Vittoria Road.

The genealogy includes four generations in Norfolk County. Descendant surnames mentioned: Shearer, McLennan, McCall.

Bender, Philip George (1740-by Jan 1827), son of Johann Philipp George Bender and his wife Anna Barbara Ludwig was born in Germany on 15 Jan 1740. During colonial times, Philip Bender farmed on 320 acres of land on the Susquehanna River in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. In a later claim for losses, he described his farm:“That your Memorialist at the beginning of the late unhappy disturbances was settled in Northumberland County in the Province of Pennsylvania where he was in possession of a good Farm with Buildings thereon erected, Live Stock, Household Furniture, Grain, Farming utensils &c the whole valued at £246.10 New York Currency. – ”

During the American Revolution Philip Bender supported the British cause and, “he made his Escape to the British Army in the year 1778, from which period until the end of the War he carried arms in a Corps of Rangers under Colonel Butler. –” Bender brought his wife and son and daughter to the British post of Fort Niagara at the confluence of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario north of the present Youngstown, New York. He served for the rest of the conflict in Colonel John Butler’s Rangers. A second daughter was born to the couple about 1781.

In the early years of the 1780’s, the Government of Great Britain purchased from the native peoples land for settlement on the west side of the Niagara River. They then granted parcels to soldiers for development. Phillip Bender was among the earliest of the settlers. He received a Government grant of 300 acres of land in Lots 111, 127, 128, 129 and 144 in Stamford Township, Welland County.

This block of land was located along the Niagara River a short distance north of the Falls. During Phillip’s time this was entirely rural. In later times, Niagara Falls became a tourist attraction and the village of Clifton Hill grew up along the Niagara River on the east side of the Bender property. A century later, Clifton Hill merged into the present city of Niagara Falls. The Bender estate became subdivided and developed for commercial and residential properties. On a modern map its boundaries run from Robinson Street in the south to Seneca Street in the north. Stanley Avenue forms the west side of the property. Bender Street, also known as Bender Hill is named for this family and runs from Victoria Avenue down the hill to Falls Avenue.

Bender built a stone house which was located just southeast of the present Casino Niagara. This was destroyed by the American troops during the War of 1812. He farmed and a operated a quarry above the Niagara Gorge on the site of the present Niagara Falls Museum on Bender Hill.

The genealogy includes five generations of descendants in Welland County, Ontario and in New York and Michigan in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Buchner, Burch, Clark, Murray, McKerlie, Rysdale, Biffar, Davis, Silverthorn, Bowen, Redpath, Page, Griffith, Priestman, Henderson, Glasgow, Wright, Toyne, Loomis

Benner, John (1753-1849) was born in Dutchess County, New York to Johannes and Magdalena (Streit) Bender. After their marriage, John and Anna Margaretha Benner lived in the Town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York located on the east side of the Hudson River opposite the City of Kingston. John Bender came to Upper Canada by 1795 and his surname changed from Bender to “Benner” in Canadian records. He settled on 100 acres of land in Lot 25 Concession 3 and 21 acres in the northwest part of Lot 24 Concession 3 from Lake Erie, Bertie Township, Welland County located west and north of the village of Ridgeway.

Jacob Benner (1756-1817), brother of John Benner above was baptized in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, New York on 15 Feb 1756. Jacob and Susannah Benner lived in the Town of Rhinebeck and prior to 1790, Jacob moved north to the Town of Claverack in Columbia County, New York east of the Hudson River and The city of Hudson. Jacob Bender with his wife Susannah and their children came to Canada in June 1798 and the surname changed to “Benner” in Canadian records. They settled on 30 acres of land in the northeast half of Lot 2 Concession 5, Bertie Township, Welland County. This was located on the south side of Bertie Road and west side of Pettit Road, west of Fort Erie.

The genealogy includes ancestry in Germany and New York, five generations in Welland, Norfolk and Elgin Counties in Ontario, and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Dodge, Munson, Patterson, Travis, Sturk, Zavitz, Hawley, Campbell, Bearss, Pressey, Herries, Crutchfield, Shepherd, Rusling, Spears, Robbins, Oakes, Spencer, Winn, Cooke, Schram, Plato, Anger, Cregar, Goulding, Beam, Michael, Snider, Winger, Baxter, Haynger, Steinman, Trapp, Stevens, Jansen, Leiffer and many more.

Bennett, Daniel (c. 1803-1885) was born in Vermont and came to Upper Canada by 1826. He married Mary Ann Myers (1806-  ). They lived first in Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County then moved to Windham Township and finally Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County. In 1830, the couple had the unusual experience of having triplet sons born. Remarkably, about 1835 they had twins. There were apparently two more sets of twins. Next, in 1841, another set of triplets was born.

The genealogy includes five generations coast to coast in North America. Descendant surnames mentioned: Smith, Eccles, McDonald, Newkirk, Cook, Seeley, Harley, Lawrence, Witzel, Anderson, McCoig, Taylor, Bays, Turvey, Duick, Wonnacott, Penney, Burch, Garvey, Darling, Ferris, Hannett and many more.

Bennett , Henry (c. 1803-1889) was born in St. Catharines, Grantham Township, Upper Canada. He married Margaret Anger (c.1802-  ). The couple kept and inn and farmed 100 acres of land in the east half of Lot 10, Concession 4, Walsingham Township on Venison Creek between Norfolk County Road 20 and Concession Road 4 at the southeast corner of the hamlet of Spring Arbour.

The genealogy includes five generations in Ontario and California. Descendant surnames mentioned: Smith, Terry, Thorburn, Drake, MacLaughlin.

Bennett, Joshua (c. 1766-1822) was a wheelwright from New Jersey who came to Upper Canada about 1795 bringing his wife Mary Louise Brogham (1765-1855) and four children. He purchased from Jacob Buchner 100 acres of land in Lot 13 Concession 7, Willoughby Township on the north side of Carl Road between Willowdell and Montrose Roads west of the village of Chippawa. McCredie Road, Lyons Creek and Tee Creek angled through the east part of the lot. Today this east part of the farm is a golf course.

Joshua Bennett, a wheelwright, came from New Jersey to Upper Canada about 1795 bringing his wife and four children. He purchased from Jacob Buchner 100 acres of land in Lot 13 Concession 7, Willoughby Township on the north side of Carl Road between Willowdell and Montrose Roads west of the village of Chippawa. McCredie Road, Lyons Creek and Tee Creek angled through the east part of the lot. Today this east part of the farm is a golf course. They moved later to Oakland Township, Brant County.

The genealogy includes six generations in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Marsh, Lawrence, Wilson, Thompson, Smith, Carpenter, Streeter, Thomas, Dale, Anderson, Vail, Mather, Ingraham, Cook, Brown, McDonagh, Basey, Keefer, Huffman, Powell, Covey, Barr, Ross, Bullock, Ross, Junk, Lukecart, Kannarr, Briscoe, Shaw, Johnson, Floersch and many more.

Berdan, Albert (1753-1818) was born in Bergen County, New Jersey on 19 July 1753. Prior to the American Revolution, Albert Berdan lived in Vermont and during the war he served in the Loyalist forces in New York City. In 1783, he and Susannah moved to New Brunswick then about 1790-95 lived in Totowa, Bergen County, New Jersey. In 1796, they settled finally at Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada.

On August 27, 1801, Albert was granted a Crown Lease of 150 acres of land in Lot 6 on the west side of Blueline Road between the Front and Second Concessions in Woodhouse Township, Norfolk County west of the Town of Port Dover and made this his homestead.

The genealogy includes ancestry, biographies and six generations in Ontario and coast to coast in the United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Ellis, Thompson, McKenty, Deroot, Instant, Doan, Gilbert, Shippell, Smith, DeMoss, Richards, Burton, Hart, Hamel, Westover, Green, Ferguson, Roberts, Chute, Bowlby, Styles, Badgero, Vansader, Phillips, Alward, Overbaugh, Baumwart, Williams, McKay, Taylor, Nicholls and many more.

Bertran, Cornelius (c. 1783-) came from New Jersey and settled at Clinton Townshp, Lincoln County. His sons settled in Norfolk County. David Bertran (c. 1815-) and his wife Mary Boughner settled in Windham Township. Includes children and grandchildren. John Bertran (c. 1821-1889) and his wife Martilla Clouse settled in Townsend Township. Includes three generations of descendants in Norfolk County. James Bertran (c. 1826) settled in Townsend Township. Includes children. Descendant surnames included: Crane, Gray.

Bessey, Robert (c. 1715-1801) was born in Massachusetts to Robert and Ruth (Pray) Bessey) came with his wife and six children to Grantham Township, Lincoln County in 1785. He was preceded by his two oldest sons Robert (c. 1755-1843) and Jacob (c. 1756) both of whom were loyalist soldiers in Butler’s Rangers at Fort Niagara during the American Revolution.Robert Bessey Junior settled on a 400 acre Crown grant in Lots 10 and 11 Concession 8 in Grantham Township, Lincoln County and added the adjoining Lots 8 and 9 Concession 8. This block of land was located south of present Queenston Street and angled in a southwesterly direction from the west side of Bunting Road to the east side of Merritt Road north of the village of Merritton. In more recent times it has been brought into he city of St. Catharines and subdivided for residential and commercial properties.

Jacob and Elisabetha Bessey settled on 200 acres of land in Lots 8 and 9 Concession 8, Grantham Township, Lincoln County. was located south of Queenston Street and the village of Homer. Twelve Mile Creek ran through the lot and long after Jacob’s time the “new” Welland Canal constructed in 1914 took in the east side of this lot. The farm angled in a southwestern direction to the east side of Bunting. In more recent times it has been brought into the city of St. Catharines and subdivided for residential and commercial properties. The south part of Victoria Lawn Cemetery is in the central part of the property.

The genealogy includes five generations in Lincoln, Welland, Haldimand and Halton Counties in Ontario, and Michigan, Iowa, Kansas and California in the United States. Descendant Surnames mentioned: Price; Read; Newkirk, Jones, Appleby, Galbraith, Depotie, McKinlay, Warren, Baird, Barber, Lawrence, Clarke, Carter, Smith, Yokom, Seaborne, McCombs, Dingle, Van Every, Havens, McAuliff, Acker, Nunn, Seger, Fleming, Channels, Walker, Dickout, Hoover, Benner, Comfort, Wheeland, Secord, Kelley, Pringle, Johnson, Shelly, MacAulay, Brinnie, Hardin, Thurston, Bradley, Hayward and many more.

Best, John (est. 1770) and his wife Dota came from Prussia to the United States by 1803 then settled in Charlotteville Township, Norfolk County, Upper Canada. The first record of John Best in Norfolk County was his service as a private in Bostwick’s Company of the Norfolk County Militia in 1814. A year later in 1815, he was listed in the Assessment of Charlotteville Township, his property valued at £87 and his tax 6 days of labour on the roads. They moved afterwards to Bayham Township, Elgin County.

The genealogy includes six generations in Ontario, Michigan and the western United States. Descendant surnames mentioned: Scott, Williams, Riley, Weaver, Rickwood, Fursman, Neff, Slater, Robbins, Reece, Crane, Marsh, Crane, Carson, Curtis, Brown, Wallace, Huffman, Thayer, Vincent, Weeks, Kennedy, Wintermute, Spiece, Cook, Campbell, Lawrence and many more.