Henry Beeker Sr. ^{1 2}

   Other names for Henry were Johan Heinrich Bucher,^{6 7} Johan Henrich Bucher,^{3 5} John Henry Bucher and Johan Heinrich Bücher.⁵

   FamilySearch ID: LV7N-H65.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Fact: Y-DNA testing proves Henry Beeker is likely the son of Henry Beecher of Pennsylvania. See https://SearchTrees.com/beeker for details.

2. Baptism in 1759 in West Cocalico Twp.: Swamp Reformed Church, Lancaster, PA. ⁷ Rev. Waldschmidt's notes: Joh. Heinrich Bucher, son of Heinrich, born [?], bapt. Oct. 7, 1759, sponsors Jacob Amweg and Anna Maria Schweitzer."

Sponsor for Henry's baptism was Jacob Amweg who is detailed in BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY:
AMWEG, John Michael, was a native of Prussia, who emigrated to this country and settled in Lancaster county before the American revolution. He settled in Cocalico, at a place near Reinholdsville. He was a man of a good education, and pursued the calling of a school-master. Being industrious and economical, he soon acquired property around him. He was the ancestor of the family name in this county. One of his sons was named Jacob, and his son William, was the father of Jacob B., William S., and John M. Amweg, members of the bar of Lancaster. Wm. Amweg died in 1861.

3. Fact: On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain., 4 Jul 1776, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.

4. Fact: Henry Beeker is not on the 1778 Rowan County Tax List, 1778, , Rowan, NC. ⁴ Henry actually lived in today's Davidson County, North Carolina, but it did not exist until 1822 when it was created from the eastern part of Rowan County. Records earlier than 1822 therefore are recorded in Rowan.

The Rowan County Tax List for 1778 does not list any surname similar to Beeker or Beecher. If Henry came from Pennsylvania to North Carolina by 1778, then he did not own taxable property, or, Henry arrived in North Carolina between 1778 and 1784, when he appears on the 1784 tax list as Henry Beeker. No record of his marriage is in the Rowan County court records, although some researchers state dates between 1781 and 1787 for it in Rowan. (1781 is too early, Barbara would be 14.)

On the 1778 tax list in Capt. D. Smith's District, which is within today's Davidson County, was Henry Beeker's father-in-law, Phillip Garner, as well as Philip's father-in law, Lewis Winkler, and other families who marry with Henry's sons: Michael Young, and Philip Snider. The Garners, Winklers, Youngs and Sniders are all documented to have migrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, supporting the theory that Henry Beeker is the descendant of a Pennsylvania Beecher family, as Y-DNA test results confirm. See https:SearchTrees.com/beeker for the latest research on the Beeker-Beecher connection.

5. Military in 1779 in , , PA: Revolutionary War. ^{8 9 10 11 12} In the 1893 book "Portrait and Biographical Record of Iroquois County, Illinois" is found the biography of James A. Pruitt (1832-1914) which says about his mother: "Miss Barbara Beeker. Her grandfather was a native of Germany. In an early day he emigrated to America, locating in North Carolina, and served in the Revolutionary War, under Gen. Washington."
In 1942 Rev. Alonzo Pruitt (1858-1944) wrote his biography in which he mentioned about his grandmother, Barbara Beeker saying "My Grandmother, Barbara Beeker, born in North Carolina, Oct. 17, 1809. Her grandfather served as a soldier under General George Washington in the Revolutionary War."
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Note: if these family stories are true then Henry Beeker should have a record of his service in the Revolutionary War? While it might be in North Carolina, likely it would be in Pennsylvania, although his brother John Beecher served in Maryland because the Maryland "German Regiment" or "German Battalion" aka 8th Maryland of German-speaking colonists was recruited from Southern Pennsylvania which would include Germany Township (Littlestown) where the family lived. However, while "John Beecher" appears in the 8th Maryland roster we cannot find a record for his brother Henry.
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"Henry Beeker" is listed as a Pennsylvania soldier without mention of his unit or rank, in the book "United States Rosters of Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors, 1775-1783"
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"Henry Beeker" is listed in August 1779 as sergeant in Captain Carl Markel's Light Dragoons under the command of Frenchman Colonel Armand. In the early part of the war, Armand's men fought alongside General Washington in the same battles as Henry Beeker's brother, John Beecher. Armand camped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in the 1777-78 winter.
In 1780, Armand was ordered to march south on the Great Wagon Road passing right through Rowan County, North Carolina, to Camden, South Carolina, where Armand's unit was devastated by a one-hour battle with the British on August 16, 1780, afterwhich many American units retreated to North Carolina and Armand returned to France. It's possible Henry Beeker on his way north settled in Rowan County.

6. Fact: The British surrender at Yorktown marked the end of major military operations in the Revolutionary War. Most Continental soldiers went home about 1783., 19 Oct 1781, Yorktown, York, VA.

7. Henry purchased from State of North Carolina 300 acres of land on Jacobs Creek for 150 shillings! (Rowan County Deed Book 9 Page 423. No 613 (Henery Bega) on 10 Oct 1783 in , Rowan, NC. ¹³ Henry Bega [assignee of John Billing] was issued 300 acres of land on 10 Oct 1783 in Rowan County, located "On both sides of Jacob Branch". This was recorded in Land Patent Book 51 page 179 as Rowan County Grant # 613. The original request for this land was entered on 21 Nov 1778 and assigned Rowan County Entry # 1398. It took 4 years and 11 months to issue the grant.
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Explanation: The reason John Billing gave his land warrant to Henry Beeker is we discover they were friends who grew up together in West Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania!
John Billing's father, Dr. Johann Siegfried Billing Sr., was a neighbor in Pennsylvania to Henry Beeker's father, Henry Buecher Sr. They both appear as original landowners on the Pennsylvania Land Warrant map for West Cocalico Township, near enough to walk between their homes.
Johannes Siegfried Billing (1730-1801) (Dr. John S. Billings) immigrated to Philadelphia in 1752 and soon after was in West Cocalico. He was married on 27 Oct 1755 to Juliana Weller by Rev. Waldschmidt at Michael Amweg's (Swamp Reformed Church) in West Cocalico Township, the very same minister and place where we found the baptism record for Henry Beeker born in 1759!
Also baptized there in Rev. Waldschmidt's records: John Billing on 7 Nov 1761. So, Henry and John were friends as boys.
Dr. John S. Billing was present in Rowan County during the Revolutionary War because there was a payment voucher to pay him for selling beef to the Army.
Dr. John Billing appeared on the 1778 tax list in Capt. Morris District. He did not appear in the 1768 tax list.
He was a founder in 1787 of Beck's Lutheran and Reformed Church and he and others donated their land to build the first church, a log structure. He is buried in the church cemetery with his German birth name, "Johannes Siegfried Billing."
Why would John Billing Jr. give his land grant for Jacob's Creek to his friend Henry Beeker? We discover both John Jr. and his father applied for several land grants, so it appears Billing had land to spare. Likely he settled on one of their Abbot's Creek grants.
The discovery of the Billing-Beeker relationship assures us that Henry Beeker's birth record must be the one found in Rev. Waldschmidt's journal.
It also provides an explanation as to why Henry Beeker ended up in Rowan County, North Carolina by 1783. Perhaps he migrated from Pennsylvania to North Carolina with the Billings, or perhaps he came in the Army south and thereafter accepted Billing's land.
Knowing Henry's Jacob's Creek land grant was near Philip Garner's Abbot's Creek land explains how Garner's daughter Barbara met and married Henry. Therefore, we can conclude we should search for their marriage record in Rowan County circa 1784-85.
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8. Tax List: 1784, , Rowan, NC. ¹⁴ STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ROWAN COUNTY
I, Wm. D. Kizziah, being duly sworn, do certify that the following is taken from the original documents in the files of the official records of Rowan County, N.C. in the office of the Clerk of Superior Court, and that I personally copied the same from the originals.
CAPT. FREDERICK SMITH'S LIST OF TAXABLES FOR THE YEAR 1784., EAST SIDE OF THE YADKIN RIVER.
Michael Young 200 acres
Henry Beeker 300 acres
Jacob Young 200 acres
CAPT. CARSON'S LIST OF TAXABLES 1784, EAST SIDE OF THE YADKIN RIVER.
Peter Beaker
Signed (Wm. D. Kizziah)v(SEAL)
Subscribed and sworn to before me this 12th day of November, 1756.
Paul B. Reynolds,
NOTARY PUBLIC, ROWAN COUNTY, N.C.
My commission expires April 17, 1758.

9. Issue: The 1790 to 1830 census show Henry had 3 sons and 11 daughters, but the names of only 6 daughters are known.

10. Census in 1790 in , Rowan, NC. The 1790 census recorded Henry Beger with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females: 3
Number of Household Members: 5.

11. Census in 1800 in , Rowan, NC. ¹⁵ The 1800 census recorded Henry Becher with this household:
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 5
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 8
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 10.

12. Deed Book 19. 3086. P 461. 21 Aug 1805. Frederic Lowe (signed in German) sold to Henry Beeker for $70, 64 acres on Flat Swamp. Witness: Owen Strange. Proved by Strange in February court 1806. [Note: Flat Swamp Creek is in today's Davidson Co.] on 21 Aug 1805 in , Rowan, NC. ¹⁶

13. An inventory settling his father Henry Beher's estate was filed at the same time his will was filed. On 28 Jan 1807 in , Adams, PA. ¹⁷ Debts owed to Henry:
1 note on Henry Beecher Jun. for $60.00.

14. Census in 1810 in , Rowan, NC. ¹⁸ The 1810 census recorded Henry Beker with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 4
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 8
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 12.

15. Inherits 200 acres from his father-in-law Philip Garner on 6 Sep 1812 in , Davidson, NC. ¹⁹ I give to my daughter Barbara Beeker one tract of land lying on the waters of Lick Creek which I bought of William Lanier and David Gamer, containing two hundred acres more or less; none if the before mentioned William Lanier and David Garner shall redeem this tract of land I've mentioned, by payment of Two Hundred Dollars during my life, then the two hundred dollars to go to my daughter Barbara Beeker.

16. David Garner and William Grist for $190 sold to Henry Beeker 200 acres on Lick Creek on 20 Nov 1813 in , Rowan, NC. ²⁰ David Garner and William Grist of Rowan County sold to Henry Beeker for $190 land lying in Rowan County on the waters of Lick Creek beginning at a post oak in James Rileys line running with the same north twenty six chains and five links to a pine thence east seventeen chains and seventy five links to a post oak thence north seventeen chains seventy five links to a pine thence east twenty five chains and seventy five links to a forked pine thence south fifty three chains and fifty links crossing said creek two times to a red bud Charles Davis's corner thence with Davis's other line forty-three chains and twenty five links his corner stake, thence north to the beginning containing two hundred acres more or less.

17. Census in 1820 in Lexington Side, Rowan, NC. ²¹ The 1820 census recorded Henry Baker with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over: 1
Number of Persons - Engaged in Agriculture: 3
Free White Persons - Under 16: 3
Free White Persons - Over 25: 2
Total Free White Persons: 7
Total All Persons - White, Slaves, Colored, Other: 7.

18. Deed Book 3: Adam Tisinger sold to Lewis Snider Sr. For $100 57 acres on Lick Creek adj. Henry Beeker & Henry Garner & also 1 gray horse that is 3 years old. Witness: Solomon Snider, Tur Harris. Registered in courthouse 20 Nov 1828. On 22 May 1828 in , Rowan, NC. ²²

19. Henry lived on Lick Creek, in today's Davidson County formed in 1822 from east Rowan County. Census in 1830 in , Davidson, NC. ²³ The 1830 census recorded Henry Beeker Sr. with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69: 1
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 4
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 4.

20. He signed a will on 10 Dec 1837 in , Davidson, NC. ²⁴ Davidson County, NC. Will Book 1, page 327.
Henry Beekers will

In the name of God Amen, I Henry Beeker of the State of North Carolina and County of Davidson planter Being now in good Bodily health and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God and Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die and do make this and ordain the same to be my last will and testament that is to principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hands of the Almighty God that gave it and my Body I Recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executor Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same again by the mighty powers of the almighty God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and bequeath in the following manner in the first place I give will and bequeath to my loving wife Barbara Beeker my dwelling house that I now live in and five acres of land where ever she may Choose it, and fire wood and rail timber as much as she may kneed and I also give will and bequeath to my wife two choice cows if there here and as many hogs as she may choose and all that may grow on the whole plantation to do as she may think best with at her death then I will and bequeath my son Henry Beekers heirs by the name of Beeker my plantation that I now live on excepting the part I have left to my wife
Item I give will and bequeath my Plantation on Lick Creek to my son Philip Beekers heirs By the name of Beeker. And all of my movable property to be equally divided excepting Isaac Lee and Peter Tysenger and the half of my daughter Catys tract I give will and bequeath to her son Andrew and the other half to her heirs by the name of Ingrum and my daughter Molly past I give will and bequeath to her heirs by the name of Tysenger I also desire that the sale money be loaned on interest so long as my wife lives and I want my Executor to let my wife have of the money when ever she may kneed it and dis annulling all other wills and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this the 10 day of December 1837 I do hereby nominate and appoint my trusty friend Jacob Black and Philip Beeker Executors to this my last will and testament Signed Sealed in the presence of us Attest

Andrew Crouse Henry Beecker (SEAL)
Daniel Tussey.

21. Court: The disposition of Henry Beeker's land resulted in a NC Supreme Court case. See son Philip for details. Or https://books.google.com/books?id=e-QzAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22henry%20beeker%22&pg=PA125#v=onepage&q=%22henry%20beeker%22&f=false in Dec 1853 in , Davidson, NC. ²⁵ See son Philip for the text of the court ruling.

22. Henry's property was mentioned in an ad in the Carolina Watchman. On 18 Jan 1864 in , Davidson, NC. ²⁶ In the Carolina Watchman newspaper published in Salisbury on 18 Jan 1864 on page 4 is this ad:

500 Acres
more or less, known as the Grice Mountain tract in Davidson County, adjoining the lands of Woodson Daniel, Wm. C. Buie, the Hoover Mine tract, Alex. Frank, Jesse Lane, John Bean, Henry Beeker, J. T. Loftin, Jas. Davis and T. W. Daniel, in Capt. Clay Daniel's district.

The Henry Beeker mentioned is likely referring to the land of the elder Henry Beeker Sr. The tract for sale can be identified from this 1910 book that describes Grice Mountain's location:

Cid Mining District of Davidson County, North Carolina, Issues 22-23

It is online at:

https://books.google.com/books?id=NQpHAQAAMAAJ&lpg=PA15-IA81&ots=WYTc2ApGcC&dq=%22grice%20mountain%22&pg=PA15-IA81#v=onepage&q=%22grice%20mountain%22&f=false

Using the descriptions, we can determine the location of Grice Mountain on a Google Map as 35.647208, -80.150801 shown with this link:

https://goo.gl/maps/2XEkLtNDZSm

It is the round "mountain" located just west of Denton and north of Flat Swamp Road, where the Flat Swamp ridgeline crosses that road.

Henry Beeker's land, in other documents known to be near Flat Swamp, would likely be south of the Grice Mountain tract, toward the river.

Henry married Barbara Garner, daughter of Philip Garner Sr. and Barbara Elizabeth Winkler, about 1784 in , Rowan, NC. (Barbara Garner was born about 1767 in , Davidson, NC ²⁷ and died in 1840 in , Davidson, NC.)