John Beecher Jr. ^{2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

   Other names for John were John Beacher,¹⁵ John Becher,¹² John Biecher,^{1 7} John Biechert and Johann Bücher.^{2 16 17}

   FamilySearch ID: LD9K-HHF.

  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:

Tombstone: 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:

1. Census in 1800 in Churchtown, Lancaster, PA. ¹⁸ A John Bicher is listed in Churchtown in the 1800 Census in Lancaster County in Caernarvon Township. The household included:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 3 sons (George, Jacob, William)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 sons (Samuel, John)
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 father (John)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 2 daughters (Catharine, Maria)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 daughters (Margaret, Magdalena "Polly")
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 mother (Mary Ann)

This is the only John found in the Census anywhere near New Holland where we know John Bucher/Bicher was attending church in 1803.

2. Census in 1810 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ¹⁹ 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.

3. Military on 10 Aug 1814 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, PA: War of 1812: Private. ²⁰ Return of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Classes of the Third Company 66th Regt.Penn'a Militia, who have been notified to meet at Harrisburg the 10th day of August 1814 to be inspected.
Joel Bailey, first Lieut. Com'd.

First Class
Joel Bailey, 1st Lieut. 3 Comp.
James Chambers
Wm. Freemole
Geo. Stabley
Abraham Swartz
Alex Jackson
Jon. P. McCabe
Peter Mooney
John Beicher
Henry Wilson
John Rodney
Daniel Miller.

4. Baptism on 25 Sep 1817 in Reading: First Reformed Church, Berks, PA, USA. Catharine Beacher b. 23 Feb 1817 parents John & Elizabeth sponsors John & Maria Beacher ¹⁵

5. In 1819 in South Manheim Twp.: St. Paul's Church (Summer Hill), Schuylkill, PA. ^{2 17} John's son John was baptized at St. Paul's in South Manheim Township. He may not be living here, rather, went to the church of his father-in-law who was the child's sponsor, and lived in Schuylkill? It is also possible the records are here but the minister traveled to satellite congregations in Berks County.

6. Census in 1820 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ²¹ The 1820 census in Bern Township recorded "Biecher & Berger" as a household. The number of children suggest this is the household of John Beecher (1789-1865) as follows:

Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 3 (sons George, Jacob, John III)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 (father John Jr.)
45 & over (<=1775) = 1 (Berger?)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 1 (daughter Catharine)
16-25 (1795-1804) = 1 (?)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 (mother Catharine)
Neighbors are Althouse & Derk and John Althouse whose land bordered John Beecher Sr.'s land sold in Oct 1819 following his death.

7. Census in 1830 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ²² The 1830 census recorded John Becker (sic) with this household:
Males (born)
40-49 (1781-1790) = 1
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 2
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1
Next door is George Albright (aka Albrecht) who could be related to John's mother, Catherine Albrecht.

8. Census in 1830 in Churchtown, Lancaster, PA. Name: John Bicher
[John Bicker]
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Churchtown, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 30 thru 39: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1
Free Colored Persons - Females - 10 thru 23: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 4
Total Free White Persons: 9
Total Free Colored Persons: 1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 10.

9. Note: Census?, 1850. Went page by page through 1850 Census in Bern Township in Berks and Honey Book Township in Chester and John Beecher is not there.

10. Pension in 1854 in , Berks, PA. ²³ John's father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and is mentioned in his father's pension documents.

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."

11. Residence: in 1854 in , Berks, PA. ²³

12. Census in 1860 in Bern Twp., Berks, PA. ¹² John Becher, age 72, laborer, is living with wife Elizabeth, 70; and daughter Hannah, 28. His real estate is worth $0 and his possessions $70. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania. The post office is Reading.
Next door John's daughter is repeated: Hannah, 27, with her husband, John O'Conner, laborer, 38; Edward, 7; and Kitty Ann, 4 months old. Everyone was born in Pennsylvania except John in Ireland.
Neither man owned land, there is no land value listed. John Beecher's personal estate was $70 and John O'Conner's $80.
<note: this is the only Beecher or Beechert living in 1860 in Bern Township when you inspect page by page.>.

13. Book: Kentucky Pioneer and Court Records, 1929. ²³
John married; lived Berks Co., Pa.; died, aged 71; had three children.

John married Catharine Eilzabeth Bernheisel, daughter of John Bernheisel and Catharine Neikirch, in 1810 in , Berks, PA.¹ (Catharine Eilzabeth Bernheisel was born on 10 Aug 1790 in , Berks, PA ^{1 12 24 25 26 27}, christened on 12 Sep 1790 in Wernersville: St. John's (Hains) Reformed Church, Berks, PA,^{1 25 26} died on 21 Dec 1871 in Exeter Twp., Berks, PA ^{24 27} and was buried on 27 Dec 1871 in Bern Twp.: Epler's Church Cemetery, Berks, PA ^{24 28}.)