Peter Beecher Sr. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

   Another name for Peter was Peter Bucher.⁷

   FamilySearch ID: 9F9W-LBP.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1800 in Straban Twp., Adams, PA. ⁸ The 1800 U.S. Census in Straban Township, Adams County, recorded John Beecher with this household:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 3 (sons Peter, David, George)
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 (father John)
Females (born)
Under 10 (1791-1800) = 1 (daughter Elizabeth)
10-15 (1785-1790) = 2 (daughters Catherine and Sarah Rebecca)
26-44 (1756-1774) = 1 (wife Elizabeth).

2. Census in 1810 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ⁹ The 1810 census recorded Petre Becher [sic, as indexed] with this household:
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25 - 2
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25 - 1
Number of Household Members - 3.

3. Property on 14 Nov 1814 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁰ Peter Beecher (indexed as Peter Beicher) purchases 30 acres of land in Mount Pleasant Township adjoining lands of John Hornsberger, William Ferguson, Samuel Tagert, John Counouver, Lewis Snowden.

4. Property on 1 Apr 1817 in Codorus Twp., York, PA. Peter Beecher & wife Catherine of Mount Pleasant Township, Adams County, purchased for £1000 130 acres 100 perch in Codorus Township, York County from the grantor, Peter Klinefelder and wife Annamary. Part of the tract patented to George Wherely, 1808. Patent book 63,372 "by the other part of the whole tract heretofore sold to John Rohrbach." George Wherely to Peter Klinefelder, 1811. Original deed in file 11154.

5. Indenture - Peter Beecher and Christian Cashman on 13 Aug 1817 in Codorus Twp., York, PA. ¹¹ There is recorded in York County an Indenture bearing date of August 13, 1817 between Peter Beecher, Yeoman of Codorus Township that county, and Christian Cashman of Mt. Pleasant Township, wherein the latter became bound security for Peter Beecher for 14 instruments payable by Beecher to Peter Klinefelter of Maryland, in the amount of $1,333.33. This would indicate a York county residence in early years, however, the Shull MSS list them as residing in Mummasburg.

6. Census in 1820 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹² The household of Peter Beecher in the 1820 Census had:
Males (born)
Under 10 (1811-1820) = 5 sons
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 father Peter
Females (born)
26-44 (1776-1794) = 1 wife

The next door neighbor is Christian Cashman, Peter's father in law.

7. Property on 24 Apr 1821 in Codorus Twp., York, PA. Grantor Peter Beecher and wife Catharine of Mount Pleasant Township, Adams County, sold to grantee John Beecher, Straban Township, Adams County, for £1600 130 acres 100 p. in Codorus Township, the land sold by Peter Klinefelder to Peter Beecher 1817. Original deed in file 11154.

8. Property on 26 Jun 1826 in Codorus Twp., York, PA. Grantor John Beecher, Sr. and wife Elizabeth of Straban Township, Adams County, sold to grantee Peter Runk, for $800 130 acres 100 p. in Codorus Township, the land sold by Peter Klinefelder to Peter Beecher 1817, and then Peter Beecher to John Beecher 1821. Original deed in file 11154. Per will of Wm. Little (Kline) 18 Jan 1822 whose daughter Elizabeth married John Beecher.

9. Newspaper: Legal Notice, 1 Aug 1827, Gettysburg, Adams, PA. ¹³ TO MY CREDITORS. Take Notice that I have applied to the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Adams county, for the benefit of the Insolvent Laws of this Commonwealth -- and they have appointed MONDAY the 27th day of AUGUST next, for the hearing of me and my Creditors at the Court House in the borough of Gettysburg. PETER BEECHER July 31.

10. Census in 1830 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁴ Two Beichers appears on the same census page in 1830: Peter, who is next to his father-in-law Christian Cashman, and close to his brother Jacob.

The household of Peter Beicher had:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 son
5-9 (1821-1825) = 3 sons
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1 father Peter
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 daughter
30-39 (1791-1800) = 1 wife

The household of Jacob Beicher:
Males (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830) = 1 son
5-9 (1821-1825) = 1 son
15-19 (1811-1815) = 1 son
40-49 (1781-1790) = 1 father Jacob
Females (born)
Under 5 (1826-1830)
5-9 (1821-1825) = 1 daughter
10-14 (1816-1820) = 1 daughter
40-49 (1781-1790) = 1 wife.

11. Newspaper: Adams Sentinel: Trial List for April Term: Peter Trostle vs. Peter Beecher, 18 Apr 1836, Gettysburg, Adams, PA. ¹⁵

12. Newspaper: 6 Nov 1837, Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁶ Sheriff sale, 6 Nov. 1837.
Peter Beecher of Mt. Pleasant.
Situate in Mountpleasant township, Adams county, containing
15 acres adj. to ____ Smith, John Blair and others on which are:
1 story log dwelling
1 log shop
1 log stable
young orchard
well of water, near door
Seized and taken as estate of Peter Beecher.

13. Census in 1840 in Menallen Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁷ In 1840 Peter Beecher's household had:
Males (born)
15-19 (1821-1825) = 2 sons
20-29 (1811-1820) = 2 sons
50-59 (1781-1790) = 1 father Peter
Females (born)
Under 5 (1836-1840)
5-9 (1831-1835) = 2 daughters
50-59 (1781-1790) = 1 wife.

14. Issue: 2 young children born in 1849 per his 1850 census are listed here as children of Peter, but they are more likely grandchildren. We have listed them here until we can identify their parents., 1849, , Adams, PA.

15. Census in 1850 in Franklin Twp., Adams, PA. ² Peter Beecher, laborer, age 60, was living with Catherine, 58; his son, Josiah, laborer, 22; Elizabeth, 23; Ann M., 18; son Sam, 15; and two infants who are likely grandchildren: Mary C., 1 and a twin William, 1.

Peter has no real estate value, suggesting he was living on land owned by the previous neighbor, Eve Rife, age 57, a widower living with Jonas Oner[?], 21; Elenora Figley, 21; and Cornelius Beecher, laborer, 9 [there is a 6 before the 9 but it appears to be crossed out.] Everyone was born in Pennsylvania.

Peter married Catherine Cashman, daughter of Christian Cashman and Christina Humfert. (Catherine Cashman was born about 1792 in , , PA ² and died in 1855 in Walker Twp., Juniata, PA ¹⁸.)