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

   Another name for Peter was Peter Bucher.⁶

   FamilySearch ID: 9F9W-LBP.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Census in 1800 in Straban Twp., Adams, PA. ⁷ 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. ⁸ 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 , Adams, PA. ⁹ Handwritten record to apply for Pennsylvania Land Warrant:

Peter Beecher applies for Thirty Acres of Land situate in Mount Pleasant Township in the County of Adams, adjoining lands of the heirs of John Hornburger, William Feguson, Samuel Tagert, John Cownover and Lewis Snowden on which there is an improvement.
To the surety of the Land Office
Peter Becher (signature)

Adams County
Personally appeared before in the subscribers Henry Hoke & Alexander Rufsell two of the Justices of the Peach in and for the said County. William Cooper, a disinterested witness who being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that the land applied for above is part of a tract of land which was improven & dwelt upon in the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty nine but cannot say how long before that time, nor does he believe that any better proof can become had as to the exact date of the improvement that on the tract applied for as above there is now a house built and a family residing therein & that grain has often raised thereon.
Wm. Cooper
Sworn & subscribed the 25th day of October Ad 1814 Before Me
Henry Hoke
Adams County: Come before me one of the Justices of the Peace of said county Peter Beecher who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and saith that no warrant or other affice right hath ever issued for the land applied for as above in the name of this deponant or in the name of any other person or persons under whome he claims the same to the best of his knowledge & belief.
Peter Beeher (signature)
Sworn & subscribed the 21st day of October A.D. 1814 Before me
I Russell.

4. 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.

5. He was listed on a deed on 8 Sep 1815 in Liberty Township, Adams Pennsylvania, USA. ¹¹ A deed dated September 8, 1815, conveyed a 104 acre tract of land in Liberty township, Adams County, Pennsylvania, from Peter Beecher and Catharine, his wife, of Mount Pleasant township, to Zephaniah Herbert of Millers Town, Hamiltonban township, for the sum of $2500. The neighbors whose lands border the conveyed tract are: William McKesson, Martin Hill,
Christian Freet, Charles Donalson, Francis McCormick, and Bryand Bigham.

6. 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.

7. Indenture: 13 Aug 1817, in Codorus Twp., York, PA. ¹² In simple terms, Peter Beecher temporarily conveyed his land to Christian Cashman as collateral because Cashman guaranteed Beecher's debt to Peter Klinefelter. If Beecher pays the debt in full, the land ownership reverts to Beecher. If Beecher defaults, Cashman could claim the land to cover the money he would then owe.

The agreement was between Peter Beecher (of York County, Pennsylvania) and Christian Cashman (of Adams County, Pennsylvania).

The Debt/Obligation: Peter Beecher owed money to Peter Klinefelter (now of Maryland) through fourteen separate bonds/obligations.

Thirteen of the bonds were for $100 each, payable annually on April 1st, starting in 1818.

The final bond was for $33.33, due on April 1, 1831.

Cashman's Role (The Security): Christian Cashman agreed to become security (or guarantor) for Peter Beecher on all fourteen of these obligations. This means Cashman is legally bound to pay the debt if Beecher defaults.

The Security (The Land Conveyance): To protect Cashman from having to pay the debt, Beecher conveyed (or sold) a tract of land to Cashman.

The land is 130 acres and 100 perches in Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.

The transfer includes all buildings and improvements.

The Condition of Redemption (The Mortgage Clause): The conveyance of the land to Cashman is not permanent, but is "Subject nevertheless to the provise or Condition of Redemption." This is the key condition that makes it a security agreement:

If Peter Beecher fully and truly pays all fourteen obligations to Peter Klinefelter when they are due, and

If Beecher saves Christian Cashman "harmless and Indemnified" (meaning, he doesn't have to pay anything and is not liable for any costs or damages),

Then the indenture and the estate (the land) granted to Cashman "shall cease and become absolutely null and void."

8. Indenture - Peter Beecher and Christian Cashman on 13 Aug 1817 in Codorus Twp., York, PA. ¹³ 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.

9. Census in 1820 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁴ 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Newspaper: Legal Notice, 1 Aug 1827, Gettysburg, Adams, PA. ¹⁵ 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.

13. Census in 1830 in Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁶ 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.

14. Newspaper: Adams Sentinel: Trial List for April Term: Peter Trostle vs. Peter Beecher, 18 Apr 1836, Gettysburg, Adams, PA. ¹⁷

15. Newspaper: 6 Nov 1837, Mount Pleasant Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁸ 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.
====Research note: This newspaper notice mentions neighbor John Blair who is Peter Beecher's neighbor in the 1830 census.

16. Census in 1840 in Menallen Twp., Adams, PA. ¹⁹ 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.

17. 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.

18. Census in 1850 in Franklin Twp., Adams, PA. ² The 1850 U.S. Census, recorded in October, detailed two interconnected households living side-by-side in Pennsylvania. The first, the Beecher Household, was headed by Peter Beecher (age 60, laborer) and his wife, Catherine (age 58). They hosted a multi-generational family, including three of their children: Ann M. (18), Sam (15), and their son Josiah (aka Jesse, 22, laborer) along with Josiah's wife, Elizabeth (23). The youngest members were two grandchildren, both age one: Mary C., the daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth, and William, the son of Peter's son, John Beecher, and his wife Lydia Leeper. William's mother, Lydia, had died just months earlier in May 1850. Peter's property value was listed as $0, suggesting he may have been renting his home.

The second household, the Rife/Beecher Household, was located next door and was led by Eve Rife (age 57, a widow), who may have been Peter Beecher's landlord. Also residing with Eve Rife were two adults, Jonas Oner (21) and Elenora Figley (21), along with Peter's nine-year-old grandson, Cornelius Beecher (listed as a laborer). Cornelius was William's brother and son of John and the late Lydia Beecher.
Both William and Cornelius were recorded twice in the 1850 census; they also appeared with other siblings in widower John Beecher's household in Cumberland Township, Adams County in August. Five years later their father also died.

19. Fact: 1851, , , Pennsylvania, USA. Peter Beecher appears in the 1850 census recorded on 23 Sep 1850 in Franklin Township in Adams County. He died before 1 Aug 1851 when his wife Catharine is given for $5 by her son George Beecher a house and six acres where she has been living in Walker Township, Juniata County, where George had moved. We can conclude Peter Beecher died between those dates, likely in 1851, in either Adams or Juniata county. An extensive search for church, cemetery, probate court, or deed sales has not revealed an answer. Since Peter had no land value recorded in the 1850 census, likely he had no estate to be probated.

Peter married Catherine Cashman, daughter of Christian Cashman and Christina Humfert. (Catherine Cashman was born about 1792 in , , Pennsylvania, USA ² and died in 1855 in Walker Twp., Juniata, PA ²⁰.)