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Thomas & Sarah Beatty of Montgomery County, Kentucky


Thomas is the oldest established ancestor that has been traced for this Beatty family. Thomas is identified by his will as the father of Nancy "Batty" (sic) who married Joseph See. His relationship to the See family is also identified through family recollection. There is a strong See family tradition that Joseph See Jr. was the son of Nancy Batty. These traditions are reflected in death certificates and early oral family history in at least two branches of the See family. The tradition of a Beatty ancestress was recalled well into the 19th century; however, beyond the name recognition no additional oral family history remains about the family today. The Beatty family is traced to Montgomery County, Kentucky where Thomas Beatty left a very lengthy and detailed will, as well as, documentation of two estate sales. This family has received little if none genealogical research.

Some researchers have identified Thomas Beatty as having married Sarah Turner, the daughter of William and Sarah (Ellzey) Turner of Fairfax and Loudoun counties, Virginia. The documentation of this connection is in the estate papers of Thomasin Ellsey of Fairfax County, Virginia [re: Will Books Q1-R1, 1830-36]. In the estate settlement the record states, "Jennings Beckwith and Henry Harrison are the joint owners of the 4/5th of the share of Sarah Beatty, daughter of Sarah Turner, having purchased out the interest of Thomas, Polly Beatty, Sally Beatty and William Beatty four of five children of Sarah Beatty, dec'd ..." [re: ibid]. Though the names certainly match four of the six known children of Thomas Beatty, there is no mention of location, married names of the daughters of Sarah Beatty, and no other clue that might help more positively identify these people. Secondhand information quoted Ellsey's will as leaving land in Montgomery county, Kentucky to Thomas Roth Beatty; William Beatty; and Sally Beatty [re: Fairfax WB O , pg. 110-8 (16 Apr 1831)]. I have not been able to locate the will to establish this fact. Though Thomas Beatty did have three children by the name of Thomas, William, and Sally, he also had other issue that was probably alive in 1831 bringing into question the correct identification of this family. The evidence for this connection has not yet been reviewed; however, if true, this would establish the Beattys with one of the wealthiest families of the Northern Neck region of Virginia. Many of the Turners in Loudoun County settled in the area of Lexington, Kentucky which is quite close to Montgomery County, but the relative wealth of the Beatty's to the Turners make this connection somewhat improbable.

Thomas Beatty's background and origins are unknown; however, he appears to have been a relatively prosperous small farmer in Montgomery County, Kentucky. Montgomery County tax record show that Thomas and his family lived on property that was near Jefferey's Creek and is also identified on some records as near Spencer Creek. In addition to Thomas and his sons, there is a Daniel Beatty whose property bordered Thomas' land and who must have been a brother or close kin. Daniel Beatty was taxed upon a similar land holding, but unlike Thomas, Daniel had seven slaves. Thomas is taxed for 160 acres of second rate land and from nine to ten horses. Thomas' sons James and John are taxed on land and horses.

Thomas is widowed by September of 1817 when he wrote his will, since it makes not provision for her. His will suggests that his daughter Polly Moore kept house for him and as a result was given his home farm for her support. The will and subsequent sales following the division of his estate allow us a small glimpse into Thomas Beatty's world. His farm of 160 acres was larger than many of the farms in the area and probably provided for a comfortable living, though his wealth certainly does not speak to the wealth of either the Turner or Ellzey families that some researchers have claimed as his wife's family. His probate records indicate a good size holding of livestock with twelve heads of cattle, nine horses, and seventeen sheep. The household is not listed in detail, but there is evidence of bedsteads and furniture, chairs, at least one table and one chest. Most of the sale objects were farm implements or livestock. The most valuable item in the estate were a set of blacksmith tools valued at $33.00. A hogshead is mentioned in one sale, indicating that tobacco may have been a cash crop. Thomas will also mentions salt production on the farm. He states in his will, "should salt water be got on either of the lands of Thomas, William, or Polly all and every of my children shall have an equal benefit arising from it provided on these conditions if they bear an equal share in the expense attached to getting the salt water and all of my land is to become one common stock to furnish timer for salt making business...". There is no evidence that this enterprise ever became a reality.


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