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Note: His exact birthplace is a matter of debate and family oral history recollections. Some believe that he was born in Virginia, while still others believe he was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Still another account that he may have been enroute from Scotland, or even in Scotland.
Misc: Much of this has been proven to be speculation and there are records prviding us with clues of William's age and birthplace. In the 1850 Census for Monroe County, VA, William is listed as 60 years of age, and having been born in Virginia. This certainly coincides in the whereabouts of his parents following their marriage about 1788.
Misc: Family legend states that William's father was a conscripted soldier under Lord Cornwallis in the American Revolutionary War. At this time we continue to search for validation of this claim. There is a case of a William MacBean having been a VOLUNTEER soldier from Scotland, and not as a Conscripted one. He was brother to Angus MacBean, who later settled in Canada. However, proof that this is one and the same as our William's father, has yet to be uncovered.
Misc: It is believed that William and a younger brother, Roy, were placed in Monroe County's poorhouse because of the death of one or both parents. However, another family legend states that William's mother was unable to care for her two sons following the death of her husband, and put the boys up for "indenture" on September 18, 1804. (A copy of this indenturement is attached.)
Misc: Family legend states that William's younger brother, Roy, ran away from his indenture and was never heard from again.
Misc: Although the indenturement contract is with a man named "Henry Smith", it is believed from county records that this gentleman was only in charge of the poorhouse and it was up to him to locate a suitable home for those found in his care. William and Roy were sent to live with a man named Ballard, from about where present day Greenville, and Indian Creek, are today.
Misc: We do know that William, after reaching his majority, sued Ballard, and received a large portion of lands and monies from Ballard. Setting young William out as a young man worth a great deal for his time.
Misc: There is evidence of at least 2 more Bean's being in Monroe County at this time, both youths: John who was born 1799, and David born 1795. While John is later found in the Greenbrier County Death index in 1872, David is lost to us at present. We continue to search for him, and for Roy.
Misc: On November 20, 1813, William married Rachel Wiseman.
Misc: After William sued Ballard, he received Land Grants along present day Dropping Lick Creek, near Zenith, WV, and along Potts Creek, near Waiteville, WV. It is the latter where he built Rachel a log home. The home remains standing and is habitable to this day. The original log structure has been covered with siding, and a stone fireplace has been replaced with a bay window. William received the following Grants: 70 acres on the head waters of Dropping Lick Creek; another 70 acres on the head waters of Dropping Lick Creek; 17 acres on the head of Dropping Lick Creek; 80 acres on the North fork of John's Run, Craig's Creek, Craig County, VA; 94 acres on the waters of the south fork of Dropping Lick Cree (issued by Isaac Wiseman); 100 acres on the waters of Dropping Lick and Turkey Creeks (issued by Isaac Wiseman); 38 acres on the north side of Michael's Knobbs (issued by Joseph Wiseman and Isaac Wiseman); 11 acres adjoining the lands of Joseph Wiseman (issued by Isaac Wiseman); 60 acres on Pott's Creek; and 13 acres between the east and west forks of Potts Creek.
A Family History (As told to me per Walter Beane, great-grandson of William & Rachel)
Misc: The following information includes part of the oral history of our family as told to me by my Dad, Walter Beane. These things were all passed on to him by his father, John Bean Sr. It must be remembered that by the time my Dad was born (1937) Grandpa was an elderly 72 years old. Dad was the 13th of 15 children and the eldest of the last three born. Grandpa felt it was important to share this information with one of his children to be able to pass on its colorful history. We are fortunate indeed that he chose Dad to relate these marvelous tales to.
Misc: What has been told could fill volumes. I choose here to share the best from Dad, and the written autobiography of Rita Beane Holland, John's eldest child.
Misc: According to the oral family history, William was born in Baltimore, Maryland on what was believed to be September 18, 1792. His father was a soldier in Cornwallis' Army. His father came from Scotland. It has even been purported that William was born there before coming to Baltimore, and then settling in present day Monroe County, West Virginia, however, due to the recent research that has uncovered William's father, this seems unlikely. It is surmised that WIlliam was born in either Monroe County, Montgomery Co., VA, or enroute from Montgomery Co.
Misc: When the elder Bean died, he left his wife with no way to support the two or more Bean children. Mother Bean then took the children to the county poorhouse in Union, which was overseen by Henry Smith at that time. (A copy of William's indenture contract is attached.) Mother Bean then disappeared, except for one brief mention in the 1805 tax rolls of Monroe County.
Misc: William was assigned to a man named Ballard, at or near, present day Greenville. From here family legend says Roy ran away and was never heard from again.
Misc: When he reached the age of majority, William sued Ballard and received a large amount of land and monies, making him wealthy for the time. What the suit was about remains a mystery to me at the time of this writing. Monroe County records were partially kept at the Rockingham County, Virginia courthouse prior to the Civil War. This courthouse burnt down, and there are many records which have been lost. Monroe County's records, in and among themselves, have been poorly kept over the centuries, and many also have been lost.
Misc: William received land grants along present day Dropping Lick Creek near Zenith, in Monroe County. Here he built his first home. And it was here he took Rachel after they were wed. Several of his children were born here as well. Later he received Land Grant Deeds for property along Potts Creek, near Waiteville, Monroe County. Here is the house he built Rachel that remains standing to this day.
Misc: It is said that William and Rachel did in fact own slaves, but that their slaves were treated as family members. William in fact, setting them free prior to the Emancipation Act signed by President Abraham Lincoln. However, most remained with the family, even after becoming freed men.
Misc: Dad recalls some of the old slave quarters that stood beyond the family house from when he was a child. He said that they had been constructed of the same quality and soundness as the family home was.
Misc: It said that one winter, when the ground was frozen solid, two old slaves died. Because a proper grave could not be dug in the hard and frozen soil of the Bean Cemetery, the slaves were buried in the only soil that could be dug. The grave is located in the southeast corner of the front yard. A "Rose of Sharon" plant was placed on the grave to mark it. As late as the summer of 2001, there bloomed a huge Rose of Sharon in the southeast corner of the front yard, looking ancient, but still blooming.
Misc: Emmett Beane (Dad's brother, now deceased) was in possession of the original charter for the very first Brush Arbor Methodist Church for the area, which contained William's signature. Emmett loaned this document to Mrs. Maggie Ballard for copying for the historical society and the Methodist Church. However, before she could return the document, Mrs. Ballard passed away. Dad and Mr. Haskell Shumate (deceased) went through Mrs. Ballard's papers but were unable to locate the document for retrieval. It is believed that the document now lies in either the hands of the Methodist Church, or that of the Monroe County Historical Society. I did call the Historical Society and requested that they search through their documents, and if this was found, to let me copy it for family history. I was promised a return call. I have never been called. My messages remain unanswered. However, the Methodist Church has been quite gracious in my requests for searching for this document. However, they have been unable to locate it either, and it remains a mystery as to its whereabouts at present.
Misc: It is said that during the Civil War William converted all of his assets to gold. He heard that there were renegade soldiers in the area. Afraid that his gold would be discovered, he told his daughter to hide this. She was afraid to, so William hid it himself. He did not reveal its location. He died shortly thereafter. Many have searched in vain to find this cache.
Misc: On January 1, 1864, William obtained a warrant for some renegade soldiers who had stolen clothing from a local clothesline, and followed them to Wiseman Hollow, along Potts Creek. Here he followed them into a log cabin. Upon entering the cabin, one of the men shot him from the loft, in the head. William was at that time wearing his prized hat, a beaver plug hat. Family Legend states that if one puts on the hat they are sure to die shortly afterward, and several people have related stories of this occuring over the years. The hat is now owned by one of William's descendants in the McCormick family.
Misc: William was taken to his home, where the local blacksmith was called in. (I learned through investigation, that the local smithy, who acted as veterinarian to horses was often called in the absence of a real doctor. Usually these men were called upon for wounds of profuse bleeding, as they could cauterize wounds cleaner than someone unlearned.) According to Dad, the blacksmith inserted a horseshoe nail into Williams cranial wound, and announced: "It's fatal, he'll die for sure." (I have wondered if the nail was heated and he had attempted to cauterize the wound??)
Misc: And William succumbed to his injury
Misc: It is said that William Jr., who was a U.S. Marshall formed a posse, and went after the renegade soldiers, catching up with them at present day Rock Camp. Here the men were hastily tried, and convicted by the posse men, found guilty, and placed before a shale bank and shot.
Misc: Justice had been served.
Misc: William and Rachel are buried in the Bean Cemetery located on the property where William built Rachel's house. The graves of the cemetery went unmarked except for a few rocks or rotted wood, which long ago decayed, until 207 years from the anniversary of William's birth, when a group of family members erected a tombstone marker. On one side is the name "Bean" and our Scottish Clan Crest. On the other are Rachel and William's names.
Misc: All that is left visible of the graves are small hillocks. You can count 30 total. There may be more that are discernible. The graves are laid out symmetrically. A few are found away from the rest, and these are believed to be graves of William and Rachel's slaves.
Misc: It is believed that along with William and Rachel, buried here is also daughter Nancy, daughter Emily and her husband Thomas Long, and son Archibald's first wife Amanda (Shires).
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William Bean's Indenturement Contract: Dated 18 Sept. 1804
"This indenture made this 18th of Sept 1804 one thousand eight hundred and four between Jas. Christy owen Neal Robt Johnston and henry McDaniel of the one part overseers of the poor for monroe County and henry Smith of the other part witnesseth that the so overssers doth bind an orphan boy named William Bean aged twelfth years to the said henry Smith of the county aforesaid and State of virginia to Serve the said henry Smith until he arrives at the age of twenty one years, during all which time the Said William Bean Shall faithfully Serve his Master and all his lawful Commands obay he Sall not suffer any Damage to be done to his Said Masters goods without giving him notice thereof he Shall not frequent Still houses or taverns he shall not play at Cards dice or any unlawful game or at any time abscond himself from his masters business without his Masters leave he Shall not commit fornication nor Contract matrimony during said term but as a true and faithful servant shall truely and diligently Serve his Said Master until he arrives at the age aforesaid and the henry Smith in Consideration thereof doth Covenant and agree to have the so William Bean taught the art trade or Mastery of a Black Smith and provide for him a sufficiency of everyt thing thats requiset for an aprentice during the term of his aprenticeship likewise he is to have him taught to read the holy Scriptures planely to write a plane hand and arithmatic through te rule of three which Education he is to be thoroughly acquainted with at the Expiration of his time and also to give him Such freedom dues as the law direct taking Care to have Said aprentice instructed in the Principals and duties of the Christian religion as far as Said Master is Capable In writing whereof the partys have interchangeably set their hands inscribed this day and year above writen Signed Sealed ad delivered in the presents of - John Hinchman - Owen Neal - Henry Smith - Jas. Christy"
The above document's transcription is verbatim, spelling and gramatical errors intact.
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Documents: From Monroe County Will Book Vol II (1817-1829); Page 167-171; Charles FRIEND; 20 Aug 1816 filed 18 Mar 1823, sale by Wm GRAHAM, C.W.FRIEND. Sold to: Davis ALDERSON, William ALDERSON, Andrew ALLEN, William BEEN, Enoch BOGGS, Patrick BOYD, John BROWN, Undrell BUDD, William CAMPBELL, James CHRISTY, Jacob CHAMBERS, James CLARK, Samuel CLARK, William CLARK, Barnabus CURRY, RObert CURRY, Robert DUNLOP, Joseph EWING, John FOSTER, Abraham FRIEND, Charles FRIEND, John FRIEND, Nancy FRiEND, Rachel FRIEND, Daniel GRAHAM, David GRAHAM, Joseph GRAHAM, Samuel GRAHAM, William GRAHAM, Archibald HANDLEY, James HANDLEY, Thomas HANDLEY, William HANK, Henry HINES, Christy HOKE, Henry HOKE, Samuel HUMPHREYS, John KNOX, James LONG, Christena LOWE, Nathan LOWE, William MARSHALL, Henry NEEL, William NEEL, Paul PROSE, William RAINS, James RALSTON, Absolom SHANKLIN, Richard SHANKLIN, Theo. SMITH, George SPARR, John TACKET, John THOMAS, Thomas THOMAS JR, Thomas THOMAS, Henry VANCE, George VASS, Rice VASS, George WICKLE, Thomas WYLIE. **************************************************** SOURCE: Land Office Grants No. 105, 1851, p. 4; 1 Aug 1851; LOCATION: Monroe County; DESCRIPTION: 60 acres on waters of Pott's Creek joining land of William BEEN. GRANTEE(s): CROSIER, John & Thomas ****************************************************
William and Rachel lived on Potts creeek, West Virginia
please contact me if you have additional information regarding my family tree <willgen @ mac.com>
Census: 1850 Census Monroe County, VA; Page 64; 22/22 BEAN, William 60 Farmer b. Virginia Rachel 60 Nancy 34 Elizabeth 30 Floyd 22 Franklin 20 Laborer Caroline 16 Styrus 12 ***********************************************
Note: Misc: It is believed that William Bean was born on September 18, 1792.
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