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Beebe family papers

1918-19-0

 Collection — Container: Beebe family papers Box 1
Identifier: 1918-19-0

Scope and Contents

The papers of the Beebe family of Litchfield, Conn., centering on Bezaleel Beebe, his father, and his descendents. The papers consist of correspondence, deeds, business records, military records, and other documents. The papers are arranged in three series: Series 1: Correspondence Series 2: Beebe, Bezaleel military papers Series 3: Other papers Bezaleel Beebe was born in 1741 in Litchfield, Conn., a son of Ebenezer Beebe (1716-1744) and Bethiel Osborn Beebe Peck (1722-1816). After serving in the French and Indian War, he retruned to his farm in Litchfield. In 1775, he was commissioned lieutenant and sent to Boston soon after the battle of Lexington. He was promoted to captain in 1776 and saw active service in New York and New Jersey. He was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort Washington and was confined in New York nearly a year. He rose to the rank of colonel in 1781 and then appointed to the command of all the Connecticut troops raised for seacoast defense, with the duties and pay of a brigadier-general. His military papers cover the 1772-1780 time period, and include his orderly book, 1776 and 1780;  an account book; correspondence; comissions; lists of enlistees; and other documents. The collection includes correspondence written by or to members of Bezaleel's family, including one of his sons, William Beebe (1782-1861), two of William Beebe's children, Clara Beebe Darling (1820-1913) and Philip Schuyler Beebe (1812-1891), and their son, William Beebe (1851-1917). Philip married Lucy Beebe Robbins (1816-1876), a third cousin. Lucy's mother, also named Lucy, married Samuel Robbins (1775-1832). Lucy and Samuel corresponded with members of her family and their spouses, including Lucy's sister Esther Beebe Whittlesey (1777-1818), Esther's husband Newton Whittlesey (1777-1874), and Esther's daughter Mary Whittlesey Hubbard (1801-1845), all of Cornish, N.H.; her sister Mary (Polly) Beebe Tupper of Lawrenceville, Pa.; Lucy's brothers Hiram Beebe (abt. 1797-1861) and Edward Beebe (1791-1871) and his wife Marilla Collins Beebe, all of Lawrenceville, Pa.; Lucy's half brother Rev. Jonathan Lee Hale (1790-1835) and her half sister Lydia Lee Keep (1781-1865). Of note in the other papers series are deeds documenting land transactions in Litchfield as early as 1729. Also of interest is an autobiography written by Bezaleel's mother Bethiel (or Bethia) Osborn Beebe Peck.

Dates

  • created: 1729-1913
  • Other: Date acquired: 01/01/1918

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Extent

0.42 Linear Feet

1 document box other_unmapped

Language of Materials

English

Source of Acquisition

William Beebe

Method of Acquisition

Gift

Accruals and Additions

William Beebe (1851-1917), great grandson of Bezaleel Beebe, gave some of the papers as early as 1907. Other papers were donated by his wife in 1918 and his niece in the 1930s.

Other Descriptive Information

This collection was processed with support from the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR).

Title
Beebe family papers
Author
Leith Johnson
Date
05/12/2012
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Litchfield Historical Society Repository

Contact:
7 South Street
P.O. Box 385
Litchfield CT 06759
860-567-4501
860-567-3565 (Fax)