*Cenotaph. His actual burial site is not known. This marker is a memorial to him, his wife and descendants, erected long after his death.
One of the first European settlers of Stratford, Connecticut in 1639.
William Beardsley was born in about 1605 based upon his age of 30 years on the manifest of immigrant ship "Planter" upon which he arrived in Boston in 1635.
His birthplace in England is not known. His wife was baptized Maria Harvie (Latin spelling of Mary), daughter of Richard Harvie, at Saint Mary's, Church of England, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on Jan 26, 1631/32. Various later records show her surname spelling as Mary Harvie or Harvey.
William and Mary married at Saint Mary's church on 26 January, 1631. The baptism of their third child, son, John, took place there on November 2, 1633.
In 1635, William Beardsley and his family were identified as "of Leicestershire bound for Concord" on the ship "Planter" manifest, bound for Boston from London. Nicholas [Nico] Trerice was ship Master. The "Planter" departed London on about April 10, 1635 and arrived at Boston on Sunday, June 7, 1635. The Beardsleys brought certificates (references) from the Minister of St. Albons [St. Albans] in Hertfordshire.
The ship's manifest includes Wm. Beadsley, mason, age 30; Marie Beadsley, age 26; Marie Beadslie, age 4; and John Beadslie, age 6 mo. (Note variations in surname spelling on the manifest).
Source: "The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700; with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked." By John Camden Hotten, ed., 1874. p. 50.
Upon arriving in Boston, the Beardsleys settled first at Concord, Massachusetts where William was admitted to the church as "Wil(iam) Beadseley" a "freeman " on 7 December 1636. Concord, located about 20 miles northwest of Boston, was the first inland settlement by Massachusetts Bay Colony immigrants in New England (est. 1635).
The Beardsleys and several others on the ship Planter were followers of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, a Church of England clergyman, who arrived at Boston in 1838. In "History of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639-1939: Stratford Tercentenary Commission, 1939" by William Howard Wilcoxson, the author writes:
"that, finding no land to their liking in Massachusetts, the Blakeman company trekked to Wethersfield, where again they discovered all the best land was already occupied" "By August 1639 they were living on land claimed by Connecticut on the banks of the Pequonnock River, possibly as squatters." "The Connecticut General Court dispatched the governor "to confer with the planters at Pequannock, to give them the oath of fidelity." The English settlers appear to have seized Indian land from the Pequonnock Indians without warfare [but] "there are no records of the Blakeman company's receiving deeds from the Pequonnocks." The Pequonnocks were apparently allowed to remain on portions of their ancestral lands. "And when the Pequonnocks demanded belated payments in the 1650s, the Stratforders paid them—not to ease their consciences but simply to keep the peace. The Indians might be seen by the English as heathen nuisances, but they were still children of God, and they were neighbors." Also see: "Connecticut Explored" by Gene Leach. 2014.
Led by Rev. Blakeman, the Beardsleys and 16 other families were the first Europeans to arrive there in 1639. The place was called Cupheag by the native Pequonnock people. The settlers arrived by boat at a spot called Mac's Harbor. The area was called "Pequonnocke Plantation" by the General Court in October 10, 1639, then named Cupheag in June 1640. In April 1643 it became known as Stratford. See: "Our History" Stratford Connecticut. By Barbara M. Sirois. 1988.
By 1645 William Beardsley began serving Stratford as deputy to the General Court at Hartford between 1645 to 1658. He also served as a judge and as a founder of the Congregational Church (1639).
In 1659 the town of Stratford recorded "certain lands given, bought & granted to Wil[liam] Beardsly [sic] by the town." Additional lands were also acquired by him the following decade. The parcels totaled 15.5 acres. (See: New England: The Great Migration. Vol. 1 A-13. p 223).
The first religious meeting-house in Stratford was located at Sandy-Hollow on the bank of Mac's Creek. The first graveyard was laid out there in 1677-78. No record of internments in that first graveyard have been found, but the date of William Beardsley's death (about 1660) would leave one to think that he was buried thereabouts, and also that of his wife Mary, although no date of her death has been found. The latest record found of her is in the list of inhabitants of Stratford in the year 1668. (See Wilcoxson. 1939, Leach. 2014.)
William Beardsley died between 28 September 1660, the date of his will, and the will probate date of 6 June, 1661. No exact date of death has been found.
In 1939, at the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Stratford, the descendants of William and Mary Beardsley placed a bronze plaque at this Union Cemetery in Stratford. It reads as follows:
"To honor the memory of William and Mary Beardsley and the other first settlers of Stratford who landed near this spot in 1639.
Erected by the Beardsley Family Association 1939"
There is a large stone cenotaph monument with the names of William, Mary and several other Beardsley descendants at this site. William and Mary Beardsley are not interred here. This "new" Union cemetery was established in 1678, after his death.
_________
Other sources: "Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B" (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. From: FindAGrave contributor #47346831.
"Beardsley Genealogy - The Family of William Beardsley - One of the first settlers of Stratford, Connecticut" published by Nellie Beardsley Holt in 1951.
___________
Note: It is speculated in some references that William had some connection with the English town of Stratford-on-Avon or Stratford-le-Bow, and that he may have been responsible for naming the town Stratford, Connecticut (this legend not sourced, unconfirmed).
One of the first European settlers of Stratford, Connecticut in 1639.
William Beardsley was born in about 1605 based upon his age of 30 years on the manifest of immigrant ship "Planter" upon which he arrived in Boston in 1635.
His birthplace in England is not known. His wife was baptized Maria Harvie (Latin spelling of Mary), daughter of Richard Harvie, at Saint Mary's, Church of England, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on Jan 26, 1631/32. Various later records show her surname spelling as Mary Harvie or Harvey.
William and Mary married at Saint Mary's church on 26 January, 1631. The baptism of their third child, son, John, took place there on November 2, 1633.
In 1635, William Beardsley and his family were identified as "of Leicestershire bound for Concord" on the ship "Planter" manifest, bound for Boston from London. Nicholas [Nico] Trerice was ship Master. The "Planter" departed London on about April 10, 1635 and arrived at Boston on Sunday, June 7, 1635. The Beardsleys brought certificates (references) from the Minister of St. Albons [St. Albans] in Hertfordshire.
The ship's manifest includes Wm. Beadsley, mason, age 30; Marie Beadsley, age 26; Marie Beadslie, age 4; and John Beadslie, age 6 mo. (Note variations in surname spelling on the manifest).
Source: "The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700; with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked." By John Camden Hotten, ed., 1874. p. 50.
Upon arriving in Boston, the Beardsleys settled first at Concord, Massachusetts where William was admitted to the church as "Wil(iam) Beadseley" a "freeman " on 7 December 1636. Concord, located about 20 miles northwest of Boston, was the first inland settlement by Massachusetts Bay Colony immigrants in New England (est. 1635).
The Beardsleys and several others on the ship Planter were followers of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, a Church of England clergyman, who arrived at Boston in 1838. In "History of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639-1939: Stratford Tercentenary Commission, 1939" by William Howard Wilcoxson, the author writes:
"that, finding no land to their liking in Massachusetts, the Blakeman company trekked to Wethersfield, where again they discovered all the best land was already occupied" "By August 1639 they were living on land claimed by Connecticut on the banks of the Pequonnock River, possibly as squatters." "The Connecticut General Court dispatched the governor "to confer with the planters at Pequannock, to give them the oath of fidelity." The English settlers appear to have seized Indian land from the Pequonnock Indians without warfare [but] "there are no records of the Blakeman company's receiving deeds from the Pequonnocks." The Pequonnocks were apparently allowed to remain on portions of their ancestral lands. "And when the Pequonnocks demanded belated payments in the 1650s, the Stratforders paid them—not to ease their consciences but simply to keep the peace. The Indians might be seen by the English as heathen nuisances, but they were still children of God, and they were neighbors." Also see: "Connecticut Explored" by Gene Leach. 2014.
Led by Rev. Blakeman, the Beardsleys and 16 other families were the first Europeans to arrive there in 1639. The place was called Cupheag by the native Pequonnock people. The settlers arrived by boat at a spot called Mac's Harbor. The area was called "Pequonnocke Plantation" by the General Court in October 10, 1639, then named Cupheag in June 1640. In April 1643 it became known as Stratford. See: "Our History" Stratford Connecticut. By Barbara M. Sirois. 1988.
By 1645 William Beardsley began serving Stratford as deputy to the General Court at Hartford between 1645 to 1658. He also served as a judge and as a founder of the Congregational Church (1639).
In 1659 the town of Stratford recorded "certain lands given, bought & granted to Wil[liam] Beardsly [sic] by the town." Additional lands were also acquired by him the following decade. The parcels totaled 15.5 acres. (See: New England: The Great Migration. Vol. 1 A-13. p 223).
The first religious meeting-house in Stratford was located at Sandy-Hollow on the bank of Mac's Creek. The first graveyard was laid out there in 1677-78. No record of internments in that first graveyard have been found, but the date of William Beardsley's death (about 1660) would leave one to think that he was buried thereabouts, and also that of his wife Mary, although no date of her death has been found. The latest record found of her is in the list of inhabitants of Stratford in the year 1668. (See Wilcoxson. 1939, Leach. 2014.)
William Beardsley died between 28 September 1660, the date of his will, and the will probate date of 6 June, 1661. No exact date of death has been found.
In 1939, at the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Stratford, the descendants of William and Mary Beardsley placed a bronze plaque at this Union Cemetery in Stratford. It reads as follows:
"To honor the memory of William and Mary Beardsley and the other first settlers of Stratford who landed near this spot in 1639.
Erected by the Beardsley Family Association 1939"
There is a large stone cenotaph monument with the names of William, Mary and several other Beardsley descendants at this site. William and Mary Beardsley are not interred here. This "new" Union cemetery was established in 1678, after his death.
_________
Other sources: "Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B" (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. From: FindAGrave contributor #47346831.
"Beardsley Genealogy - The Family of William Beardsley - One of the first settlers of Stratford, Connecticut" published by Nellie Beardsley Holt in 1951.
___________
Note: It is speculated in some references that William had some connection with the English town of Stratford-on-Avon or Stratford-le-Bow, and that he may have been responsible for naming the town Stratford, Connecticut (this legend not sourced, unconfirmed).
*Cenotaph. His actual burial site is not known. This marker is a memorial to him, his wife and descendants, erected long after his death.
One of the first European settlers of Stratford, Connecticut in 1639.
William Beardsley was born in about 1605 based upon his age of 30 years on the manifest of immigrant ship "Planter" upon which he arrived in Boston in 1635.
His birthplace in England is not known. His wife was baptized Maria Harvie (Latin spelling of Mary), daughter of Richard Harvie, at Saint Mary's, Church of England, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on Jan 26, 1631/32. Various later records show her surname spelling as Mary Harvie or Harvey.
William and Mary married at Saint Mary's church on 26 January, 1631. The baptism of their third child, son, John, took place there on November 2, 1633.
In 1635, William Beardsley and his family were identified as "of Leicestershire bound for Concord" on the ship "Planter" manifest, bound for Boston from London. Nicholas [Nico] Trerice was ship Master. The "Planter" departed London on about April 10, 1635 and arrived at Boston on Sunday, June 7, 1635. The Beardsleys brought certificates (references) from the Minister of St. Albons [St. Albans] in Hertfordshire.
The ship's manifest includes Wm. Beadsley, mason, age 30; Marie Beadsley, age 26; Marie Beadslie, age 4; and John Beadslie, age 6 mo. (Note variations in surname spelling on the manifest).
Source: "The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700; with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked." By John Camden Hotten, ed., 1874. p. 50.
Upon arriving in Boston, the Beardsleys settled first at Concord, Massachusetts where William was admitted to the church as "Wil(iam) Beadseley" a "freeman " on 7 December 1636. Concord, located about 20 miles northwest of Boston, was the first inland settlement by Massachusetts Bay Colony immigrants in New England (est. 1635).
The Beardsleys and several others on the ship Planter were followers of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, a Church of England clergyman, who arrived at Boston in 1838. In "History of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639-1939: Stratford Tercentenary Commission, 1939" by William Howard Wilcoxson, the author writes:
"that, finding no land to their liking in Massachusetts, the Blakeman company trekked to Wethersfield, where again they discovered all the best land was already occupied" "By August 1639 they were living on land claimed by Connecticut on the banks of the Pequonnock River, possibly as squatters." "The Connecticut General Court dispatched the governor "to confer with the planters at Pequannock, to give them the oath of fidelity." The English settlers appear to have seized Indian land from the Pequonnock Indians without warfare [but] "there are no records of the Blakeman company's receiving deeds from the Pequonnocks." The Pequonnocks were apparently allowed to remain on portions of their ancestral lands. "And when the Pequonnocks demanded belated payments in the 1650s, the Stratforders paid them—not to ease their consciences but simply to keep the peace. The Indians might be seen by the English as heathen nuisances, but they were still children of God, and they were neighbors." Also see: "Connecticut Explored" by Gene Leach. 2014.
Led by Rev. Blakeman, the Beardsleys and 16 other families were the first Europeans to arrive there in 1639. The place was called Cupheag by the native Pequonnock people. The settlers arrived by boat at a spot called Mac's Harbor. The area was called "Pequonnocke Plantation" by the General Court in October 10, 1639, then named Cupheag in June 1640. In April 1643 it became known as Stratford. See: "Our History" Stratford Connecticut. By Barbara M. Sirois. 1988.
By 1645 William Beardsley began serving Stratford as deputy to the General Court at Hartford between 1645 to 1658. He also served as a judge and as a founder of the Congregational Church (1639).
In 1659 the town of Stratford recorded "certain lands given, bought & granted to Wil[liam] Beardsly [sic] by the town." Additional lands were also acquired by him the following decade. The parcels totaled 15.5 acres. (See: New England: The Great Migration. Vol. 1 A-13. p 223).
The first religious meeting-house in Stratford was located at Sandy-Hollow on the bank of Mac's Creek. The first graveyard was laid out there in 1677-78. No record of internments in that first graveyard have been found, but the date of William Beardsley's death (about 1660) would leave one to think that he was buried thereabouts, and also that of his wife Mary, although no date of her death has been found. The latest record found of her is in the list of inhabitants of Stratford in the year 1668. (See Wilcoxson. 1939, Leach. 2014.)
William Beardsley died between 28 September 1660, the date of his will, and the will probate date of 6 June, 1661. No exact date of death has been found.
In 1939, at the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Stratford, the descendants of William and Mary Beardsley placed a bronze plaque at this Union Cemetery in Stratford. It reads as follows:
"To honor the memory of William and Mary Beardsley and the other first settlers of Stratford who landed near this spot in 1639.
Erected by the Beardsley Family Association 1939"
There is a large stone cenotaph monument with the names of William, Mary and several other Beardsley descendants at this site. William and Mary Beardsley are not interred here. This "new" Union cemetery was established in 1678, after his death.
_________
Other sources: "Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B" (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. From: FindAGrave contributor #47346831.
"Beardsley Genealogy - The Family of William Beardsley - One of the first settlers of Stratford, Connecticut" published by Nellie Beardsley Holt in 1951.
___________
Note: It is speculated in some references that William had some connection with the English town of Stratford-on-Avon or Stratford-le-Bow, and that he may have been responsible for naming the town Stratford, Connecticut (this legend not sourced, unconfirmed).
One of the first European settlers of Stratford, Connecticut in 1639.
William Beardsley was born in about 1605 based upon his age of 30 years on the manifest of immigrant ship "Planter" upon which he arrived in Boston in 1635.
His birthplace in England is not known. His wife was baptized Maria Harvie (Latin spelling of Mary), daughter of Richard Harvie, at Saint Mary's, Church of England, Ilkeston, Derbyshire, on Jan 26, 1631/32. Various later records show her surname spelling as Mary Harvie or Harvey.
William and Mary married at Saint Mary's church on 26 January, 1631. The baptism of their third child, son, John, took place there on November 2, 1633.
In 1635, William Beardsley and his family were identified as "of Leicestershire bound for Concord" on the ship "Planter" manifest, bound for Boston from London. Nicholas [Nico] Trerice was ship Master. The "Planter" departed London on about April 10, 1635 and arrived at Boston on Sunday, June 7, 1635. The Beardsleys brought certificates (references) from the Minister of St. Albons [St. Albans] in Hertfordshire.
The ship's manifest includes Wm. Beadsley, mason, age 30; Marie Beadsley, age 26; Marie Beadslie, age 4; and John Beadslie, age 6 mo. (Note variations in surname spelling on the manifest).
Source: "The original lists of persons of quality; emigrants; religious exiles; political rebels; serving men sold for a term of years; apprentices; children stolen; maidens pressed; and others who went from Great Britain to the American Plantations, 1600-1700; with their ages and the names of the ships in which they embarked." By John Camden Hotten, ed., 1874. p. 50.
Upon arriving in Boston, the Beardsleys settled first at Concord, Massachusetts where William was admitted to the church as "Wil(iam) Beadseley" a "freeman " on 7 December 1636. Concord, located about 20 miles northwest of Boston, was the first inland settlement by Massachusetts Bay Colony immigrants in New England (est. 1635).
The Beardsleys and several others on the ship Planter were followers of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, a Church of England clergyman, who arrived at Boston in 1838. In "History of Stratford, Connecticut, 1639-1939: Stratford Tercentenary Commission, 1939" by William Howard Wilcoxson, the author writes:
"that, finding no land to their liking in Massachusetts, the Blakeman company trekked to Wethersfield, where again they discovered all the best land was already occupied" "By August 1639 they were living on land claimed by Connecticut on the banks of the Pequonnock River, possibly as squatters." "The Connecticut General Court dispatched the governor "to confer with the planters at Pequannock, to give them the oath of fidelity." The English settlers appear to have seized Indian land from the Pequonnock Indians without warfare [but] "there are no records of the Blakeman company's receiving deeds from the Pequonnocks." The Pequonnocks were apparently allowed to remain on portions of their ancestral lands. "And when the Pequonnocks demanded belated payments in the 1650s, the Stratforders paid them—not to ease their consciences but simply to keep the peace. The Indians might be seen by the English as heathen nuisances, but they were still children of God, and they were neighbors." Also see: "Connecticut Explored" by Gene Leach. 2014.
Led by Rev. Blakeman, the Beardsleys and 16 other families were the first Europeans to arrive there in 1639. The place was called Cupheag by the native Pequonnock people. The settlers arrived by boat at a spot called Mac's Harbor. The area was called "Pequonnocke Plantation" by the General Court in October 10, 1639, then named Cupheag in June 1640. In April 1643 it became known as Stratford. See: "Our History" Stratford Connecticut. By Barbara M. Sirois. 1988.
By 1645 William Beardsley began serving Stratford as deputy to the General Court at Hartford between 1645 to 1658. He also served as a judge and as a founder of the Congregational Church (1639).
In 1659 the town of Stratford recorded "certain lands given, bought & granted to Wil[liam] Beardsly [sic] by the town." Additional lands were also acquired by him the following decade. The parcels totaled 15.5 acres. (See: New England: The Great Migration. Vol. 1 A-13. p 223).
The first religious meeting-house in Stratford was located at Sandy-Hollow on the bank of Mac's Creek. The first graveyard was laid out there in 1677-78. No record of internments in that first graveyard have been found, but the date of William Beardsley's death (about 1660) would leave one to think that he was buried thereabouts, and also that of his wife Mary, although no date of her death has been found. The latest record found of her is in the list of inhabitants of Stratford in the year 1668. (See Wilcoxson. 1939, Leach. 2014.)
William Beardsley died between 28 September 1660, the date of his will, and the will probate date of 6 June, 1661. No exact date of death has been found.
In 1939, at the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Stratford, the descendants of William and Mary Beardsley placed a bronze plaque at this Union Cemetery in Stratford. It reads as follows:
"To honor the memory of William and Mary Beardsley and the other first settlers of Stratford who landed near this spot in 1639.
Erected by the Beardsley Family Association 1939"
There is a large stone cenotaph monument with the names of William, Mary and several other Beardsley descendants at this site. William and Mary Beardsley are not interred here. This "new" Union cemetery was established in 1678, after his death.
_________
Other sources: "Great Migration 1634-1635, A-B" (Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2008.) Originally published as: The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume 1, A-B, by Robert Charles Anderson, George F. Sanborn, Jr., and Melinde Lutz Sanborn. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1999. From: FindAGrave contributor #47346831.
"Beardsley Genealogy - The Family of William Beardsley - One of the first settlers of Stratford, Connecticut" published by Nellie Beardsley Holt in 1951.
___________
Note: It is speculated in some references that William had some connection with the English town of Stratford-on-Avon or Stratford-le-Bow, and that he may have been responsible for naming the town Stratford, Connecticut (this legend not sourced, unconfirmed).
Inscription
To honor the memory of William and Mary Beardsley
and the other first settlers of Stratford who landed near this spot
in the year, 1639.
Erected by the Beardsley Family Association July 1939. (This memorial stone is located at the intersection of South Avenue and Elm Street in Stratford, Connecticut and not in Union Cemetery.)
Gravesite Details
This is a cenotaph memorial to him and descendants, erected sometime after his death by descendants. Date unknown. His actual burial site is not known.
