Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-02-02
Early Bethel Families.


! family oil Bean, and second. because an
always glad to have my errors pointed
out and corrected In my recent Oriel
sketch of The Beans, my object was 10
connect those of Bclhe!, in direct line
with their emigrant ancestor. and IN Inc
space allowed me. | could say but lnDt
OF The various branches OF the iamt.Y
between the emigrAnt ancestor anu Dan
the patriarch al the Bethel branch.
WAS not aware ualil | reId Nj Bean :
article that any genealosy OF the family
had been worked up; and | relied upon
sources which will hereafter be indicated
for the facts upon which / based my
statements.
AZ understand The matter. the only
questions at issue between the compiler
of this gcnealogy and myself. are re-
specting the paternity of Joseph Bean
and the identity of the emigran. ancestor
! The author of that work says the emf
grant ancestor was Lewis Bean who
came from the Island OF Jersey TO Boston
! in 1870 aud died there. That among his
sons was Joseph, who was captured bY The
Indians" &c. My statement was that
Michael Bane was the probable ancestor
/ that he was OF Scotch descent and oil the
Scotch Irish emigration, and that Joseph
J Bean was the son of Lewis Bean. Jr.,
and the great grandson Of The emisrant
ancestor. | will nov briefly state my
reasons Tor coming 10 these conclusions.
Savage, in his Genealogical Dictionary,
which is regarded a reliable authority,
claims TO give the names OF all persons
I who emigrsted to New Ehgland previous
TO 1890. and the only persons bearing The
namo of Bean mentioned by him are
John OF Exeter in l677. Philip oil Salem
7 1857, and Michael of kiiiery in 1908,
| mot "l67o" rs Mr.. Bean quotes from my
previous article Farmer, in his Cen
e:.ogY oi New England Families, gives
the same information. The best and
only reliable authority which we have
therefore, makes no mention OF an emi.
grant by the name OF Le,cts Bran OF
B,mc.
Now respecting the nationality Of this
family. l will begin by saying that the
late Hon. William Wills OF Portland was
very careful and painstaking historical
writer. aud IS generally regarded AS
authority on all matters upon which he
wrote. In his history OF Portland, on the
7SSth page OF the last edition. ia speak.
log OF Joseph Bean and Hugh Barbour,
he says: Barbour and Bean were both
OF Scotch descent They both came
here from York and were OF the Scotch
Irish emigration" On the following
page he says: Joseph Bean and wife
Joanna came from York '''' lie was
taken prisoner by The Indians 10 1902
when he was sixteen years OF age, and
kept by them seven years and ten months.
lie was Captain 10 the service
in l724 lie was the son of Capt. Bean
or Bane as he was often called. well
known in Indian warfare, who died in
York in l72l.7
This fully identifies the Joseph Bean OF
Falmouth as the one referred 10 by S. Is.
Bean, and who be thinks was The son OF
the emlgrant ancestor. The Gpt Lewis
Bean of York died In 1917. and bis vile
Mary Administered on his estate. found
her appointment in the old York Court
records. Lewis Bean. son oil the last
named. died in 1895 and his son Lewis
was appointed administrator. This !
also found in the Probate records OF Al
feed Lewis Bean. 3D.. who married
the widow OF Jonathan Sayward. died N
1921 Therefore ii Mr. Willis is correct,
Joseph Bean could not have been The son
oil either the first or second Lewis. for his
Account says that Joseph was the son OF
Capt Bean. who died in. l72l. Also, If
the ancestors of Joseph Bean were as
Mr. Willis says. '.of Scotch descent and
OF the Scotch Irish emigration" the an.
ceslor could not have eriigraled from the
Island OF Jersey, but must have come
from some one Of the Counties of Antrim.
Down or Londonderry in Ireland, for The
Scotch Irish emigration TO this country
was from these counties.
Michael Bane was al Kiltery and went
from thence TO York. The name certainly
indicates that he was OF Irish birth but OF
Scotch descent.
All lhs foregoing fleIs indicate quite
clearly 10 my mind that Michael may
have been the ancestor OF The York Beans
and that no Lewis Bean came from the
Island of Jersey TO Boston in 1910. The
proof is not positive. | admit, and the
question is vet open. Perhaps the records
of the ancient town Of York may throw
some further light on the subject. The
County records at Alfred have carefully
studied, and my first article was based
largely upon the facts gathered from his
source. ! hope this little controversy
may lead to an investigation which shall
settle the questions at issue beyond = |
doubt.
With regard TO the Block or Truck "
House to which reference has been made.