Person:John Beatty (12)

Information on John Beatty

John Beatty

Born: Abt. 1701 Died: Abt. 1774

The first white man to set foot on the soil of Lincoln County was the bold pioneer John Beatty. John was born about 1701 and was married to Elizabeth (Unknown).

One of John's land grants bears the date 17 Jul 1749. He settled on the west bank of the Catawba River. The ford where John Beatty crossed still bears his name, Beattie's Ford. John located his home above the ford, in the shade of the hillside, overlooking the beautiful Catawba River.

John and Elizabeth had at five children.

Name Birth Date Death Date Spouse

Thomas Beatty m. Margaret (Unknown)

Able Beatty

Mary Beatty m. Matthew Armstrong

Charles Beatty

John Beatty Jr.

 "In the pioneer era, every man was his own carpenter and the women knew how to card, spin, weave and sew.  The men wore linen shirts and buckskin breeches; the women, arrayed in their own handiwork, were beautiful in the eyes of those who saw them.  The patrimony of the son was broad acres; the dowry of the daughter was a horse and saddle, cow and calf, a spinning wheel and check reel.  The young men were gallant and the maids were charming.  The young men learned the art of horsemanship - not only in the chase, but by the constant habit of traveling on horseback, and every woman was an expert horse-rider.  The horse sometimes served as a tandem, the man riding in front, the woman behind; and if trustworthy tradition is given credence the young men sometimes augmented the pleasure of this system of equestrianism by making their steeds caper, thereby frightening their innocent companions into a firm embrace to retain their positions."   

http://www.rootsweb.com/~nclincol/ncl_nixon.htm (Link No Longer Valid)

John Beatty's Will bears the date 05 Jan 1774. He leaves several personal items to Margaret Beatty and his homestead to William Beatty. These were his grandchildren, the children of Thomas Beatty. Marked traits of his character are apparent in this document. A short quotation shows his love for rectitude and obedience, and desire to keep his homestead in his line of blood:

 "And if ye above named Margaret or William Beatty or either of them does misbehave or be disobedient when com to ye years of maturity, either going against their parents will in the contract of marriage or nay way remarkable otherwise, that legatee is liable to ye loss of his part of this legacy, and to given to the other, the offending person entirely cut off at their parents discretion, or those that it may please to have the guardian and care over the above-mentioned persons William and Margaret Beatty.  And further, I do not allow the said lands that is left to ye above named William Beatty to be ever sold or disposed of by any means or person whatsoever, but to firmly remain and continue in the line and lawful heirs of the above name William Beatty's body and to continue in that name as long as there is a male heir to ye nighest female heir."   
 

John Beatty Family 53 Catawba County Heritage Vol. 1 p. 51

 (Sons) Charles was scalped by Indians and John, Jr. was killed while scouting for the Confederate Army.   

 

John Beatty, Sr. died about 1774.

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