Family:Gamaliel Beamon and Sarah Unknown (1)

The coverage of this family in both good and marginal sources seems flawed.

Source:Wooden, Emily Beaman. Beaman and Clark Genealogy : A History of the Descendants of Gamaliel Beaman and Sarah Clark of Rochester and Lancaster, Mass.,, makes many errors, some of which have been blindly copied by other sources. It identifies Gamaliel's wife as "Sarah-dau. of William Clark". This is presumably based on a misreading of a baptism record in Dorchester which documents the baptisms of "Sarah Beaman, daughter of Gamaliell Beaman & Sarah Clarke ye daughter of William Clarke", i.e., two children of different families in one day, and not giving the detailed genealogy of newly baptized Sarah Beaman.

The baptism in Lancaster in 1657 documents four children:

Thomas Beamond 8 yeare old

John Beamond 6 yeare old

Gamalliell Beamond 4 yeare old

Mary Beamond she sucked on her mother not weaned

The Beaman Genealogy claims Thomas d. 1750 aged 96 so born 1654, which combined with John's age at death giving a birth about 1650, is seen as cause to argue that lists gives the wrong ages and birth order. However, no death for Thomas in 1750 is found (though that doesn't stop Source:Schutz, John A. Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780 from repeating the 1750 death date). Instead Thomas Beaman appears to have died in Marlborough in 1731, no age given in the death record.

Source:Anderson, Robert Charles. Great Migration: Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Vol. 1 (A-B), p. 217-219, surprisingly, also appears guilty of gross errors on this family. Anderson also refuses to believe the list, inexplicably listing John as Joseph (even while noting the baptism said John), and adding "no further record" for that Joseph. Anderson argues that the John Beaman, of the right age to be a child of Gamaliel, and undoubtedly connected based on his presence in Dorchester, but concludes "there is no evidence that he belongs in this immediate family", despite him being explicitly named in the baptism. The Beaman Genealogy, ironically, specifically uses the baptism and lack of any "further record" to counter traditional claims (e.g., Savage and others) that there even was a son Joseph in this family. One is naturally inclined to point out that "no further record" for Joseph suggests Anderson did indeed make an error, and add that this mistake may have predisposed Anderson to overlook many further records of John, including a death date in 1739-40 in his 90th year which matches reasonably well with the baptism (within the general precision of age at death), and several deeds identifying John as a son of Gamaliel.

Vol. 14, p. 284: 4 Mar 1684: Gamalliell Beaman of Lancaster Husbandman "with the asent and consent of Sarah my Wife" conveys to son John Beaman Linnen weaver of same town all that his house Lott Lying in the part of ye Town called ye Neck, also part of my second Division Enterval "which I the said Gamalliel Beaman purchased of henry Kerley whereof I have Rec'd a Deed bearing Date the third of april 1668..." Acknowledged 17 Oct 1695.

Vol. 10, p. 475: 11 May 1699: Gamaliel Beman of Lancaster Yeoman conveys to my son John Beaman of same town Husbandman "with ye free Consent of Sarah my wife" 35 acres on Watuquadock Hill. Signed by Gamaliel Beaman and Sarah Beman. Acknowledged 18 Jun 1701.

Vol. 2, p. 396: 19 Oct 1730: John Beaman of Lancaster Yeoman for £138 conveys to Nathaniel Hapgood of same town a parcel that "was part of the Second Division Meadow that was Layed out to his Hon'd Father Gamaliel Beman".

Further, there is a death of Gamaliel Beamon in 1678. It is recorded in Dorchester as Junior, but in Lancaster as Senior. The Beaman Genealogy believes the former, Anderson believes the latter. The deeds suggest that Anderson is wrong on this point as well, particularly the 1684 deed which not only names wife Sarah, but no child of Gamaliel Jr. could be old enough to own land, and the reference to the purchase of the land in 1668 would have been before Gamaliel Jr. was old enough to own land, but which all works for Gamaliel Sr.