Hugh S. Beard (some families report his name may have been Hugh Samuel Beard and we think that is very possible) was born between 1780 and 1790 in either Eastern Tennessee or in the Valley of Virginia before his parents were in Tennessee. We feel that he was born in Eastern Tennessee before the territory became the State of Tennessee, as at least one of his children reported North Carolina as his birthplace, and at the time the territory was technically North Carolina property. Hugh married in Adair County, Kentucky on 4 April 1808 to his cousin, Margaret Hildegard Beard. Margaret was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca Beard, and she was born between 1787 and 1790 in Eastern Tennessee.
In 1820, Hugh S. and Margaret Beard were listed in Adair County, Kentucky with five young ones at home, three females and two males. In 1830 in Adair County, all five of their children were apparently still at home. By 1840, still listed in Adair County, only one son and one daughter were still home, and this would be John A. Beard and his sister Octavia, as the other children married before 1840.
One April (the year is smeared on the record) Hugh S. Beard obtained a license for his horse "Powatan". In March 1843, Milton Beard, eldest son of Hugh S., took the oath and paid 3.00 tax to obtain a license "for his steed horse Powatan". It is possible that Hugh S. Beard gave the horse to Milton, or that he was incapacitated by that time. We know that he was gone before the 1850 census, but still alive to sign a court document on 1 January 1844. In other Adair County records, Hugh S. Beard was in a court action versus his cousin Josiah Beard with papers filed on 10 February 1842. On 25 April 1843, Hugh S. Beard vs Josiah Beard, copy from Hugh to Josiah Beard, agreement reached, fee 19 and a half cents due. On 1 January 1844, in same case, "H. S. Beard" transferred the "full benefits" of the action to Junis/Junior Caldwell.
By 1850, Hugh's wife Margaret was a widow living in Adair County at age 63. Her son John A. Beard and daughter Octavia Beard were living in her household, as was her four year old granddaughter Mary L. Stults, the daughter of Luvisa Beard and William Burke Stults. Margaret's son Milton Beard and his family lived nearby.
In 1860, Margaret Beard (listed age 70, but probably 73) was living in Adair County in the home of her now married daughter Octavia Beard Stults, the wife of Benjamin B. Stults. Still with Margaret is her granddaughter Mary L. Stults, now age fourteen.
Margaret died after this census and before the 1870 census. No burial place is known; we suspect she was interred on the Beard lands near her husband Hugh S. Beard.
http://thebeardfamilyhistory.wikia.com/wiki/Hugh_S._Beard
