PETER BEAVER
of North Carolina

by David Cherry

Copyright 2002 -- All Rights Reserved
Reproduction Not Permitted

GUIDE

Peter Beaver Family


PETER BEAVER
        B.  before 1750  D.  ca 1817 [1]
Father:  LORENTZ BIEBER
Mother:  CATHERINE ADAM [2]
Spouse:  CHRISTINA SIGERN [3]
        D.  December, 1801 [4]
Father-in-law:  
Mother-in-law:  
Date married:  1766-1767 [5]
Spouse #2:  BARBARA [6]
        B.  
Father-in-law:  
Mother-in-law:  
Date married:  
Buried: 
Children:  
        1. Christopher Beaver [7]
                B.  9-19-1768  D.  ca 1833
        2.  Dawalt Beaver [8]
                B. ca 1772     D.  after 1850
        3.  Michael Beaver [9]
                B.  1770-1775  D.  ca 1834
        4.  Henry Beaver [10]
                B. 1775-1780   D.  April 1845
        5.  Paul Beaver [11]
                B.  ca 1778    D.  ca 1811
        6.  Jacob Beaver [12]
                B.  ca 1780    D.  1791
        7.  Unknown son [13]
                B.  ca 1782    D.  after 1790
        8.  Elizabeth Beaver [14]
                B.  ca 1784    D.  after 1850
        9.  Mary Beaver [15]
                B.  ca 1784    D.  after 1850
        10.  David Beaver [16]
                B.  ca 1788    D.  ca 1815

Rowan County, NC Records Regarding Peter Beaver

  1. Rowan County, NC Vacant Land Entries 1778-1789 page 71 # 972 copyrighted by Richard A Enochs of Indianapolis, Indiana in 1988 gives the following. Jun. 23,1778 Peter Beaver enters 400 ac in Rowan Co on waters of Second Cr; being Philip Brown's old improvement which he bought of said Brown; border "no deeded land" and Jacob Hartman's improvement.
  2. The following references are from Rowan County, North Carolina Tax Lists 1757-1800 Annotated Transcriptions by Jo White Linn and copyrighted in 1995.
    1. Peter was among the Guards at the Salisbury District Gaol for 1778 & 1779. He was in Capt. Geo: Henry Berger's Co. (See page 163.)
    2. On page 293 Peter Bever is listed on the 1788 tax list of Capt. Robert Linn. He is listed as having 377 A and 1 white poll.
    3. On page 340 Peter Bever is listed on the 1796 tax list of Capt. John Rentelmon. He is listed as having 399 A and 3 white polls.
    4. On page 358 Peter Biver is listed on the 1798 tax list of Capt. John Rendleman. He is listed as having 399 A and 3 white polls.
  3. Other deeds for Peter Beaver include the following taken from Abstracts of Deed Books of Rowan County, North Carolina by James W. Kluttz, 1997. There are three volumes (Deed Books 11-14, 15-19, 20-24 copyrighted 1996, 1997 and 1999) in this series and each has been used in this study.
    1. Rowan County Deeds 19 page 285 dated July 20, 1802: David Woodson sold to Peter Beaver 211 acres on the headwaters of Long Creek adjacent to Henry Fullingwider, Jacob Holshouser, John Fullingwider, George Michael Hileigh, and the county line. Witness was Peter Riblin. The deed was proved by Ribliln at the May Court in 1805.
    2. Rowan County Deeds 20 page 471 dated December 5, 1812: Peter Beaver sold to David Beaver 247 acres on Dutch Second Creek adjacent to Michael Beaver, Henry Beaver and Martin Hoffner. Witness was David Woodson. The deed was proved by Peter Beaver at the February Court in 1815.
    3. Rowan County Deeds 24 page 180 dated December 4, 1812: Peter Beaver sold to Michael Beaver 156 acres on the south side of Dutch Second creek adjacent to this grantor. Witness was David Woodson. The deed was proved by Dawalt Lentz at the May Court in 1817.
  4. Rowan County Court Minutes 1753-1795 abstracted by Mamie McCubbins for "her own pleasure" contains the following references to Peter Beaver.
    1. Page 463, Friday Feb. 6, 1789--Peter Beaver was appointed road overseer instead of Francis Lingle.
    2. Page 497, Friday February 11, 1791--John Knup was appointed road overseer instead of Peter Beaver.
  5. Page 32 of the Rowan County North Carolina Court of Pleas and Quarter Session 1817-1818 abstracted by June Clodfelter Waston contains the following reference to Peter Beaver.
    1. Account of the Sales of the Estate of Peter BEAVER filed: (Date was May of 1817)
  6. The will of Peter Beaver is found in Rowan County Will Book G on page 457. The following is that will which was probated in February of 1817.

    In the name of God amen, I Peter Bever of the County of Rowan and State of North Carolina being frail in body but of a sound and perfect mind and memory & calling to mind the mortality of the body that it is appointed all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testament that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor & as touching these worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of in manner as follows.

    I give & bequeath unto my beloved wife Barbara her maintenance which is to be given to her by my daughter in Law Elizabeth Bever during her lifetime she shall have yearly ten Bushels of good wheat and fifteen bushels of Corn which grain shall be taken to mill & the meal returned if required, she also shall have one hundred & fifty pounds of Good Pork and fifty pounds of good beef & one Bushel of Salt as her yearly maintenance during her life I will unto her my Sorrel Horse & my two milch Cows all of which the said Elizabeth Bever shall find feed for and have them fed when required and shall sow as much Flax as my Wife shall require along side of her own, she shall also find her Eight pounds of Sugar and a quarter pound of pepper yearly & the third part of the apples & peaches and shall find her in firewood ready for use at the door & she shall have the use of one half acre of my meadow & and good ground for cotton & potatoes & one third of the Garden during her life I also will that my wife shall have as much of my Kitchen and dresser furniture as she has need of for her use she shall also have room in my House and all out houses and Stables as she may need from time to time all of the above Will'd property to be sold after my wife's death and the money arising to be equally divided amongst my heirs so that my grandson Paul Bever shall have have an Equal share with my Children and the rest of my property not Will'd to be sold after my death and the money to be divided in the same manner:

    But as touching property which my wife posess'd when I married her which is know by the family and ? mentioned in an instrument of writing she shall have and do with as she think proper and I have no claim to it.

    And Farther I will & bequeath my plantation where on I now live to my grandson Paul Bever except the Incumberance of his mother who has a right to the third of the land as long as she lives and this shall be a full right to him for the same

    I will also that my said grandson shall have two thirds of a tract of my land along with the plantation before will'd with any reduction and the remainder of the ? land my Son Henry shall have at the rate of twenty dollars per Hundred Acres if he wants it if not it shall be sold at the Sale of my other property it is farther my will that the money I have notes for & the money arising from the sale of my property shall be Equally divided amongst my children so that my grandson Paul Bever get an equal share with my children who are by name Christopher, Michael, Henry, Dawalt, Elizabeth, Mary:

    And I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved son Christopher Bever Executor of this my last will & testament and I do hereby make void all wills by me made heretofore ratifying & declaring this to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 25 day of July one thousand eight hundred & fifteen: Signed in the presence of Peter Ribblin and John Linn

  7. The following deed references to Peter were taken from Abstracts of Deed Books by James W. Kluttz. There are three volumes in this series and I have used all three. See note 3 above. These references show Peter as adjacent property owner.
    1. Book 11 page 463. 15 April 1788. State Grant #1631 @ 50 sh per 100 A to David Woodson, 400 A on S side of Dutch Second Crk adj Peter Beaver and others.
    2. Book 11 page 636. 11 Jul 1788. State Grant #1704 @ 50 sh per 100 A to Conrod Kern, 235 A on both sides of Cluts Br adj Peter Beaver and others.
    3. Book 14 page 22. 18 Aug 1794. Peter Troutman to his son Jacob Troutman for 150 pounds, two tracts on Little Buffalo Crk in the Dutch Settlement. Both tracts were adj to Peter Beaver and others.
    4. Book 14 page 278. 15 Jan 1796. George Hofner to his son Martin Hofner for good will and 100 pounds, two tracts: (1) 248 A on the E side of Dutch Buffalo Second Crk adj to John Knop and Peter Beaver. (The second tract was not adj to Peter but does call for the county (Cabarrus) line.)
    5. Book 19 page 139. 6 Aug 1805. John Fullenwider to Jacob Rentleman for $25, 114 A on head of Long Crk adj Peter Beaver and others.
    6. Book 19 page 681. 6 Mar 1804. David Klutts to Michael Heilig for $425, 115 A on Dutch Second Crk adj Peter Beaver and others.
    7. Book 20 page 346. 19 Dec 1805. Paul Beaver to Henry Beaver for $100, 101 A on S side of Dutch Second Crk adj Peter Beaver and others.
  8. Rowan County, NC Vacant Land Entries 1778-1789, abstracted by Richard A. Enochs in 1988 gives the following:
    1. 10 Apr 1780 #2562 Hermon Hartman 300 A. on a branch of Second crk adj Philip Brown & Peter Beaver, including Jacob Hartman's Inproovment. Warrant is d. Nov. 9th 1803.
  9. Census Records of Rowan County give:
    1. 1790 Peter Beaver 4 males over 16, 5 males under 16, and 3 females.
    2. 1800 Peter Beaver 1 male 10-16, 2 males 16-26, 1 male over 45, 2 females 10-16, and 1 female over 45.
    3. 1810 Peter Beaver 1 male 16-26, 1 male over 45, 2 females 10-16, 1 female 16-26, and 1 female over 45.
  10. The following references to Peter Beaver are from the Organ Church records.
    1. He subscribed to the Organ Church constitution introduced into the church on New Year's Day of 1789.
    2. He and his wife were sponsors for the baptism of George Fries in November of 1792. George was a son of Jacob Fries.
    3. He was sponsor for the baptism of Christine Biber a daughter of Christopher Biber on 4-21-1793. Christine was Peter's granddaughter.
    4. He was a sponsor for the baptism of John Bieber a son of Mich. (Michael) Bieber. John was Peter's grandson.
    5. He was a sponsor for the baptism of Rachel Beiber a daughter of Henr. (Henry) Beiber. Rachel was Peter's granddaughter.
    6. He was a sponsor for the baptism of John Halzhauser a son of Wend. (Wendell) Halzhauser.
    7. One Peter Beaver is listed as the father of Christine who was born 6-30-1816 and was Baptized 8-11-1816. This quite apparently is not the older Peter being considered in this study. Perhaps a mistake was made and Peter was actually the sponsor and not the parent!
    8. Peter communed in April of 1804, on Whitsunday of 1806, in October of 1807 (The notation is P. Beiber and there are two on the list. One is probably Peter.), in May 1808 on Whitsunday, at another date which is not known, and also again at an uncertain date is found P. Bieber. Paul Bieber is on this list. It seems to be a safe assumption that P. stands for Peter. In December of 1812 and November of 1812 P. Biber is on the list. This could be Paul or Peter.

ENDNOTES

  1. The reasons for settling on these dates for Peter Beaver are as follows. Christopher was born in 1768. Peter would mostly likely have been older than eighteen at this time. If Peter was the son of Lorentz and Catherine Adam, he may have been born next after Nicholas. This would probably have been about 1742. (See list of children for Lorentz on page 64 of Eighteenth Century Emigrants from the Northern Alsace to America by Annette Kunselman-Burgert.) Going by the order listed in Lorentz's will Peter may not have been one of the older children. (A note should be made at this point that Rev. I. M. Beaver on page 921 gives Peter as an heir of Lorentz.) Peter was living in February of 1815. He proved a deed he had made to his son, David Beaver (Deed Book 20 page 475). The deed had been made in 1812. Peter's will was dated 7-23-1815 and was probated in February of 1817. The place of burial for Peter is unknown although one would assume that he is buried at Organ Lutheran Church in Rowan County, NC.
  2. Just as with Nicholas Beaver, an assumption has been made about the parents of Peter Beaver. Eighteenth Century Emigrants from the Northern Alsace to America by Burgert on page 64 gives a list of children for Lorentz Bieber and his wife Catherine Adam. Rev. I. M. Beaver on page 922 gives the same list of children. This list is from the Moselem Lutheran Church baptismal records. This list does not include Nicholas or Peter. However, Nicholas & Peter are listed as heirs in the will of Lorentz. Burgert on page 64 and Beaver on page 921 give Nicholas and Peter as heirs of Lorentz in an abstract of his will. Peter is to share equally with Nicholas and others. This seems to be enough to strongly suggest that Nicholas and Peter were brothers. The fact that Peter's oldest son, Christopher, was baptized at Weisenberg Lutheran Church where Nicholas was married is strong evidence that Peter and Nicholas were related. Some have suggested that Nicholas and Peter were half brothers and were born of different mothers! I believe that a 1742 date is plausible for the birth of Peter and that he and Nicholas were full brothers.
  3. Burgert on page 66 gives records from "Weisenberg Union KB, Lehigh co: Peter Biber was sp. in 1766 for a child of Jacob Rau. Peter Biber and wife Christina and Margaretha Stedler, were sp. in 1767 for a child of Henrich Schaffer. Peter Bieber and wife Christina had: 1. Christoph b. 19 Sept. 1768 bp. 23 Sept. 1768 Sp.: Stophel Drescher and Maria Margaretha. Rev. Daniel Schumacher's records: Peter Biber was a sp. in 1764 for a child of Michel Bieber in Weisenberg twp. (Lehigh co.)" From these records, it is apparent that Peter was married to Christina. On page 171 The Record Book of Daniel Schumacher, 1754-1773 translated by Frederick S. Weiser gives a possible maiden name for Christina. Schumacher recorded that Christina Sigern was also a sponsor at the baptism of Jacob Rau's child. Schumacher's records state that both Peter and Christina were single at the time of the baptism. I feel that this is probably Peter's wife Christina. That is an avenue that needs exploration. Perhaps a little delving into the Siger(n) family might answer this question for certain. It is interesting to note that Christopher named his oldest daughter Christina. Was she named for her grandmother Beaver?
  4. This date is taken from Rev. Storch's diary. His entry states, "P. Biber wife buried 21 December 1801." It is most likely that "P. Biber" is a reference to Peter.
  5. Based on Schumacher's records of the 1766 baptism for Jacob Rau's son and the baptism of the child of Henrich Schaffer in 1767 mentioned above.
  6. Apparently Peter married again after the death of Christina. Barbara is named as Peter's wife in his will and Peter mentions property that she possessed at their marriage. She may be the Barbara Beaver who communed at Organ May 24, 1824. Nothing else is know of Barbara.
  7. Christopher has been identified in the following ways.
    1. The birth record for Christopher was taken from Annette Kunselman Burgert's book, Eighteenth Century Emigrants from the Northern Alsace to America, which is found on page 66. (See endnote # 3.)
    2. He is named as a child and son in the will of Peter Beaver. He was also named as executor of Peter's will.
    3. Christopher was named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    4. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. Christopher is mentioned in this deed.
    5. All eight of Christopher's known children except his daughter Sophia were baptized at Organ Lutheran Churh.
    6. Christopher died ca 1833. His will was probated in Cabarrus County in that year.

  8. Dawalt has been identified in the following ways.
    1. He was living in Iredell County, NC in 1850. The following is the census record for that year. 
      HH# 985         Dawalt Beaver   78 (Born in Pa.)
                Elizabeth       70 (Born in Pa.)
                Susanna         25
                Emeline          7
    2. He is named as a child in the will of Peter Beaver.
    3. He was named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    4. His second child, Henry, was born in 1802 and was baptized at Organ Lutheran Church. Christopher, Dawalt's brother, was the sponsor for the baptism.
    5. Dawalt was confirmed at Organ Lutheran Church in 1790.

  9. Michael has been identified in the following ways.
    1. He is named as a child in the will of Peter Beaver.
    2. He was named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    3. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. Michael is mentioned in this deed.
    4. He lived in the Organ Lutheran Church area (on Second Creek--see his will in which he mentions land on Second Creek deeded to his son, John) near his brother Henry according to the 1810, 1820, & 1830 census records for Rowan County.
    5. Six of his nine children were baptized at Organ Lutheran Church.
    6. His will was made in Rowan County in 1832 and probated there in 1834.

  10. Henry has been identified in the following ways.
    1. He is named as a child in the will of Peter Beaver.
    2. He was named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    3. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. Henry is mentioned in this deed.
    4. He lived in the Organ Lutheran Church area near his brother Michael according to the 1810, 1820, & 1830 census records for Rowan County.
    5. All twelve of his children were baptized at Organ Lutheran Church.
    6. Nine of his twelve children are mentioned in his Rowan County estate records.
    7. Henry's funeral date is recorded in the Diary of Rev. Samuel Rothrock. It was held at Lower Stone church on Tuesday April 15, 1845. His wife's was held at Lower Stone church on Monday April 7, 1845. A safe assumption can be made that they are both also buried at Lower Stone church.
    8. Henry was confirmed at Organ Lutheran Church in 1794.

  11. Paul Beaver has been identified in the following ways.

    1. The Rowan County estate record settling the estate of Paul Beaver is dated 7-26-1813 and provides a wonderful document for confirming Peter's family. Apparently half of the money from the estate went to Paul's wife and the other half went to his brothers and sisters. Each of the surviving siblings received an equal share of the estate. The heirs found in this list match the list from Peter's will except for David who is not mentioned in Peter's will! David's wife and son are mentioned in Peter's will.

      The accounting of Paul's estate gives the following.

      Cash paid Christopher Beaver a legatee his equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Michael Beaver his equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Dawalt Beaver his equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Henry Beaver his equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid David Beaver his equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Andrew Troutman his wife's equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Phillip Earnhart his wife's equal part--28-4-9.
Cash paid Martin Miller his wife's share in full--197-13-7.
    2. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. The following reference is from James W. Kluttz's Abstracts of Deed Books 20-24 of Rowan County North Carolina 1807-1818. The reference is 2104 found on page 126. "2104. p. 860. 8 Oct 1812. Christopher Beaver (signed in German), Michael Beaver (signed in German), David Beaver (signed in German), Andrew (x) Troutman and Phillip (x) Earnhart to Henry Beaver for 24.04 pounds to each grantor, (105?) A on a branch of Second Crk. It was land of the estate of Paul Beaver dec'd to which each Grantor was entitled to 21 acres. Wit. John Linn (German name). Prvd by (not given) at Aug Ct 1813."
    3. The Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813 confirm that Paul had no surviving children and that his widow married Martin Miller The widow received half of Paul's estate.
    4. Paul was confirmed at Organ Lutheran church in 1792.

  12. Peter Beaver had two sons about whom very little is known. They were in his household at the time of the 1790 census. Rev Storch buried Jacob Biber on 4-30-1791. Jacob was confirmed at Organ in 1790. An assumption has been made that the Jacob Biber that Storch buried was the same as the person confirmed in 1790 and that he was a child of Peter. Quite apparently two of the sons of Peter Beaver listed in the 1790 were dead by the time of the settling of Paul Beaver's estate and the writing of Peter's will.
  13. Peter had a son who has not been identified. As noted above, it seems to be a safe assumption that this son died as a young man as did Jacob who is mentioned above. This assumption was made because no other record has been found and he is not mentioned in the records of Paul Beaver's estate or in Peter's will.
  14. Elizabeth has been identified in the following ways.
    1. Elizabeth is named as a child in the will of Peter Beaver.
    2. Andrew Troutman's wife is named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    3. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. Andrew Troutman is mentioned in this deed.
    4. The 1850 Rowan County Census gives the following: 
              Page 227 School District #36, 4 Dec 1850
        Andrew Troutman 65
        Elizabeth               65
        Samuel                  22
    5. Christopher Beaver was a sponsor for the baptism of Paul Troutman in 1813 at Organ Lutheran Church. Paul Troutman was a son of Andrew Troutman.
    6. Baptisms for six children of Andrew Troutman are recorded in the records of Organ Lutheran Church.

  15. Mary has been identified in the following ways.
    1. Mary is named as a child in the will of Peter Beaver.
    2. Phillip Earnhart's wife is named as one of the heirs in the Rowan County estate records for Paul Beaver dated 7-26-1813.
    3. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. Phillip Earnhart is mentioned in this deed.
    4. If Elizabeth Beaver, sister of Mary, married Andrew Troutman as deduced above, Mary married Phillip Earnhart.

  16. David has been identified in the following ways
    1. David Beaver was an heir in the estate of Paul Beaver.
    2. Deed book 20 page 860 of the Rowan County deeds provides information on Paul Beaver's estate. David is mentioned in this deed.
    3. David Beaver's son, Paul Beaver, was baptized at Organ Lutheran Church in 1813.
    4. Paul Beaver is named as a grandson in the will of Peter Beaver. The daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, is the wife of David and mother of Paul Beaver.

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Created by David Cherry
Adapted to Web by John W Bieber
Send feedback to john@bartol.udel.edu
Last modified: 2002 March 26