George Beale & Mary Dixon

George Beale 1761 – 1823 | his parents
& 1789 Mary Dixon died bef 1816 | her parents
& 1817 Elizabeth Clagett Lane [Bowie] 1780 – ?| her parents
of Norfolk VA and Washington, DC


This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!


George Beale born about 1758 was the second son of George Beale and wife Mary Murdoch of St Croix, Danish West Indies. He was educated in France.

He married 1st Mary Dixon, who died before 1816, daughter of Thomas Dixon and wife Sarah Tucker of Elizabeth County VA
In 1810 George Beale established a cut-nail factory in Washington and imported coal from Richmond for retail trade, having settled in DC in 1809, coming from Norfolk VA.

He married secondly 4 December 1817, with a Prince George County MD license of 2 September, Elizabeth [Lane] Bowie, widow of Captain Eversfield Bowie of said County who had died in March 1815 in Washington DC and was buried in Rock Creek Ch yard.
She was born 10 Aug 1780, daughter of Captain Lane and his wife Barbara Brooke.

George Beale‚ Sr aged about 65 years, formerly of Norfolk VA died 9 Dec 1823 at the residence of his son in Washington DC as noticed in the National Intelligence of next day.

From the Interments in the Historic Congressional Cemetery:
Beale, George Sr. d 16 Dec 1824 60 yrs R52/56
[In Memory of . . .who died in this city the 16th day of December 1824 in the 61st year of his age. Erected by Mrs. Emily Beale.]

Children of George Beale and Mary Dixon:
1. Robert Beale 1790 – 1866?
married Elizabeth Jane Forbes
A. James Shields Beale
married Fanny Sawyer Marbury
i. Robert Somerville Beale
married Sophia Clarkson Stuart
a. Elizabeth Marbury Beale
married Adm. William Harrington Leahy
grandparents of John

2. George Beale 1792 Hampton VA  5 April 1835 Washington DC
married Phila. 4 May 1819 Emily Truxton 1798 – 1885 Washington DC
3. Catherine Ann Beale
married 20 Oct 1826 John Peirce Crosby 17 Dec 1795 – 10 Oct 1828
4. Ellen Beale
5. Maria Beale
6. John Beale

Children of George Beale and 2nd wife Elizabeth Clagget Lane [Bowie]
7. child that died young
8. Elizabeth Ann Beale 6 Aug 1819 MD – 8 Dec 1886 [divorced 10 Sep 1861]
burial Congressional Cem Washington DC 74/331
married 28 Feb 1839 Cdr. William David Porter USN
11 Mar 1809 New Orleans  1 May 1864 NYC
burial Philadelphia PA Woodlands CC 222 & 223
son of David Porter USN and wife Evelina Anderson
A. William David Porter II 28 Jan 1840 Wash. DC – 7 Nov 1902 Petersburg VA
married Mary Epps Gilliam
B. Edna Dixon Porter ca 1842 Wash. DC – ?
married Knoxville TN 1867 John Daniel Imboden
C. Mouina George Porter ca 1846 Wash. DC – 1907
burial Congressional Cem. Washington DC 74/330
Cdr. William David Porter
married 1st a daughter of Jordan Merchant/Marchant of Norfolk. [died early]
[she was sister of the first wife of David Glasgow Farragut, Susan Caroline Merchant]

Notes: re William David Porter
See pg 84 Memoirs Commodore David Porter
Navy, Midship. 1 Jan 1823, Passed Midship. 29 Mar 1829. Lt. 31 Dec 1833,
Reserved List 13 Sep 1855. Cmdr. on active list 14 Sep 1855, Comodr. 16 Jul 1862,
d. 1 May 1864, USS Essex Dec 1861 – Sep 1862
Named for Major William Anderson.
First wife died, she was sister of Farragut’s first wife.
Had a child by a servant girl.
will DC 1864 box 32
obit NY Times 2 May 1864 1:4
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, 10 March, 1809; died in New York city, 1May, 1864, was educated in Philadelphia, and appointed to the United States navy from Massachusetts as midshipman on 1 January, 1823. He became lieutenant on 31 December, 1833, served on the Franklin, the Brandywine, the Natchez, the Experiment, the United States, and  the Mississippi, and in 1843 was assigned to the home squadron. He commanded the store-ship Erie in 1849, and, in 1851, the Waterwitch. On 13 September, 1855, he was placed on the reserved list, but he was restored to active duty as commander on 14 September, 1859. At the beginning of the civil war he was serving on the United States sloop the St. Mary’s, in the Pacific. He was ordered to the Mississippi to assist in fitting out the gun-boat flotilla with which he accompanied Commander Andrew H. Foote up Tennessee river, and, commanded the Essex, which he had named for his father’s ship, in the attack on Fort Henry, 6 February, 1862, during which engagement he was scalded and temporarily blinded by steam from a boiler that had been pierced by shot. He also commanded the Essex in the battle of Fort Donelson, 14 February, 1862, and fought in the same vessel past the batteries on the Mississippi to join the fleet at Vicksburg. He attacked the Confederate ram Arkansas above Baton Rouge, 15 July, 1862, and disabled her, and her magazine shortly afterward exploded. He was made commodore on 16 July, 1862, and then bombarded Natchez, and attacked the Vicksburg batteries and Port Hudson. Subsequently he served but little, owing to impaired health.
He had two sons in the Confederate service.
A report by Lt. William D. Porter to the Secretary of the Treasury, Levi Woodbury, in 1838, provides the earliest reference to establishing a navigational aid at Drum Point. Lt. Porter urged that a beacon-light be placed on Drum Point at the mouth of the Patuxent River.

Notes: re Elizabeth Ann Beale Porter
1850 US Census says born in MD
Feb 1861 packs up and moves from Washington to Richmond along with her three children.
Husband on duty in Pacific at the time.
died at 1111 H st NW of Cerebral Embolism Cert # DC 54544

Ref: Family History: PA Gen #1  GPF II Hi-So, William Murdoch 1705-1761 of Philadelphia and his Desc compiled by Lewis D Cook


George Beale bef 1735 – 1769 | his parents
& 1756 Mary Murdoch 1735 – 1804 | her parents
of St Croix DWI & Philadelphia PA


This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!


George Beale and Mary Murdoch were married 2 March 1756 at Christ Church in Philadelphia.
27 May 1735 Mary Murdoch was born the oldest daughter of William Murdoch and his wife Mary Hammond of Armagh, prov of Ulster, Ireland. This was before their move to Pennsylvania.
1765 – 68 Mary wife + 1 child + 3 slaves living with George Beale at Sion Hill plantation, St. Croix.
George Beale was Manager [Inspector] of plantation of Mr. John Bradshaw in Queens Quarter.
George Beale died in November 1769 leaving a widow Mary Beale.
1769 Mary widow living Sion Hill, no children, 2 slaves
25 Jan 1770  Mr. Arthur Bignell produced will of George Beale dated 4 Nov 1769 as Probate Court gathers at house of James Towers.
1770 Widow Bayle treated by Dr. Rush, Phila
1772 – 1776 Mrs. Mary Beale rented large home of Christopher McEvoy on Kings St, Chrisiansted, directly across from Anglican Church. She hosted many large dinners prior Planter’s Club meetings [dinner for 40 gentlemen] held at the house.
16 July 1777 Christopher Nugent sells 34 Queens Cross Street where Thos Tucker lives and house adjoining where Mrs. Beale lives.
1779 Mary Beale of St Croix, widow, appoints eldest son John Beale of Chester, PA gentleman, my attorney.
1782 Mary Beale of Phila, widow, buys house on bank between Water and Front St from Archibald McCall, Phila merchant and wife Judith. Neighbors Hugh Bowes and Anthony Stocker.
1787 Mrs Beale rented a pew at St Mary‚’s RC Church, Phila
1804 Will of Mary Beale was proved 15 Oct. in Phila. She was buried in the Kelly vault.

Children of George Beale and Mary Murdoch:
1. John Beale 27 Dec 1756 – 21 June 1802 [in Phila. in 1780]
educated in England [1769] and inherited the family estate
1775 John Beale manager of John Bradshaw’s plantation Sion Hill
1776-1781 lived in New Garden PA
1785 JB was a grocer on Water St Phila; appears in St Josephs Catholic Church records
1790 lived on Dock St Phila with wife and child
1791 managed Thos Bradshaw’s plantation Carleton
1793-1797 managed Thos Bradshaw’s plantation Sion Hill
1798 managed Samuel Foster’s plantation Concordia
1802 owns house at 29 Company St, Christiansted prior to his death
2. George Beale 30 Oct 1761 London – 1823
1784 living Newport News/Norfolk area
1788 master Sloop Fanny 35 tons John Beale sole owner

married 1789 Mary Dixon
married 4 Dec 1817 Mrs. Elizabeth Lane Bowie
3. Mary Beale died bef 1796
married John Kelly
4. Thomas Beale

Will of George Beale 4 Nov 1769 Island of St Croix  prob. 25 Jan 1770 St Croix
– Children George and Mary to be brought up in Roman Catholic Apostolick Religion in which they baptized
– George Beale owned land in Chester and New Castle in Prov. of Pennsylvania  244 acres now rented to Matthew McConnell
– Eldest son John Beale, now in England, to be trained for trade or business.
– George Beale owes a balance due on PA land
– mentions estate of Wm Murdoch to be inherited by wife Mary.
– appoints Matthias Ferrall Esq and Arthur Bignell of St Croix; George Meade & Samuel Murdoch of Philadelphia Exors.
– witnesses: Terence McDonnell, Mau Ferrall & John West
– signed 4 Nov 1769  George Beals, Mary Beal

Ref: Family History: PA Gen #1 GPF II Hi-So,William Murdoch 1705 – 1761 of Philadelphia and his Desc. compiled by Lewis D Cook

Evan Randolph Findings on George Beale-died St. Croix 1769?


Thomas Dixon  ? – 1773/4 | his parents
& Sarah Tucker | her parents


This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!


Sarah Tucker was the daughter of Anthony Tucker and 1st wife Mary Curle.

Children of Thomas Dixon and Sarah Tucker:
1. Elizabeth Dixon bef 1765 – ?
married 1785 Maj. William Anderson bef 1 aug 1765 – 1 Aug 1841 Chester PA
2. Mary Dixon ca 1770 -?
married 1789 George Beale 1761
3. Dr. Anthony Tucker Dixon bef Sept 1758 –
4. Rosea Dixon
married Bryan

  • The wife of George Beale of Washington DC was Mary Dixon of Virginia. Her sister Elizabeth was the wife and widow of Major William Anderson of Chester.
    from J H Martin, History of Chester, Penna p 213

For Major Wm Anderson see Biogr Direct Amer Congress

Thomas Dixon and wife Sarah [Tucker] Dixon were the parents of Dr. Anthony Tucker Dixon, of the American Revolution, and of Mary Dixon who married George Beale from Tyler’s Quart. Hist. & Geneal. Mag X 44

The will of Thomas Dixon, dated 11 June 1773 and proved 27 Jan 1774 devises estate to wife Sarah, with reversion to son Anthony Tucker Dixon; orders plantation bought of Thomas Hawkins to be sold and at death of wife the slaves to be divided “among all my children” except Rosea Bryan; appoints executors, his wife, Col Cary Seldom and William Roscow Curle  from abstracts of Wills of Elizabeth City County VA 1610-1800 p 134

Ref: Family History: PA Gen #1  GPF II Hi-So, William Murdoch 1705-1761 of Philadelphia and his Desc. compiled by Lewis D Cook [note #30]

Major William Anderson married 1785 Elizabeth Dixon [who was born before 1 Aug 1765 in Richmond? VA and died 1 Aug 1841, buried Chester PA]

Elizabeth had a sister Mary Dixon who married George Beale ca 1789 in Old Point Comfort VA


Anthony Tucker ca 1700 – 1758 | his parents
& ca 1729 Mary Curle | her parents
& Rosea [Curle] ? – 1766 | her parents


This is my working hypothesis – the way I see it as of this moment!!


Anthony Tucker married ca 1729 1st Mary Curle, who had two children by a marriage with Harry Jenkins – John and Mary Jenkins.

Anthony Tucker married 2nd Rosea, widow of Joshua Curle and they had Mary, who married Anthony Armistead.

note: Mary Curle Tucker was the sister of Joshua Curle.

Children of Mary Curle and Harry Jenkins [deed]
1. John Jenkins
2. Mary Jenkins

Children of Anthony Tucker and Mary Curle
1. Sarah Tucker ca 1730 – ?
married Thomas Dixon
2. Curle Tucker

Child of Anthony Tucker and Rosea ?
1. Mary Tucker
married Anthony Armistead
a. Anthony Armistead ca 1756 – 1841 MS
married Sarah Archer
b. Robert Armistead
c. Westwood Armistead 1763 – 1848 Chatham Co NC
d. Alexander Carver Armistead bef 1766 – 1822 Chatham Co NC
e. Elizabeth Armistead
f. William A Armistead
she married 2nd Williams

?Children of Joshua Curle and Rosea
1. Judith Curle
married John Herbert
2. Mary Curle
married William King

In 1728-29 Anthony Tucker and Mary his wife made a deed in favor of John Jenkins and Mary Jenkins, children of said Mary Tucker.

In 1729 Anthony Tucker was administrator of Charles Tucker, whose widow Phebe Tucker names her daughter Phebe and grandson Alexander Carver and Phebe Carver.

Will of Anthony Tucker 15 Sept 1758 -prob 2 Jan 1759 Elizabeth City county VA
names wife Rosea,
children Curle Tucker, Sarah Dixon and Mary Armistead,
grandson Anthony Armistead,
grandson Anthony Tucker Dixon.
Witnesses, Anne Armistead, R. Armistead.

Will of Rosea Tucker dated 1766
to her grandchildren: Elizabeth, Anthony, Robert, Westwood, and Alexander Carver, children of my daughter Mary Armistead by Anthony Armistead, her husband.
three daughters: Mary King, Judith Herbert, and Mary Armistead, names Sarah Dixon, and appoints William Armistead guardian of Elizabeth Armistead till twenty-one.

Will of Alexander Carver Armistead 22 June 1822 – prob. Nov Ct 1822
– wife Frances – but no children
– nephews Robert and William Armistead, sons of brother Westwood
– Anthony, son of his brother Anthony,
‚- niece Mary Armistead, daughter of sister Elizabeth,
– William Williams, brother by mother
– brothers Anthony and Robert he left eleven slaves to be divided at the death of each brother among the three children which they had by their first wives.
– wife and Thomas Lasater to be executors.

see Genealogies of Virginia Families, Vol 1