BEACH STONE RESTORATION PROJECT
South Gower Cemetery
Grenville County, Ontario
|
Four Beach family tombstones were broken in the three attacks of vandalism
which took place in South Gower Cemetery in March 2000.
1. David Beach (1761-1839) and Phoebe Daniels (1757-1832) David was born in Morris County, New Jersey. He served as a private in the Revolutionary War in New Jersey in Capt. Josiah Hall's Company. He married Phoebe Daniels of Rockaway, NJ in 1782 or 1783. They moved from New Jersey to New York State about 1795, near Essex, then later to a farm north near Plattsburg, NY. It is believed that David moved with his family to Canada about 1800 where he settled on Conc 4 Lot 8, South Gower Twp.
2. Polly Fleming (1805-1835) Polly was the second wife of Benjamin Beach (1798-1857), the eighth child of David and Phoebe Beach. Benjamin's descendants include members of the Beach, Grant, Christie, Seely, Blackman, Ackerman, Mills, and Hawkins families.
3. William Beach (1785-1869), Adelia Clothier (1786-1821), and William was born in Morris Co., NJ, the second child of David and Phoebe Beach. He married in Ontario 1) about 1808 to Adelia Clothier, daughter of Lyman Clothier, and 2) to Hannah Luke. William acquired and operated a South Gower farm (Conc 4 Lot 9) and became a man of considerable prominence in the community. Descendants include members of the Beach, Payne, Wickwire, Holden, Hunter, Dillabaugh, Norton, Shiach, Clow, Fitzpatrick, Cooper, Cameron and McIntosh families.
4. Sidney Beach (1862-1898) Sidney was the sixth child of Benjamin Frederick Beach (son of William Beach) and Mary Johnston. He was a very industrious man, having gone out west and by hard work and economy succeeding in purchasing a large farm which we understand he owned at the time of his death. He also owned the farm adjoining his father's which he was working hard to clear up in 1898. He cut his foot while working at a fence and lock-jaw set in; he died two weeks later at the age of 19. He was unmarried. The marble slab stones of these ancestors were broken cleanly. David and Phoebe's stone broke a second time on impact with the ground. Earlier photos, taken in 1952, are shown on pages 285, 322 and 542 of Beach in Canada: A Pictorial Genealogy by Mahlon Wickwire Beach. 
The Restoration Project The stones of these pioneers have now been reassembled and reinforced on their sides with stainless steel channels. A new granite marker has been placed at the foot of each stone, providing transcriptions of the fading originals to future generations. Costing approximately $3200, funds for this work have been contributed by dozens of descendants across North America. 
Dedication Ceremony A dedication ceremony was held on August 27, 2000 at South Gower Cemetery. With relatively short notice, the event was attended by about fifty-two descendants and friends. Phil Baldwin has prepared a list of attendees, and some photos of the event can be viewed here.
Descendants of David ‘The Pioneer’ Beach and Phoebe Daniels A related project is to transcribe and update the work of Mahlon Wickwire Beach who privately published Beach in Canada: A Pictorial Genealogy in 1978. Although Mahlon's book included all known Canadian descendants of John ‘The Pilgrim’ Beach, we will limit ourselves to the family of David and Phoebe. If you would like assist with transcription or contribute new information, please contact Hugh Campbell at campbellh@sensato.com
Related Links
Kindly contact Hugh Campbell at campbellh@sensato.com.
|
Last modified December 24, 2001