Genealogy - Good or Disappointing

Genealogy; Friend Or Foe of Historical Research

A few years ago I decided to create mini-biographies of some of the soldiers stationed at Fort Amanda. While researching family genealogies, for a private soldier named James Beeson, I came across something that has puzzled me for a long long time.

Who Was James Beeson?

James Beeson was born in Guilford, North Carolina on June 6, 1783. In 1805 he married 22 year-old Liddy Cude. When he was called to active duty in 1813, he left behind his wife and three young children (Rosannah 8, Mary 2 and Cornelius 1). Beeson was a private in Captain William Ramsey’s company made up of men from Preble and Darke Counties. They were stationed at Fort Amanda from October 11, 1813 until April 7, 1814.

The Sad Parts

 According to family genealogy and other internet sources James Beeson died on April 4, 1814 while on active duty at Fort Amanda and is buried there. This means that Beeson would have died just 3 days before his company was released from duty at Ft. Amanda. Making the story more sad was the fact that Liddy was 5 months pregnant at the time so James never got to see his new son, James jr. who was born on August 4, 1817.

    

Proof James Beeson is buried at Fort Amanda?

One of my first thoughts was why didn’t they transport his body home for burial.

Fort Amanda to Eaton in Preble County

(Distances and route are approx.)

Then I reminded myself that a trip back to Preble County from Ft. Amanda could have taken 3 or 4 days by wagon and because it was Summer, that wasn’t feasible for obvious reasons So, that means he has to be buried somewhere at Fort Amanda. Right? Not so fast.

Proof James Beeson is “NOT” Buried at Fort Amanda?

I found the following in the “History of Preble County (1881)” written by H. Z. Williams & Bros., (page 331)

Oliver Tillson, engaged in farming in Darke County until about 1845, when he removed to Richmond, Indiana, where he engaged in the shoe and leather business in New Paris and New Hope, Preble County. He died at New Hope, June 21, 1865. He was married December 19, 1823 to Rosanna Beeson, who was born in North Carolina in 1807. While in childhood her father removed to Ohio. He was a volunteer soldier in the War of 1812, and died at Fort Meigs, September 5, 1814.
So not only did James Beeson not die at Fort Amanda, he didn’t die on April 4, 1814, he died 5 months later on Sept. 5, 1814 at Fort Meigs.

Beeson Already Served So Why Would He Be At  Ft. Meigs?

It was not uncommon for men to re-enlist in another company after being discharged.  This way they could make extra money, normally about $8.00 a month.  The dangers were far less so re-enlistment for the extra money was probably a huge incentive Beeson. 

Fort Meigs - 1813

In 1813, Fort Meigs (Perrysburg, Ohio) covered an area of almost 8 acres. At one time it was garrisoned by 2800 soldiers. After the Battle of the Thames and the death of Tecumseh along with Lake Erie in control of the Americans there was no need for such a massive complex. In the latter part of 1813, no longer needed as a defense position, the fort was downsized to approx. 1 acre garrisoned with 100 to 150 Ohio militia troops and became a link in the supply chain supplying troops to the north.

Fort Meigs – 1813

Fort Meigs - 1814

Probable Burial Site of Pvt. James Beeson

A Happy Ending

While the story of a young father dying is always sad, there is a positive twist to this story.  James Beeson sr. left Amanda on April 7, 1814.  His son, Cornelius was born on Aug. 4, 1814.  We’ll never know when Beeson sr. left to go to Ft. Meigs but I’d like to think that he did get to see his newborn son before he left.    

What Became of James Beeson’s Widow

Census Records

A further look at the family genealogies and cemetery records shows that Liddy Beeson, widow of James Beeson eventually married a man named Leonard Tillson and together had 6 more children.  They would have married before 1817 as one of their children was born in 1817.  Leonard Tillson, also a veteran of the War of 1812.  The couple resided in Harrison Township, Darke County, Ohio.  Their first son together Luther was born on April 9, 1817.  If you’re doing the math, the time between James death and the birth of her son with Tillson, the answer is 2 years and 7 months.   Leonard Tillson died on the 10^th of October 1836. Liddy, twice widowed, 28 when her first husband (James Beeson) died and 40 when her second husband died, according to her gravestone, Liddy never remarried and died on April 13, 1857.   

Grave site of Lydia Cude Beeson Tillson                   

Cedar Grove Cemetery

3 miles south of Hollansburg, Ohio

    Liddy Tillson's grave

So is Genealogy a Friend or Foe of Historical Research ?

Genealogical records are a good starting point but they sometimes leads us to names, places, events that aren’t entirely factual.  In the case of James Beeson, my guess is his descendants still believe that their ancestor  buried at Fort Amanda but hopefully over time they’ll come to learn the truth. 

But Why Is All That So Important?

My best example is my 40+ years of research of Fort Amanda. For 200 years writers claimed it was built by Col. Thomas Poague who named it for his wife. That was false. We now know it was built by Lt. Col. Robert Pogue who named it for his 11 year-old daughter. If the information hadn't been corrected, all we'd know is that Thomas Poague built Ft. Amanda and named it for his wife , end of story. By correcting the information, we were now have a list of every soldier stationed at Ft. Amanda from its beginning to its closure. In the case of James Beeson, history records him being buried at Ft. Amanda and that isn't true so my quest was to find out the truth and by doing so it changed a family's history. Why is that important? Whenever I locate a grave of a Fort Amanda soldier, I go the spot, stop at the grave, say a little prayer, thank him for his service and we have a short chat (albeit 1 way. J). I guess it’s my way of letting them know they haven’t been forgotten. And while talking to people who have been dead for over 200 years probably sounds a little odd to many folks, but if you’re a genealogist or a historian or just someone who loves history you know exactly what I’m talking about. For me, the experience gives me happiness, not because I found their grave, but because I feel a connection. Besides, I honestly believe they hear me. That makes all my work both a pleasure and a blessing.

Indians at Wapakoneta; Good Fighters but Sloppy Farmers

In 1812, Ensign William Schillinger, a journalist inCaptain Daniel Hosbrook’s company at Fort Amanda wrote in his journal that some of the Indians from Wapakoneta hunted and fished alongside the soldiers at the fort.

Wednesday April the 7
This morning our cook in company with an Indian went out hunting and kill,d five turkeys, Weather Clear & warm. All hands busy building & repairing crafts to Desend the river in 5 o’clock P.M. J Campbell returned from home, Brought two Letters for me, 1 from My Wife & 1 from Capt J. Armstrong.

Monday the 17th May
Clear & Pleasant our men making Cartridges. Paid Capt Perry for what Sugar we got from him of Cap,t Walls, Sent my Letter by Cap,t Hixon, who goes into the settlement with all his hand that was building boats, This morning our waggon Left the fort for home it being discharged by Col Orr Captn & Lieut, went out Spying made no Discovery of any of the enemy, They found A number of articles which was lost by the Kentuckyens, I bought some fish from the Indians. our Men put a fist pot in the river to Day

Tuesday the 13th July 1813
Cool morning, Captain & Lieut went out hunting return,d at 2 P.M. got no game, This afternoon the Lieut with 2 Indians went about 5 miles to hunt some deer Remark This evening wrote A letter to Cap,t J. Armstrong & one to my Wife & sent them to St. Marys by Capt. Benagh to be forwarded to Major Kercheval.


The ‘Lieut” Schillinger refers to was 31-year-old Lieutenant Joseph Davis from Milford, Ohio.

The Shawnee “Gardens” at Wapakoneta

During the Summer months most of the men in the company at Fort Amanda were sick with the measles, a disease ravaging the posts along the Auglaize and Maumee Rivers. At one point, almost 2/3 of the company were too ill to perform duties.

While Schillinger doesn't say anything about gardens at Fort Amanda the assumption was that there were. It was common at most frontier posts as they not only helped supplement the government food supplies, it also gave them a greater variety. It was also common practice to let chickens and other fowl roam freely outside the fort walls

On Friday July 23, Schillinger and Davis decided to ride to Wapakoneta The reason for the trip is unknown but my thought it was to purchase or trade for some of the fresh fruits and vegetables the Indians were growing there. His entry of July 23rd is very interesting in that it tell us not only what kinds of crops the Indians at Wapak were cultivating (melons, a variety of beans and othere vegetables and a apparently a large crop of potatoes.). he also tell us how randomly they planted the crops. He also tells us that things were planted randomly having no order or pattern to the plantings. He wrote "they know difference between the farm of garden”. As he pointed out, most of the plants were just growing in amongst all the others.

Friday the 23rd July
Something recruited, I took a Horse & rode with the Lieut to Wapukannati, took A survey of the Indian gardens or farms (for they know no difference between the farm or garden). I found variety of vines, such as pumpkins, water & musk melons, cucumbers, beens of various kinds, growing among their corn which was planted without any kind of order, Patatoes was tolerable plenty growing They break up their ground with the hoe, & no other machine is made use of for to till their corn, The work is principly all done by the squaws returned to fort this evening, heard by express that fort Meigs was besieged

He also noticed that the work of breaking up the ground for the plantings was done primarily by the women of the village using only hoes. 

But All Was Not Peaceful at Wapakoneta

While all seemed peaceful at Wapak during this time it should be remembered that while many of the Indians in the Wapak settlement were leading lives as simple farmers, others, particularly the younger men were still loyal to the British and wanted to fight Americans. In fact, two of Schillinger’s journal entries shows us that the some of the more adventuresome Indians were far from friendly. The first incident occurred at 4 o’clock in the morning of May 8th and the other 4 days later on May 12th.

Saturday the 8 1813
Cloudy Drizley weather, at 4 A.M. one of our Centinels Discovered 2 Indians approaching the fort fired at them but miss,d. The Lieut & myself & one Man went Down the River about 6 miles to see what Discoveries we could make of Indians found some fresh Signs of 2 or 3 returned to fort and went out in the evening and & killed some pigeons

“Up is South and Down is North”    Huh?

To understand what Schillinger meant by “down the River” the fact is  “down the River” meant going north, and “up the river” meant going south.  Example; Sandusky, Ohio is at the upper part of the state whereas Upper Sandusky is further to the south.  Arlington on the map is in the upper part of the state whereas  Upper Arlington further south in Columbus, Ohio. 

When Schillinger wrote that they went “down the River” trying to capture the Indians they had fired on at the fort, he  meant that they followed them north forward Ft. Jennings for 6 miles (to near Rt. 81 and S. Defiance trail.  Also, when he wrote about Wapak, he referred to it as "8 miles up the Auglaize."  

Wednesday the 12^th May

Like for rain  our men busy bringing flour into the garrison which was on the outside under Sheds.  Our sick on the mend  Lieut, Quarter Master, & Cap,t Perry went to fort Logan,  found the Indians all in arms, flying to the fort for shelters,  They Discover,d & fired at 3 of the Hostile Indians the night before, & this morning they follow,d them about 8 miles but could not overtake them,  The Lieut Brought home some sugar with him.

Captain Perry was in charge of boat building at Fort Logan. Schillinger said they followed them 8 miles but he doesn't say in which direction. Eight miles north means they went as far as Fort Amanda. Eight miles north east would have taken them to the Shawnee village thatnear Lima. Regardless of what direction they went what this tells us is Auglaize county was still a pretty dangerous place to live in 1813.

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If you would like learn more about Fort Amanda and the patriots who served there, these books can be purchased locally, on the net or by contacting me at djohnson43@att.net

     

                 $20                                                              $15

Available at;
Readmore's Hallmark stores in Lima, Ohio (E. Elm st., Eastgate and Flanders ave.

Casa Chic (109 W. Auglaize st)  in Wapakoneta, Ohio

The Allen County Museum (620 W. Market st) in Lima, Ohio 

Amazon.com 

If you'd like a signed copy email me at djohnson43@att.net and I'll send you the details.