Josiah Beckett (a.k.a. Bockitt, Bocqua, Boquet) was a farmer in old Greenwich Twp., Gloucester Co., NJ. He was probably born in the 1730s or early 1740s based on his marriages and children's births.
He married first to Mary Dilks, who is reported to have died of smallpox contracted on her wedding tour, about two weeks after the marriage. He married second to Sophia Bee, apparently sometime after Aug. 1767 when she was named in her father's will. He married third to Mary Johnson on 11 Dec. 1784.
Between the second and third marriages, he was the father of at least 16 children according to genealogist George M. Beckett (see History of My Near Kindred ..., 1944). They are as follows:
By first wife Sophia Bee:
1. & 2. Children who died in infancy, say 1769-1771;
3. Josiah Beckett Jr. (1772-1855)--linked below;
4. Sophia Bee Beckett Ashcraft (d. 1828)--linked below;
5. Ephraim Bee Beckett (12/25/1777 - 10/4/1875, Missouri), m. 1st Patience, m. 2nd Hannah Turner;
6. Jonathan Beckett (b. say 1779-81, d. aged 14 of typhoid fever);
7. A child who died in infancy, say 1779-81;
8. William Beckett (1782-1844)--linked below.
By second wife Mary Johnson:
9. Elizabeth Beckett (b. say 1785-86), m. Samuel Carter in 1803;
10. Johnson Beckett (1787-1859)--linked below;
11. Peter Beckett (1791-1874)--linked below;
12. John Beckett (1794-1865)--linked below;
13. A child who apparently died in infancy, b. say 1792-99;
14. James Beckett (b. say 1793-99; under aged 18 at the time of his father's will, June 1811);
15. Mary (b. say 1792-99), m. 1st Baker Dilks, m. 2nd Joseph Richards;
16. Wesley Beckett (1800-1883)--linked below.
Josiah was one of the early Methodist converts in Gloucester County. He reportedly served as a class leader in the Bethel Church in Hurffville, NJ, for 25 years. He died about the time his estate was inventoried, in Nov. 1815. In his will dated June 1811, he referred to himself as of Greenwich Twp. and so is presumed to have died there.
It is curious that Josiah named his five sons in this order: Johnson, John, Peter, James, and Wesley. George M. Beckett (referenced above) identifies the Peter and John linked below as Josiah's sons by these names. However, the gravestone inscriptions show that John was born about 1794, while Peter was born about 1791. If these are the right men and the inscriptions are as reported, then they were apparently listed out of birth order twice in their father's will. While this is not inherently problematic, it is worth noting.
Note: According to family tradition as reported by George M. Beckett, Josiah was one of five brothers. The others were Peter, Samuel, William, and John.
The brother Peter is believed to be the same who lived in Woolwich Twp., Gloucester Co., and died in 1796. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Mary Beckett and William Lippincott on 1 April of that year. He left behind minor children Joseph, John Lardner, Peter, and Maria. The widow Mary and her children chose James Stratton to be the children's guardian in 1798. It seems possible, at least, that the Peter Beckett (1791-1874) linked below is really the minor son named in the 1798 guardianship papers--i.e., Peter's son rather than Josiah's son.
Another of Josiah's brothers, perhaps Samuel or William, is reported to have served in the British Army during the Revolutionary War under the name Boqua. He is supposed to be the father of Rev. John Boqua, a Methodist minister in Pennsgrove, Salem Co., NJ.
Also, one of Josiah's brothers is supposed to have settled in the vicinity of Egg Harbor, NJ, and to have been the ancestor of a David Beckett of Woodstown, Salem Co.
Regarding the parents of Josiah Beckett and his brothers, George M. Beckett recounts a tradition that they were named William Beckett and Sarah Jennings. They are thought to have come from England to Repaupo, NJ, before 1730, i.e., before Josiah's birth. They are supposed to have removed from Repaupo to near Barnsboro, and Josiah is believed to have inherited their homestead in the latter place.
A romantic story relating to immense, but lost, inheritance is associated with Sarah Jennings. George M. Beckett could not substantiate it, and it seems fanciful. No contemporary documentation of either William or Sarah (Jennings) Beckett has been discovered. Thus it may be that George M. Beckett was misinformed of the given names of the progenitors of the family in America.
Perhaps Josiah and his brothers were actually the sons of the Peter Beckett whose daughter is reported to have married Jesse Thomas in "Upper Greenwich" in 1767. Further investigation of this potential connection is needed.
--Joseph R. Klett
He married first to Mary Dilks, who is reported to have died of smallpox contracted on her wedding tour, about two weeks after the marriage. He married second to Sophia Bee, apparently sometime after Aug. 1767 when she was named in her father's will. He married third to Mary Johnson on 11 Dec. 1784.
Between the second and third marriages, he was the father of at least 16 children according to genealogist George M. Beckett (see History of My Near Kindred ..., 1944). They are as follows:
By first wife Sophia Bee:
1. & 2. Children who died in infancy, say 1769-1771;
3. Josiah Beckett Jr. (1772-1855)--linked below;
4. Sophia Bee Beckett Ashcraft (d. 1828)--linked below;
5. Ephraim Bee Beckett (12/25/1777 - 10/4/1875, Missouri), m. 1st Patience, m. 2nd Hannah Turner;
6. Jonathan Beckett (b. say 1779-81, d. aged 14 of typhoid fever);
7. A child who died in infancy, say 1779-81;
8. William Beckett (1782-1844)--linked below.
By second wife Mary Johnson:
9. Elizabeth Beckett (b. say 1785-86), m. Samuel Carter in 1803;
10. Johnson Beckett (1787-1859)--linked below;
11. Peter Beckett (1791-1874)--linked below;
12. John Beckett (1794-1865)--linked below;
13. A child who apparently died in infancy, b. say 1792-99;
14. James Beckett (b. say 1793-99; under aged 18 at the time of his father's will, June 1811);
15. Mary (b. say 1792-99), m. 1st Baker Dilks, m. 2nd Joseph Richards;
16. Wesley Beckett (1800-1883)--linked below.
Josiah was one of the early Methodist converts in Gloucester County. He reportedly served as a class leader in the Bethel Church in Hurffville, NJ, for 25 years. He died about the time his estate was inventoried, in Nov. 1815. In his will dated June 1811, he referred to himself as of Greenwich Twp. and so is presumed to have died there.
It is curious that Josiah named his five sons in this order: Johnson, John, Peter, James, and Wesley. George M. Beckett (referenced above) identifies the Peter and John linked below as Josiah's sons by these names. However, the gravestone inscriptions show that John was born about 1794, while Peter was born about 1791. If these are the right men and the inscriptions are as reported, then they were apparently listed out of birth order twice in their father's will. While this is not inherently problematic, it is worth noting.
Note: According to family tradition as reported by George M. Beckett, Josiah was one of five brothers. The others were Peter, Samuel, William, and John.
The brother Peter is believed to be the same who lived in Woolwich Twp., Gloucester Co., and died in 1796. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Mary Beckett and William Lippincott on 1 April of that year. He left behind minor children Joseph, John Lardner, Peter, and Maria. The widow Mary and her children chose James Stratton to be the children's guardian in 1798. It seems possible, at least, that the Peter Beckett (1791-1874) linked below is really the minor son named in the 1798 guardianship papers--i.e., Peter's son rather than Josiah's son.
Another of Josiah's brothers, perhaps Samuel or William, is reported to have served in the British Army during the Revolutionary War under the name Boqua. He is supposed to be the father of Rev. John Boqua, a Methodist minister in Pennsgrove, Salem Co., NJ.
Also, one of Josiah's brothers is supposed to have settled in the vicinity of Egg Harbor, NJ, and to have been the ancestor of a David Beckett of Woodstown, Salem Co.
Regarding the parents of Josiah Beckett and his brothers, George M. Beckett recounts a tradition that they were named William Beckett and Sarah Jennings. They are thought to have come from England to Repaupo, NJ, before 1730, i.e., before Josiah's birth. They are supposed to have removed from Repaupo to near Barnsboro, and Josiah is believed to have inherited their homestead in the latter place.
A romantic story relating to immense, but lost, inheritance is associated with Sarah Jennings. George M. Beckett could not substantiate it, and it seems fanciful. No contemporary documentation of either William or Sarah (Jennings) Beckett has been discovered. Thus it may be that George M. Beckett was misinformed of the given names of the progenitors of the family in America.
Perhaps Josiah and his brothers were actually the sons of the Peter Beckett whose daughter is reported to have married Jesse Thomas in "Upper Greenwich" in 1767. Further investigation of this potential connection is needed.
--Joseph R. Klett
Josiah Beckett (a.k.a. Bockitt, Bocqua, Boquet) was a farmer in old Greenwich Twp., Gloucester Co., NJ. He was probably born in the 1730s or early 1740s based on his marriages and children's births.
He married first to Mary Dilks, who is reported to have died of smallpox contracted on her wedding tour, about two weeks after the marriage. He married second to Sophia Bee, apparently sometime after Aug. 1767 when she was named in her father's will. He married third to Mary Johnson on 11 Dec. 1784.
Between the second and third marriages, he was the father of at least 16 children according to genealogist George M. Beckett (see History of My Near Kindred ..., 1944). They are as follows:
By first wife Sophia Bee:
1. & 2. Children who died in infancy, say 1769-1771;
3. Josiah Beckett Jr. (1772-1855)--linked below;
4. Sophia Bee Beckett Ashcraft (d. 1828)--linked below;
5. Ephraim Bee Beckett (12/25/1777 - 10/4/1875, Missouri), m. 1st Patience, m. 2nd Hannah Turner;
6. Jonathan Beckett (b. say 1779-81, d. aged 14 of typhoid fever);
7. A child who died in infancy, say 1779-81;
8. William Beckett (1782-1844)--linked below.
By second wife Mary Johnson:
9. Elizabeth Beckett (b. say 1785-86), m. Samuel Carter in 1803;
10. Johnson Beckett (1787-1859)--linked below;
11. Peter Beckett (1791-1874)--linked below;
12. John Beckett (1794-1865)--linked below;
13. A child who apparently died in infancy, b. say 1792-99;
14. James Beckett (b. say 1793-99; under aged 18 at the time of his father's will, June 1811);
15. Mary (b. say 1792-99), m. 1st Baker Dilks, m. 2nd Joseph Richards;
16. Wesley Beckett (1800-1883)--linked below.
Josiah was one of the early Methodist converts in Gloucester County. He reportedly served as a class leader in the Bethel Church in Hurffville, NJ, for 25 years. He died about the time his estate was inventoried, in Nov. 1815. In his will dated June 1811, he referred to himself as of Greenwich Twp. and so is presumed to have died there.
It is curious that Josiah named his five sons in this order: Johnson, John, Peter, James, and Wesley. George M. Beckett (referenced above) identifies the Peter and John linked below as Josiah's sons by these names. However, the gravestone inscriptions show that John was born about 1794, while Peter was born about 1791. If these are the right men and the inscriptions are as reported, then they were apparently listed out of birth order twice in their father's will. While this is not inherently problematic, it is worth noting.
Note: According to family tradition as reported by George M. Beckett, Josiah was one of five brothers. The others were Peter, Samuel, William, and John.
The brother Peter is believed to be the same who lived in Woolwich Twp., Gloucester Co., and died in 1796. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Mary Beckett and William Lippincott on 1 April of that year. He left behind minor children Joseph, John Lardner, Peter, and Maria. The widow Mary and her children chose James Stratton to be the children's guardian in 1798. It seems possible, at least, that the Peter Beckett (1791-1874) linked below is really the minor son named in the 1798 guardianship papers--i.e., Peter's son rather than Josiah's son.
Another of Josiah's brothers, perhaps Samuel or William, is reported to have served in the British Army during the Revolutionary War under the name Boqua. He is supposed to be the father of Rev. John Boqua, a Methodist minister in Pennsgrove, Salem Co., NJ.
Also, one of Josiah's brothers is supposed to have settled in the vicinity of Egg Harbor, NJ, and to have been the ancestor of a David Beckett of Woodstown, Salem Co.
Regarding the parents of Josiah Beckett and his brothers, George M. Beckett recounts a tradition that they were named William Beckett and Sarah Jennings. They are thought to have come from England to Repaupo, NJ, before 1730, i.e., before Josiah's birth. They are supposed to have removed from Repaupo to near Barnsboro, and Josiah is believed to have inherited their homestead in the latter place.
A romantic story relating to immense, but lost, inheritance is associated with Sarah Jennings. George M. Beckett could not substantiate it, and it seems fanciful. No contemporary documentation of either William or Sarah (Jennings) Beckett has been discovered. Thus it may be that George M. Beckett was misinformed of the given names of the progenitors of the family in America.
Perhaps Josiah and his brothers were actually the sons of the Peter Beckett whose daughter is reported to have married Jesse Thomas in "Upper Greenwich" in 1767. Further investigation of this potential connection is needed.
--Joseph R. Klett
He married first to Mary Dilks, who is reported to have died of smallpox contracted on her wedding tour, about two weeks after the marriage. He married second to Sophia Bee, apparently sometime after Aug. 1767 when she was named in her father's will. He married third to Mary Johnson on 11 Dec. 1784.
Between the second and third marriages, he was the father of at least 16 children according to genealogist George M. Beckett (see History of My Near Kindred ..., 1944). They are as follows:
By first wife Sophia Bee:
1. & 2. Children who died in infancy, say 1769-1771;
3. Josiah Beckett Jr. (1772-1855)--linked below;
4. Sophia Bee Beckett Ashcraft (d. 1828)--linked below;
5. Ephraim Bee Beckett (12/25/1777 - 10/4/1875, Missouri), m. 1st Patience, m. 2nd Hannah Turner;
6. Jonathan Beckett (b. say 1779-81, d. aged 14 of typhoid fever);
7. A child who died in infancy, say 1779-81;
8. William Beckett (1782-1844)--linked below.
By second wife Mary Johnson:
9. Elizabeth Beckett (b. say 1785-86), m. Samuel Carter in 1803;
10. Johnson Beckett (1787-1859)--linked below;
11. Peter Beckett (1791-1874)--linked below;
12. John Beckett (1794-1865)--linked below;
13. A child who apparently died in infancy, b. say 1792-99;
14. James Beckett (b. say 1793-99; under aged 18 at the time of his father's will, June 1811);
15. Mary (b. say 1792-99), m. 1st Baker Dilks, m. 2nd Joseph Richards;
16. Wesley Beckett (1800-1883)--linked below.
Josiah was one of the early Methodist converts in Gloucester County. He reportedly served as a class leader in the Bethel Church in Hurffville, NJ, for 25 years. He died about the time his estate was inventoried, in Nov. 1815. In his will dated June 1811, he referred to himself as of Greenwich Twp. and so is presumed to have died there.
It is curious that Josiah named his five sons in this order: Johnson, John, Peter, James, and Wesley. George M. Beckett (referenced above) identifies the Peter and John linked below as Josiah's sons by these names. However, the gravestone inscriptions show that John was born about 1794, while Peter was born about 1791. If these are the right men and the inscriptions are as reported, then they were apparently listed out of birth order twice in their father's will. While this is not inherently problematic, it is worth noting.
Note: According to family tradition as reported by George M. Beckett, Josiah was one of five brothers. The others were Peter, Samuel, William, and John.
The brother Peter is believed to be the same who lived in Woolwich Twp., Gloucester Co., and died in 1796. Administration of his estate was granted to widow Mary Beckett and William Lippincott on 1 April of that year. He left behind minor children Joseph, John Lardner, Peter, and Maria. The widow Mary and her children chose James Stratton to be the children's guardian in 1798. It seems possible, at least, that the Peter Beckett (1791-1874) linked below is really the minor son named in the 1798 guardianship papers--i.e., Peter's son rather than Josiah's son.
Another of Josiah's brothers, perhaps Samuel or William, is reported to have served in the British Army during the Revolutionary War under the name Boqua. He is supposed to be the father of Rev. John Boqua, a Methodist minister in Pennsgrove, Salem Co., NJ.
Also, one of Josiah's brothers is supposed to have settled in the vicinity of Egg Harbor, NJ, and to have been the ancestor of a David Beckett of Woodstown, Salem Co.
Regarding the parents of Josiah Beckett and his brothers, George M. Beckett recounts a tradition that they were named William Beckett and Sarah Jennings. They are thought to have come from England to Repaupo, NJ, before 1730, i.e., before Josiah's birth. They are supposed to have removed from Repaupo to near Barnsboro, and Josiah is believed to have inherited their homestead in the latter place.
A romantic story relating to immense, but lost, inheritance is associated with Sarah Jennings. George M. Beckett could not substantiate it, and it seems fanciful. No contemporary documentation of either William or Sarah (Jennings) Beckett has been discovered. Thus it may be that George M. Beckett was misinformed of the given names of the progenitors of the family in America.
Perhaps Josiah and his brothers were actually the sons of the Peter Beckett whose daughter is reported to have married Jesse Thomas in "Upper Greenwich" in 1767. Further investigation of this potential connection is needed.
--Joseph R. Klett
Gravesite Details
Josiah's memorial is tentatively placed here based on his membership in this church and the burial of at least one child here.
