Son of English emigrants Daniel Beeby Sr. and Elizabeth Taylor. He was about 9 years of age when the family emigrated from Elstow, Bedfordshire, England on the ship "Fame" in 1832. They arrived on June 23 in Philadelphia, where they lived for several years. His father bought land in Thornbury and by 1840, the family had relocated on the Beeby homestead near the A. M. E. Church on Locksley Road. By 1850, George was working as a carpenter. In 1855, he married Anna Jane (maiden name unknown), and continued to work as a carpenter in Thornbury. In 1862, he remodeled part of his sister Elizabeth's home in Cheyney. Elizabeth and her husband, William Maison, were the owners of the wheelwright's shop at Cheyney (part of the Cheyney Shops at the intersection of Creek and Cheyney Roads). When George built a closet in one of the bedrooms of their home, he etched his name into the concrete. When the closet was removed, the current owners of the Maison home discovered and preserved the etching in a frame. It can still be seen in the Maison home today.

By 1870, George moved to Chester and lived with his son George Beeby Jr. at 114 East 4th Street, for many years. George Beeby Sr. continued to work as a carpenter/builder all his life in the booming town of Chester, and his son George Beeby Jr. worked as a real estate agent and later as a clerk. In 1885, George Beeby Sr. was working as a sash maker and his son was working as a real estate agent.

In January of 1902, George's wife Anna Jane preceded him in death. Just six months later, George Beeby Sr. died from measles during a small pox outbreak at Chester. By this time, he had been living at 218 South Washington Street. He was buried next to his wife at Chester Rural Cemetery, across from the Chester Hospital. Following is his obituary, published in the Chester Times on July 4, 1902:

Victim of the small pox epidemic in Chester

George Beebe [Beeby], aged about 70 years, who was well known in this section, was one of the victims of the small pox epidemic now raging at Chester, his death taking place on Wednesday [July 2]. His body was interred immediately after his death in a Chester cemetery. Mr. Beebe resided at the home of his son, George Beebe, Jr. at Chester, where he had been for some time.

The deceased was a brother of Israel Beebe, of Dean street, this borough, and a sister of Mrs. Lizzie Maison and Daniel Beebe, of Cheyney. He also had one brother at Denver, Colorado. He leaves one son, at Chester. His relatives here have just been apprised of his demise.


NOTES:

Year of birth is based on US Federal Censuses and Philadelphia Passenger and Immigration Lists 1800-1850

Sources:

Special thanks to Bill Bloom who went out of his way to photograph the unmarked grave plots of the George and Anna Beeby family.

Bloom, Bill. FindAGrave contributor. Grave plot photos