Rachel Beard

     Rachel was born in 1647 in County Sussex, England. Rachel married Neale Clarke circa 1661 in South River, Anne Arundel County, Maryland, at All Hallow's Parish. Rachel's husband, Neale, died before 3 July 1676 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, leaving her a widow. Rachel married 2nd John Stimson in 1677 in Anne Arundel County. Rachel's husband, John, died before 23 January 1689 in Anne Arundel County, leaving her a widow. Rachel married 3rd Robert Proctor circa 1690 in Anne Arundel County. Rachel's husband, Robert, died before 23 November 1695 leaving her a widow. After the death of her husband, Rachel had become a very wealthy women. From her inheritences from her former husbands and from her own business skills, she was then the owner of a popular tavern, a mill and many rental properties. Her recent Husband had put her in charge of his properties and affairs sometime before his death, leaving her in a great position to handle her accumulated wealth. Rachel married 4th Richard Kilborne on 6 October 1696 in Anne Arundel County. Rachel's husband, Richard, died after 20 October 1700 in Anne Arundel County, leaving her a widow. Rachel made her will on 4 March 1701 at Anne Arundel County.

Rachel left the mill at Proctor’s to her daughters, Rachel Greenberry and Comfort Stimpson. Comfort also was to inherit four lots on the town common. Rachel and Comfort also received furniture, lots in Annapolis, a large silver "porring," a small silver tankard, a large silver cordial cup, silver punch cups, and silver spoons. She also gave property to close associates. Daughter Ruth Williams and son-in-law, Joseph Williams were mentioned. William Kilburne & daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Kilburne received several memorials. Charles Carroll received twenty shillings for a ring. Her granddaughter, Rachel Clark, received a silver bodkin and a gold ring. Henry Davis, Sr. received a memorial. Her granddaughter, Anna Hammond, daughter of Charles and Rachel Greenberry, received a negro girl.¹

Rachel married 5th Thomas Freeborne in June 1701 in Anne Arundel County. On 18 September 1705, the judge ordered the arrest of Rachel for treason. She had pressured her husband's blacksmith to make a file from a door hinge and for him to get it into the prison so that her son and others could use it to free themselves from chains and escape. Nothing more is seen on the record, but she was released. Rachel's husband, Thomas, died on 4 January 1713 in Anne Arundel County, leaving her a widow. All of Rachael's husbands lived in the South River district, some on adjoining lands. They were all aquainted with each other and some if not all were friends. In a deposition taken in 1727, Rachel describes herself as of 80 years or there about. Her testamony was to identify the mother of Henry Ridgely a grandson of Henry Ridgely the immigrant. Rachel was able to confirm that the mother was Alice Skinner, the wife of Charles Ridgely, a son of Henry Ridgely mentioned above. She was the midwife at the birth of this Henry and is a second cousin once of Alice.