Reverand John Beardsley1

M, b. 23 April 1732, d. 23 April 1809
FatherJohn Beardsley b. 9 Mar 1701/2
MotherKeziah Wheeler b. May 1699
     John was born on Wednesday, 23 April 1732 in Stratford, Fairfield County, Connecticut. Reverand John Beardslee was a minister of the Anglican Church. He began his studies at Yale College, then to Kings College in New York and finally going to England to finish his degree on 23 August 1761. He returned to New England ministering in Norwich and Groton, Connecticut.2 John married Sylvia Punderson in 1764. John and Sylvia had children: Hannah [7/11/1765-3/26-1830][m. 1784 Walter Diblee], John Davis [1769-1/26/1852][m. 1793 Sarah Diblee & 2nd Mary Ann Gill] & twins Sylvia [2/04/1771] & a child [2/04/1771-before 3/26/1771].3 From Groton, he removed to Poughkeepsie and ministered there until the start of the American Revolution. He was put under arrest at one point and eventually was sheltered by loyalist of influence in New York. He remained sheltered there until after the war ended.2 John's wife, Sylvia, died on 26 March 1771, leaving him a widower. John married 2nd Gurtrude Ann Crannel on 3 February 1774 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York. John and Gertrude had two children: Bartholomew Crannell [10/21/1775-3/24/1855] & Hope [8/11/1786]. With the end of the war, he was forced to flee to Canada along with many other ministers and loyal parishioners from the New England colonies. John and his family arrived in St. John, New Brunswich in July 1783. He discovered he was the only minister located in New Brunswich and took on the task of ministering to the entire area, a total of over 10,000 parishioners.2 John's wife, an unknown person , died in 1786 in Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick, Canada, leaving him a widower. After the death of his wife, he took on the role of missionary in the St John's river basin which remained his focus for the remainder of his active career.2 John married 3rd Mary (?) on 11 June 1800 in Georgetown, New Brunswick, Canada. She was 1st married to a Mr. Quain. John departed this life on Sunday, 23 April 1809 in St. John. He was buried there beneath the Trinity Church.

Family 1

Sylvia Punderson b. 4 Mar 1741, d. 26 Mar 1771

Family 2

Gurtrude Ann Crannel b. 5 Oct 1751, d. 1786

Family 3

Mary (?)

Citations

  1. [S25] Isaac Haight Beardsley, Genealogical History of the Beardsly/lee Family In America, page 235.
  2. [S1980] William O. Raymond, John Beardsley, Biography written by a third great grandson, William O. Raymond.
  3. [S271] Nellie Beardslee Judson Holt, Beardsley Genealogy, pages 49,50.