Beadon Daniel

Historical Profile

Beadon Daniell (Alternate spelling of “Beaton” also used) was born on 08 March 1801, in Clarke, Georgia to his father William Daniell (58 years old) and his mother, Mary Mollie (“Polly”) Melton (31 years old) as the nineteenth of 27 children to his father and the fifth of 13 children to his mother. At the time of his birth his 13 older siblings from his father’s first wife Rachel Howe were, Sarah (39), John (39), Thomas (36), James (34), William (34), Elizabeth (32), Hiram (31), Mary (29), Nathaniel (27), Rebecca (died at birth), Isaac (20), Masters (died at birth) and George (18). Each of these were old enough that they likely had left the home already and weren’t much a part of his life. Four of his siblings born to his own mother prior to his birth were Rachel (12), Susannah (7), Jeremiah (4), and Ellen (2).

Around the time of Beadon’s birth many immigrants were flowing into Georgia from England and other countries in search of religious and economic freedom. The region’s rolling hills and coastal plains made it a haven for farmers, shipbuilders, millers, and wealthy

plantation owners. As the population of the state approached 700,000 Beadon was born into a state that was thriving, but also scarred by its connection to slavery and the removal of Native Americans.

9 months after Beadon was born, his future wife, Martha Patsey Hodges, was born in the same region of Clarke, Georgia. A couple months later when Beadon was 1 years old, his little brother Masters was born. The next year Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase from France and doubled the size of the United States overnight. This massive acquisition of land opened the West to the booming immigrant population and new opportunities for all Americans to make a living. Beadon never personally took advantage of this opportunity, remaining in the Southern states of Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama throughout his life.

When Beadon was 3 years old his little sister Clarissa was born in 1804. Then the following year his brother William was born in 1805. Two years later another little brother Alfred was born into the family. Then in 1809, 7 year old Beadon would welcome another brother Stephen into the family. When Beadon was 10, another brother, Moses was born. The next year, the War of 1812 began as Great Britain sought once again to regain land and motivate the U.S. to change some of its policies. This conflict stretched out over the next several years until Andrew Jackson’s victory in New Orleans forced an end to the conflict. Beadon’s half-sibling George fought in this war and would have been 30 years old at the time.

In 1813 Beadon’s family welcomed another son into the family by the name of Robert. Robert was born in the middle of the conflict known as the War of 1812, but also during the Creek Indian War in which U.S. forces retaliated on the Creek Tribe after a group of Creek warriors, fed up by the encroachment of immigrant settlers upon their land, attacked Fort Mim killing 500 residents. Subsequently Andrew Jackson led forces against the Creek Nation killing hundreds of warriors and forcing the treaty of Fort Jackson under which the Creek gave up over half of Alabama.

In 1815 Beadon’s sister Olive was born, and his half- sibling Nathaniel died at the age of 41. Then his half- sibling Sarah passed away at the age of 53. Beadon was 14 at the time.

At the age of 15 Beadon lived through an unparalleled phenomenon known as the “year without a summer.” Due to an eruption of a volcano, Mt Tambora, in Indonesia in 1816, temperatures in the summer remained unusually cold across America and food production suffered. Conditions included average temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit and a dry fog that would not go away with rain and hung in the air, reddening the sky. Americans tried moving to other parts of the country but were unable to escape the effects of the unusual weather patterns. Beadon’s community, like many others, experienced a religious revival as people looked to faith for an explanation of the unusual weather phenomenon.

3 years later in 1819, Beadon’s half-sibling James passed away at the age of 55. Two years later his half- sibling Hiram would pass away at the age of 51. In this same year 20-year old Beadon married 19-year old Martha Patsey Hodges in Clarke, Georgia on 12 April 1821 and the two of them began their family, bearing a son, William Hodge, on 8 March 1822. He also lost a half-sibling Mary this year as she passed away at the age of 50. The following year brought another son, Josiah Melton on 23 July 1823. Another son, John N. would be born the following year in 1824 when Beadon was 23 years of age. Then on 23 March of 1825 their first girl Mary B. was born into the family.

This same year brought the passing of Beadon’s half- sibling Thomas at the age of 60. Then the following year in 1826 his sister Susannah passed away at the age of 32.

In 1828 right during the time of a short-lived gold rush in Dahlonega, Georgia, Beadon and Patsey brought another little girl into their family. Elizabeth was born on 28 September 1828. Then two years later during a period of time known as “The Great Awakening” in America, a Protestant revival movement prompted by deteriorating religious excitement and lack of faithful devotion, Beadon moved his family to Newton, Georgia. At the same time numerous preachers were traveling the country and giving lectures to large assembled crowds. In this same year, Beadon’s half- sibling John passed away at the age of 68. The following year his half-sibling William died at the age of 64.

The next decade was a period of conflict for those living in Beadon’s area. The U.S. Government fought with many Native American tribes, ultimately forcibly removing them from the South and forcing them to reservations in the West. Around a third of the Cherokees, Muskogees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles that were forced to relocate died during the 1,200 mile-long winter march from Southeast Arkansas to Oklahoma. Those that survived what would become known as the “Trail of Tears” were forced to live on hostile reservations far from the land that had been their home for hundreds of years.

Communication also increased tremendously during this time period as hand written letters delivered by horseback gave way to postal systems using telegraph, railroads, and steam-powered ships to deliver communications.

In 1840 Beadon’s father William passed away at the old age of 96. One account says, “We can only form an opinion of the personal characteristics of Beadon’s father William Daniell, from the influence he had in the character building of his children, and the apparent dominating factors were: Spirituality, Integrity, and Patriotism. He so carefully guarded the spiritual welfare of his family, that six of his sons were ministers, while his daughters brought up their children “in the fear and admonition of the Lord”, which influence has continued into the third and fourth generations. The influence of his Integrity so impressed his children and the people at large, that with the passing of time, there grew to be an adage, “a Daniell’s word was as good as his bond”. John and Thomas, served in the war of the Revolution, and George was a soldier in the War of 1812.” Beadon was 39 years old at his father’s passing and that same year moved his family to Wilkes, Georgia. Three years later Beadon’s mother passed away at the age of 73.

In 1844 Beadon’s little brother Masters passed away at sea near Indonesia at the age of 42. The following year, his half-sibling Elizabeth died at the age of 75. Then his older brother Josiah died at the age of 53.

In 1846 America engaged with Mexico in a war originally over Texas. After 2 years of fighting, the U.S. forces came off victorious and a treaty was signed with Mexico in which they relinquished their claims on Texas and then also sold what is now Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah to the United States for $15 million. The following year his half-sibling Elizabeth would die at the age of 78.

In 1850, just as the Underground Railroad was working in full force to secretly transport escaped Southern slaves into free Northern states, Beadon and Patsey welcomed another daughter into their family. Little Missa was born on 16 March 1850 when Beadon was age 49. That same year his half- sibling Isaac passed away at the age of 69. Five years later in 1855, his half-sibling George (who fought in the War of 1812) passed away at the age of 72. 1857 brought a devastating panic to the entire U.S. as overstretched railroad lines and dried up mines caused the closure of more than 5000 businesses. Beadon’s little sister Clarissa also died this year at the age of 52. The next year his little brother Stephen died at the age of 49.

As tensions were building toward an inevitable Civil War between the Northern States and the Southern States, two of Beadon’s sisters passed away. Olive died in 1859 at the age of 44, and Rachel died in 1860 at the age of 71. When Beadon was 59 years old, the bloodiest conflict in American history began. The Civil War claimed the lives of over 600,000 Americans. For 5 years the war raged, taking the lives of 25,000 Georgians alone. The Southern States surrendered to the demands of the North; the wounds of those years took decades to heal. One of Beadon’s sons died during these years, likely a victim of the war. John N was 37 years old at this passing. Beadon was 60.

Four years later in 1864, just one year before President Lincoln was assassinated, Beadon’s youngest child Missa died at the age of 14 years old.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 brought an end to slavery and the 13th Amendment to the Constitution made slavery illegal, the country remained divided as racism fuelled violence and hatred toward blacks and whites alike. The decade leading up to Beadon’s death was very unsettling and full of discrimination.

In 1871 Beadon’s sister Eleanor died at the age of 72, followed by the death of Beadon’s dear wife Patsey at the age of 69. They were married for 50 years. Beadon then passed away the following year on 13 June 1872 in Marengo, Alabama.

Beadon was preceded in death by his parents, 22 siblings, his beloved wife Patsy and two of his children, John and Missa. He was survived by 4 brothers Jeremiah, Alfred, Moses and Robert, three of

whom were also Reverends. He was also survived by four of his children, William, Josiah, Mary, Elizabeth and their families.

Beadon Daniell was buried at Maloney Springs Cemetery (Marietta-Austell Road near Fair Oak). He is buried next to his wife, Patsy. The headstone reads, “He was a loved and appreciated minister of his churches” and “They were devoted members of the Primitive Baptist Church” where Beadon served as minister.

(Letter to son in military from Beaton Daniell) Date unknown

Beaton Daniell