The surname Beman is a shortened form of spelling the ancient French surname and place-name, Beaumont, though the family of this name has been in England many centuries. We find the name variously spelled Beman, Bement, Bemond, Beaman, Bemont, and Beaumont, and there is no uniformity of spelling in branches of the family even at the present (1910) time. There were early pioneers of this family in New England, all possibly brothers. Gamaliel Beman, aged twelve, came in the ship, "Elizabeth and Ann," in 1635, settled in Dorchester, and later in Lancaster, Mass. William Beman was born in England in 1612, and came to New England in 1635, in the ship, "Elizabeth," settled at Salem, Mass., where he was living in 1640, removed to Scituate, Mass., and finally to Saybrook, Conn. John Beman, brother of William, came in the same ship, and lived at Salem and Scituate.

(I) Simon, probably brother of Gamaliel, William and John Beman, was born in England about 1630. He settled in Springfield, Mass., where he married, Dec. 15, 1654, Alice Young. He died in 1676, and she died Oct. 8, 1708.
Children, born at Springfield:
Simon, removed to Deerfield, 1695.
John, born April 12, 1657, mentioned below.
Daniel, March 15, 1659, died 1741.
Thomas, born Dec. 29, 1660.
Josiah, Feb. 4, 1662, married Lydia Warner.
Mehitable, died Aug. 16, 1670.
Benjamin, Aug. 20, 1671, married Hannah Higgins.
Samuel, June 11, 1673, settled at Windsor.
Abigail, married Obadiah Baldwin.
Alice, married Nathaniel Baldwin.
Ruth, married Samuel Miller.
Mary, married Ensign John Miller.

(II) John, son of Simon Beman, was born at Springfield, April 12, 1657, died Dec. 27, 1684. He was the first settler on the lot now (1910) owned by his desdendants in Enfield, Conn., then adjoining Springfield. He came to Enfield in 1682, and died there two years later. His inventory dated Jan. 25, 1684, was filed by his widow Martha.
Children:
John, married, Oct. 29, 1696-97, Abigail Eggleston, who was appointed administratrix at Enfield, Sept. 4, 1704.
William, mentioned below.
Edmund, married 1700, Prudence Morgan, (second) 1703, Priscilla Warner.

(III) William, son of John Beman, wsa born about 1685, did 1729. His will was dated Jan. 12, 1728-29, and presented for probate Sept. 9, 1729.
He married, 1707, Hannah, daughter of Captain Samuel Terry, and he settled in the east part of Enfield.
Children:
William, settled at Wethersfield; married Phebe ____, and had a large family.
Ebenezer, born 1723.
Joseph, 1725, settled in Enfield.
Hannah.
Samuel, 1730, mentioned below.
Sarah.
The mother was appointed guardian of Samuel and Joseph in 1734.

(IV) Samuel, son of William Beman, was born in Enfield, in 1730, and died in 1821. He removed to Vermont, and served in the revolution in Captain Nathan Smith's company in August, 1777, and was with Arnold's expedition against Canada.

(V) Nathan, son of Samuel Beman, was born about 1757 in Vermont. He settled in Manchester, Bennington county, Vermont, and afterwards removed to Shoreham, Vermont. He was a soldier in the revolution, in the same company with Hawes and Jerry Beman, 1777-80, in the regiment of Colonel Seth Warner, of New Hampshire. Nathan Beman was also in Captain Gideon Ormsby's company in March, 1780; in Captain Thomas Barney's company, Colonel Ira Allen's regiment, of Vermont, in 1782-83, and sergeant from July to November, 1781, in Captain Daniel Comstock's company of Vermont. Nathan Beman, while a mere youth, piloted Colonel Ethan Allen's troops across Lake Champlain and through the wilderness to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga.
He died in 1846 and is buried at Chateaugay, N.Y.

(VI) Samuel, son of Nathan Beman, was born in Vermont. He married ____ ___.
Children:
Theodore T. S., mentioned below.
Minerva, married James Hilliker.

(VII) Theodore T. S., son of Samuel Beman, was born at Plattsburgh, New York, died in 1865. He was a civil engineer by profession, and for many years was employed in the United States coast and geodetic survey. He was one of the engineers who surveyed and laid out the Northern Ogdensburg Railroad, now part of the Rutland Railroad system, operating in Franklin county, N.Y.
He married Nancy E., daughter of General David Erwin. They lived at Chateaugay, N.Y. Mrs. Beman died in 1873.
Children:
Minerva S.
Sarah Alzina.
Charlotte Amelia.
Samuel A., mentioned below.
Millard F.

(VIII) Judge Samuel A., son of Theodore T. S. Beman, was born in Chateaugay, N.Y. Aug. 21, 1843. He attended the public schools of his native town and took a course at the Franklin Academy. In 1862 he began the study of law in the offices of William P. Cantwell at Malone, N.Y., continuing until he was admitted to the bar in 1865. In 1864 he was appointed deputy postmaster at Malone, under Dr. Calvin Skinner, then serving as surgeon in the Union army. In 1865 he entered partnership with William D. Brennan, then county treasurer, and afterward a member of the assembly for three successive terms. In 1868 Mr. Beman was elected district attorney of Franklin county and re-elected for several terms, serving altogether for nine years.
When Mr. Brennan died in 1881, Mr. Beman was elected to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Brennan. He was in the legislature during the memorable contest resulting in the electikon of Warner Miller as United States senator. In 1889 he was elected county judge and held that office until 1908. Judge Beman is one of the most influential and prominent Republicans of this section. He served his party often as delegate to judicial and state conventions. His legal practice is among the best in the county. As a jurist he has taken high rank. Dignified, learned, just, he commands the respect of all persons having business in his court and especially of the lawyers who practice there. The unanimous nomination and election for the third term was a tribute to his high reputation as a judge, his popularity as a man and his fairness, courtesy and impartiality to all men regardless of politics, creed or condition.

Judge Beman has been distinguished in still other fields of activity. In July, 1871, he organized the Twenty-seventh separate company of the New York State National Guard, and was its first captain, serving with ability until April, 1884, and bringing his command to rank with the best independent companies in the state. He was one of the prime movers in the work that brought the Franklin County Agricultural Society to its present condition of prosperity. He was at one time president of the Third National Bank, and attorney and general counsel for the Northern Adirondack Railroad Company. He was made a Mason in Frontier Lodge, No. 579, of his native town, Chateaugay, afterward joining Northern Constellation Lodge, of which he was worshipful master for seven years. He is a member of Northern Constellation Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, and a member of Franklin Commandery, Knights Templar, of Malone. Judge Beman has traveled extensively both in this country and abroad. He 1873 he visited Europe and later made a tour of the southern and northwestern states. In 1891 he made a trip to the western coast, partly on business and partly for rest and pleasure.
In religion he is an Episcopalian.
Judge Beman married, June 1, 1876, Annette Elizabeth, born Oct. 14, 1847, daughter of Sidney W. Gillett.

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