This document has been very lightly edited, mostly for punctuation and then broken into paragraphs for easier reading. - (chw)

Walnut Hill, Sept. 4, 1917

Copied from a leather covered book written by grandpa John Beatty
(Property of M. M. B.)

    The paternal ancestors of Mrs. Christiana Clinton B. wife of John Beatty, were of Eng. origin. Wm. Clinton from whom her descent is traced, was an adherent of the royal cause, in the civil wars of Eng.; & an officer in the army of Chas I. After the execution of that monarch, Mr. Clinton took refuge for some time on the continent - but after awhile proceeded secretly to Scotland, where he mar. a lady of the name of Kennedy. With a view to safety he passed over to the north of Ireland x x x and died leaving an orphan son named James, only 2 yrs. of age; arrived at manhood - he went to Eng. for the purpose of receiving his patrimonial estate, but in this was unsuccessful x x he mar. Miss Elizabeth Smith, the dau. of a Capt. in Cromwell's army. He was the father of Charles Clinton, & of Christiana Clinton who married John Beatty.

    Charles Clinton, ancestor to the Clintons of N.Y. was the bro. of Christiana (Clinton) Beatty - Christiana with her brother, (or nephew), her son Charles, (our ancestor), & 3 daus. sailed from Dublin for Phila. on May 20th, 1729, having chartered a ship named the George & Ann commanded by Capt. Rymer - The Capt. was very unfortunate or treacherous. They were 21 wks. & 3 days on the voyage - many died of famine & exposure; x x x finally where the American coast was sighted off Cape Cod, they hired the Capt. to land them there, & remained in the vicinity of Cape Cod about 18 mos.

    In the spring of 1731 they removed to a part of Ulster Co., (now Orange), in the state of N.Y., 60 miles from the city. To this place, wild & uncultivated Mrs. Christiana Beatty came with her son & 2 daus. - Mrs. Beatty subsequently mr. Mr. James Scott & lived in N.Y. until her death in 1777. She was in the 91st yr. of her age. "She was exceedingly dignified in her deportment and a pattern of propriety in her manners, conversation & dress." When they were on Cape Cod the people came quite a distance to hear her play upon the harp in which she was a proficient & she retained her harp to the close of her long life.

    Rev. Chas. Beatty, son of Christiana & John Beatty, born in 1712 - died in 1772, aged 57. (A) Comparatively short but an eventful life - he was a Presbyterian clergyman, a friend of David Brainerd, missionary to the Indians, was of a martial spirit inherited from his grandfather Clinton, father & communicated to his children. He was twice appointed chaplain to the provincial forces; this incident is related of him. (Beatty Record page 13). A recruiting officer had been sent to his neighborhood, but with little success. Mr. B. asked the officer to be at church the next day, (Sunday). At the close of the service, Mr. B., said, "the savages have attacked the frontier* settlements & are murdering our fellow citizens. The Gov. (Penn?) has made a call for volunteers with a view to attack & drive them back; but I regret to learn that it is not very promptly met. It is certainly somebody's duty to go, & I have determined if the synod allows me, to offer my services as chaplain, & there do my part. Of course it will be very pleasant for me to have the company of any of the congregation or my neighbors, who may feel it their duty to go." About 100 were enrolled from that vicinity.

    Mr. B., was chosen a member of a committee to solicit benefactions for the fund for the relief of poor Presb. ministers & their widows & their children." & in furtherance of that object he went to Great Britain & Ireland & Scotland & was highly successful. He witnessed the coronation of Charles III., was presented to court & received a handsome donation from his Majesty for the fund - he also visited Holland before his return.

* near Harrisburg

Source:

Spruance Library
Bucks County Historical Society
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

Collection of the Joseph Henry Beatty Family
MSS 445
Folder 135