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NancyC
Medium member
Norway
198 Posts |
 Posted - 29/04/2022 : 11:59:02
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Can anyone help with figuring out the identity of John Beman, born in Norway about 1790-1800, who immigrated to the US in 1811 and settled in Boston, where he had a family. He may have been a seaman who settled in the US, as many were in this early period. In 1861 he was working as the watchman on the steamer W.M. Morrison, which apparently sailed the Mississippi. Around June 6, 1861, Beman was detained by a group of people in Mound City, Arkansas, because he had expressed Union sentiments. The next day, he was murdered by hanging.
The episode was reported in many newspapers, both in the Union and Confederacy. I have found numerous articles on newspapers.com, but since this is a paid service, I will quote one of the articles:
"News has been received at Cairo of another murderous and horrible outrage by the Seccessionists, traitors and rebels, perpetrated at Mound City, Arkansas, this week. An old, gray-headed man, aged over sixty years, a watchman on board the steamer W.M. Morrison, tied up by the rebels at that place, let slip some Union sentiments in their presence. He was soon surrounded by ruffians, who told him they were going to hang him forthwith. The poor old man thought they were jesting, and said, 'Gentlemen, surely you don't mean what you say. I am a poor, old gray-headed man, always have worked hard and made an honest living; surely you would not hang me for the expressions of my old honest heart?' The poor old man could not believe that the demons could perpetrate such a murder until he felt the rope round his neck. The end of the rope was thrown over the limb of a tree, and the demoniac crowd of devils pulled him up struggling and dying until dead. Several who were commanded to assist slunk away in horror and dread. All these deeds will soon be avenged. These men regard not even the gray hairs, the sacred rights of families, or the tears and graves of widows and orphans. There is no doubt about this fact being true, as it came from an eye-witness." (Sacramento Bee, 25 June 1861)
Another article says that Beman came from Boston, MA, where he had friends living. Others say he had children living there, and that Boston would see to the care of his children. I have not found any articles telling about what happened in the aftermath.
Thanks for any help and ideas in finding out who Beman was and where he was from in Norway!
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NancyC
Medium member
Norway
198 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2022 : 12:26:51
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There are several sources available on ancestry.com that may be the Beman I am looking for. The ones below look most relevant.
There is a marriage record for a John Beman, who married Mary Ann Richardson in Boston, 10 May 1835, and there is a John Beman in Boston in the 1820 census. There is another record of a Scandinavian seaman, as below. But this may be a Swede, who is also recorded as arriving in 1835 from Gothenburg. Still, it might be the Norwegian man.
Name: John P. Beeman
Age: 35
Birth Year: abt 1800
Arrival Year: 1835
Arrival Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Primary Immigrant: Beeman, John P
Source Publication Code: 6410.30
Annotation: In an effort to stop British impressment of sailors, a register was kept of all seamen who presented proof of U.S. citizenship. Many sailors became U.S. citizens during this time. Lists or abstracts of registered seamen were sent to the U.S. state departm
Source Bibliography: OLSSON, NILS WILLIAM. "Naturalized Scandinavian Seamen in Boston, 1815-1840." In Swedish American Genealogist, vol. 1:3 (Sept. 1981), pp. 125-133.
In directories for Boston, a John Beman lives on Linn Street and Foster Place, 1820-23.
There is also a naturalization record for a John P. Beeman, 10 December 1835, where he renounces the King of Sweden, who was also the King of Norway at the time. (available on ancestry.com https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2361/images/007221588_00020?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=32aac7a7a49e2ed2eb78b2e868091461&usePUB=true&_phsrc=DUP289&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_gl=1*6mkfth*_ga*NDEzMjUwMTU3LjE2MzI4NTQ3NTE.*_ga_4QT8FMEX30*MTY1MTIyNjM2My4zLjEuMTY1MTIyNzQ4MC4w&pId=1207116 |
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NancyC
Medium member
Norway
198 Posts |
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
Posted - 29/04/2022 : 17:26:08
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Have you looked at this record.
John P. Beeman
in the U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s
Detail Source
Name: John P. Beeman
Age: 35
Birth Year: abt 1800
Arrival Year: 1835
Arrival Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Primary Immigrant: Beeman, John P
Source Publication Code: 6410.30
Annotation: In an effort to stop British impressment of sailors, a register was kept of all seamen who presented proof of U.S. citizenship. Many sailors became U.S. citizens during this time. Lists or abstracts of registered seamen were sent to the U.S. state departm
Source Bibliography: OLSSON, NILS WILLIAM. "Naturalized Scandinavian Seamen in Boston, 1815-1840." In Swedish American Genealogist, vol. 1:3 (Sept. 1981), pp. 125-133.
Household Members
John P. Beeman
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/704273:7486?tid=&pid=&queryId=ae2d9d1a16cc50dbe66eea90339185c6&_phsrc=KXn1&_phstart=successSource
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AntonH
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
9301 Posts |
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NancyC
Medium member
Norway
198 Posts |
Posted - 01/05/2022 : 16:46:45
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Thanks, Anton H, for these sources! I have seen these on Ancestry. There is a good chance the this Swede is actually a Norwegian and the guy I am looking for. It is still not easy to figure out what the name of this John Beeman/Beman was. It is my understanding that a good many of the Norwegian seamen who settled in the US before 1825 were from southern coastal Norway and Rogaland. The birthdate of 12 Dec 1800 is a clue, but it would still take a long time to go through church birth records for the considerable number of churches in this area!
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jkmarler
Norway Heritage Veteran
USA
7790 Posts |
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Identity of John Beman
