Rebecca has been easy to keep track of. I’m telling you folks, this family is an anomaly because the women in the direct line have made it easy to follow.
Rebecca was born in Ireland and I have listed her birth as about 1824. Her age on the census records fluctuate between 1822 and 1826. Her brothers list their immigration year as 1824. She is consistent that her place of birth was Ireland until the 1900 census, where she is listed as age 77, born in 1822. I’m not sure that she provided the information for this census. It is probable the information was provided by her granddaughter Minnie Shaffer Frailey, or Minnie’s husband John, as they resided with her at the time. This is the only census that states her place of birth as Pennsylvania. There was also no information provided about the number of children born and living – yet another reason I believe the informant was not Rebecca.
I have provided links to all the census records she appears on below.
18501
18602
18703
18804
19005
Rebecca and James had the following children:
Elizabeth Angeline Beatty (1850-1918) m. James Young (1854-1914)
Jane Isabella Beatty (chr. 18 May 1851 – bef 1860)
Nancy M. J. Beatty (1853-1909) m. Peter Shaffer (1852-1934)
Caroline Beatty (1859 – 1891) m. Elias Clark Beer (1860-1932)
William James Beatty (1861-1920) m. Martha Jane Shaffer (1858 – 1891) m. Amanda Jane Ramsey (1858-1956)
I will discuss the children and their spouses in a separate post.
Rebecca’s death has been clearly documented in a rather graphic newspaper account in several newspapers of the time.6 However, these articles name her as Mrs. Nancy Beatty, age 92. But they all name her children as Mrs. James Young [Elizabeth Angeline], Mrs. Peter Shaffer [Nancy M.J.], and William J. Beatty. This is definitely Rebecca. Don Beatty, Beatty family researcher, reported that John Addison Beatty (Rebecca’s grandson) personally confirmed to him that this was Rebecca and that the editor printed a correction shortly thereafter. I have not yet found a copy of that correction; however, I have no reason to doubt Don’s report. Don’s note of this interview is available on Rootsweb.7 And, once again, this matches a family story provided by my father-in-law prior to my own research.
Warning! Graphic content!
BURNED TO DEATH AT AGE OF 92
Mrs. Nancy Beatty Sat Too Close to the Stove and Her Clothes Caught Fire
HER FLESH BURNED TO THE BONE
Flames Had Completely Enveloped Her When Friends Came in Response to Her Cries for Help.
Mrs. Nancy Beatty, aged 92 years, was burned to death at the home of her son, William, on Plum creek, midway between Shelocta and Elderton last Saturday.
As no one was in the room with the aged victim at the time, the cause of her burning can only be conjectured, but it is thought that her apron caught fire from a cook stove before which she was sitting.
When her cries for help attracted the other inmates of the house, the flames had completely enveloped her. The clothing was burned from her body, her hair was entirely burned off, and her emaciated frame from the knees to the shoulders was fearfully
seared by the cruel flames. In a number of places the flesh was burned off completely, exhibiting the ghastly whiteness of the bones.
Dr. Keeler, of Shelocta, was summoned and did what he could to alleviate the intense suffering of the woman, but she lingered in great agony until 2 o’clock Sunday morning when death came to her relief.
The deceased is survived by two daughters, Mrs. James Young and Mrs. Peter Shaffer, of Elderton, and one son, William, of Plum Creek township. The funeral services were conducted on Monday afternoon, by Rev. O. H. Milllgan, interment being made in the Elderton Cemetery.
There is no stone for Rebecca in Elderton Cemetery.
I also found no will for Rebecca in either Armstrong or Indiana County.
My next post will be some short notes and information about Rebecca and James’s children.
1. 1850 U.S. census, Indiana, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Washington Twp, p. 220, dwelling 141, family 141, Rebecca Baty; digital images, Ancestry (http//www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll 785.
2. 1860 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Burrell, p. 72, dwelling 258, family 251, Rebecca Beaty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll 1116.
3. 1870 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Twp., p. 360, dwelling 153, family 153, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M593, roll 1301.
4. 1880 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Twp., enumeration district (ED) 5, p. 124, dwelling 284, family 303, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 6 Mar 2010); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 1096.
5. 1900 U.S. census, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Plumcreek Township, enumeration district (ED) 12, p. 9B, dwelling 192, family 199, Rebecca Beatty; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : accessed 18 Dec 2011); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1373.
6. “BURNED TO DEATH AT THE AGE OF 92,” The Indiana County Gazette, 17 Sep 1902, p. 3, col. 3; digital images, NewspaperArchive (http://www.newspaperarchive.com : accessed 31 Dec 2011).
7.”USGenWeb,” database, USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.org : accessed 20 Dec 2011), Rebeccah Beatty, 1902, Plum Creek; Provided by Don Beatty http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/armstrong/obits/b3000001.txt.