Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
Mertz Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameAnn Beck 
Birthabout 1715, Norfolk Co, VA
Deathafter 1772
FatherBenjamin Beck (-<1718)
MotherMargaret Suggs
Spouses
Birthabout 1710, Norfolk Co, VA
Deathabout 1771, Halifax Co, NC
BurialHalifax Co, NC
FatherBartholomew Highsmith
MotherElinor Powell (~1692-)
Marriageabout 1735, Norfolk Co, VA
Research notes for Ann Beck
Ancestry of Highsmith Wives
The story of the ancestry of these various Highsmith wives is published in a book entitled “Highsmiths in America: Addendum” by Delwood Jackson and it starts with a letter to Jackson from Chris Bailey who updates the original Highsmith book as it relates to several of their wives. I have added some formatting to the letter to be consistent with the style of identifying ancestors used by me elsewhere in this book.
“I am happy to write you and relay some information that we have found in recent years on some of the earlier Highsmith ancestry. I have worked on some of this information with another Highsmith descendant and good personal friend and nationally known genealogist, Richard S Lackey. Sadly, Richard died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack about a year ago at the young age of 41. But prior to that we often met in various parts of the country where our business travels took us to discuss our Highsmith research.
Working chronologically from the earliest, I will start first with our Beck ancestry. We have been able to prove that Benjamin Beck, the father of Ann (Beck) Highsmith was the son of Jeremiah and Ann (Morrow) Beck. Jeremiah Beck was born about 1650-60 and married about 1685, probably in Norfolk County, Va. His wife was Ann Morrow, daughter of David Morrow of Norfolk County. Ann Morrow was first married to Michael McCoy (Macoy) who died between February, 1680 and May, 1682 in Norfolk County.
Ann (Morrow) McCoy thereafter married Jeremiah Beck and was again a widow when her will was proven in Princess Ann County, Virginia on October 16, 1700. She mentions children George, Benjamin and Jeremiah Beck (Sons) and daughters Hannah Dollar, Ann Everidge and Margaret Beck. Also mentioned was a son James McCoy. The executor was Joseph Dollar, apparently the husband of Hannah. Note, however, that Hannah and Ann were not Becks, but McCoys before their marriage. (The will of Ann (Morrow) McCoy Beck’s first husband Michael McCoy listed children Michael, James, Hannah, Anne and Mary McCoy who were all small when he died).
David Morrow (also called Murray) was apparently the same David Morrow who patented 300 acres of land in Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Va. November 22, 1651. He may have been related, perhaps a son-in-law of Matthew Mathias who died in 1669 in Lower Norfolk County and named as overseers of his will David Morrow and Michael McCoy. Ann Morrow was a witness.
David Morrow Sr. of Elizabeth River Parish, Norfolk County wrote his will November 5, 1692 and it was proven May 16, 1693. David mentions a son, Alexander (no heirs yet), a son John (who had one son) and daughter Ann ‘now wife of Jeremiah Beck’ and also John and George Morrow who were children of his son David Morrow Jr. who had died earlier that year. The wife of David Morrow Sr. was apparently Ann Mathias. It is apparently she who witnessed the will of Mathew Mathias in 1669 and with her husband David Murray (Morrow) witnessed the will of Michael McCoy in 1680. Please note that the surname Murray and Morrow are used interchangeably in these records.
Returning to Benjamin Beck, father of Ann (Beck) Highsmith. Benjamin was married about 1705 to Margaret Suggs, daughter of George Suggs and Sarah (Ewes) Suggs of Norfolk County. The will of George Suggs was proven September 2, 1734 in Norfolk County, VA and he lists sons Thomas, George and Acquilla Suggs and daughters Priscilla Mound and Mary Suggs. Also noted are granddaughters Ann Beck, Margaret Beck, Rachael Mercer and Margaret Mercer. The grandchildren were all three children of his daughter Margaret. The will is confusing the way written and one would think the last person Margaret Mercer was a 4th grandchild, but in fact it was his daughter Margaret (Suggs) Beck who had married John Mercer after the death of Benjamin Beck prior to February 20, 1718/19. Ann and Margaret were children by her first husband and Rachael was by her second.
Sarah Ives, the wife of George Suggs was the daughter of Timothy Ives Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Hurle (or Harle). Timothy Jr. was born about 1640 and died after 1715 in Norfolk County. His father, Timothy Ives Sr. was born about 1610 in England and came to America in 1638 taking up a grant of land at Deep Creek, near Portsmouth, Va. His wife was named Margaret.”
The story of the ancestry of these various Highsmith wives is published in a book entitled “Highsmiths in America: Addendum” by Delwood Jackson and it starts with a letter to Jackson from Chris Bailey who updates the original Highsmith book as it relates to several of their wives. I have added some formatting to the letter to be consistent with the style of identifying ancestors used by me elsewhere in this book.
“I am happy to write you and relay some information that we have found in recent years on some of the earlier Highsmith ancestry. I have worked on some of this information with another Highsmith descendant and good personal friend and nationally known genealogist, Richard S Lackey. Sadly, Richard died quite unexpectedly of a heart attack about a year ago at the young age of 41. But prior to that we often met in various parts of the country where our business travels took us to discuss our Highsmith research.
Working chronologically from the earliest, I will start first with our Beck ancestry. We have been able to prove that Benjamin Beck, the father of Ann (Beck) Highsmith was the son of Jeremiah and Ann (Morrow) Beck. Jeremiah Beck was born about 1650-60 and married about 1685, probably in Norfolk County, Va. His wife was Ann Morrow, daughter of David Morrow of Norfolk County. Ann Morrow was first married to Michael McCoy (Macoy) who died between February, 1680 and May, 1682 in Norfolk County.
Ann (Morrow) McCoy thereafter married Jeremiah Beck and was again a widow when her will was proven in Princess Ann County, Virginia on October 16, 1700. She mentions children George, Benjamin and Jeremiah Beck (Sons) and daughters Hannah Dollar, Ann Everidge and Margaret Beck. Also mentioned was a son James McCoy. The executor was Joseph Dollar, apparently the husband of Hannah. Note, however, that Hannah and Ann were not Becks, but McCoys before their marriage. (The will of Ann (Morrow) McCoy Beck’s first husband Michael McCoy listed children Michael, James, Hannah, Anne and Mary McCoy who were all small when he died).
David Morrow (also called Murray) was apparently the same David Morrow who patented 300 acres of land in Lynnhaven Parish, Lower Norfolk Co, Va. November 22, 1651. He may have been related, perhaps a son-in-law of Matthew Mathias who died in 1669 in Lower Norfolk County and named as overseers of his will David Morrow and Michael McCoy. Ann Morrow was a witness.
David Morrow Sr. of Elizabeth River Parish, Norfolk County wrote his will November 5, 1692 and it was proven May 16, 1693. David mentions a son, Alexander (no heirs yet), a son John (who had one son) and daughter Ann ‘now wife of Jeremiah Beck’ and also John and George Morrow who were children of his son David Morrow Jr. who had died earlier that year. The wife of David Morrow Sr. was apparently Ann Mathias. It is apparently she who witnessed the will of Mathew Mathias in 1669 and with her husband David Murray (Morrow) witnessed the will of Michael McCoy in 1680. Please note that the surname Murray and Morrow are used interchangeably in these records.
Returning to Benjamin Beck, father of Ann (Beck) Highsmith. Benjamin was married about 1705 to Margaret Suggs, daughter of George Suggs and Sarah (Ewes) Suggs of Norfolk County. The will of George Suggs was proven September 2, 1734 in Norfolk County, VA and he lists sons Thomas, George and Acquilla Suggs and daughters Priscilla Mound and Mary Suggs. Also noted are granddaughters Ann Beck, Margaret Beck, Rachael Mercer and Margaret Mercer. The grandchildren were all three children of his daughter Margaret. The will is confusing the way written and one would think the last person Margaret Mercer was a 4th grandchild, but in fact it was his daughter Margaret (Suggs) Beck who had married John Mercer after the death of Benjamin Beck prior to February 20, 1718/19. Ann and Margaret were children by her first husband and Rachael was by her second.
Sarah Ives, the wife of George Suggs was the daughter of Timothy Ives Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Hurle (or Harle). Timothy Jr. was born about 1640 and died after 1715 in Norfolk County. His father, Timothy Ives Sr. was born about 1610 in England and came to America in 1638 taking up a grant of land at Deep Creek, near Portsmouth, Va. His wife was named Margaret.”
Research notes for Daniel (Spouse 1)
This from “Highsmiths in America”.
“4. Daniel Highsmith was born about 1710 likely in Norfolk County, VA. By 1744, he had settled in Bertie County, NC and by 1750 moved on to Halifax County, where he died in 1771. About 1735 he married Ann Beck. She was born in 1715 in Norfolk County and died after 1772. More on her at the end of this chapter.”
Much of the information I have cited about these various Highsmiths comes from a book “Highsmiths in America” compiled by Annette Paris Highsmith and published in 1971. The speculation in the book is that 4.Daniel was the son of Bartholomew Highsmith and I think a credible case is made, so I am placing him in your family tree in that position.
“4. Daniel Highsmith was born about 1710 likely in Norfolk County, VA. By 1744, he had settled in Bertie County, NC and by 1750 moved on to Halifax County, where he died in 1771. About 1735 he married Ann Beck. She was born in 1715 in Norfolk County and died after 1772. More on her at the end of this chapter.”
Much of the information I have cited about these various Highsmiths comes from a book “Highsmiths in America” compiled by Annette Paris Highsmith and published in 1971. The speculation in the book is that 4.Daniel was the son of Bartholomew Highsmith and I think a credible case is made, so I am placing him in your family tree in that position.
My Comments notes for Daniel (Spouse 1)
Mariam Dorcas Highsmith (1796-1881) was the wife of Jesse Lee. She was Emma Wyatt Herring’s great-grandmother on her mother’s die.
Jesse Lee was in fact Mariam’s 2nd cousin and Mariam’s parents were first cousins to each other and to Jesse’s mother. The result of all of this inter-marriage makes for an interesting curiosity as to the g-g-g-g-g-grandparents of the Lawther cousins of Wilmington. Whereas a typical person has 6 unique sets of such ancestors, you only have 4 such unique sets. Daniel Highsmith and Ann Beck are your 6-g-grandparents in 3 different ways.
Jesse Lee was in fact Mariam’s 2nd cousin and Mariam’s parents were first cousins to each other and to Jesse’s mother. The result of all of this inter-marriage makes for an interesting curiosity as to the g-g-g-g-g-grandparents of the Lawther cousins of Wilmington. Whereas a typical person has 6 unique sets of such ancestors, you only have 4 such unique sets. Daniel Highsmith and Ann Beck are your 6-g-grandparents in 3 different ways.