SECOND GENERATION

4. Thomas Watt Beard Jr. was born on 10 Jan 1827 in Alabama. He on was on the County tax roll in 1855 in Coryell County, Texas. He bought 160 acres on the waters of Coryell Creek, 7 miles east of Gatesville on 26 Oct 1859 in Coryell County, Texas. ⁽²⁴⁾ He appeared on the census on 7 Jul 1860 in P. O. Gatesville, Coryell County, Texas.⁽²⁵⁾ He appeared on the census on 24 Sep 1870 in P. O. Station Creek, Coryell County, Texas.⁽²⁶⁾ He appeared on the census on 1 Jun 1880 in JP #1, Coryell County, Texas. ⁽²⁷⁾ He sold 160 acres on the waters of Coryell Creek on 17 Jul 1884 in Coryell County, Texas. He died in Jan 1895 in Bandera County, Texas. He was buried in Medina, Bandera County, Texas.


In land office file # Milam -3rd-1783, Thomas W. Beard swore on February 16, 1857, that he did settle on vacant public domain as of August 26, 1856, and had continued to reside upon such settlement. This was witnessed by Thomas Scott and L. H. Allen. He was granted title to 160 acres of land in Coryell County, 7 miles east of Gatesville, on the waters of Coryell Creek, and next to Preston P. Allen's land, on October 25, 1859, Patent 385, Volume 27 (Surveyed by Willis Beard and Timothy Lee, recorded in Coryell County, Volume D, p. 336).


Thomas Beard served under the Texas State Militia, Captain G. W. Haley, Company C, 2nd Frontier District, Coryell County, Major G. B. Erath, commanding. He was 37 years old at enlistment in May, 1864.

Beard sold this land on July 17, 1884 for $1,000, 25% cash, and 75% note. He then probably moved to San Saba County Texas, though this has not yet been verified. His widow lived in the Indian Territory in 1900, with her daughter, Annie Martin.

A story by Elmer Ray Ivy, a grandson: When Thomas Watt Beard was going with his family from Kendalia to Medina, they went by wagon. Thomas was in the backlaying down because he was sick, his wife, Flora Elizabeth Patterson, was back there with him, and Thomas William was driving the wagon. Suddenly, Flora said "Stop the wagon!" Thomas William did, climbed down from the wagon box, and went around the back to see what was wrong. Flora climbed down out of the wagon and said "He's dead. Tom you go in there and close his eyes." Since they were on the road, they waited until they got to Medina to bury Thomas Watt Beard, Jr. Years later, a flood came and washed away the grave.

He was married to Flora Elizabeth Patterson (daughter of Alexander Thompson Patterson and Leah Duff) on 5 Mar 1854 in Bell County, Texas. Flora Elizabeth Patterson was born on 29 Aug 1835 in Maryville, Blount County, Tennessee. She appeared on the census on 14 Jun 1900 in City of Chickasha, Chickashaw Nation, Indian Territory. ⁽²⁸⁾ She died in 1901 in Cherokee, Texas. Thomas Watt Beard Jr. and Flora Elizabeth Patterson had the following children:

19 i. Solomon Beard was born in 1856 in Coryell County, Texas. He died in 1856 in Coryell County, Texas.
+20 ii. Anna Beard.
+21 iii. James Matison Beard.
+22 iv. Thomas William Beard.
23 v. George Washington Beard was born on 21 Jan 1865 in Coryell County, Texas. He died before 1900.
+24 vi. Jessie Lee Beard.
25 vii. Willis Nelson Beard was born on 17 Jan 1870 in Coryell County, Texas. He died before 1900.


Killed by a horse.


+26 viii. Lucy Ellen Beard.
27 ix. Samuel P. Beard died in 1874 in Coryell County, Texas. He was born on 1 Sep 1874 in Coryell County, Texas.
+28 x. Elijah Donaldson "Elisha" Beard.