Charlestown

Bean family land transactions

Henry Bean purchased a small farm in the Pawlings area in 1812. He died in 1820 leaving a widow, Susanna, and 8 children. After his death his son Nicholas became the prominent family member, starting a coal and lumber busiess in 1830. Nicholas was involved in numerous land transactions. He lent his sons, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Bean, a considerable amount of money. In 1860 they started a business of quarrying and crushing quatzite rock to produce industrial-quality sand. When Nicholas died around 1878, his land holdings had to be liquidated to pay his debts. The loans to his sons also had to be called in, bankrupting them, and their land holdings were sold in a sheriff’s sale.

George W. Bean purchased 17 lots owned by his brothers, B. F. & H. Bean, at sheriff’s sales in 1880. In 1890 Henry Bean died. His widow, Mary Jane Bean acquired a number of properties but met with financial difficulties in 1899. Her assigneee sold 10 tracts to Mortimer Bickley in that year. Mortimer Bickley died around 1913 and his heirs sold 31 tracts to Francis M. Bean, the son of Benjamin Franklin Bean, who then sold them onto the Valley Forge Silica Sand & Ore Company which he had set up with his brother Benjamin Franklin Bean jr. The Company operated until 1928 when the crushing plant they had built next to the Reading Railroad was destroyed by fire.

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas Bean Transactions

Susanna Bean, James & Margaret Jenks, John & Catharine Dean, Samuel & Sarah Bean, Ann Bean, widow and children of Henry Bean

Nicholas Bean

8/23/1828

10a + 152.5p

$25 8c (each?)

B4-89

Major McVeigh & Margaret, his wife

Nicholas Bean

12/8/1853

8a Sch. woodlot

$303

U5-312; Tredyffrin - Potts-Zook Patents

John W. Francis

Nicholas & Henry Bean

12/8/1854

5a 152p

 

A9-11

A9-11

Jacob, Heffelfinger, sheriff, debt of David Elias Gordon

Nicholas Bean

11/1/1860

6a

$355

Sheriff's deed 6-217

Nicholas & Mary Bean

Thomas Hall

3/5/1863

6a 61p

$450

W6-396; Schuylkill

Nicholas & Mary Bean

B.F. Bean

8/16/1870

9,230 sq ft

$300

Z7-241; Schuylkill

Alexander Ingram, sheriff, debt of B.F. Bean

Martha J. Bean

1/23/1876

9,230 sq ft

$2,000

Sheriff’s deed 12-116

Nicholas & Mary Bean

H. & B.F. Bean

3/1/1872

6a 155p + 131p

$8,600

C8-37; Schuylkill

Nicholas & Mary Bean

Henry Bean

3/1/1872

1a 2p

$2,400

C8-38; Schuylkill

Execs. of Nicholas Bean

Alfred U. Bean

12/23/1878

a)    8a Sch. b)   4a 66p

 

F9-205 a)   woodlot b)   bounded by Bilton line and Diamond Rock Road

Execs. of Nicholas Bean

Alfred U. Bean

12/23/1878

5a 115p woodlot & sandstone quarry

 

F9-205 Part of B6-87; Tredyffrin

Execs. of Nicholas Bean

Alfred U. Bean

12/23/1878

4a 66p

$264 75c

F9-222 ; part of U5-312

Alfred U. Bean & Sadie, his wife

Albert Klaus

3/31/1880

5a 115p woodlot & sandstone quarry

$200

G9-247

Albert Klaus & Mollie, his wife

Sadie Bean

8/6/1880

5a 115p woodlot & sandstone quarry

$200

F10-107

Alfred U. Bean & Sadie, his wife

Mary Jane Bean

9/3/1899

a)    4a 66p b)   4a 27p c) 3a Sch.
d) 5a 115p stone quarry

$850

010-292

See A12-22 for sale

 

 

 

 

 

Benjamin & Gainor Boyer

Nicholas Bean

4/4/1839

5a 127p

$396 83c

Q4-572; Katherine Rees tract This tract may be located on the west side of Valley Forge village.

Q4-572

Nicholas & Mary Bean

Thomas Vanderslice, gunsmith

4/1/1840

5a

$140

D5-516; see Joseph Barnes tract for continuation

Thomas Williamson, administrator of the estate of Jacob Taylor

Nicholas Bean

10/2/1841

16a 63p

$1,319 70c

U4-370; Forge tracts

John & Hannah Clift of Schuylkill

Nicholas Bean of Schuylkill

4/1/1850

52a 104p + 1a 2p + 1a 85p + 2a 54p

$3,750

M5-485; Thomas David tract

Nicholas & Mary Bean of Schuylkill township

Alexander Osborne

3/26/1856

52a 104p

$4,000

A6-411

Nicholas & Mary Ann Bean

Asa Phillips

10/15/1858

15a 104p

$1,500, and mortgage of $1,000

I6-240; Katherine Rees tract

Execs of Nicholas Bean

Alfred U. Bean

12/23/1878

3a

$80 59c

F9-220; see Joseph Barnes disposition

Mary Ann & Henry Bean, Matthias Pennypacker, executors of the will of Nicholas Bean

Joshua Zimmerman

4/1/1879

50.2p

$79 27c

F9-227; see George Martin tract

Execs of Nicholas Bean

Alfred U. Bean

4/1/1879

109.8p

$185 73c

F9-229; see George Martin tract

H. & B.F. Bean Purchases

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abraham Bond, John S. Workizer & Ann H., his wife

H. & B.F. Bean

6/15/1864

6a 104p

$45

Z6-29; Tredyffrin - William Mordant Patent

Z6-29

Joseph Batt

H. & B.F. Bean

1866

7a 52p

$950

T7-303; Tredyffrin - Potts-Zook Patents

Isaiah & Anna Thropp

H. & B.F. Bean

5/9/1866

16,000 sq ft

$267 50c

N7-281

Thomas Murray, administrator of the estate of James Murray

H. & B.F. Bean

8/15/1868

129p

$350

P7-332

Cyrus Davis, legal representative of Dr John Havard Davis

H. & B.F. Bean

1/5/1869

67p

$100

A8-355; Schuylkill

Matthias Pennypacker

H. & B.F. Bean

4/1/1870

2.5a

$400

Z7-239; Tredyffrin

Joshua Zimmerman

H. & B.F. Bean

4/1/1874

5a 35p, 27¼a,7a 18p, and 12a 50p

$4,000

S8-56a; Tredyffrin - Evans-John Purchases

Sheriff. James McFarlan, debt of H & B. F. Bean

George W. Bean

3/29/1880

15 lots, first 4 as above: 5a, 129p, 67p, 3a 109p, 4a, 5a, 2.5a, 120p, 0.5a, 20a 74p, and 5?a 152p

$690

G9-552

Ezekiel Bowen & Elizabeth his wife

H. & B.F. Bean

2/1/1871

0.5a

$75

Z7-240; Tredyffrin - Griffith John Patent

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph Thropp & Elijah Pennypacker, executors of the will of Isaiah Thropp

H. & B.F. Bean

4/2/1873

5a

$572 50c

K8-219; Schuylkill

Isaac & Rebecca Rhoades

H. & B.F. Bean

11/12/1873

3a

$350

S8-57; Charlestown

Elizabeth Bowen

H. & B.F. Bean

4/7/1876

5a

$132 50c

U8-256; Schuylkill; see Joseph Barnes tract 6

 

Henry & Benjamin F. Bean

8/4/1879

 

 

K9-74

 

 

 

 

 

 

David & Lizie? Potts

Amos Richards

3/14/1763

 

 

Quoted in G2-385; no Chester County deed found

Amos Richards

John Youngblood

11/24/1764

 

 

 

John Youngblood

 

1765 - 1775

27a

 

Tax returns

John Youngblood

 

11/24/1774 (will)

 

 

died

Executors, Elizabeth Magdelene Youngblood & John Wolf Whisler

Frederick Gearhart

1/27/1777

 

 

Quoted in G2-385; No Chester County deed found

Frederick Gearhart

 

1778 - 1789

~64a

 

Tax returns

Frederick (Blacksmith) & Ann Gearhart of Hyga, New York

Bennett Rapp, Blacksmith, of Charlestown

10/5/1792

27a + 3a

£150

G2-385. 3a from Branch B.

G2-385

Anna Gearhart

Bernard Wrapp

9/13/1796

30a

5s

O2-486; release of dower

Barnet Rapp

 

1799

29a

 

Tax returns; Log Dwelling house 15' x 20'; Frame Kitchen 15' x 10'; Stone Springhouse 10' x 8'; Log Barn 20' x 30'; Stone Smithshop 16' x 18'

Barnet Rapp

 

1824

 

 

Died; to wife the estate in her lifetime. Son Barnet smith tools & shop. Son Joseph wheelwright shop. After wife's death estate to be split between 9 children.

John & Barnet Rapp, executors of the estate of Barnet Rapp

Henry Kurtz

4/23/1849

30a 100p

$1,715

I5-498

Henry Kurtz of Schuylkill

Philo Shelton of Boston, MA

3/15/1850

30a 100p

 

L5-548

L5-548

Philo Shelton

Penn Mining & Smelting Company

5/1/1850

30a 100p + 7a 56p + 99a 130p - 15a

$16,217

L5-551; see above 84a 130p tract sold 1855

Penn Mining & Smelting Company

 

1883

Acreage not noted

 

Breou’s atlas

Alfred U. Bean sales

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alfred U. Bean

Martha Jane Bean

8/15/1879

3,349 ft2

$22

D9-313

Alfred U. Bean

Alfred Klause

3/31/1880

5a 115p

$200

G9-247; Tredyffrin

Alfred U. Bean

Martha Jane Bean

7/26/1880

98.03p

$225

H9-268

Edward B. English & Alfred U. Bean

Jones V. Bean & Joseph Culp

5/19/1887

152.5p + 10a, part of 80a

-

I10-118; defect of deed

Alfred U. Bean

Mary Jane Bean

9/3/1889

4a 66p + 4a 20p + 3a + 5a 115p

$850

O10-292

Mary Jane Bean transactions

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Execs. of John Groff

Mary Jane Bean

1/5/1888

5a woodland; Tredyffrin

 

See Tredyffrin - Griffith John Patent
See A12-22 for sale

Michael Towers (assignee of Mary Jane Bean)

Mortimer Bickley

9/12/1899

1) 9a 45p (Thropp Mill see L9-424)
2) 6a 12p Sch.
3) 5a Tred.(see M10-316)
4i) 4a 66p Sch.
4ii) 3a Sch. (Bilton line southern boundary)
4iii) 5a 115p Tred. (sandstone quarry; see 10-292)
5) 5a Sch. (see Y10-260)
6) 40p
7i) 61a 11p Sch.
7ii) 2a Sch & 6a 87p Tred. (see K11-92)

$8,350

A12-22

Mortimer & Caroline Bickley

Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Co.

4/14/1910

1.28a

$392

Z13-14

B. F. Bean land purchases

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elizabeth Bowen

H. & B. F. Bean

4/7/1876

5a

$132 50c

U8-256; Schuylkill; see Joseph Barnes tract 6 and G9-552 below

George W. Bean land purchases

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas & Mary Ann Bean

George W. Bean

3/16/1868

27a 132p

$11,500

M7-93; see David Matthias tract for earlier history

James McFarlan, Sheriff, debt of H. & B. F. Bean to Nicholas Bean (deceased)

George W. Bean

3/29/1880

6a 155p + 131p

$5,000

G9-549

James McFarlan, Sheriff, debt of H. Bean to Nicholas Bean (deceased)

George W. Bean

3/29/1880

1a 2p

$2,000

G9-551

James McFarlan, Sheriff, debt of H. & B. F. Bean to Nicholas Bean (deceased)

George W. Bean

3/29/1880

15 lots, first 4 as above (5a 35p, 7a 40p, 7a 18p, 12a 55p): 5a, 129p, 67p, 3a 109p, 4a, 5a, 2.5a, 120p, 0.5a, 20a 74p, and 5?a 152p

$690

G9-552; also in Sheriff’s Deed 8-369; see H & B.F. Bean purchases above

  1. In Schuylkill. Bounded by lands of Samuel Davis, Peter Suplee, David Conrad, and Abraham Brower.

  2. In Schuylkill. Messuage and lot of land bounded by lands of Ezekiel Brower and Nutts Road.

  3. In Schuylkill. Messuage and lot of land bounded by lands of Evan Vanderslice, Sarah Purdy died, Charles Adanic and other.

  4. In Schuylkill. Lot of land bounded by lands of Nicholas Bean, John Showalter, Robert Jones and others.

  5. In Schuylkill. Lot of land bounded by lands of Matthew Ross, Nicholas Bean, and first above described tract.

  6. In Schuylkill. Lot of land bounded by lands of E. F. Pennypacker, Nicholas Bean, the Bilton line and others.

  7. In Tredyffrin. Lot of land bounded by lands of Ezekiel Bowers, Phoenix Iron Company, and others.

  8. In Schuylkill. Lot of land bounded by lands of Ezekiel Bowers, Joseph Funk, and others.

  9. In Tredyffrin. Lot of land bounded by lands of Joseph Funk, and other lands of H. & B.F. Bean, E. F. Pennypacker, the Bilton line.

  10. In Charlestown. Messuage and lot of land bounded by lands of John Williamson, Joseph & Benjamin Funk, and John Woseler(?).

  11. In Schuylkill. Half interest in lot of land bounded by lands of William Serou(?) Mining Co., Stewart’s land, Thomas Vanderslice, and Caster’s land.

John Groff & Susanna, his wife

George W. Bean

4/4/1881

7a 32 perches

$200

H9-434; Tredyffrin - Potts-Zook Patents

Joseph McClure & wife

George W. Bean

6/2/1881

1a 25p

$231 25c

H9-589; Tredyffrin - Potts-Zook Patents

John & Caroline Akins

George W. Bean

5/17/1893

25a 159p

$275

Z10-189; Tredyffrin - William Powell Patent

George, Milton Zimmerman, M. P. Anderson, Ida Brinitz? (nee Zimmerman), executors of the will of Joshua Zimmerman

George W. Bean

4/2/1882

31a 121p

$624

Z9-167; see Joseph Barnes Branch 3

George W. Bean land sales

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

George W. Bean

John Gwin of West Whiteland

4/6/1801

121a 68p

£800

S7-558

George W. Bean

 

1835

 

 

R9-86

George W. Bean

Rachel Gwinn

6/23/1836

80a, part of 121a

$4,480

W9-73

George W. & Annie Bean

Joseph & Harriet Culp, Jones Bean

1/25/1883

1/3 interest in 31a 121p

$624

V9-210; See Joseph Barnes tract #3.2

George W. Bean

Catharine, Hannah, Rachel, and John Gwinn

 

 

 

W9-228

George W. & Annie Bean

Elias Foust

3/30/1892

7a 109p

$268 84c

U10-338

George W. Bean

Catherine & Hannah Gwinn

1843

 

 

X11-289

George W. Bean

Catharine & Hannah Gwinn

2/18/1845

80a

$1,000

B12-4

George W. & Annie Bean

Edward Matthews

6/19/1901

38a 158p

$1,105 20c

E12-113; Tredyffrin & Schuylkill

George W. & Annie Bean

Benjamin F. Fisher

6/19/1901

7a 109.75p

$192 15c

E11-451; see G9-552 plot #4

George W. Bean

Catharine, Hannah, Rachel Gwinn

1892

 

 

A13-267

George W. Bean

Catherine & Hannah Gwinn

1843

 

 

Y12-158

George W. Bean

Catharine & Hannah Gwinn

2/18/1845

80a

$1,000

W13-224; Tredyffrin

George W. Bean

 

4/5/1850

80.75a

$7,260

Z13-127; Schuylkill

George W. Bean

Catharine, Hannah, Rachel, and John Gwinn

 

 

 

X14-244; Schuylkill

George W. Bean

Catharine, Hannah, Rachel Gwinn

1892

 

 

L15-420; Tredyffrin

George W. Bean

Catherine & Hannah Gwinn

1843

 

 

L15-421; Tredyffrin

George W. Bean

Catharine & Hannah Gwinn

2/18/1845

80a

$1,000

X15-578; Schuylkill

George W. & Annie Bean

Knickerbocker Lime Company

9/25/1896

25a 159p

$575

Y12-158; Tredyffrin

Francis Bean purchases

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

William Turner, sheriff, debt of Martha Jane Bean (widow of Benjamin Franklin Bean)

Francis M. Bean

4/26/1900

28,303 ft2 (messuage); + 1a 99p + 40a woodland in Tredyffrin + 5a 20p (see Thomas David tract for earlier history) + 2a 133p (previously Cedar Hollow Lime Company) + 6a 55p (see Joseph Barnes tract, lot #31 for earlier history) + 2.5a + 120p + 4a 34p

$207

Z11-412

Nathan & Mary Beyer

Francis M. Bean

12/27/1900

2a 30p

$164 6c

L12-141

Hiram & Araminta Anders, John & Ella Schultz

Francis M. Bean

1/2/1901

5a 22p + 2a 30p

$500

O12-96

Execs of Nathan Jones

Francis M. Bean

12/12/1901

4a 67¾p

$300

K12-195; see Forge tracts, Valley Creek meadow

John & Elizabeth Dunn

Francis M. Bean

1/31/1901

3a 147p

$75

Z12-146; see Forge tracts, table H.8

 

 

 

 

 

Z12-147

Heirs of John Rittenhouse

Francis M. Bean

12/2/1901

5a 43p

$130

W12-407

 

 

 

 

 

H13-292

Milton & Mary Bickley, Walter & Josephine Bickley, Mary & Henry Robinson, heirs of Mortimer Bickley

Francis M. Bean

4/1/1913

The same 31 lots as described below?

 

$25,100

K14-312; see below

Milton Bickley, heir of Mortimer Binkley

Francis M. Bean

4/3/1913

13,080 ft2 + 4a 67¾p

$1 and other considerations

P14-61; see Forge tracts, Valley Creek meadow

 

 

 

 

 

 

Francis Bean sales

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Francis M. & A. Elizabeth Bean

Mortimer Bickley

1/31/1901

5a 22p + 2a 30p + 2a 30p

$665

O12-97

Valley Forge Silica Sand & Ore Company

From

To

Date

Area

Cost

Reference

 

 

 

 

 

 

Milton & Mary Bickley, Walter & Josephine Bickley, Mary & Henry Robinson, heirs of Mortimer Bickley

Francis M. Bean

4/1/1913

The same 31 lots as described below

 

$25,100

K14-312

Francis M. Bean

Valley Forge Silica Sand & Ore Company

5/11/1913

31 lots

$40,000

Q14-120

1. Schuylkill, building, known as Thropps Mill, 9a 45p (A12-22 item 1)

2. Schuylkill, 6a 12p (A12-22 item 2)

3. Tredyffrin, JW #3, northern boundary Welsh line, southern boundary Potts Farm.

4. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, along Diamond Rock Road, 4a 66p (A12-22 item 4a)

5. Tredyffrin, northern boundary Welsh line, 4a 20p

6. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 3a

7. Tredyffrin, northern boundary Welsh line, 5a 112p (A12-22 item 4c - sandstone quarry)

8. Schuylkill, 5a

9. Schuylkill, 40p (A12-22 item 6)

10. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 61a 11p (A12-22 item 7)

11. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 2½a

12. Tredyffrin, northern boundary Welsh line, 6a 87p, except 4.411a, see M11-69

13. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 31a 121p. see Z9-167

14. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 5a 22p

15. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 2a 30p

16. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 2a 30p (part of Q3-436)

17. Schuylkill, 5a 151p

18. Schuylkill, building, 6a 80p

19. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 4a 159p, S14-312

20. Tredyffrin, building, northern boundary Welsh line, 15a

21. Tredyffrin, stone quarry, northern boundary Welsh line, 10a

22. Tredyffrin, stone quarries, northern boundary Welsh line, southern boundary Potts Farm, 5a

23. Tredyffrin, stone quarries, northern boundary Welsh line, 10a

24. Schuylkill, bulding, along Diamond Rock Road, 5a 20p

25. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 2a 133p

26. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 6a 55p

27. Schuylkill, 2½a

28. Schuylkill, 120p, part of R11-412

29. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 3a 147p, Z12-146

30. Tredyffrin, northern boundary Welsh line, southern corner Potts Farm, W12-407

31. Schuylkill, southern boundary Welsh line, 1a 2p, Z12-147

Valley Forge Silica Sand & Ore Company

Howard Y. Spare

12/18/1923

31 lots

$3,200

P17-1

Howard Y. & Catharine Spare

Pine Iron Works

3/3/1928

31 lots

$1

G17-428

Pine Iron Works

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

7/29/1943

7a

$8,250

H21-49

Pine Iron Works

Paul Lemen

4/24/1946

31 lots

$27,500

S21-217

Paul & Lema Lemen

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

3/4/1958

9.035a + 3.890a

$9,100

Y29-574; Bean lots