Barnard Elliot Bee Sr. (1788 - 1853)

Born 23 Aug 1788 in Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Ann Wragg (Fayssoux) Bee — married before 1810 in Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Descendants

Died 9 Apr 1853 at age 64 in Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, United States

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Biography

Barnard Bee Sr. is Notable.

Barnard Elliot Bee Sr. (1788–1853) was an attorney and politician. A native of South Carolina, he moved to the Southwest in 1836, where he and his family were early settlers in the Republic of Texas. He became a political leader there, serving in several political appointee positions in the republic (Wikipedia). Barnard was born in 1788, the son of Thomas Bee and Susannah Bulline, both of planter families. His father was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a US Congressman.

From 1830-1832, Barnard served on the staff of his brother-in-law James Hamilton, Jr., governor of South Carolina. In 1836, Barnard moved his family to Texas and took part in the Texas Revolution. The town of "Maryville," Texas, which had been named for pioneer Mary Heffernan was renamed "Beeville" after Barnard, as was Bee County, Texas (Wikipedia).

Barnard married Ann Wragg Fayssoux, also of Charleston. Ann was from a prominent family of French Huguenot descent. Barnard and Ann were the parents of two sons, both of whom served in the Confederat Army as Generals during the American Civil War:

• Hamilton Prioleau Bee, born July 22, 1822, followed his father into politics, serving first in the Republic of Texas Senate, in 1846, in the Texas legislature for over ten years, and in 1855 was elected as speaker of the house.

• Barnard Elliott Bee, Jr., born February 8, 1824, was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Bull Run, and died July 22, 1861. He was one of the first general officers to be killed during the American Civil War.

The Texas government appointed Barnard, Sr. as minister (ambassador) to the United States. He served in that post from April 20, 1840 to December 13, 1841. He negotiated with Daniel Webster and settled the formal treaty by which the United States recognized Texas. Barnard strongly opposed to the annexation of Texas into the United States. Afterward he returned to South Carolina. He died there in 1853, and is buried in St Paul’s Episcopal Church Cemetery in Pendleton, Anderson County, SC.

The inscription on his tombstone reads:

"He died universally regretted leaving to his children, the memory of his virtues, which is to them imperishable, and they have reared this stone in commemoration to their love" (FindAGrave.com).

Legacy

Bee County, Texas is named in his honor.

Sources

• "Barnard E. Bee Sr.." Wikipedia, accessed on 7 Nov 2023.
• "Beeville, Texas." Wikipedia, accessed on 7 Nov 2023.
• "1810 United States Census," database, Ancestry.com (accessed November 7, 2023), entry for Bernard Bee (head: white male aged 26-44), Roll No. 60, Page 324, Image No. Scm252_60-0173, Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina; citing NARA FHL microfilm 0181419.
• "1820 United States Census," database, Ancestry.com (accessed November 7, 2023), entry for Barnard Elliott Bee (head: white male aged 26-44), Page 104, Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina; citing NARA FHL microfilm roll M33_119.
• "1830 United States Census," database, Ancestry.com (accessed November 7, 2023), entry for Barnard E. Bee (head: white male aged 40-49), Series No. M19, Roll No. 170, Page 33, Charleston Ward 2, Charleston, South Carolina; citing NARA FHL microfilm 0022504.
• "1850 United States Census," database, Ancestry.com (accessed November 7, 2023), entry for Barnard E. Bee (age 62), Group No. 29, Series No. M432, Page 186A, Western Division, Anderson, South Carolina; citing NARA FHL microfilm roll 848.
• "Barnard Elliott Bee Sr.," FindAGrave.com (accessed November 7, 2023), citing St. Paul's Episcopal Church Cemetery, Pendelton, Anderson County, South Carolina, USA.