Caesar Beman (abt. 1750 - 1821)

Born about 1750 in Connecticut Colony

Husband of Sarah (Gerry) Beman — married 8 Mar 1781 (to 1820) in Chatham, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States

Descendants

Died 1821 at about age 71 in Colchester, New London, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Caesar Beman is Notable.

Caesar Beman served with 5th Connecticut Regiment (1781), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Caesar was born in 1850 in Connecticut. ^[1]

Caesar Beeman enlisted as private in the 5th Regiment, Connecticut, in the US Army on 13 February 1781.^[2]

Because he took the place of John Isham, who had been keeping Caesar as a slave, John freed him.

Years later, when Caesar’s son Jehiel learned a biographer was writing a history of African Americans in New England, he wrote him a letter and explained where the name ‘Beman’ came from: “My father always abhorred slavery and he wanted to ‘be a man,’” Jehiel Beman wrote. “So when he was freed, he took the name Beman. Be a man.”^[3]

Thus, the emancipation record says: "Know all men by these presents that I, John Isham, for faithful services born my by the Negro man Cesar Beman emancipates and sets free from any further control:…this 18th day of February 1781." ^[4]

Three weeks later, on 8 March 1781, Cezar Beman (sic) and Sarah Gary were married in Chatham, Middlesex, Connecticut. ^[5][6]

Military

He left soon after his marriage to complete his three-year term in the US military. He reported for duty in May 1781 with the 5th Connecticut. The Regiment had been merged along with the 7th Conn. into the 2nd Conn. on January 1, 1781. He served under Capt. Paul Dorrance, Capt. Enoch Reed, and Capt. Elias Stillwell.^[7]The Fifth was furloughed June 15, 1783, at West Point, New York, and disbanded on November 15, 1783.^[8]

In 1818, he applied for a Revolutionary War pension, being infirm. Caesar died prior to Sep 1821, before he received any pension.

Census Records and Residences

After he left the military, in 1783, he was working as a farm laborer in Chatham.

1790 There are nine entries for a "Caesar" who is an "other free person" in the records for Connecticut. Most have no surname. He could be any of them; one has a likely name:

• a Caesar Beaumont (household of 4 other free people) is in Litchfield CT^[9]

1800 - multiple options for a Caesar, including a Caesar Beaman in Fairfield CT.

1810 - 9 people named Caesar in CT, none with a last name that resembles Beamon.

1815 - Caesar and his family removed to Colchester about 1815.^[10]

1820 Aug 7 - The household of a Ceasar Beman is in Colchester, CT.^[11]

• 1 Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over - possibly Sarah
• 1 Free Colored Persons - Males - Under 14 - ?
• 1 Free Colored Persons - Males - 45 and over - Caesar

Sources

1. ↑ American Genealogical-Biographical Index (AGBI), Volume 11, Page number 538, Reference: Record of Conn. Men in mil. And naval service during the Rev. war, 1775-1783. By Henry P.Johnston. Hartford. 1889. (17,779p.):348
2. ↑ National Archives; Washington, D.C.; Compiled Service Records of Soldiers who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War; Record Group Title: War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records; Record Group Number: 93; Series Number: M881
3. ↑ Nasta, Jesse, "All Things Considered" radio interview, 2020 Apr 3.
4. ↑ Vital Records Vol. I, Colchester, Connecticut Town Clerk’s Office
5. ↑ Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920, Volume 2, Page 91
6. ↑ Marriage: "Early Connecticut Marriages"
   Bailey, Frederic W. Early Connecticut Marriages as Found on Ancient Church Records Prior to 1800. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1997
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 3719 #10607
   Cezar Beman marriage to Sarah Gary on 8 Mar 1781 in Chatham, Middlesex.
7. ↑ Welch, Vicki S.. And They Were Related, Too: A Study of Eleven Generations of One American Family! . Xlibris US. Kindle Edition.
8. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Connecticut_Regiment
9. ↑ Year: 1790; Census Place: Warren, Litchfield, Connecticut; Series: M637; Roll: 1; Page: 258; Image: 281; Family History Library Film: 0568141
10. ↑ Welch, Vicki S.. And They Were Related, Too: A Study of Eleven Generations of One American Family! . Xlibris US. Kindle Edition.
11. ↑ 1820 Census: "1820 United States Federal Census"
    1820 U S Census; Census Place: Colchester, New London, Connecticut; Page: 652; NARA Roll: M33_2; Image: 643
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7734 #1158839
    Ceasar Bemon in Colchester, New London, Connecticut.