George Beckwith, son of Samuel Beckwith and Anna Ransom, was born on October 16, 1790 in the agricultural community of East Haddam in Middlesex County, Connecticut. He was the eighth of nineteen children born to Samuel and Anna Beckwith. Several of his siblings moved to the Palmyra area, creating a strong familial network for George. Two of his sisters married two of our suspects: Ruth married Reverend John R. Clark, and Ann married Alexander McIntyre. Out of all his siblings, George was closest to his brother Nathaniel.
From Connecticut to Palmyra
George left his native state of Connecticut in 1811, and relocated in Pittsford, Monroe County, New York, a suburb of Rochester named by Colonel Caleb Hopkins, a War of 1812 hero, after the town of his birth—Pittsford, Vermont. In Pittsford, George enlisted in the military when the US Congress declared war on Great Britain on June 18, 1812.[1] Due to the closeness of George and his brother Nathaniel, it is assumed that they were in the same military unit. Nathaniel served as a lieutenant.[2] George ended his military stint before the Treaty of Ghent, which ended hostilities of the War of 1812 by formal ratification on February 17, 1815.
George returned to Pittsford and worked as a clerk at Augustus G. Elliott’s store, one of the largest mercantile establishments in Western New York. George worked with Mr. Elliott for only a short time before moving to Palmyra. There, he formed a business partnership with his older brother Nathaniel Beckwith under the firm name N. H. & G. Beckwith.[3] Together, they managed a carpet and mercantile business on Main Street. In the same building, another brother, Barauch Beckwith, conducted business on the second floor.
On August 1, 1814, George married Ruth Matson Clark, a native of Lyme, Connecticut. At the time of his marriage, George was residing in Palmyra. Gordon Clark, father of the bride and a large landowner, gifted them a carriage. The furniture for their future home was brought by wagons to Palmyra. Some of the furniture is still in a good state of preservation. It is housed at the George Beckwith Mansion in Palmyra, and is valued as being the first furniture of that style brought to town.
Man of High Standing in Palmyra
George Beckwith was one of the leading men in Palmyra, although he was not noted for civic service. (The only civic position he held was fire warden, being elected when the first Palmyra village election was held at the Lovell Hurd home on February 4, 1828). George Beckwith’s land acquisitions, position as a colonel in the county militia, and position in the Western Presbyterian church qualified him as a man of high standing in Palmyra.
Land Acquisitions. In early 1814, even before George stepped foot in Palmyra, he bought land in the village from John Russell.[4] He was wise in his land acquisitions, and always bought property near or on Main Street. Three years later in 1817, he acquired more land from William Cuyler, a local banker.[5] That same year, George was granted two deeds—one from Hubbard Hall[6] and another from John Russell.[7] In 1818 and 1819, George was granted deeds from Nathaniel Beckwith.[8] In the years that followed, George continued purchasing deeds.[9]
George Beckwith Mansion. George’s most notable land transaction was his purchase of 1.81 acres from Abner Cole, on which the George Beckwith Mansion stands. The property was bounded by the property of Abner Cole,[10] and was located next to Zachariah Brown’s blacksmith shop.[11] Alexander McIntyre’s home was next to the George Beckwith Mansion. John Hurlbut also had an adjoining lot. The George Beckwith Mansion is located at 213 West Main Street.[12]
In 1835, the George Beckwith Mansion was completed. The house has two main floors and is 4,244 square feet. There are eight fireplaces in the home, as well as a butler’s staircase and a servant’s quarters. Banker Pliny Sexton was the next owner of the property. In October 2007, Brent and Elizabeth Walton purchased the Beckwith Estate and Mansion.[13] They opened the mansion as a bed-and-breakfast with six guest rooms for long- and short-term guests. The website for the bed-and-breakfast is beckwithmansion.com.
Businessman. George and his brother Nathaniel ended their partnership to become individual tradesmen, but not before they each had stores of their own.[14] Historian Thomas Cook noted, “Few of the early families to make a home or homes in this village were more closely connected with the commercial and social life here than that of the Beckwiths.”[15] George also owned and operated a mill.[16]
After the death of Nathaniel Beckwith in 1834, George succeeded in amassing a fortune. He outlived all of his peers, and continued his businesses among new generations of men. For fifty years, he never failed to greet his friends daily at his place of business. His business philosophy was—
In buying and selling he was discriminating yet prompt, cautious yet bold. That labor is the price of thrift, that time is money, that the work of one is not to be thrown over upon another, that the duty of to-day is not to be deferred till to-morrow, that order is the secret of dispatch, that we are to seize the morning hours by the forelock, do with our might what our hands find to do, and work on till death gives us our discharge—these were among the axioms of his business life. He could not abide a non-committal attitude. He knew not how to balance at a point equidistant from opposite sides. He recoiled from all stucco and veneering. What he was, he seemed. He was decided in action, because he was clear in judgment. He was too independent not to have an opinion, and too honest not to avow it. In the gales that have swept over the commercial world, it is believed his honor is untarnished. He was among those who “swore to their own hurt, but changed not.”[17]
Colonel in the Military. On March 17, 1821, George and Nathaniel were named captains of the 39th Regiment of Infantry in Ontario County. Other officers included Thomas Rogers II (lieutenant colonel), Alexander McIntyre (surgeon’s mate), and Durfee Chase (ensign)—all suspects.[18] George was particularly fond of the military, and organized an independent company. He required them to be handsomely uniformed. Those unable to purchase uniforms received help from Captain George Beckwith. Aided by the favor of those under his command, George rose in the military ranks and received a colonel’s commission.
Leader in the Western Presbyterian Church. In 1816, George converted to Presbyterianism in Palmyra.[19] His conversion was not causal—he was an ardent believer. He purchased the northeast corner of Main Street and Church Street so that when the Western Presbyterian Church needed land on which to build a new chapel, he could donate that land to the church.
In 1817, his wife, Ruth, and his sister, Ann, became members of the Female Bible Society of the Western Presbyterian Church.[20] George served as vice president (and later director) of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society, and as librarian for the Presbyterian Sabbath School Union. Historians refer to George as a “Leading Elder in Palmyra’s Presbyterian Church.”[21]
On September 6, 1826, when the first anniversary of the Western Sabbath School Union was held in Utica, New York, George was elected vice president of the Western Sabbath School Union.[22] In 1828, when his close friend and neighbor Gain Robinson was suspended from the Western Presbyterian Church for alcoholism, George did not refuse to serve on the committee of elders that suspended him. In addition, “Father Nash, a holy man noted for his wonderful power in prayer, held protracted meetings for six months, making his home with Elder George Beckwith.”[23]
Deacon George Beckwith and the Smiths
On March 3, 1830, the following was recorded in the minutes of the Western Presbyterian Church: “Western Presbyterian Session met pursuant to notice—opened with prayer. Present Revd. Alfred E. Campbell, moderator. George was present. It was resolved that the Reverend Alfred E. Campbell and Henry Jessop be a committee to visit Hiram, Lucy, and Samuel Smith.”
Three leading men from the Western Presbyterian Church entered the humble Smith log home one week later on March 10, 1829, asking to see the Book of Mormon manuscript. Lucy Mack Smith recorded:
No sir you cannot see it we have done exhibiting the manuscript altogether I have told you what was in it and that must <suffice> He did not reply to this but said Mrs Smith you & Hyrum [Smith] and sophronia [Smith Stoddard] and samuel [Smith] have belonged to our church a whole year and we respect you veryhighlybutyou say a great deal <about the book which your son has found> and believe much of what he tells you butwehateregretlooswe cannot beare thoughts of loosing you and they do wish—I wish that if you do believe those thingswhichyoursonthat never wouldproclaim it orsay anything about it I do wish you would not—Deacon Beckwith said even you should stick my body full of faggots and burn me at the stake I would declare that Jose[p]h has that record and that I know it to be true as long as God gave me breath—he then turned to his companions and said you see it is no use to say anything more to her—we cannont chan[g]e he[r] mind & then addressing me Mrs Smith I see that it is not possible to persuade you out of your belief and I do not know that it is worth while to say any more about the matter—No sir said I it is <of> no use you cannot effect any thing by all that you can say—he then bid me farewell.[24]
Deacon Beckwith and the others went outside to find Hyrum. The following conversation ensued between Hyrum Smith and Deacon Beckwith:
Deacon Beckwith. “Mr. Smith do you not think that you may be deceived about that record your brother pretends to have.”
Hyrum. “No, sir; I do not.”
Deacon Beckwith. “Well, now, Mr. Smith, if you do find that you are deceived, and that he has not got the record will you confess the fact to me?”
Hyrum. “Will you, Deacon Beckwith, take one of the books, when they are printed, and read it, asking God to give you an evidence that you may know whether it is true?”
Deacon Beckwith. “I think it beneath me to take so much trouble; however, if you will promise that you will confess to me, that Joseph never had the plates I will ask for a witness whether the book is true.”
Hyrum. “I will tell you what I will do, Mr. Beckwith. If you do get a testimony from God, that the book is not true, I will confess to you that it is not true.”[25]
This is one of the first recorded testimonies of a believer to a non-believer about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.
Smiths suspended from Partaking of the Sacrament by the Western Presbyterian Church
When Lucy Mack Smith and Hyrum Smith refused to denounce the Book of Mormon, they (along with Samuel Smith) were cited to appear on March 29, 1830 at 2:00 p.m. to answer the charge of neglect of public worship and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper for the last 18 months. (The planned session was to be held three days after E. B. Grandin announced the Book of Mormon was for sale, and eight days before the Church of Christ was organized on April 6, 1830, at the Peter Whitmer log home in Fayette, New York.)
The Smiths did not appear at the Presbyterian session as requested. On March 29, 1830, complainants, believing to have satisfactory evidence that the citations had been duly served to the Smiths, resolved that Lucy Mack Smith, Hyrum Smith, and Samuel Smith should be censured for contumacy (the stubborn refusal to obey authority). Oddly enough, Deacon George Beckwith was asked to manage their defense. The charge against the Smiths was fully sustained by the testimony of Henry Jessup, Harvey Shel, Robert W. Smith, and Frederick U. Sheffield.[26] After duly considering the matter, the opinion was unanimous that Lucy, Hyrum, and Samuel Smith should be suspended. It was later officially resolved that they should be suspended from the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.[27] The proceedings were “Closed with prayer—Adjourned. Recorded from the minutes of the Moderator. [Signed] Geo. N. Williams Clk.”[28]
Wayne County Bank of Palmyra
The Wayne County Bank of Palmyra was organized in 1830 by President Angus Strong and cashier George Beckwith.[29] Angus Strong was succeeded as president by Thomas Rogers II, who was later succeeded by George Beckwith. Before succeeding as president, George served as director of the bank in 1830 and 1831 along with suspects Pliny Sexton, Nathaniel H. Beckwith, Thomas Rogers II, Philip Grandin, Hiram K. Jerome, and George Crane. [30]
By September 1, 1831, George had $3,500 in the Wayne County Bank.[31] On September 1, 1832, Nathaniel Beckwith had $600 in the Wayne County Bank.[32] Unfortunately for them and other investors, the bank failed in 1840.[33]
“Testimony of 51 Neighbors”
When Doctor Hurlbut came to Palmyra seeking affidavits against the Prophet Joseph Smith, George Beckwith and his brother Nathaniel signed the “Testimony of 51 Neighbors” on December 4, 1833, later printed in Mormonism Unvailed. The signed testimony indicated they were acquainted with the Smith family for a number of years—and they “consider[ed] them destitute of that moral character, which ought to entitle them to the confidence of any community.” The testimony then tells of digging for money, and that Joseph Smith Sr. and his son, Joseph Smith Jr., were “entirely destitute of moral character, and addicted to vicious habits.” It ends by saying, “we know not of a single individual in this vicinity that puts the least confidence in their pretended revelations.” [34]
Remaining Years in Palmyra
On April 25, 1834, Nathaniel Beckwith died at age forty-seven in Palmyra. About two months later, on June 30, 1834, Nathaniel’s Last Will and Testament was recorded.[35] In 1836, George Beckwith was a stockholder in a new Palmyra hotel. By the 1840s, he was still considered one of the leading merchants in Palmyra.[36]
In 1860, the US Federal Census listed George Beckwith as a merchant. His household included the following individuals: Amelia Beckwith (age 24), Mary Welch (age 18), and Lewis Camp (age 16). Near this time, George was a supporter of Arthur Tappan of New York in an anti-slavery movement, and was known as an active abolitionist.[37]
On December 20, 1867, after a few weeks of painful illness, George died at his home in Palmyra. At the time of his death, he was a merchant of carpets and oil cloth. He was also the director of Star Paper Company. His funeral was held in the Western Presbyterian Church in Palmyra, with Reverend Horace Eaton officiating.[38] He was buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery in Section R, Lot 126.
His widow, Ruth Beckwith, resided in Palmyra the remainder of her life. In her seventies, she was “active and possessed of much of her youthful vigor and animation.” In her later years, she spent many hours at her writing table.[39] At 7:30 a.m. on January 30, 1881, Ruth Matson Beckwith died at age eighty-eight. Her eulogy provides a reflection of herself and her husband—
Long ago the true friend of her early days, the loved and honored husband of over fifty years, was called from a life of usefulness in the church, of blessing to his family and friends, to his reward. Reunited in the celestial home to which all their hopes and aspirations tended, the memory of their unselfish devout lives, of their deep, steadfast love, which even the dark waters of the river of Death could not chill, will ever be cherished in the hearts of their children. Thou God of Love! Beneath thy sheltering wings We leave our holy dead, To rest in hope! From this world’s sufferings Their souls have fled! Oh, when our souls are burdened with the weight Of life and all its woes. Let us remember them, and calmly wait For our life’s close![40]
George Beckwith’s Timeline
October 16, 1790: Born in East Haddam, Middlesex County, Connecticut.
1811: Moves from Connecticut to Pittsford, Monroe County, New York.
June 18, 1812: Enlists in the military during the War of 1812.
August 1, 1814: Marries Ruth Matson Clark in Palmyra, New York.
1814 – 1828: Becomes involved in various business ventures in Palmyra, including a partnership with his brother Nathaniel Beckwith under the firm name N. H. & G. Beckwith.
February 4, 1828: Elected as a fire warden in the first Palmyra village election.
December 4, 1833: Signs the “Testimony of 51 Neighbors” against Joseph Smith, later printed in Mormonism Unvailed.
1841: Becomes involved with the Wayne County Bank of Palmyra.
December 20, 1867: Dies in Palmyra, New York.
Post-1867: Buried in Palmyra City Cemetery.
Children of George and Ruth Beckwith
1. Anne Sophia Beckwith (1818). She was born in Palmyra.
2. Sophia Beckwith (1818). She married Professor J. J. De Lamater in 1838.
3. (Child) Beckwith (1821). The child died on August 2, 1821, and was buried in the Palmyra City Cemetery.
4. Catherine Matson Beckwith (2 June 1826). She was born in Palmyra. She married Albert Welles. Catherine had three children, one living to maturity.
[1] Clark, Military History of Wayne County, New York, p. 165.
[2] New York, War of 1812, Payroll Abstracts for New York State Militia.
[3] Troskosky, Palmyra: A Bicentennial, p. 79.
[4] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[5] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[6] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[7] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[8] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[9] Ontario County, NY Grantee Deed Index, 1789–1845.
[10] Beckwith Deed, in Special Collections at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
[11] Palmyra New York; US Centennial Celebration. In author’s possession.
[12] Palmyra New York; US Centennial Celebration.
[13] George Beckwith Mansion and Estate in Palmyra. See website.
[14] History of Wayne County, New York, p. 142.
[15] Troskosky, Palmyra: A Bicentennial, p. 79.
[16] Palmyra New York; US Centennial Celebration.
[17] George Beckwith, Memories, FamilySearch.
[18] Clark, Military History of Wayne County, New York, p. 165.
[19] Durfee Scrapbook No. 3, 1876–1883.
[20] Betsy Lewis, comp., Female Bible Society, Book of the Western Presbyterian Church, November–December 2003.
[21] Richard Leighton Coe, “A History of the Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra up to 1860,” (Palmyra, NY), p. 10.
[22] Geneva Gazette, and General Advertiser, September 20, 1826, p. 3.
[23] Historical Sketch, in the archives of The Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, NY.
[24] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, p. 8 [bk]. 9. Joseph Smith Papers.
[25] Lucy Mack Smith, History, 1844–1845, p. 8 [bk]. 9. Joseph Smith Papers.
[26] See Minutes of Testimony, on file with the clerk in the archives of The Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, NY.
[27] Records of the Session 2:11–12, in the archives of The Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, NY.
[28] See H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters, Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record.
[29] “Palmyra New York, Women Society of the Western Presbyterian Church, 1907,” in the archives of The Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, NY.
[30] Geneva Gazette and Mercantile Advertiser, June 23, 1830; Geneva Gazette and Mercantile Advertiser, June 29, 1831.
[31] Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York.
[32] Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York.
[33] Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York.
[34] Howe, Mormonism Unvailed, pp. 366–367.
[35] New York, Wills and Probate Records 1659–1999.
[36] History of Wayne County, New York, p. 144.
[37] History of Wayne County, New York, p. 144.
[38] Durfee Scrapbook No. 2, 1864–1875.
[39] Durfee Scrapbook No. 3, 1876–1883.
[40] Newspaper Clipping, in the Palmyra Community Library.