This week's ancestor challenge is "who would you like to meet?" I asked my niece, who I had taken on a trip to Massachusetts in 2018, and she said "Thomas Beaman. So here's his story.
THOMAS BEAMAN was born in 1729 in Lancaster, MA, the youngest son of a family of nine children. He served as a member of the colonial regiments sent to fight the French in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and was present at the capture of Fort Louisbourg, NS in 1759. Shortly after returning he arranged to purchase property in the neighbouring settlement of Petersham and reconstructed the dwelling into a home for his wife, Elizabeth and his growing family. He was an active member of the community, being a land surveyor and farmer. Knowing that he was a land surveyor, it isn't surprising that General Gage sought his help to understand the lay of the land, as well as the sentiments of the colonials in the months previous to 1774-5.
In late 1774, the town of Petersham was notified by communication, that several of its residents were involved in signing a petition started by Timothy Ruggles, which identified them as being loyal to King George. By early 1775 the town council had banished Thomas for his Loyalist beliefs and actions and, leaving his family behind, he fled to Boston.
