My Family Tree

Thomas Beer was born in England between 1802 and 1806, according to census records and his death record. We don't know exactly when he emigrated, but he was married with children on the Island by the early 1830s. There was a Beer family that came from Devon a bit later in the 1830s, John and Elizabeth Beer and their daughter Elizabeth, wife of George Rodd Pethick. Thomas may also have emigrated from Devon, but no connection between these two families has been found., There was also also a George and Sarah Beer in Charlottetown in the early 1830s, from North Devon.

If Thomas was from Devon, there were 5 children baptized with his name in Devon between 1803-1810. There was a Thomas Beer with father William and mother Ann, born 6 March 1803, baptized in Chittlehampton, Devon who looks promising. (Thomas was NOT the son of Joseph Beer, Cherry Valley, PEI)

Sometime in the early 1830s Thomas married Jane Robertson. Although they could have met and married before coming to the Island, this wouldn't fit with Jane's story of being one of the few survivors of a shipwreck. I think the attached record for the marriage between Thomas Bears and Ann Robinson in 1832 in Charlottetown is this couple. (While the English names Jane and Ann don't sound alike, if her name was pronounced more like the French name Jeanne, then the minister could have heard Ann) Thomas and Jane's first daughter, Mary Anne, was also born in Charlottetown and baptized in that same church.

According to the book The History and Stories of Clyde River, "the couple traveled to their new homestead on foot crossing the river by means of a log as there were no roads." Early PEI "ferries" were basically log platforms that could carry a wagon or carriage while the horses swam.

By 1840 Thomas had leased land, which he expanded in 1866 and later divided among his sons as they married. It isn't clear if the daughters received a similar gift. In 1871, Thomas and Jane signed an indenture with Archibald McFadyen for 75 pounds, for 50 acres fronting the Bannockburn Road, land that had been conveyed to Thomas in 1852. Thomas signed his name, and Jane made her mark, being unable to write. Thomas may have given his son-in-law Archie a loan to pay for this or another piece of land, and then later sued him when the loan wasn't repaid.

Under the terms of his lease, Thomas Beer was expected to clear, cultivate and fence yearly and every year for the first twenty years and not less than two acres of land. Thomas also built and operated a mill.

There is a record for a Thomas Beers in Lot 31 in the 1841 census of PEI. There were 2 adults and 4 children, (2 boys, 2 girls) all under 16. According to the 1848 PEI Census (transcription of Lot 31 from The Island Register) he and Jane were living in Lot 31 with 6 children under 16. The PEI Baptismal Index lists 6 children for Thomas Beer and Jane Robinson. All were baptized in Charlottetown, at St. Paul's Anglican Church, by L. C. Jenkins. These were: Mary Ann, James, Elizabeth, George, William, and Rebecca.

In the 1881 census, Thomas Bears, age 74, born in England was a farmer in Lot 31, living with his wife Jane, age 73, born Ireland. Their family was living around them.

After his wife's death, Thomas lived with his daughter-in-law Sarah (Howard) Beer, widow of his son George. They were living in a 6 room, one and a half story house. Thomas gave his occupation as farmer. He died in Lot 31 in 1896 at the age of 94.

The will of Thomas Beer, Bannockburn in Township 31, farmer named his surviving sons, and listed the following daughters: Mary Ann McFadyen, wife of Archibald McFadyen; Rebecca Rodd, wife of George Rodd; and Elizabeth Livingston, wife of George Livingston. He also mentioned his daughter in law, Sarah Beer and his grandson William Beer, who inherited the farm.

Thomas sued his son in law Archie for an unpaid debt in 1871:
Item Number RG6.1/s5/ss1/22393
Host Collection Supreme Court fonds, Series 5: Case files, Subseries 1: Case files 1770-1899
Caption T. Beer vs A. McFadyen
Date (original) 1871
Plaintiff T. Beer
Defendant A. McFadyen

The other Thomas Beers was born on the Island, son of Joseph Beers Esq (High Sherrif) and Margaret Hayden, born 27 April 1804.

BEER
Information on the Beer family came from:
History and Stories of Clyde River
From the Island Register, Darrach Family
From the Island Register, the Livingston(e) family
PEI Baptismal Index and St. Paul's Church Records
Census records
Obituaries
Wills and land transactions

The family history of the Beer family of Charlottetown stated that they were not related to the Beers from Lot 31. The Beers from the Lot 67 area of PEI were descendants of a United Empire Loyalist, Joseph Beer, and no connection has been found to this family.

There was a Thomas Beer of about the same age, but born in Nova Scotia, married to an "Ann" in the 1881 census and living in Lot 61, but I am assuming this was the Thomas Beer, widower, who was married to Ann Ferguson by a Presbyterian minister in 1840. This Thomas and his wife were Presbyterians.