My Family Tree

James Beer's birth was recorded in the records of St. Paul's Church of England. He was the son of Thomas Beer and Jane Robinson, and his date of birth was December 1837. James gave his year of birth as 1840-1842 on census records.

James married Mary Ann Livingston in 1872. Married on the 24th ult by Rev. J. M. McLeod, James Beer, Bannockburn to Miss Ann Livingston, Clyde River. The Patriot July 11 1872 page 3

Groom's Name James Beer
Groom's Residence Bannockburn
Groom's Status Bachelor
Bride's Name Mary Ann Livingston
Bride's Residence Clyde River
Bride's Status Spinster
Source RG19/s3/ss5: Marriage bonds, 1872

They had five children:
Maggie who married William Younker,
Amy Ann who married Alfred Mayhew,
Sadie, or Zaida who married Wesley Hood,
Frederick who married Frances Darrach,
Ina May who married Hector Darrach, Frances' brother;
and Mammie.

In the 1891 census, James (49) and Mary A. (40) were in Lot 31 with Maggie (18), Amy (16), Zaida (12), Frederick (9) and May (5). They were living in a wood, one and a half story house with 10 rooms. James gave his occupation as farmer, and said that his father had been born in England and his mother in Ireland. He and Mary Ann were alone by the time of the 1911 census, and James died in 1918 in Clyde River.

From the Guardian February 11 1919, Mr. James Beer:

On December 5th 1918 at his home Clyde River PEI Mr. James Beer departed this life at the age of 71 years. he had not been in robust health for about four years but was more or less active until within a few days of the end when he was taken down by the serious illness which terminated with his death.
During his life he was a prosperous farmer and mill owner and did a large business with the public. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Clyde River and took an active and practical interest in its work.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Livingston and three daughters: Mrs. William Younker of Kingston, Mrs. Wesley Hood and Mrs. Hector Darrach of Clyde River, and one son Fred on the homestead. There is also one sister, Mrs. George Rodd of Milton and one brother William of Kingston.

from find-a-grave:

Birth: 1841 Prince Edward Island, Canada
Death: 1918 Prince Edward Island, Canada
son of Thomas Beer & Ann Ferguson (incorrect)
occupation: Miller
Spouse:
Mary Ann Grant Livingston Beer (1851 - 1919)*
Burial:
Clyde River Presbyterian Cemetery
Clyde River
Prince Edward Island, Canada

Beers James Pioneer 14 December 1918, page 2, col. 5 At Clyde River, Dec. 5th, James Beers, aged 77 (PEI Ancestry)

Will of James Beer names his wife Mary Ann and three surviving daughters, Mrs Will Younker, Mrs Wesley Hood and Mrs Hector Darrach, and son Frederick. PEI Wills vol 21 page 35

Some information came from The Livingstons of Clyde River on the Island Register and The History and Stories of Clyde River, as well as the book "MacPhail from the Isle of Mull to PEI" by John M. Collins 2006