Revolutionary War Soldiers Series: Remembering Peter Beets

Editor's note: Next year, the United States of America will celebrate its semiquincentennial, its 250th anniversary. The semiquincentennial marks the first nationwide celebration of America's birth since the bicentennial in 1976. Of course, America's independence cannot be celebrated without also honoring the efforts of the Revolutionary War soldiers that led to independence. The Waw-wil-a-way Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with the Southern Ohio Genealogical Society will be presenting a series of articles featuring Revolutionary War soldiers who lived and died within the borders of Highland County.

By Betty F. Crum and Pat Young
Waw-wil-a-way Chapter Daughters 
of the American Revolution, 250 Project

Revolutionary War veteran Peter Beets was born in 1768 in Lehigh County, Pa.
 
He died Oct. 4, 1844 in Highland County, Ohio, and was buried in Fall Creek Cemetery in Liberty Township.

Beets was married to Margaret “Peggy” Doyhl (circa 1790) in Virginia. Margaret was born circa 1765 and died in 1830 in Highland County. It is thought that her parents were Daniel and Catharine Doyhl/Diehl.
     
U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, show Beets with the rank as a matross/gunner with the Continental Troops. (Matross can be interpreted as a soldier of artillery or a person in the Navy.)
     
Information on Find A Grave memorial was added by a great-great-great grandson and states:
     
“Peter Beets, thought to be the son of George and Maria Eva “Eve” (Meister) Beets, married Margaret “Peggy” Deihl (Deil/Doyhl). They moved from Rockbridge County, Va. to Highland County, Ohio circa 1827. Their known children were James Beets, Peter Beets Jr., Catherine (Beets) Wise, George Beets, John Beets, Mary (Beets) Denny, Daniel Beets, Samuel Beets, *Elihu Beets, Elizabeth Beets, and Joseph Beets. Peter Beets, Sr. daughter, Catherine, married a Christopher Wise and is buried in the same cemetery as her father. Peter’s son, Elihu Beets (my great-great-grandfather), married a Sarah Daugherty and he is buried in High Bridge Cemetery, Fulton County, Ill.

Fall Creek Cemetery is located on Morrow Road, off state Road 138, near Fall Creek in Highland County. The cemetery is small but well maintained. Beets' grave is located under a mulberry tree. Nearby are the tombstones of his daughter and her husband (Catherine and Christopher Wise), along with several other members of the Wise family, some of whom were likely their children.

Catherine Beets Wise was born Feb. 17, 1794 in Rockbridge County, Va. and died April 13, 1851 in Highland County.

Beets was a land owner in Highland County. He first purchased 79 acres in Paint Township on March 19, 1830 from Jacob Worley. He then purchased another 23 3/4 acres on Dec. 19, 1834 from J. Worley. A gold mine was found ORDB 11, Page 516, 7 November 1944 after the death of Peter.  

A John Beets of Fayette County, Va. sold to Joseph Beets of Highland County his 1/9 interest in land owned by grantor John’s father, Peter Beets, deceased. John being one of nine heirs listed. Then in ORDB 12, page 436 dated May 3, 1845, William Denny and Mary hw of Andrew County, Mo. to Joseph Beets of Highland County, 102 acres, of which Peter Beets died seized. Mary was a sister to Joseph and daughter of Peter.
     
The surname was originally spelled Bitz. This was a German name pronounced “Beets.” Lineage to the Bitz/Bitts/Beats/Beets family was confirmed in 2009 through DNA testing. The spelling changed to Beats and then Beets as that was the way it sounded to census enumerators and other courthouse officials.
     
The great-great-great grandson who established the Find A Grave memorial descended from Peter Beets by way of *Elihu Beets (1814 Va.-1894 Ill.); Thomas Henry Beets (1846 Oh-1930 In); Chester Arthur Beets (1885 Ill-1973 In); Rex Harry Beets (1916 In-2008 In).
     
Common Pleas Court Records of Highland County, March term, 1845, Record 7, page 513:  
Joseph Beets vs George Beets. Partition. Plaintiff alleges that he has a 1/4 interest by inheritance from his ancestor, Peter Beets, dec’d, and 2/9 interest by purchase from his brothers, Samuel and John Beets, in 102 acres on the waters of Paint Creek in Wilkins Survey No 2928.  George, Elihu, and Elizabeth Beets, Catherine, wife of Christopher Wise, Mary, wife of William Denny, and the heirs of Daniel Beets, dec’d, to wit: Elihu, Jr., Harden, and Joseph Beets, Jr., are tenants in common with plaintiff, and all heirs of Peter Beets, dec’d. Peter Beets died leaving no widow.

There is no stone for Peter’s wife, Margaret, in the Fall Creek Cemetery, nor elsewhere in Highland County. It is known that she died prior to the death of Peter in 1844, as the Common Pleas Court Record, mentioned above, stated he died leaving no widow.