Lewis Beard (1754 - Dec. 11, 1820)

A well-known state and county official, a large land owner, butcher, tanner, and an innkeeper, Beard was born in Salisbury, N.C. His parents were German immigrants who first lived in Philadelphia. His land holdings in Rowan, Burke, and Montgomery Counties were estimated to be some fifteen thousand acres. In 1786 Beard was appointed the assessor of town lands (Salisbury) and in 1796 he was appointed public treasurer of the county -- a lifetime appointment. From 1787 until 1791 he served as the high sheriff of Rowan County. At the state level he represented Rowan County in the House in 1791-92 and in the Senate in 1793. In 1808 he became a director of the Salisbury branch of the Bank of Cape Fear.

He was a man of influence, position and wealth and apparently well connected to both land speculators and surveyors. He knew James Glasgow, Secretary of State of North Carolina,  and like Glasgow supported the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war.

0135 - Deed of Release for land in Patent 1023 on the Main Broad River, granted by the State of North Carolina to Tench Coxe as the assignee of Beard et al, November 2, 1796. The document is referenced as an "Abstract of a Deed," delivered May 15, 1828. 

0192 - True and Perfect Copy of the Proceedings of the Superior Courts in Rutherford and Lincoln Counties, signed by John Michael, Clerk of the Court, dated April 12, 1841. The case began in April 1828 in Rutherford County and was transferred to Lincoln County in 1832 as in the judge's opinion a fair and impartial trial could not be held in Rutherford County due to the number of interested parties. The case was not concluded until 1835, in part due to the number of continuances. The case began as a Breach of Contract against Richard Roe brought by John Doe over use of land for a contract period of ten years, beginning January 1, 1828. The land in question was located on the waters of the Broad River and Buffalo Creek. 1. John Doe was physically removed from his farm and the land and sued for $1,200 for "mental anguish". 2. It evolved into a case of who actually owned the land - Richard Roe or Bronson et al. 3. Affidavits filed by Arthur Bronson, Joshua Forman, Agent, and Samuel L. Gidney stated that Bronson, Hoyt, et al owned the land. 4. Two surveys of the land are included in the Court records. 5. A jury trial was held with twelve jurors seated. 6. The jury awarded $6.00 to the defendant and ordered Peter Stephen Du Ponceau (One of two trustees of Tench Coxe's land holdings) to pay court costs of $83.50. (It is unclear if Du Ponceau or his agent was in fact Richard Roe.) Also see Item 77/294 in this Section. 

Marriage Records of Rowan County.  North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.

Rowan County Court Minutes, 1780-1800. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh.

Rumple, Jethro. A History of Rowan County. 1881.

Wagstaff, H.M., ed. The Papers of John Steele, 2 vols. 1924.