Guide to the Papers of the Beale Family Papers, 1861-1962 (bulk 1861-1865)
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of the Beale Family
- Collection Number
- MFF#4
- Extent
- .15 cubic feet
- Date
- 1861-1962
- Date
- 1861-1865
- Abstract
- Joseph Albion and Nancy Ross Beale lived on a farm located in Burrell Township (present day Lower Burrell), Westmoreland County, during the mid-nineteenth century. The Beales had at least four children, the eldest being Thomas (Jeff), Anna Martha, Mary and Benjamin Franklin in the probable order of their birth. Anna Martha Beale was born on October 6, 1842 and lived on the family farm during the Civil War. She married William Thomas Edwards on October 18, 1866 and had four children: Selina Mary, Nancy Mazilla, William Joseph and Charles Newton. William T. Edwards was a sergeant in the Pennsylvania 14th Calvary (159th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers), but little is known of his activities after the war. Anna Martha Beale Edwards died in Allegheny City on December 1, 1897 and is buried in the parish graveyard at Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church in Burrell Township. These papers include incoming correspondence, transcripts and historical notes of these letters, and sundry items related to the Civil War.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of the Beale Family
Joseph Albion and Nancy Ross Beale lived on a farm located in Burrell Township (present day Lower Burrell), Westmoreland County, during the mid-nineteenth century. The Beales had at least four children, the eldest being Thomas (Jeff), Anna Martha, Mary and Benjamin Franklin in the probable order of their birth. Anna Martha Beale was born on October 6, 1842 and lived on the family farm during the Civil War. She married William Thomas Edwards on October 18, 1866 and had four children: Selina Mary, Nancy Mazilla, William Joseph and Charles Newton. William T. Edwards was a sergeant in the Pennsylvania 14th Calvary (159th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers), but little is known of his activities after the war. Anna Martha Beale Edwards died in Allegheny City on December 1, 1897 and is buried in the parish graveyard at Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church in Burrell Township.
During the Civil War, Anna Martha Beale received letters from various relatives and neighbors who served in the Union Army. Anna received letters from people including her brother Thomas, future husband William T. Edwards, uncle William Beale and cousin Flavious Josephus Logan. Flavious Josephus Logan (1838-1862) served in the "C" Company of the 38th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Volunteers as a Private. This regiment was also known as the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves. Logan was one of the last volunteers to join the company on July 20, 1861. He died at the Battle of Bull Run on August 30, 1862 and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Scope and Content Notes
These papers include incoming correspondence, transcripts and historical notes of these letters, and sundry items related to the Civil War. These letters were primarily sent to Anna Martha Beale by family and friends throughout their service in the Union Army during the Civil War. Transcripts were produced in 1958 by Anna's grandson, Edmund J. Hill, which also provided historical information on the correspondents when possible and a full history of the 38th Regiment. These letters document numerous issues including camp conditions, both in Pittsburgh, across Pennsylvania and in the South; maneuvers; rebuilding destroyed property; opinions of the enemy cause; the work of the United States Christian Commission and general inquires of life in Burrell, Pennsylvania. Material includes descriptions of two Allegheny camps erected to accommodate local volunteers: Camp Wilkins, located at the fairgrounds on Penn Avenue and Camp Wright, near the Hulton Station on the Allegheny Railroad. Battles mentioned include the Battle of Ball's Bluff (1861), and the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. The content of William T. Edward's letters to his future wife appear to be no different from those of others that wrote her. Many letters and envelopes are adorned with decorative letterhead and envelopes. The decorate envelopes have been retained and have been arranged together. The miscellaneous material includes a copy of Lincoln's call for volunteers in 1861, a map of the Peninsular Campaign of 1862, photocopies of articles on the 14th Calvary and Camp Wilkins and other sundry items including a small piece of a Confederate Flag captured by James I. Dougal at the Battle of Laurel Hill, May 7-8, 1864.
Arrangement
The Beale Family Papers are housed in four archival folders and are arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials were received in one accession in 1977.
Acc# 1977.152 Gift of Edmund J. Hill, (Papers. Mr. Hill is the grandson of Anna Martha Beale Edwards).
Preferred Citation
Papers of the Beale Family, 1861-1962 (1861-1865), MFF# 4, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was originally processed by Ruth Salisbury Reid in c1977. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Lara Groutt on March 5, 1993.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on May 10, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- United States Christian Commission (Washington, D.C.).
- Pennsylvania Infantry. 155th Regiment
- Pennsylvania Infantry. 38th Regiment
- Pennsylvania Calvary. 14th Regiment
- Pennsylvania Artillery. 5th Regiment.
- Mount Hope Methodist Episcopal Church (Burrell, Pa.).
- Dougal, James I. (1840-1914).
- Edwards, Anna Martha (Beale) (1842-1897).
- Edwards, William T. (1843-1919).
- Logan, Flavious J. (1838-1862).
- Burrell (Pa.) -- Social Life and Customs
- Pennsylvania -- Militia
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865--Campaigns
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865--Civilian Relief
- Westmoreland County -- Social Life and Customs
- Camp Wilkins (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Camp Wright (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
- Ball's Bluff, Battle of, 1861
- Peninsular Campaign, 1862