The John Beard Family

The John Beard Family

German immigrant patriarch who established the American Beard dynasty in colonial Pennsylvania

John Beard emigrated from Germany around 1750 to Philadelphia, bringing with him the traditions and values that would establish one of America's most enduring family legacies. Settling in Frederick County, Maryland, he and his wife Mary Catherine Clara Knee raised seven children who would spread the Beard name across the American frontier.

John Beard & Mary Catherine Clara Knee

(April 6, 1719 – May 26, 1764) & (1720 – 1764)
German immigrants to colonial Pennsylvania and Maryland

Married 1758 • Immigration: August 1, 1750 to Philadelphia
Founding Father of the American Beard Legacy: John Beard's courageous decision to leave Germany and start a new life in colonial America established the foundation for centuries of American Beard family history. His seven children would become the ancestors of thousands of descendants across the United States.

Their Seven Children

The first generation of American-born Beards who carried German traditions into the New World

Click to read Nicholas's story

Nicholas Beard

(1740 – 1804)
1st Child • Eldest Son

Born in colonial Pennsylvania

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Witnessed Revolutionary War • Lived 64 years

First American-born Beard
Click to read Michael's story

Michael Beard

(1744 – 1763)
2nd Child • 2nd Son

Died at age 19 • Tragic early death

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French and Indian War era

Lost potential family lineage
Click to read Sarah's story

Sarah Beard

(1748 – 1838)
3rd Child • 1st Daughter

Lived 90 remarkable years

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Revolutionary War to Railroad Age

Living link to German heritage
Click to read Catherine's story

Catherine Beard

(1750 – 1777)
4th Child • 2nd Daughter

Born year of family immigration

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Died during Revolutionary War • Age 27

True child of the New World
Click to read John Jr.'s story

John Beard Jr.

(1755 – Deceased)
5th Child • 3rd Son

Named after his father

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Revolutionary War generation

Carried family name forward
Click to read Margaret's story

Margaret Beard

(1756 – Deceased)
6th Child • 3rd Daughter

Age 8 when father died

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Raised during Revolutionary War

Second-generation immigrant woman
Click to read Frederick Sr.'s story

Frederick Beard Sr.

(1758 – 1842)
7th Child • Youngest Son

⭐ Revolutionary War hero

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Father of 12 children • Emmitsburg founder

Most prolific Beard ancestor

John & Mary Catherine's Legacy

7 Children
1750 Immigration Year
45 John's Age at Death
1000s Descendants Today

German Immigrant's American Dream

From a courageous journey across the Atlantic in 1750 to establishing one of America's most enduring family dynasties, John Beard's legacy lives on through thousands of descendants. His seven children became the foundation of the American Beard family tree, with Frederick Sr. alone producing twelve children who would spread the family name across the continent. The values of hard work, faith, and family that John brought from Germany continue to define the Beard family nearly three centuries later.

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John Beard: A Life Through History

John Beard: A Life Through History

1719 – 1764: German Immigrant & Founding Father of the American Beard Dynasty

Born in Germany during the reign of King George I, John Beard courageously emigrated to colonial Pennsylvania in 1750, bringing German traditions and values that would establish one of America's most enduring family legacies. His seven children became the foundation of the American Beard family tree.

🇩🇪➡️🇺🇸 John Beard

(April 6, 1719 – May 26, 1764)

German immigrant who sailed to Philadelphia in 1750, settled in Frederick County, Maryland, and established the American Beard dynasty through seven children who would spread across the colonial frontier.

Life in the German States

1719 – 1750 • John's Youth in Germany
1719
John Beard is Born in Germany
Born April 6, 1719 in Nieder-Saulheim, Nieder Saulheim, Oppenheim, Hessen, Germany, during the early reign of King George I and the aftermath of the War of Spanish Succession.
Birth Year
1720s
Childhood in Hessen
John grows up in the German states during a period of economic hardship and religious persecution, conditions that would eventually drive many Germans to seek new opportunities in America.
John is a young child
1730s
Coming of Age in Germany
John reaches adulthood during the War of Polish Succession, witnessing the political upheaval and economic instability that plagued the German states.
John is in his teens
1740s
Marriage and Family Planning
John likely marries Mary Catherine Clara Knee in Germany and begins planning their emigration to the New World as economic conditions worsen and opportunities in America beckon.
John is in his 20s

New World Pioneer

1750 – 1764 • John Establishes the American Beard Legacy
1750
Immigration to Philadelphia
On August 1, 1750, John and Mary Catherine arrive in Philadelphia aboard a ship from Germany, joining thousands of other German immigrants seeking religious freedom and economic opportunity in Pennsylvania.
John is 31 years old
1750s
Settlement in Frederick County
John and Mary Catherine settle in Frederick County, Maryland, joining other German immigrants in establishing farming communities and maintaining their cultural traditions in the New World.
John is in his 30s
1754-1763
French and Indian War
John witnesses the conflict between Britain and France for control of North America, affecting frontier communities like his own as the war brings both danger and opportunity to colonial settlers.
John is 35-44 years old
1758
Marriage to Mary Catherine
John formally marries Mary Catherine Clara Knee in 1758, beginning their documented family life in colonial America and establishing the foundation for their seven children.
John is 39 years old
1740
First Child Nicholas Born
John and Mary Catherine welcome their first child, Nicholas Beard, who becomes the first American-born member of the Beard family and will live to age 64, witnessing the Revolutionary War.
John is 21 years old
1744-1758
Building the Beard Family
John and Mary Catherine raise their growing family, with children Michael (1744), Sarah (1748), Catherine (1750), John Jr. (1755), Margaret (1756), and Frederick (1758) - establishing the seven-child dynasty.
John is 25-39 years old
1760s
Established Colonial Farmer
John becomes a respected member of the German immigrant community in Frederick County, establishing farming operations and maintaining German cultural traditions while adapting to colonial American life.
John is in his 40s
1764
John Beard Dies
John dies on May 26, 1764, at age 45, leaving behind Mary Catherine and seven children. His death comes just as colonial tensions with Britain begin to escalate toward revolution.
John is 45 years old
2025
John's Legacy Endures
Nearly three centuries later, John's descendants number in the thousands across America. His courageous decision to emigrate from Germany and establish a family in colonial America created a legacy that continues to grow today.
His legacy lives through generations
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Explore the Beard Generations

Explore the Beard Generations

Johan Wilhem Barth1st Hanß Philips Barth2nd Johann Wendell Barth3rd Georg Barth4th Nichlaus Beard (Bard)5th John P. Beard6th Frederick Beard Sr.7th David Beard8th John Henry Beard Sr.9th John Henry Beard Jr.10th Allen John Beard11th