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PHILIP BEALL was
born in Prince George County, Maryland in 1744, an heir of an ancient
Scottish family. His bloodline could be traced back to the powerful
MacGregor and Campbell Clans of Scotland. As a young man he came to the
King's Creek Valley (present Weirton) and took up a tomahawk claim of six
hundred acres. This being the early 1770's, and Indians being numerous,
Philip along with neighboring settlers endeavored to construct a fort for
the safety of their families. To legalize his tomahawk claim, Philip
spent his time clearing his land and tending his crops. He and his wife
raised nine children to adulthood in a hard and often dangerous time.
Philip Beall was reportedly a very large and strong man having inherited
this trait from his predecessors, he took to pioneer life and became a
successful farmer. Two of Philip's daughters married two of James
Campbell's (another early settler of King's Creek) sons, Margaret marrying
Robert Campbell, and Jane marrying Alexander Campbell. Philip and his
wife having lived into the early 1800's, were laid to rest in Three
Springs Cemetery at Hollidays Cove (now part of Weirton), their
descendants still inhabit the area.
Thanks to
Dale G.
Patterson
for this information. |
