Summary Information
Beazel Family Papers
DAR.1937.02
Beazell family
1809-1888
0.21 linear feet (1 box)
Language: English
Abstract: The Beazel family papers hold the accounting records and personal and business correspondence related to the Beazel family, who lived in Westmoreland County and Washington County, Pennsylvania. The records reflect the period from 1809 to 1888. The majority of the collection consists of invoices, receipts, bills, business correspondence, and legal documents relating to Matthew Beazel, a land agent, and Henry Beazel, a steamboat officer. The accounting records suggest Matthew and his family may have also operated a general store.
ULS Archives Service Center
University of Pittsburgh Library System
7500 Thomas Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA, 15260
412-648-3232
archives-ref@mail.pitt.edu
January 2007
Finding aid prepared by Crystal Hanna and Kristin Justham.
November 2009:
Controlled access terms revised (dar)
Biography
The Beazel family farmed land and resided in Elizabeth (now Webster), Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and Washington County, Pennsylvania, since the time of the Revolutionary War. Matthew and Henry Beazel worked as land and shipping merchants. Henry, a steamboat officer, was involved in the shipping industry according to his business correspondence and insurance policy. Matthew was a land agent working out of Elizabeth, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, selling land in Indiana, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Collection Scope and Content Notes
The collection is an assortment of the Beazel family's business records, such as correspondence, receipts, invoices and bills from 1809 to 1888, and is not a comprehensive collection of family documents. It contains the business documents of the Beazel family with the majority of the collection focusing on Matthew and Henry Beazel's business papers. The records also contain documents relating to the estate of William Beazel, of which Matthew was executor, as well as James Beazel's insurance policy from the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Within Matthew's papers are business correspondence, his mercantile license, and an advertisement for his services as a land sales agent. Also included is a document from 1851 which notes the transfer of Matthew's rights and interest in the firm of Walker & Beazel to William Walker. In addition, there are account books, simple receipts and invoices detailing the cost and description of goods purchased and sold by the Beazel family, as well as a map of the Beazel flat in Washington County, Pennsylvania from an 1870 survey. The majority of the accounting records and correspondence originates from or is sent to Monongahela City, Pittsburgh, Elizabeth, and Webster Store and many of the receipts to Matthew are from Collins & Mellinger.
Other members of the Beazel family mentioned are Benjamin F. Beazel, John F. Beazel, Henry Beazel, William Beazel, Mary Ann Beazel, Luke Beazel, Kyle Beazel, and Laura Beazel. It should be noted that Beazel is spelled with several variations throughout the collection including Beazell, Beezel, Besel, Beazle, and Bezel.
Subject Terms
- Agriculture -- Pennsylvania
- Commerce
- Land companies
- Shipping companies (Marine transportation)
- Beazel, Benjamin F.
- Beazel, Henry
- Beazel, James
- Beazell, Matthew
- Elizabeth (Westmorland County, Pa.)
- Monongahela (Pa.)
- Washington County (Pa.)
- Webster (Pa.)
- Westmoreland County (Pa.)
- Account books
- Commercial correspondence
- Insurance records
- Personal correspondence
- Receipts (Financial records)
Access and Use
No restrictions.
Gift to the Darlington Memorial Library in 1937.
This collection was located in the Darlington Memorial Library in the University’s Cathedral of Learning until 2007 when it was moved to the ULS Archives Service Center for processing, storage, preservation and service. However, it remains in the custodianship of the ULS Special Collections Department.
Beazel Family Papers, 1809-1888, DAR.1937.02, Darlington Collection, Special Collections Department, University of Pittsburgh
The collection was processed by Crystal Hanna in May 2006 and by Kristin Justham in the September 2006.
No copyright restrictions.
Collection Inventory
Box 1
| Folder |
1 |
Unidentified Personal Correspondence, 1809-1869
|
|
| Folder |
02-03 |
Matthew Beazel Correspondence, 1831-1854
|
|
| Folder |
04-06 |
Accounts: Bills and Invoices, 1831-1884
|
|
| Folder |
7 |
Invitation to Fourth of July Union Dinner, 1835
|
|
| Folder |
8 |
Beazel Family Documents Including Land Sale and Tax Records, 1835-1888
|
|
| Folder |
9 |
Documents Relating to the Estate of William Beazel, 1836-1857
|
|
| Folder |
10 |
Notes to Beazel Confirming Household Item Purchases, 1841-1846
|
|
| Folder |
11 |
Account Books, 1844-1847
|
|
| Folder |
12 |
Matthew Beazel Mercantile License, 1845
|
|
| Folder |
13 |
Legal Papers, 1846-1848
|
|
| Folder |
14 |
Beazel Correspondence, 1846-1851
|
|
| Folder |
15 |
Writing Copy Book, Possibly by William Henry Beazel, ca. 1847
|
|
| Folder |
16 |
Matthew Beazel, Land Agent Advertisement and Others, 1848-1897
|
|
| Folder |
17 |
Henry Beazel Correspondence, 1851-1860
|
|
| Folder |
18 |
Deed, Walter Brown from Thomas Van Hook, 1862
|
|
| Folder |
19 |
Beazel Land Flat Map, 1870
|
|
| Folder |
20 |
Henry B. Beazel, Steam Boat Officers Protective Association, 1880
|
|
| Folder |
21 |
James Beazel, Insurance, Ancient Order of United Workman, 1887
|
|
|
