Robert Chestnut Beecroft
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth: 15 Jul 1873 - Holden, Millard, UT
Christening:
Death: 2 Oct 1958 - Mesa, Maricopa Co, AZ
Burial: 6 Oct 1958 - City of Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa Co, AZ
Cause of Death:
AFN :
Events
• Biography, The Buchanan Pioneers of Mexico
Robert Beecroft was born and lived in Utah and Colorado with his family until they moved to Mexico in 1889, when Robert was 16. His family lived in Colonia Pacheco. He met and married his first wife there, but she died 10 years later, leaving 4 small children. He married Edna Buchanan the next year (1905). Their first child, William was born in 1906, in Pacheco. They went to Salt Lake City in October 1908 where they were sealed in the temple. At that time he was called to serve a mission in Mexico City. Edna and their children did the best they could back at home in Pacheco, Mexico during this time. She relates: "Prior to Marva's birth [born in February 1909 in Pacheco], Robert was called to a Stake mission in Mexico City. Although it was nearly time to give birth to my baby and we were in desperate circumstances, I encouraged him to go, realizing that if there was a kind Father in Heaven, and knowing there was, He would take care of us and make it possible for us to get food and clothing until father and husband could return to us." [He was released on Nov, 9, 1910] - (Golden, p. 170)
Their son, Carl was born in 1911 in Pacheco and the next year they had to leave because of the Mexican revolution. Edna writes: "The Mexican Revolution took place the latter part of July [1912], and I will never forget the day we received notice from President Junius Romney for every member of the Church to get some things into a trunk - one trunk per family - and be ready to leave. We stored our dishes, bedding, trinkets and everything we could in big boxes. Robert dug deep holes in the ground for the boxes. We never went back to see how things were because the Rebels ransacked and burned everything. We left Pacheco by wagons in one large group and went to the railroad in Pearson, ten or twelve miles East of Colonia Juarez. After a slow and worrisome journey with my small children, we reached the 'camp' the government had established for the refugees in El Paso, Texas. We were assigned sheds, with each family given a designated space. There was no privacy and the conditions were appalling and humiliating." (Golden, p. 171)
The Beecroft family stayed with Caroline in Utah for a while and then lived with other family. Following that they lived in Arizona and New Mexico for a few years. In 1917 they returned to Mexico and lived in Garcia and Juarez. Their daughter Valoise was born in Arizona in 1915 and their next two daughters, Ethel and Maurine were born in Colonia Garcia and Colonia Chuichupa in 1922 and 1925, respectively. Their youngest son, Douglas was born in Douglas, Arizona in 1927. In December 1930, Robert Beecroft was listed as a member of the High Council of the Colonia Juarez Stake. (Romney, p. 259) The family moved back to Arizona in 1932 where they remained. Their son, William Beecroft is mentioned as a member of a committee set up in Douglas, Arizona to see about claims for a settlement concerning property lost in Mexico. (Romney, p. 263)
Parents
Father: John Hurst Beecroft 1
Mother: Ellen Chestnut 1
Spouses and Children
1. *Lilly Marinda Rowley 1
Marriage: 14 Apr 1894 - Colonia Pacheco, Chihuahua, Mexico
Status:
Children:
1. Nello Robert Beecroft 1
2. Emma Beecroft 1
3. Lilly Mae Beecroft 1
4. Ellen Beecroft 1
2. Nancy Edna Buchanan 1
Marriage: 18 Oct 1905 - Colonia Pacheco, Chihuahua, Mexico
Status:
Children:
1. William Elvin Beecroft 1
2. Marva Maria Beecroft 1
3. Carl J. "Beeky" Beecroft 1
4. Valoise Beecroft 1
5. Ethel Beecroft 1
6. Maurine Beecroft 1
7. Douglas E. Beecroft
Notes
Burial Notes:
Plot: Section 706, Lot 4, Grave 3General:
"Father"
http://www.gencircles.com/users/jobeecroft/*
Sources
1. GenCircles (Family of Jim Beecroft at http://www.gencircles.com/users/jobeecroft/1, dated 2002.)