Alfred Beacher and Emma Jane Beecroft
Husband Alfred Beacher [15167]
Born: 21 Jan 1892 - Boston Run, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States 1 Christened: Died: 30 Jun 1963 - Perry Point, Cecil, Maryland, United States 1 Buried: - Templeville Cemetery, Templeville, Caroline Co, MD 2 FamilySearch ID: KCY3-3FT Find A Grave ID: 5296716Marriage: 18 Jan 1916 - Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United StatesEvents
• Military: Cook Co K 140th Infantry
Purple Heart
World War I.• His obituary was published in The Morning News (Wilmington, Delaware) on 2 Jul 1963. Alfred Beacher
Alfred Beacher, 71, of Elkton, Md., died Sunday at the Veterans Hospital, Perry Point, MD.
Mr. Beacher was a retired guard at Bay Shore Industries in Elkton. A veteran of World War I, he served with the Army in France and Germany. He was a member of VFW Post 8175 and American Legion Post 15 here.
Besides his widow, Mrs....
Wife Emma Jane Beecroft [15166]
Born: 11 Jun 1899 - Shenandoah, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States Christened: Died: 23 Dec 1977 - Elkton, Cecil, Maryland, United States Cause of Death: heart attack Buried: 28 Dec 1977 - Templeville Cemetery, Templeville, Caroline Co, MD FamilySearch ID: 9C6N-L1Y Find A Grave ID: 5296717
Father: William Beecroft [5439] (1874-1954) Mother:
Events
• She appeared on the Federal census in 1900 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States. Name:
Emma Jane Beecroft
Event Type:Census
Event Date:1900
Event Year:1900
Event Place:Shenandoah borough Ward 4, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Event Place (Original):ED 169 Shenandoah borough Ward 4, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Sex:Female
Age:1
Marital Status:Single
Race:White
Race (Original):W
Birth Date:Jun 1899
Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Father's Birthplace:England
Mother's Birthplace:England
Relationship to Head of Household:Granddaughter
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):Granddaughter
Sheet Letter:B
Sheet Number:14
HouseholdRole Sex Age Birthplace
Bella BeecroftHead Female 6 England
Harry BeecroftSon Male 24 Pennsylvania
Mary BeecroftDaughter Female 22 Pennsylvania
Joseph BeecroftSon Male 17 Pennsylvania
Emma Jane BeecroftGranddaughter Female 1 Pennsylvania
Cecil JamesBoarder Male 28 Wales Eng
George JamesBoarder Male 26 Wales Eng. • She appeared on the Federal census in 1920 in North Braddock, Allegheny Co, PA. Name:
Emma Beacher
Event Type:Census
Event Date:1920
Event Place:North Braddock, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Event Place (Original):North Braddock Ward 3, ED 279, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States
Sex:Female
Age:21
Marital Status:Married
Race:White
Race (Original):White
Birth Year (Estimated):1899
Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Father's Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household:Wife
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):Wife
Sheet Letter:A
Sheet Number:5
HouseholdRole Sex Age Birthplace
Alfred BeacherHead Male 27 Pennsylvania
Emma BeacherWife Female 21 Pennsylvania
Jack BeacherSon Male 2 Ohio. • She appeared on the Federal census in 1930 in Clementon, Camden Co, NJ. Name:
Emma J Beacher
Event Type:Census
Event Date:1930
Event Place:Clementon, Camden, New Jersey, United States
Sex:Female
Age:30
Marital Status:Married
Race:White
Race (Original):White
Birth Year (Estimated):1900
Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Father's Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household:Wife
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):Wife
Sheet Letter:A
Sheet Number:5
HouseholdRole Sex Age Birthplace
Alfred BeacherHead Male 37 Pennsylvania
Emma J BeacherWife Female 30 Pennsylvania
John C BeacherSon Male 12 Ohio
Lillian A BeacherDaughter Female 9 Pennsylvania
Alfred R BeacherSon Male 7 Delaware
Henry BeacherSon Male 3 Pennsylvania
William BeacherSon Male 5 Pennsylvania
Richard G BeacherSon Male 0 Pennsylvania. • She appeared on the Federal census in 1940 in Sussex Co, DE. Name:
Emma J Beacher
Event Type:Census
Event Date:1940
Event Place:Sussex, Delaware, United States
Event Place (Original):3-15B, Sussex, Delaware, United States
Previous Residence:Burton, Geauga, Ohio
Sex:Female
Age:40
Marital Status:Married
Race:White
Birth Year (Estimated):1900
Birthplace:Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household:Wife
Relationship to Head of Household (Original):Wife
Sheet Letter:B
Sheet Number:5
HouseholdRole Sex Age Birthplace
Alfred BeacherHead Male 48 Pennsylvania
Emma J BeacherWife Female 40 Pennsylvania
John C BeacherSon Male 23 Ohio
Lillian A EvansDaughter Female 20 Pennsylvania
Alfred R BeacherSon Male 17 Delaware
William BeacherSon Male 15 Pennsylvania
Henry W BeacherSon Male 13 Pennsylvania
Richard G BeacherSon Male 11 Pennsylvania
Lura M BeacherDaughter Female 7 Ohio
Joseph L BeacherSon Male 2 Delaware
Laban EvansSon-in-law Male 23 Maryland
Reida V EvansGranddaughter Female 2 Delaware
Alfred J T EvansGrandson Male 0 Delaware. • Her obituary was published in the Evening Herald on 27 Dec 1977. Emma J., widow of Alfred Beacher, antive of Shenandoah, died December 23 in Union Hospital, Elkton, Md. She was 78.
Surviving are six sons and three daughters: John, Henry, Richard, James, Suzanne Bello of Elkton, Alfred and John of Delaware, Lillian Evans, Laura Parsons of Salisbury, Md., 23 grandchildren, 18 greatgrandchildren and one greatgreatgrandchild. The funeral is Wednesday in Elkton, from the GGE Parlor at 259 Main street.• Her obituary was published in the Hazelton SandardSpeaker on 27 Dec 1977. MRS. ALFRED BEACHER
Mrs. Emma J. Beacher, Dogwood Road, Elkton, Md., died Friday at the Union Hospital, Elkton. She was born in Shenandoah. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred, in 1963. Surviving are the following children John, Henry, Richard, James and Mrs. Suzanne Bello, all of Elkton, Md.; Alfred, Baltimore, Md ; Joseph, New ark, Del.; Mrs. Lillian Evans and Mrs Laura Parsons, both of Salisbury, Md.; 23 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday from the Gee Funeral Home, 259 E. Main St., Elkton, Md., with interment in the Templeville Cemetery, Templeville, Md. Friends may call today after 7 p.m.• Her obituary was published in The Morning News on 28 Dec 1977. BEACHER On December 23rd, 1977. Emma J. Beacher of Boxwood Road, Elkton, Md., wife of the late Alfred Beacher, mother of John C. Beacher, near Elkton, Alfred Beacher, of Baltimore, Md., Henry W. Beacher, near Elkton, Richard G. Beacher, Elkton, Joseph L. Beacher, of Newark, Del., James W., Elkton, Mrs. Lillian Evans of Salisbury Md., Mrs. Laura Parsons, Salisbury, Md., Mrs. Suzanne Bell of Elkton, Md., 23 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 1 great, great grandchild. Aged 78 years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service on Wednesday morning December 28th, at 11 o'clock, from the GEE FUNERAL HOME, 259 E. Main Street, Elkton. Md. Interment at the Templeville Cemetery, Templeville, Md.
• Her funeral was held Daily Times on 30 Dec 1977. Funeral services were held Wednesday here in the Gee Funeral Home for Mrs. Emma Jane Beacher, 79, who died Dec. 23 at home of a heart attack. Interment was in the Templeville, Md. Cemetery. Mrs. Beacher was the wife of the late Aflred Beacher. Surviving are nine children, Mrs. Douglas D. Parsons and Mrs. Laban Evans. Salisbury; Mrs. Benny Bello and Joseph, Richard, Jack, Henry and James Beacher, all of Elkton, and Alfred Beacher, Baltimore; 23 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren and one great great - grandchild. A late son was William Beacher.
Marriage Events
• They were engaged Republican and Herald on 28 Dec 1915 in Pottsville, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States. The engagement of Miss Emma Beecroft to Alfred Beacher, of Leavenworth, Kansas, is announced. The wedding will take place at the home of the bride in February., 28 Dec 1915, Pottsville, Schuylkill, PA.
• Marriage: 18 Jan 1916, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States. Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950
Name:Alfred Beacher
Event Type:Marriage
Event Date:18 Jan 1916
Event Place:Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Event Place (Original):Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, United States
Sex:Male
Age:23
Marital Status:Married
Birth Year (Estimated):1893
Father's Name:William Beacher
Mother's Name:Priscilla Derrick
Spouse's Name:Emma Beecroft
Spouse's Sex:Female
Spouse's Age:21
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):1895
Spouse's Father's Name:William Beecroft
Spouse's Mother's Name:Mary Kay.
Children
Research Notes: Wife - Emma Jane Beecroft
https://searchtrees.com/tree/1854.htm
Some mystery surrounds William Beecroft and daughter Emma Jane Beecroft born 1899. The facts do not seem to support the family story told in the 1970's to genealogist Bruce Franklin Beacher that "Emma's father died young, she was raised by her grandmother when mother remarried. Her father was Lynn Beecroft. His parents were from England, his father a boatmaker who died and wife ran a boarding house to support family."
We cannot find facts to support this story, nor a Lynn Beecroft; instead facts suggest Emma's father was William Beecroft and he fathered her while he was married to Gertrude Shoemaker, but Emma's mother may be William's cousin Mary Kay. Here are the facts that suggest this possibility.
Emma Jane's marriage record on 18 Jan 1916 clearly states her parents were William Beecroft, born in Pennsylvania, and Mary nee Kay, born in England, both deceased when she married. Although she reports her age as 21 on the sworn marriage application, in truth she was 16 at the time and would have required parental consent to marriage. The actual application is online here: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9882-7651-14?cc=1589502&wc=M9HG-NF3:1001702698
Emma was born June 1899, so her father William would have died after September 1898 to conceive her. In the 1900 census, infant Emma Jane is not found with her parents, but living with her grandmother, the widow Bella Beecroft born in Nov 1844 in England.
What is mysterious is Emma's father William, supposedly dead, marries again in 1946 to a Sarah Drumheiller and that marriage record identifies William's parents as William Beecroft and Isabella nee Kay and his birth year as 1874. We know this William is Emma's father because in the 1880 census, we find William born in 1874 living with parents William Beecroft Sr., age 37, and wife Elizabeth, age 34, both born in England. Their son Henry, age 4 in 1880, appears again in 1900 census with the widow Bella as Harry age 24, confirming Elizabeth is Bella. Further confirmation is the marriage record 28 Dec 1867 in Houghton le Spring, Durham, England between William Beecroft and Elizabeth Isabella Kay. (Her 1910 census indicates they immigrated to the United States in 1871.)
The conclusion is the William marrying in 1946 is the son of Elizabeth Isabella Kay Beecroft, the grandmother who raised Emma Jane Beecroft. That William is proven to have married first a Gertrude M. Shoemaker on 15 Mar 1898 in Shenandoah, Schuylkill County. William and Gertrude has a son William born 11 Jan 1899, and William and family is recorded in the 1900 census in Shenandoah. Therefore, William cannot have both Emma born June 1899 and William born Jan 1899 by the same wife, supporting the notion that William and a Mary Kay sired Emma, not William and Gertrude.
So who is the Mary Kay that Emma states as her mother on Emma's marriage application? The only possibility found to date is William Beecroft's cousin, Mary Ann Kay, born Nov 1879, who lived as his neighbor in the 1880 census when they were children. In 1880 Mary Kay's father, George Kay, age 39, and wife Hannah, 34, were immediate neighbors to Elizabeth Isabella Kay Beecroft, so William Beecroft and Mary Kay grew up together. If they had a child as teenagers, they could not by law marry since they were blood related. This is a plausable explanation of why infant Emma is living with her grandmother Isabella rather than with any parents in 1900, and why young Emma might be told by her grandma that her father and mother were dead.
Of course, there is a possibility that Emma's mother Mary Kay was not the next-door cousin, but we cannot find anyone else to date. Please contact Jonathan Beacher, jonathan@searchtrees.com if you can help solve this mystery.
1 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "FamilySearch Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 5 Nov 2025), entry for Alfred Beacher, person ID KCY3-3FT.
2
Findagrave.com.
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