This document is made available through the declassification efforts and research of John Greenewald, Jr., creator of: The Black Vault The Black Vault is the largest online Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document clearinghouse in the world. The research efforts here are responsible for the declassification of hundreds of thousands of pages released by the U.S. Government & Military. Discover the Truth at: http://www.theblackvault.com ... •' . •. .. . i. ·p~~~~~=~~ fi~fi;yg~~~;2~~~onnation Act r I Case # : 41[152 ,.. .. t:::::::. '\:;;::: HISTORICAL AND ANALYTICAL STUDIES IN RELATION TO THE BEALE CYPHERS REPORT TOt Beale Cyphers Study Committee(BCSC), 15 April 1972 b7 Carl w. Nelson, Jr., 2606 N. Brandywine Street, Arlington, Va. NOTICE: This report contains raw research information on the Subject which is incomplete. As noted in my report to the BCSC dated 7 March 1970, BCSC members are free to cite. this study and to use this information within this limitation. SITUATION: This report is an extension or the 7 March 1970 report to the In general, the discussion will follow the future re BCSC. search plans ro~d on page 11 or the earlier report and in the time frame or the Attachment I Chronology round on page 12 of the same document. I. Yewspaper Research For the periods of interest in the Beale Chronology and bearing in mind that the shortest observed elapsed time for mail delivery between St. Louis and- Richmond(city), Va. is 42 days, the following newspapers have been carefully checked: Tne Columbia(Mo.) Herald Statesman The Missouri Intelligenser, Franklin, Missouri The Illinois Intelligencer, Kaskaskia, Illinois The Illinois Emigrant, Shawnee Town, Illinois, succeeded b,y, The Illinois Gazette, Shawnee Town, Illinois The Richmond Enquirer, Richmond, Virginia(city) 1. The Columbin(Mo) -Herald· Statesman carried news or activities in Franklin, Missouri which was the location Vhere trail companies assembled I round no reference to Thomas Jeffer during the Beale Party time frame. son Beale or to his trail party. 2. The Missouri Intelligencer, Franklin, Missouri contains a nu.'llber or entries or possiD.l.e usefulness in 1'Urthttr research and .2ru! Beall reference: a. The 1 April 1820 issue lists a letter bei!'lg held at. the Frank- . "'l'HOl-'~S BEALL11 1 In my letter to Fred. Chesson dated lin(l-1o.) Post Ot'fiee for: 30 Nov. 1971, this listing was incorrectly noted as being S.J. Bdale. Those having a copy of the ietter to Chessol!l should correct this error or mine. A recheck or my notes and my recent correspondence on this point with the Mis souri Historical Society clearly shows this listing as "Thomas Beall". Be cause the date 1 April 1820 is in reasonable agreement with Robert Morriss' statement that Beale and his party left Lynchburg for the West in March 1820, I sugP."est that this Thomas Beall I§ lhomas Jefferson Beale. The difference in name spelling may b3 a consequence or poor or florid writing. Also, ALL Beale family genealogical referenees carr.y spelling variances such as: Beall, Beals, Beal, etc. Since the "THOMAS BEALL" name does not appear in subse~uent Post Office listings in the Missouri tntelligencer(also confirmed bu the Missouri :Historical Society), I must conclude that a Thomas Beall(the Beale or interest) vas in Franklin, -Missouri to pick up his mail shortl7 after 1 April 1820, that he vas trav~ling through Franklin; and, based on the Morriss information that he was traveling toward the Westl b. The 16 Jul:y 1819 issue carries a notice that after 23 July 1819, the Franklin(Mo.) Hotel would be operated b.y Messrs. William Beatty and George Armstrong. These two men become or researeh interest as possible "keepers or the Beale Cypher Keys". Todate, I have done D2 research on these·men. The for mer operator of the Franklin Hotel was Mr. John Means. It located, the Franklin -Hotel guest list may )DOCID.: 656726 @: " ' BCSC Report, 15 April 1972, C. Nelson, continued: Hotel guest list may contain the names of the Beale Party. Recovery or the Franklin Hotel guest list is considered unlikely because the old city or Franklin, Missouri, was completely destroyed b,y river floods. c. For use as a research aid, following is a listing or Franklin, MO. tavern keeper licensees($10.00 p.a.) as ot the 20 Nov. 1821 issue: John Shaw, Robert W. Morris, Foster Freeman, Edward O'Hs.ire, Vibert & Pruit, Price Arnold, John Nanson, Daniel & William KcKenzie, Beatty & Ar.mstr~ng, Henry v. Bingham, Michael Collier, Laurent Vibert, William Pipes, Thomas Hickman. The following ferry boat licensees($5 - $20) were listed in the same issue: Thomas Hardeman, $5.00J Adam Woods, $5.00; James D. Miller, $20.00; and Shadrach Barnes, $20.00. I aupr.ose t~e differences in license tees reflect the size or vessels operated. d. As a research aid on the Beale jewel%'7 purchase, the following company advertisements were-. noted: 1). The April 1, 1820 issue listed M.J. Gregg, Jeweler. 2). The Sept. 3, 1819 issue listed Charles E. Jeaneret as of fering a variety or jewelr-f and silverware. 3). Tne 12 Nov. 1819 issue listed a large stock of jewelry tor sale by' Charles F. Jarred. 4). !g Beale association with these stores is implied. The names may be worth fUrther checking in terms or the alleged Beale purchase or jewels. Bear in mind that old Frankli~ ~ftssouri was completely destroyed b.y floc~ and that the probability or store and hotel records surviving is very low. urther and related, my check of Missouri Historical Society(St. Louis) archives reveals nothing of Beale interest .relating to jewelry dealers in St. Louis. 3. ~ Illinois Intelligenser, Kaskaskia, Illinois: a. Because Kaskaskia v.as t~e location of the principal Mississippi River rerr.r crossings on the trail to St. Louis from the East, The Illinois Intelligenser tile.in the Library or Congress has·been read in detail for the period or interest. NO Beale Party references have been found. b. Items of possible research value are: The. Kaskaskia Ferry was owned by Jonathon Findley and Samuel Rogers and was established in November 1818, The Smeltzer Ferry, The Jones Ferry. The finding or ferry account books relating to the Beale time frame could pro duce direct evidence on overland travel b.y the Beale Party. Personal papers, letters diaries and the like from the owners or the ferries may also be or value in researchin~ the Beale Party story. · · As noted above, no reference to the Beale Party bas been round in this paper. While not exclusively newspaper references, the following 1 tems are related and are included at this point in the report in order to fill out the the related items I have collected on Botetourt County, Virginia. c. Beale(Beall) Family references in the Illinois Intelligenser: · · 1}. The issue or 9 June 1819 carried a financial notice concern ing a bank correspondent, NORBORNE B. BEALL, Office or Discount and ·Deposita, < &.nk or Kentucky, Louisville, Ky. ·Norborne B. Beall is a member of the Beale Family. His presence in Louisville in 1819 increases the probability that Thomas Jefferson Beale's travels to and from Virginia may have been via Louisville, K7• This point is well worth ~~ther research which will be done. 2). It is speculated that Norborne B, Beall was named for Nor borne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt, the Royal Governor of Virginia, 1768-1770, and after wh:>m Botetourt County Virginia was named. 3). The so-called Beales home/estate in Botetourt County was named "Pendleton". Recorda or this period may be located in Fincastle, Va., the county seat. 4). A wey interesting book - - ~~· DdCI,D: 65672~:- --·--- ..... ~ BCSC Report, 15 April 1972, c. Nelson, continued: 4). A very interesting book developed from the Fincastle, Botetourt County records is that by Robert Douthat Stoner, Title: "A Seed- bed of the Republic, Early Botetourt". Bear in mind that Botetourt County Va. once included all of what is now Illinois and a sector East from the Mississippi River. This book may be seen on Reference in the Virginia Room or the Arlington County Va. Library. 5). Because of immediate proximity to Bedford County Va., it is believed important to keep Botetourt County Beale families on. the active re- search list. .. 6). Virginia Map.azine or History(VMH), Vol. 29, p. 259, lists a Norborne Beale as a student at William and Ma%7 College in 1798; and, gives his wife 1 s name as Ann and a son Norborne Gantt, all of Louisville, Ky. The complete file of VMH is held in the Virginia Room or the Arlington County Library, Vols. 1 - ca 60 being on microfilm. _ 7). VMH, Vol. 4, p. 463, notes that Francis Madison of the ~esi­ dent 's family was married to a Taverner Beale and that they lived in Clifton Forge, Virginia. 8). VMH, Vol. 3, p. 316, notes that in 1895, the Corcoran Galler,y was in possession of a portrait or "T. Beale" done in 1'796 by St. Memin. Mrs. Phillips, Corcoran Research Director, advises that this item is an engraving of "a very handsome man", is listed as a "J. Beale" 1796, and that it may be seen on appointment with the Registrar, Corcoran Gallery. The Corcoran St. Memin col lection contains over 800 items! 9). VMH, Vol. 30, p. 72 notes that Reuben Beale's farm, as of 1805, was located in Madison County, Virginia, Northwest of Botetourt County. Reuben is believed to have been an:. uncle or Thoms Jefferson. Beale. ~. The Kaskaskia Illinois Intelligenser reading yielded useful in ~ormation concerning Ohio/Mississippi/Missouri River steamboat services- which vill be discussed separately under future research plans. 4. THE ILLINOIS EMIGRANT succeeded on 18 Sept. 1819 by' THE ILLINOIS GAZETTE both publlshed every Saturday in ShaWneetown Illinois by Eddy & Kimmel. a. Being both the first capitol or Illinois and a principal ferry cross ing of the Ohio River for Va./Mo. overland travel, this location is of particular interest in Beale Party research. b. No Beale Party references were round in the Shawneetown Papers! c. Items recovered having possible research use included names and the owners or tae following hotels/taverns in Shawneetown: James Wilson's Inn; c. Hobson, Prop. 1). 10 April 1819, "Hobson's Hotel & Tavern", a successor to Dr. 2). 25Sept. 1819, "NewTavern", suceessortoR.M. Tarlton; J. Newel, Prop. 3). -~Dec. 1819, Henry Yost advertised his place, an overnight stop on tho road to St. Louis serving the Ohio River - Flynn, Frazer, and Barker Fer ries and the Smeltzer Ferry on the Mlssippi. Yost's place was located 75 miles East of Kaskaskia. A former proprietor was· John McCreerey Esq. . 4). 27 April 1820, The inn "Sign or the Eagle", tormer proprietor a Colonel Campbell, "now property or Robert D. McLean". . d. Items recovered rela-ting to Ohio River Ferries and owners werea 1). 2 Oct. 1819, Flynn's Ferry 2). 2 Oct. 1819, Frazer's Ferry 3). 2 Oct. 1819, Barker's Ferry 4). 11 Dec. 1819, Hezekiah Conn announces his plan to establish an Ohio River Ferry and landing on his property near Shawneetown in Gallatin County. 5) • 28 July 1821 , Harrison Wilson, Prop., Shawneetown Ferry announced a new policr or cash in advance and advertised he was collecting on notes on accoun~ outstanding. If obtai.ned, his account book could provide information o£ value. e. The Shawneetown nlinois - _;noCID: 656726 ~- ... 4 .· ·- .f 'i: ... ' t • t t I BCSC Report, 15 April 1972, C. Nelson, continued: e. The Shawneetown Illinois Gazette reading yielded useful infor mation concerning Ohio/Mississippi/Missouri River steamboat services which will be discussed under fu~1re reoearch plans. f. MISCELLANY 1 1). The 6 April 1822 nlinois Gazette contained an item which is furnished as a challenge to BCSC readers especially interested in analysis. Following is a complete quote of the itez: "Found 5 miles South of Tuscaloosa, Ala~ - a flat sided stone cone apparantly cut b.1 art and or great antiquity, measuring 20 inches across the baAe, 2) inches in heighth, and 16 inches thick on which is the following inscription: HISRANEHNDTDY 1232 This item was signed by a Mr. Samuel Maverick, Jan. 30, 1822. It 1232 is a valid date, Columbus and crew were just 260 y-ears too late I 2). On 2 Oct. 1819, James B.yers, a tailor in Shawneetown offered his ser\"lces as follows: Coats, $6.00; Panteloc':ls, $2.00; Vests, $2.00. 3). On 2 Oct. 1819, D.W. Ridgeway advertised his "New Store" as a successor to Paobles and Kirkpatrick. 4). On 10 April 1819, Stanley and Ludlow offered a variety or hardware for sale. 5 • THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER, Richmond, Virginia a. Based on the Morriss statement that two colleagues of Beale vent home to "Richmond" for visits during the time of Beale's two-month visit with Morriss in Lynchburg beginning in January 1H20, a thorough reading of the Rich mond, Va. Enquirer has been compl.e~ed. ·.rne pel."1oe1s se.1.ec,;ee1 were: Jan. 1ts1'/ - July 1817 to cover the Beale Party organization period; and, Jan. 1820 - 31 Mar • . ~20 to covor the first Beale visit period. b. NO :fiEALE PARTY ITEMS WE'RE FOUND. :-tence, no further time is planned I am now of the opinion that wl"1en for reading the Riohmond(city) newspapers. Morriss spoke of Beale 's colleaF.Ues going to "Rich:nond.11 , he may have been refer ring to Richmond County Virginia. Warsaw, Va., the county seat of Richmond County, is located ca 55 miles Southeast of Fredericksburg, Virginia on VA Route #3. The ancestral home of the Beale l''amily known as "CHESTNUT HILL" is near Warsaw. This plantation was patented by Col. Thomas Beale in 1662. He died and was buried at Chestnut Hill on 17 October 1679. the section of thie report on future research plans. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT THE BCSC MEMBERSHIP AVOID SENDI~ro A BARRAGE OF LETTERS TO THE COmiTY CLERK IN WARSAW, VA. TO DO SO ~.fAY DENY THE BCSC OF VALUABLE INFOID·fATIONl YOUR BCSC HISTORICAL COM1-ITT'l'EE WILL C'..APEFULLY HANDLE THIS APPROACH AND KEEP THE BCSC FULLY ADVISED CONCERNING ANY BEAU: PARTY FINDINGS. .\dditional discussion of this will be i'o\::.nd in o. Follo\d"ng~ are Beale hmily notes for the period read from the Rich . mond Enquirer: 1). On 11 March 1817, as of 28 February 1817, the Richmond Post Office listed a letter being held for "Reuben Beale" • This Beale is believed to have been the Uncle of ThoJr.as Jefferson Beale, who married Francis Madison, and who lived at Clifton Forge, Virginia. 2) •. on 9 MB7 1817, ·a Membership List of the Virginia Commission on Erection or a Washington Monument included the n~ or Charles Beale of Botetourt County Virginia. As noted elsewhere, Charles Beale probably lived at the Beale eatute named "Pendleton". He is believed to have been a son of Taverner and 'Eliza beth Beale or Orange County where the Beale family once owned over 2000 acres of laDd. As such, Charles would probably- have been a cousinl' of Thomas Jefferson Beale, 3). On 6 June 1817, the Post Office listed a letter for w.c. Beale. 4). On 24 Februal')" 1820, James M. H. - r r ··----#'- - - DOCID~ 65672~~:: ~-···· "-•:::· s · 'BCSC Report, 15 April 1972, c. Nelson, continued: 4). On 24 Februsry 1820, Jumes l.{. n. Be~:~.le wa.s listed as one or the Commiasioners or Navig.ation for the Kanawha River(now in West Virginia). A similar item appeared in the Lynchburg(Va.) Press as was repartee! to BCSC 0:1 7 March 1970, pap.:e 7. d. Items of Potential for Research Use: 1). The 17 Dec. 1816 issue contain~ an account written b.Y a Mr. J. c. Brown in st. Louis on 7 Nov. 1816 in which he describes his survey ot the Osage Boundar.y approximately 254 miles to the west on the Arkansas River in what is now the State or Kansas. Tnus, J. c. Brown could have been a Beale contact in St. Louis for help in planning the Beale Party travel starting in ld.ay 1817. 2). The 21 Jan 1817 issue listed the membership or the Indian Com mission in St. Louis. Any one of the following listed committee members could have been a Beale contact: Ninian Edwards, t.D.. Clark, and Augustus Chouteau, Co:muissioner R. Wash, Sec'y Co~ission; R. Graham, Indian Agent for Illinois; J. ~~ub, Lt., 8th Infantr,y Regiment; P. Provanchere, Commission Interpreter; Maurice Blondeauz, Indian A~ent; John RUland; M. Lewis Clark; Samual Solomon, Commission Interpreter and Trans lator; Jacques 1-'.ette, Interpreter. 3). The 28 Jan. 1817 issue reported the sinking and the loss or the Kaskaskia nlincis Mississir.:"i River Ferry. 4) • The 22 April 1817 iS!ll8 reported a 16 March 1817 froz:~ tho St. Louis Gazette in which George Sibley describes the depredations or the Osage Indians. (Please note that this letter, Hence, Sibley is a likely Beale contact in St. Louis. - mail/transit time inclucied was published in Rich:nond within 44 days. 5). The 29 April 1817 issue carried a lo~g article on Spanish/Mexican pr~blems written by "AURORA". This pen name has been observed in many papers on thie subject. 6). The 27 May 1817 issue carried a letter by Dr. John H. Robinson, (Monroe's Special Agent) to the ~panish Ambassador, Don Louis de Onis. This letter •·as written in Natchez on 23 April 1817 in which Robinson notes that the "King or Spain is-too concerned ~ith his ·young ~ife's toilette to be interested in Spanish/ U.S. relations~. For more on Robinson's activities, see the BGSC Report or 7 March 1~70, page 5. This could have been the cause for l~nroe 1 a firing or Robinson. 7). ·rne 24 May 1~17 issue quoted St. Louis newspapers reports that "t.ne Kansaa anct Oi:;t.o Ina1an '!'rices were are war". tj). The 3 March 1817 issue reports sharp debate in the Congress ov,Jr authority to publish the SECRET Journal of Congress re tho Peace Treaty of 1783. Three volumes or this Journal may be seen in the Nathaniel B. Tucker Librar,y at The Collee:e or William and Mary. Perhaps the Libr~:~.ry of Congress SECRET papers or the period of interist should be scanned for Spanish/Mexican items on the chance that sny Beale Party special agent activity might be revealed. e. MISCELLANY. Because the Richmond (Va.) Enquirer contains such a veal th ·or interesting historical detail, the following items are shared with the BCSC: 1) • -30 January 1817: The term "Cowboy" was de tined as a derogatory term describing 'Andre's Captors'. This is the earliest reference I have seen making use of the word "cowboy". This issue also reported a sha.'neful disturbance among the stUdents and professors at Princeton College(New Jersey) on 25 Jan. 1817. Note the 5 day elapsed time. 2) • 4 Januar.y 1 81 "l; Announcement or Henr)" Clay as Chairman, Assoc., Free People or Color. Francis Scott Key- was member of the Committee. giving the decision to limit the number or stripes in the u. s. Flag to 13 with the star field to represent the balance or the states. . 3). 11 January 181'1: A Congressional Com:nittee report was quoted 4) • 1 1 A~ril 18171 A long letter by Thomas Jet'ferson on the re patriation or slaves to Africa - which he favored. S). 25 April 1817: The Delinquent :~nocrn .= 656726 (:. .... . ,_ .... . I • • • 6 .... flj " . f BCSC Report, 15 April 1972, C. Nelson, continued. 5). 25 April 1817: The Delinquent Tax List sho\led that Thomas Jefferson still had not paid the real estate taxes on the Natural Bridge parcel. This notice first appeared on 5 April 1817 citing a re~l estate tax bill of $6.21. Hard timest t Also, the Kentucky River was reported to~1:1flooding 70 teet above its ordinary level. A letter quoted trom Benjamin Franklin contained 6). 2 May 1817: the following short poem: "Here saugg Lies snug As a bug In a rug", an epitaph to a pet squirrel quoted from Franklin's letter to Miss Georgianna Shipley, London, 26 Sept. 1775. Considering the date and addressee location, the timing of this letter and its very famous quotation deserves some considera tion for analysis as a code concealing certain revolutionary actions or positions. 7). 6 May 1817: Advertisement by Dicks & Moore & Co., Richmond, "Wanted, two waggons to transport goods to Kentucky". 8). 1 July 1817: SUlllma.rization of the Department of State Diplomatic Service Budget included $156,000.00 for ambassador/consul salaries, world-wide! 9). 26 Feb. 1820 issue shows that sex publications were offered for sale b,y Goliah Werner, Title: "Conjugal Happiness". Nothing new under the sun! I 10). 29 February 1820: The as:=::essed valuat:!.on or Virginia land was listed as $206,893,978.00, an average value/acre of $8.00. 11). 10 March 1820: A letter from Virginia LeF.islators calling for dissolution of the States over the Missouri Question. II. ~ Spanish Are hives· or ~ Mexico 1. The Library of Congress Manuscript Division(Annex, 3rd Floor) holds a .• crofilm copy of thane archives for the period 1621 - 1821. Considering the Beale time frame, the following units were scanned: a. Roll H!, 1 815-1f!17: Administrative Documents of(in ~panish) Governors Alberto Maynez and Pedro Varia Allande; and all the following in Spanish, b. Roll 19, 1S18-1a19~ Same for Allande and Melgares Administrat5.ons. e. Roll'20, 1820-1821: Records of the Final Years of Spanish Sovereignty. d. Roll 21, Miscellaneous Spantsh Archives of New Mexico e. Roll 22, Cddulas, Orders, and Decrees. 2. NO BBALE PARTY REFEREUCES 'WERE FOU1ID! HoYever, tw items wuld have born directly on the Beale Party tempor&.ry residence in Santa Fe and in New Hexi.co. These are: a. Roll 18, Frame 862, 1J Nov. 181? is an official statel:'lent concerning the "Travel Regulations" for visitors. Since these may pin point the type or alien registration that would have been required or the Beale Party Mnl:lbership and hence should point to file-ioc~tions here, in New Mexico Historical Society fileo, in Mexico, and also in Seville, Spain, I have decided to obtain a cop,y of these Travel Regulations and have a translation made of then. As time permits. this 'Will be done. b. Roll 19, Fram 441, 11 November 1818 givea inotructions on PASSPORTS. · This too could have dictated the filing or certain papers and reports by members of the Beale Party and could serve a~ a guide and research control to other sourceo. Hence, it too will be obtained and translated as time permits. 3. Mafl1 or the items are witten in a florid handwriting in Uliterate Spanish which makes for very difficult scanning and translation. For.this, a word or special appreciation is due to Yolanda o. Vigil for her very skillful, quic}t, effective scanning or the items selected for this Beale Study. An appreciation on behalf or the BCSC is expressed to Mrs. Vigil. · III. The Beale Geneoloa To provide BCSC membership with a more complete and pertinent portion of the - Beale Family pPCID: 65672§; .... ~--:..- f-.:_ ··-.::r 7 BCSC REPOKT, 15 April 19'72, c. Nelson, continued: Beale Family genealogy, the A ttachDient "Beale Family History" has been as sembled from the Virginia Magazine of History(VMH) summary on the Beale Family. See Vol. 32, pp 51-54. This summaey relates primarily to the Beale Family resi dence in Richmond County Yirginia(ca 65 miles Northeast or Richmond City). With this information, it is believed that a better understanding may be obtained in relating the Beale records listed in the 7 March 1970 Report to the BCSC aad for guidance or future research on the Beale Party. IV Planning for Contin.Ui'!'lg Beale Party Research during 1972 and 1973. 1. Scanning of local newspapers, court bouse re,ords and church registers for the periods defined in the Beale Cbronology-(See Attachment II) is suggested for the following locations in Virginia: a. Old Rappahannock County Virginia which as of 1662 included what ia nov Richmond County Virginia. b. Richmond County Virginia. 1). Warsaw, Virginia (County Seat). 2). Farnham, Va. 3). Farnham, Va. Register (Church Records). 4). VUla~e, Va. 5). 14orattico, Va. c. Stafford County Virginia. 1). Stafford Co11rt House, Va. (County Seat) d. Spottsylvania County Virginia 1). Fredericksburg, va. 2). Rappahannock, Va. 3). Spottsylvania, Va. (County Seat) e. Orange County Virginia 1). Orange, Virginia.( County Seat) 2). Unionville, Va. 3). Rapidan, Va. 4). Burr Hill, Va. 5)., Gordonsville, Va. 6). Monpelier Statton, Va. t. Madieon County Virginia 1). Madison, Va. (County Seat) 2). Aroda, Va. g. Allegha~ County.Virginia 1). Clifton Forge, Va. h. Botetourt Count, Virginia 1.Bedtord County Virginia 1). Fincastle, Va. (County Seat) 2). _Buchanan, Va. 3). Troutville, Va. 1). Bedford, Va. (County Seat) 1. In general, the best starting place for this newspaper research 'Will be found in the accession lists of the Library of Congress, Newspaper and Periodical Division, 2nd Floor, Annex. Psrhaps a schedule for doing this work may be arran~ed among BCSC membership who live in the Washinp.ton Area. 2. Court House Records a. Court House records are of use in listing names, verifying relation ships, disposition of property through wills and the like which may point up the whereabouts of parties or int9rest at the time. b. From experience in looking at si:Dilar records in Staft:ord Count House, Virginia Court Bouse, I know that care must be taken to avoid an.:. overwhelming bar rage of letters and visitors on the Beale Question. For example, the Archivist in St. Louis is tired of us and there is some sign of the same from the State Historical Group in Columbia, Mo. Because I took care to explain m:r historical research about "this very interesting" DOCID: 656726 ,- __ ~- . '· ... 8 . ' ... BCSC REPORT, 15 April 1972, C. Nelson, continued: "this very interesting Beale Family11 , I received full cooperation and assistance from the Stafford Coun-tvRecords Staff(NO MENTION IS EVER MADE OF THE BEALE GOLD/ SILVER. IF DONE, THE APPROACH IS DESTROYED. NO SUCH MENTION ~0 BE MADE EVERt) • Hence, it is requested that BCSC ~embers avoid making contact with county records clerks until I ha~~ had chance to plan the approach and to sch~dule the vork. 3. Church Records a. The same line of reasoning applies to the Church and Parish records. If the material can be located in librar,y sources, BCSC members are encoura~ed to look it over and to report on it. b. However, if the approach involves direct contact with the Parish leaderE in person or b,y letter, caution is the word. Arter all, the Beale family is alive and still very active in these communities. Hence, great care needs be take'n \lith these research approaches. The same goes for a~ contact that is made in the Goose Creek community in Bedi'ord County. The country is a very fine agricultural com munity - really beautiful farming countey. As you or I would, they do not take kindlY' to trespass on their rarmsl 4. Steamboat Transport of the Beale Party Gold &: Silver. a. Except for the single instance of a letter being held for a Thomas Beall in the Franklin,Missouri Post Office on 1 April 1e20, r have found !Q re ference to a Thomas Beale(Beall) or to the Beale Pa:r.ty at any other point along the overland trail back to Virginia. b. This situation suggests that another menns of transport for the gold and silver may have been used. It seems only logical ~tat ~ome mention or the large Beale Party and its heavilY' loaded wagons would have been made in the papers. The fact that Eecknell used heaV)• wagons in his trade vith Santa Fe in the early 1 S20 's has been seen in a number of t-eports of h:5.s activity. c. In view of this circumstance, I belie~re it to be important that we ~beck the manifests and logs for the following steamboats which, during the period ~~ inter&st, were providing rive~ steamer ser\~ces as rollovs: 1). On 20 Jan. 1819, the Kaskaskia Illir.ois Intelligencer(KII) re ported the S/B "Franklin" providing service to St.Louis/New Orleans bad been sunk, hence it was in se~·ice prior to this date. 2) •. On 31 May 1819, KII reported S/B ''lwlississippi" service Ne'W Orleans St. l-ouis with connections to Havana, Cuba. More details on New Orleans, Havana, Norfolk steamboat servlces c~n be obtained by checking the local newspaper for the period of inter~st. This information is probably obtainable from Library of Congress files. 3). On 5 May 1819, KII reported services of S/B "Jefferson" on the St. Louis/Wheeling, \ol. Va. run; and, S/B "Expedition" on the St. Louis/Frankf'urt,Ky. run via the Ohio River. Franklin, Mo. under_~ll~ command or Captain Nelson( no relation, HI I). 4). On 16 June 1819, KII reported S/B "Independence service to 5). On 10 Nov. 1819, KII reported S/B "Yankee" service to Franklin under Captain Jacob Reed. . 6). On 1 July 1820, the illinois Gazette, Shawneetow, Illinois re- ports the following Ohio River S/B services: "Kentucky"; "Bezaliel Wells", St. Loui~ Louisville; "Calhoun", St. Louis/Louisville, Ky.; "James Ross" and "Washington", St. Louis/ Louisville, Ky.; "City of Commerce"; and, "Ns.poleon". 7) • On 30 April 1 821 , the Franklin Missouri Intellir,enser reported S/B"Washington" under Captain Shre'V8 with service from St. Louis to Franklin in 6 da~ vice 20/30 days or very bard work via keel boat. The Y.dssouri River bas 'the most rapid current or all major u.s. Rivers. River in France. In this regard, it is similar to the Rhone d. Undoubtedly many more vessel/captain names can be recovered. For Beale Part,.. research purpose~, considerable emphasis should be ~iven to the possibility that the gold and silver was transferred to Virginia, either by steamboat Tia the Ohio River trom Franklin or trom st. Louis; or, similarl7 via Nev Orleans via the - ocean route via DOCID :,. 65672~:.: ~---· 9 BCSC REPORT, 15 April 1972, c. Nelson, continued: ~cean route via Havana. to Norfolk and then by wagon train to Bedford County. FUrther, there was extensive wagon freight service from Wheeling, W.Va. which could readily handle such loads. It is believed that Ohio and Mississippi River port mastE.rs may have kept detailed lists or passengers and cargo carried on esch run. Back in 1933, I saw such records in Cairo, Illinois(conf'luence or the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers). Whether the Libral"J or Congress or other reference source in the Washington Area or the various old ports along these routes has retained river traffic logs for the Beale Party time frame remins to be determined. Onct! a research approach has been devised and sources identified, the work can be dis tributed to BCSC members who have interest and time for doing it. Again, the Library or Congress clearly is the best starting point on this type research. The history and lore of river steamboat service is extensive. V ADDE~IDUM The above information is reported to the BCSC as of 21 March 1972. Any additional. information obtained prior to 15 April 1972 will be provided as an addendum to this report at the time of the BCSC Meeting nov scheduled tor 15 April 1972. Carl w. Nelson, Jr., Chairman, BCSC Historical Committee, 2606 N. Brandywine St., Arlington; Virgini 22207 Telephone: (703)-538-6107 . (home) -.. ____ ... : :.DOCID: . AXTACHMEN'l' • NELSON ~~~~~:.lRT TO BCSC 15 April 1972 . .. .- . 1 •• \ ' - VIIilliiiiA 1-iAGAZilfii; OF RISTultY, Vol. 32, pp 51 - 54 (Arling,ton County Library) B.I!.U.E FI~GI.Y HIS'fvRY ThomaR Boalc, emigrant ance::;tor of the i'P.mily ,.ras born prior to 1626, married prior to 1647, and emigrated to Virginia nrior to rlarch 25, 1649f was J.P. for York County 1652 and llajor of militia in 1661. He was apnointed to the Council in 1662 and proba~ly remained a member of that body until his death! King Charles II, in a letter dated Sept. 30, ·1668 to the GovP-rno:r of Virginia, recoMmended for appointment. as Commanrler of the fort at Point Comfort, Thomas Beale, of "whose ability and oru dence the King hath had long experience". He aonarently left no will and the exact . date of his de~th is not known; but it could doubtless be ascert;:rl.ned from the order lfe married Alice books of York County. Sent. 23, 1702, as "widow of Col. Thomas .BeaJ.e 11 conveying land in York to her grand son .Peter Goochoryn, with remainder to her grandson Thomas Beale of Rappahannock. Her will dated Oct. 9, 1700 was proved in York County. Her legatees were her grand daur,hter, Elizabeth rowell, grandsons Thar.as Beale, Thomas, son of or Francis Reade, Benjamin, f'iOn of Tho.::~as !ieade and .Peter Goodwyn. (possibly a widati} who made a de~d, Col. Thomas Beale had an only son· Captain Thor:~.as Beale, Jr. (born 1647, died 1679) who ~a tented land in .~1.ppahannock County( then including .rlich.'Tlond county) in 1662, wa3 appointed J • .P. for York 1673, and ooon aftei'\·tards removed to "Chestnut Hill" in the present rlich."nond County. He marriPd Ann, Daughter of William Gooch, member of the Council(whose broken tomb remains at the site of the old church near Yorktown). His His tomb at "Chestnut Hill" has the following epit9f)h: 11 Here lye s . the body of C~pt. Thoma:; BeP..le Jr. t-rho Took to wife Ann daugh ter of Col. William Gough And had by hftr tl·TO 50nB f:t '!Wo daughters. He d~:::~art- ed this life the 17th day of Oct. 1679 A!i:tates suae 32 In rnid~t or tnmoer.ts when the torrents rav~d Deeply for rn~r~j to the Lord I craved i'lhosc goodness thuo so pi ttied He distrest His merci~s wrought my aol'll.' s eternal rest." Thomas and Ann Deale had issue: 1. A.nn, born .\ug. 10 1672 (Farnham Register). 2. Thomas, born Jan. 29, 1675 (ibid) 3. Charles, born Oct. 20, 1678 (ibid) 4. Daughter, name unknown .· Thomas .deale of "Chestnut HiJJ.", married .:.1.izabeth, dau,:hter of Capt. John Travcrner. His will was dated Feb. 22 1 1728 and proved in fticmnond County June 4, 1729. Legatees:' his -.rife, son 11lilliam, dauf,hter An.11 :deale, daughter Elizabeth Beale, son Tho:rnas; four youngest sanD Taverner, Cha:::-lcs, aich·:rd, and iobert, son John. Thn w1ll of his wife :i!:lizabeth was dated !·~arch 17, 1728 and proved .in Hich mond County June 4, 1729. Legatees: sons Thoma81 Willia~, John, Taverner, Cha~les, Richard and :~uben, dau~htcrs Ann and h~izabcth. .~. __ DOCID: 65672~~: .: Va. Hag. Hist., Vol 32, p-p51 - 54 ATTAC!I1EtlT BCSC 15 April 1972 0. Nelson Page Two · On August 27, 1728 Thomas :Jeale had bought fran Henry ir/illis 3333 acres on the Kast side of the Little ~ountains in St. George's Pariah, Spotsylvania. Tni~ was doubtless the land in the later Orange on which several of his sons afterwards settled. Th~as and Elizabeth Beale had issue: 1. Anne born Sept. 3, 1711 (Farnham f..egiater). 2. Thomi~"1lT 1 rrfcfunond Co., born •••• died Oct. 9, 17.32. He r.1arried (License Richmond County, April 27, 1728) Sarah l•lcCarty and had a son:. '1'homas born l•:ay 17, 1729 (Farn"tam Register). This son probably died unmarried. The will o! Thomas .deal.e -vraa dated Sept. 27, 1732, and was -oroved in Richmond Co., Feb. 5, 1733. H~ m."l.de bequests to his son Thomas, when he l•ras ap;ed 20 years, to his (testator's) sister Nancy, and to his (the testator's) erner, Chetrles, Richard, Reuben, and Elizabeth Beale, to be paid ·..rhen they were 18 years old; brother ~-lilliam Beal:e. 11little brothers and sisters", John, Tav 3. \:Villiam of :Uchmond County, J • .P. 1748, etc.; married Ann 3.a.l"\-rar(License . ) . The "'ill of l:li.ch.":lond County, April 29, 1720, l-ri th her name as 11lL'lrt·rar HarwR.r11 ~vUliam 3eale 1-1a~ dated l·~arch 9, 1776, and p:r-oved in Riclli'nond County July 6, 1778. Le!?:atees: ~on~ ~Tillia.i'll nnd Reuben, d~tue:ht~T' Susanna, sons Rich::.rd and ~obert; l!r. '\.iilli:un Ball, ~·Tho married daughtr:r Ann; daup;btl'!rs S:;tr:th :md Hary; child ... en John, :·JilliR.":l , ~ubrm, "qichard, ~obert Elizabeth, ~linif"!"'~rl, TraV"!T"S, 5usR.nnah, Sarah and lO:ary. Sons-in-la•-r ~ichard Parker and Tlobert ~·7onuely Carter, executors. The will of '·lilliarn 3eal~(the son named in the will) \ozas d.at.ed. .Tan 25 and prov~d in Oran~e F~b. 2h, 1800. He left his es~'lte to his brother~ Robert, ~ichard, Tho~as, John and ~-ietJben. ~obert Beale(another ='>one nar.tcd in t.he r•ill), served in the :revolution a~ Ca..,tain. He married Hartha Felicia, daughter of Geo:rgc Lee Turberville of ilich monrl. Co1mty, and i·nts the father of J3rig.-General Itt Le~ Turberville Beale, C.s.~"L., o£ 1reland County. An account of the dencend:.!.nts of Capt. !tbt Deale is in .:-ass Hardy':s ··(.ol.onial Families, p. 515. That i~v. G~ rl. deale, D.D. son of General BeaLe, did not write a history of the Norther Neck and its people, is a real loss to Virginia local hi~tory. A life-lone residen~e and :nost thoroueh and judicious study of itG records and other antiquities, ga~ hL~ a knm~ledge of the oubject, which now, when oo many changes have ta~en place, can never be e~ualled. His ?a,ers must be of great value especially his diary which evidentJ.y was as cuch a note book of antiquities as a record of the cve:nts of the day. His unstinted generosity in giving fro::1 his greaL store of knowled~e to those who a:sked him deaervP.s a full acknowledgm·:mt. 4. John of Richmond Cou.'lty, born • • • • c.ied "/Jf./4/'/.'/.J 1767. He married 5. l-Tife .t:aizabeth, daueht~rs, Anne, :.iarah , \-iinifr··~d, .c;ustace, j:;).izabeth and Eliz~bnth • • • • • Ctis \oJill Has dated Dec. 22, 1766, and !Jrovnd .A.ug. 1, 1767. Legatees: Charlotte Beale; John and Hancock Bt1stace nnd Hicha.T"d F..chvarur.:, executors and guArdians. ilichard(Bt"lRle), born Dec. 19, 1723 (Fa.rn.lu."UUl H.er,ister), died 1771. Fe re mov~d to Or;mge County.-He marri~d t:li7oR"beth •• • • F.i:; lrill ~~as dated Aug. 11, 1768, anri orov~d in Orange Aug. 22 1771. Legatr._es: ria.11ghtr.rs Holly and Ann, wife .::.'liz~b .. th, cl;:mr:htP.r ~.-linifr~d, l-Yife of. l~r. l.Jillimn DangerfiP-ld, and nreviously of 1-ir. '·lillis. The "Vrill of hi~ -vridm.r, r~lizabeth ~4'8.~ dnted Dec. 11, ·1772, and proved in 0T"an!Je. Jan. 28, 1773. She lt>ft her ef:tare to her three daughters. 6. Reub~n, bo'J"n Dec. 19, 11?5. 7. Taverner, born · ried Francis(bo~n l'-!nTch 6, 1726), dnught~r of Arnbr.ose l·!adison and aunt of the President. She aftenrRrds married Ja.cob Hite and was killed by the Indians. The will of 'l'avorn~r ~:ole was dated i~ov • .), 1754, and provP.d in Orange, Oct. 29, 1756. Leg~tees: wife, son Charl~s, c:hildren Taverner, Frances Eli1.abeth and Ji.nnc. Charles Beale, i:ti.chard Beale, and Jamee Hadison(:.ir.) executors. , died 1756. He removed to Oranp,c County. He mar- \iife Frances and brothere ~ ~ a. rlobe'!rt. DOCJLD: 656726 ATTACHMElfr II, Page,. pne .. ·: BCSC REPOR'~, 1 ~ April 1972 J __. • A CHHONOLOGY RELATING TO THii: BEALE CYPHEHS Based on: "The Beal.e Papers" 1 by George L. Hart, Sr., Pub. Roanoke(Va) Public Library, 1964. Jan/ April 1817:. A liissouri 'l'erri tory hunting party was organized somewhere in Virginia by thirty young men, all unidentified except for Thomas Jefferson Beale. Where in Virginia and on what date this party was organized is not known. Arter reaching Hissouri Territory, Bea1e was elected to serve asTrail Captain of the ~arty. 19 l .. ia.y 1817: The Beale Party left St. Louis for Santa Fe. Circa 1 Dec. 18~7: The Beale Party arrived in Santa Fe. ~iarch 1818:: The BeaJ.e Party members discover gold at a location several days ride to 'bhe North of Santa. Fe. This distance is further defined as 250 or 300 miles in Beale's letter to Robert Morriss dated 4 January 1822. SUNil:ER 1819: First Beale ?arty shipment or gold and silver from New l-texi.co to V~ginia. November 1819: Burial of the first gold and silver hoard vi thin five miles of Buford 1 s Tavnrn, Benford Co1lnty, Virginia. Gold weight: 1014 lbs. Silver weight: 3812 lbs. JMJ/i{ar 1820: Thomas Jefferson Beale visits Robert and Sarah Morriss at the Washington Hotel, Lynchburg, Virginia(As show:n in this study, no other reference has been found to a \·Jashington Hotel or to 'Hobert 1-iorriRs' association with it). Two men or· Beale's Party went. · .. ,., Richmond for visits with family and frierrls. . . March(late) 1820: Beale and friems depart Lynchburg for New Mexico. !''ALL 1821: Second Beale Party shipment of gold and silver from New •texico via st. Louil!l into Virginia. James B. ~·lard 1 s solution of Beale Cypher l~o. 2 shows that this mipmet. was reduced in si7 e through the nurchase of jewels in St. Louis in exchange for gold. These jewels uere valued at ~131 000 dollars. December 1821: Burial of the second gold and silver hoard and the jewels at the same location as the first near .Buford's Tavern, Bedford County, Virginia. Gold weight: 1907 lb~: Silver \'Ieight: 1288 lbs~ January 4, ~822: Data of Beale's letter to Robert Morriss written in Lynchburg in which the Beale Party operations t{ere.described. Morriss did not rean this letter until 1845 when he opened Beale's loCkbox. J.anu1.ry 5, 1822: Da.te of Beale 1 s letter to 1-iorriss written in Lynchburg. Beale gives a short nescription or the Cypher No. 3 message stating that the cypher protected the list of 3eale Party members an:l certain rel.1.tives 'Who lrere heirs. This letter was not read by ~~rris until after he had opened the lockbOx in 1845. Janfl1ar 1822: Period or Thanas Jefferson Beale's last visit with Robert and Sarah Marries in Lynchbut"g1 Virginia·. - Late rlarch 1822: Beale gives custody of his loCk box containing letters am the cyphers to Horriss ani Beale departs for St. Louis. CARL W. NELSON, J! 26C6 N. BRANDYWINE ST. t~ i.' ! I •,: r; i 0 N 7 \1" ... ATTAC~' NT III, BCSC Report., 15 April 1972, Page 'l'wo f.._. ~:.- e. On 14 June 1817, "Mart"ied in Dumfries, Virginia"(just happen to "have a lot in Dumfries too - but it's not for salel Hil)"un Monday last(9 June) by Rev. Mr. leach, Mr. George Brooke of Culpeper to Miss Winifred Travis Beale of Richmond County". f. On 12 Jan. 1822, the Postmaster, Falmouth, Va., listed tvo letters being held for Wm. C. Beale. g. On 15, and 22 April 1820, George F. Strother gave notice .of his trip to Missouri Terri tory and his plan to return in November. He named Colonel Amistead !Dng as having authority to received and to pay his bills. Because Strother's schedule agrees with the Beale Chronology, He is a resonnble candidate for Beale ?.arty Membership, i.e. one of the two who went up to Riclunond in Jan. 1020 as was ·noted ~ Robert Morriss. h. M.M. Marmaduke was listed frccuently as the Deputy to John Sto:1ard who was Clerk of the Fredericksburg District Court of Chancery. l~rmaduke also acted as Trustee in ma~ land and other property transactions. His activities were noted, for example, in items dated 8 January 1920, 22 April 1920, and 19 Jan. 1a22. However, on 2 Feb. 1822, l'ar. Stonard listed a new Deputy. This sup,p.est;s that ·~-t.M. Mar:maduke, who ha:ldled many property sales in Ricln1ond County, may have been associated in some ~Y with Thomas J. Beale on his last recorded .trip in 1 S22. Further, a ~teredith Hiles Mar:na.duke become VfWY widely known for his activities in Western trade out of St. !Duin. See 11 J:>urna.l of M. M. Marmaduke, 1824", 'Published 1911 with notes by F. A. Sampso·n a!ld many other references to Marmadu1ce 1s activities. Marmaduke's Western trading activities should be studied in the context of Beale Party activities. I have him listed in my 7 March 1970 Report to the BCSC. Thus, i. On 26 April 1820, the Fredericksburg Virginia Herald gavs a sum.ury o~ trade on the Ohio River which noted slxty(60) steamboats in the range 25 - 700 tons displacemen serving Cincinnati, Ohio on regula'!" schedules. This is less than five years after the introduction of steamboat service in New York an~ this supoorts my idea that tha Beale Treasure may have been transpOrted via river steamboat; thus, accounting for the apparent ~r.r·k of references to the Beale Party on the 07~rland routes. Hence, this point should • v ldsearched as it may ce very revealing or the circumstances relating to movement or · the treasure trove as it wo•1ld be described according to Virginia Iawl 3. A check has been ma1e in the Library of Congress, Yanuscript Division, for their guidance on viewing records of Missouri, Mississippi, en1 Chio River steamboat trafric. At this stap.e, it appe~rs the research must be done on references to the boats by name. Hence, collectii·ns of names or steamboats on these rivers in the trade during the Beale ti.:ne frame will be most welcome. Also, work on river port city records 'Will have to start with general city historical records as a lead into the Subject. 4. Until work is further advanced on the Beale Party in relation to the various Virginia counties named earlier, my resea~ch on the P~ale Party in Santa Fe and as to whether Thomas Jefferson Ueale was in soDe sort or operational activity against the Spaniards and the l.IJexicans using a pseudonym will be kept warm on the"back burner" • . 5. To close the newspaper research phase of my work on the Beale Party, how about an item or so of Federalist Period humor to lt~hten this heavy research story with the following items picked from the Fredericksburg Virginia Herald: a. On 24 February 1816, a short story titled: "Fair Punninp, on a Fowl Amour" "Lately, a Mrs. Chick, of Cock-lane, ••• eloped with the son of a poulterer of. note by the name or Henn. The cockney punsters, one and all, began to peck u~on the incident, · declaring it fowl play in every point of view" - - - - and another about the Corporal in th~ army who had broken some rule and the problem was how to punish the young man - - "wh with Corporal Punishment, of course" -and I might add, with the 1816 s~lli.ng, that's some Punnishmcn~ -- but I won't! Hil b. On 1 February 1S17, a free form poem titled: "Punning" "At a Tavern one ni~ht Messieurs Hore, Strange, and \\'right, Het to drink and good tbour,qts exchange. Says MO~, or us Three, There's one knave and that's Strange. Says Stranp.e, rather ~ore, I'm su~e there's one More, a terrible knave and a bite; Who cheated his mother His ~ister hie BT"other, "0 Yes" , replied More, "'1'ha t 1 s "'right" • c. On 22 Feb. 1817, one '''Iimothy Dry" signed an article titled "Drunkenness" d. And not so funey, on 26 September 1816, a long at"ticle about Protestants or Oran~e murdering worshippers AND the priest at the altar celebrating Mass -So there's · nothing new in '72, 156 years laterllll ·tDOkniD: ' . 656726 ~ Report to BCSC 15 April 1972 ADDENDUM HISTORICAL AND A •tALYTICAL STUDIES :P.T RF.IA TION TO THE BEALE CYPHERS BYa Carl W. Nelson, Jr. SITUATION: Significant additional information has ~come available which warrants issuance or this addendum to ~ report to the Beale Cypher Study Cormnittee as or 15 April 1972. This addendum is subject to the restrictions placed on the basic report. .. ' ~ I NEWSPAPF.R RESEARCH 1. In paragraph IV, p. 7, of the 15 April 1972 Report to BCSC, an outline or future newspaper research was given. A check has been l!IS.de in Library or Congress references for newspapers which were published in the cited to~s during the Eeale Party time frame. All communit!es listed were found to have sponsored newpapers; but only one, "The Virginia HersJ.d" Fredericksburg, Va. 'WB.S published during the period or interest. 2. A detailed reading of the Vir~inia Herald has been completed. M;y findings are presented, in general, by subject rather than by time sequence: a. The Postmaster, Fredericksburg, Va. listed a letter being held for de livery to "Thomas Beal" on 31 March, 2 April, 9 April, and 12 April 1S17. Of all listings following this period which were eY.amined, none lis~ the name Thomas Beal. The above dates fit ve~y well with the Eeale ?.arty organization period. Further, the spelling or "Beal" agrees exactly with that noted in the PoSlllaster' s list. published in Franklin, Mo. on 1 April 1820. Hence, I sugv.est: 1). That Thomas Jefferson Beale may have used his name with the spelling Thomas Beal, 2). That the Beale Party was organized in the Fredericksburg vicinity, 1 .. .. • ~ts membership was drawn from among residents or Richmond, Spottsylvania, Stafford,.:~ ·· ~, Oxt~.uge, and Botetourt Counties in Virginia, 3). That u.s. Postmaster listings of letters attest to the existence of a Thorr.as Beal, a valid variant of Beale, conducting activities which are in good tilDe corresporAence to the Beale Party activity time frame, 4). That, at this point in the research, the usefulness of newspaper re search on the Beale Party is largely exhausted; and, that it is t:i.mely to do more re search work with the official records of the counties cited above. b. There were sharp differences amon~ members of the Eeale Clan as is attested b,y the following Virginia Herald notice published first on 21 December 1816 and repeated on 4 January 1817: NOTICE! "~'hereas the suit against me by' the Executors of Mr. Thomas -Beale* , deceased, has been decided in favor or the Isgatees - I do request again, they would coMe forward and re ceive their respective claims, and give me the bonds of indemnity. The amount due, as ascertained ~ the Commissioners appointed by' the Court of Orange, is fifty-eight pounds, three shillings, and six pence half-penny. Robert Beale, Executor of Wm. Beale, deceased" *Considerable research is needed to determine just which Thomas this may be. Shortly, I will go to Oran~e Court House{I own property in Oran~e County. Any one want to buy a nice cottage in a beautiful lake de'\""elopment? Hit) to check on my own property and I will take time to have a look at the Beale records at the same time. Apparently, these family dif ferences had he~ over some tirr~ since Jan. 25, 1800, the date of William Beale's will which was proved in Oran~e County on 24 Feb. 1800. c. On 12 Oct. 1816, John G. Beale announced sale of 500 acres near Culpeper, Va: John G. Beale lived in Fauquier County, Va. at Fallis's Mill on Deep Run. d. On 1 March 1817, an advertisement: "Twenty Dollars Reward, Ran away from Mr Beale"(John G.)"living at Fallis' Mill, Deep Run, Fauquier County, a few days before F.ast, last, a ~egro woman named 'iancy, who was hired to Beale by me, Pope Claxton, Morrisville, Fauquier County". (Note: Robert Morriss and his Wife, Sarah, moved from this part o£ Virginia to Lynchburg, Va.). e. On 14 June '\S'\7 - t)li~~ Rt:PORT 1 5 "pril 1 9,72 ~ . , (J:: . • l'.;ay 9, 1822: Date of Thomas Jefferson Beale's last letter to Robert Morriss written in St. Louis. George L. Hart, Sr.(page 9) states that Beale was staying at the ?lanter 1s Hotel in st. Louis. authorized Ivlorriss to open the lockbox i.f Beale is not heard from after ten years. l'lhere Hart obtained this information is not known. This letter S.P.HING 18321' Robert l-lorriss did not open the lockbox as was authorized by BeaJ.e. Morriss did not receive a letter from a friem of Beale in St Louis. Per Beale's statement, tHis letter was to have given the keys to the three cyphers to 11orris·s. SPRIOO l84S: Robert 1-forriss opened the Beale lock box and made various attem-pts without success to obtain and test keys for the cyphers. 1861: Year Sarah 1-torriss died. 1862: Robert Morriss transfers custody of the Beale Papers to James B. Ward 1863: Year Robert Morriss died. Date and Year Unknown: James B. 1-lard. decypher.e Beal.e Cypher No. 2 using the key he dis covered which was based on numbering the words in The Declaration of Indenendence begin ning with tm words 11\ihen in the course o£ human event, •• 11 Resultant numbers were selected after finding words with first letters which l.;ere the same as the letter of the text to be encyphsred. In effect, the resultant is a multi-keyed multi-alphabet cypher. 188.$:: James B. Ward publishes a pamphlet on the Beale Cyphers which tf'as printed tor sale at the VirginiA Job l'rint, Lynchburg, Va. SU·:.E~Ft 1897: Clayton I. Hart, brother of George L. Hart, Sr., obtained copies of Beale Cyph··.t: ka. J., 2, and 3 from N. H. Hazelwood_ of 1-lontvcJ.e(fomerlyjDuford), Bedford County, V• 1903: Clayton I. Hart talked with James B. Ward and with Ward's son. Ward and his son confirmed their work on the cyphers and of the elder Ward 1 s association With Hobert MoT'I'iss. Clayton I. Hart obtained a copy of the liard pamphlet. ' 1919: Period errling George L. Har~,Sr., intensive ~-1ork and search for keys to the Beale Cyphers. Clayton I Hart continued work on the cyphers until his death. December 1924: Beale Cyphers Nos. 1 and 3 were subnitted for analysis to Colonel George Fabyan ot Riverbank Laboratories in Illinois with no results. September 6, 1949: Clayton I. Hart dies. 1964: George L. Hart, sr. sUiiiiiiarizes his knowledge of the Be·ale Papers which included the three cyphers. Thie file may be seen at the Roanoke Public;.Library, Roanoke, Virginia. Copies of this file are on sale by the Library. When I bought mine, ~he price was ql6.85. ~ARL W. NELSON, JR . .tt·06 N. BP..'\NDYWINE ST. ,.. D I'''·-,..,..... .. I • • • -