chalkoutline
Tenderfoot
- #1
Thread Owner
After the Forrest Finn treasure was found in 2020, I turned my attention to Thomas Beale. I found the Beale ciphers to be intriguing but didn’t want to start the search if they were a hoax so I set out to find Thomas Beale.
I began by extracting the Robert Morriss’s account as told to his Valued Friend (The 1885 Pamphlet Page 5-7):
1. Jan 1820, Thomas Beale arrives with two friends. They are gentlemen, well born, and well educated, with refined and courteous manners and attractive. BTW, Beale means “Attractive Man”.
2. Beale was about six feet in height, with jet black eyes and hair of the same color. His form was symmetrical, and gave evidence of unusual strength and activity; but his distinguishing feature was a dark and swarthy complexion. His social disposition and friendly demeanor rendered him extremely popular with every one, particularly the ladies.
3. He registered simply from Virginia, but I am of the impression he was from some western portion of the State.
4. He remained until Mar 1820 and left with the same two friends
5. Jan 1822, Thomas Beale returns with a darker complexion.
6. Before leaving in Mar 22, he gave Morris a box with important, valuable papers.
7. Morriss never saw Beale again. He did not open the box in 1832 but waited until 1845.
I then started by researching #3: “He registered simply from Virginia, but I am of the impression he was from some western portion of the State”.
I searched US Censuses. According to Robert Morriss’s account, Thomas Beale left for Santa Fe in March of 1820. The 1820 US Census didn’t start until August 1820 so he would have been in Santa Fe and would not appear in the 1820 census. I then searched the 1810 census and there were no Thomas’s. That doesn’t mean he didn’t exist because the 1810 census only identifies the head of household which meant Thomas may have still be living in his father’s house. So I looked in the 1810 Census for Beales living west of Lynchburg, VA. I found four in Botetourt County: Madison Beale, Charles Beale, Rhoda Beale and James Beale.
I then focused on #1. “They are gentlemen, well born, and well educated, with refined and courteous manners and attractive”.
Thomas Beale was well educated which indicated he came from a wealthy household. This also meant his father would have left a Will which could be found at the Botetourt county seat in Fincastle, VA. That’s where I found the will for Tavenor Beale who died 5 Jun 1810. All four of the Beales listed in the 1810 census were descendants of Tavenor Beale. The 1810 Census was started after Tavenor’s death on 6 Aug 1810 and why Tavenor was not listed.
At the bottom of Tavenor Beale’s will is listed Thomas Beale: “I give to my son Thomas Beale 5 Shillings only”. This was a snub to Thomas because he killed James Beverly Risque in a duel in 1806 and fled to New Orleans. This is also why Thomas didn’t show up with his siblings in the 1810 census for Botetourt County. Since Thomas was living in New Orleans in 1819 (age 46) he most likely was not the Thomas Beale who stayed with Robert Morriss. However, he did have a son out of wedlock with Cloe Delancy. His name was Thomas Beale Jr. and born in 1792 and he would have been about 27 years old when he arrived in Lynchburg in 1819. This is the ONLY Thomas Beale who meets the description described in the 1885 pamphlet.
I found the probate record for Thomas Beale Sr. who died in Sep 1820: Louisiana Supreme Court case “Delancy vs Beale”
Using the 1885 pamphlet and the Court case “Delancy vs Beale” I developed a timeline for Thomas Beale Jr’s life. For each timeline entry I have identified my source in parenthesis.
Thomas Beale Jr Timeline
1. Birth of Thomas Beale Jr: 1792 in Botetourt County, VA. Father: Thomas Beale Sr. Mother: Cloe Delancy (Delancy vs Beale).
2. Apr 1817 - St. Louis preparing for trip to Santa Fe (1885 Pamphlet).
3. Dec 1817 - Arrived in Santa Fe (1885 Pamphlet).
4. Mar 1818 to Nov 1819– Some of the party find gold when hunting buffalo and mine the gold through Nov 1819 (1885 Pamphlet).
5. 27 Apr 1819 – Thomas Beale Sr. transferred his property in New Orleans to Thomas Beale Jr in exchange for $120,000 in [promissory] notes (Delancy vs Beale).
6. Nov 1819 – Four miles from Buford's Tavern. Thomas Beale deposits treasure in vault four miles from Buford’s (1885 Pamphlet).
7. Jan 1820 – Thomas Beale arrives at Washington Hotel, Lynchburg, VA (1885 Pamphlet).
8. Mar 1820 to Nov 1821– Thomas Beale leaves for second trip and returns Nov 1821 (1885 Pamphlet).
“On my return [summer 1820] I found the work still progressing favorably, and, by making large accessions to our force of laborers, I was ready to return last Fall [Fall 1821] with an increased supply of metal, which came through safely and was deposited with the other.”
9. Death of Thomas Beale Sr.: Sep 1820 –Thomas Jr., is by his side (Delancy vs Beale).
“Beale Jr. resided with his father until his death, and afterwards possessed and controlled the property until he died in 1823”.
10. Dec 1821 – Four miles from Buford's Tavern. Thomas Beale deposits 2nd treasure in vault (1885 Pamphlet).
11. Jan 1822 – Thomas Beale arrives at Washington Hotel, Lynchburg, VA (1885 Pamphlet).
12. Mar 1822 – Thomas Beale leaves a locked box before he leaves for third trip to the mine (1885 Pamphlet).
13. 9 May 1822 – Thomas Beale writes a letter to Robert Morriss in St. Louis (1885 Pamphlet).
14. Death of Thomas Beale Jr: 22 Oct 1823 – Thomas Beale Jr dies in New Orleans (Delancy vs Beale).
Timeline conflicts between the 1885 pamphlet and Delancy vs Beale
1. 27 Apr 1819 - Thomas Beale Sr. transferred his property to Thomas Beale Jr. while Thomas Jr was in Santa Fe.
In the court case Jun 1830, Delancy vs Beale, the property transfer was deemed improper.
The first conflict looks suspicious but is not a show stopper. Maybe the note was improper because Thomas Jr. wasn’t present or never fulfilled the promissory note.
2. Sep 1820 – Thomas Beale Sr. dies in New Orleans and Thomas Jr is by his side YET the pamphlet indicates he is at the mine not to return until the Fall of 1821. This conflict is a show stopper since it places Thomas Jr in New Orleans and out west at the same time.
The court record (Delancy vs Beale) indicating he was in New Orleans takes precedence over the pamphlet making the story in the pamphlet is NOT TRUE!
You could also resolve this conflict by saying the Thomas Beale Jr I identified is not the correct Thomas Beale; however, since there are no other Thomas Beales who lived west of Lynchburg at the time means if he is not the correct Thomas Beale then he DOES NOT exist. This conclusion would also prove the story is NOT TRUE!
Take your pick!
I began by extracting the Robert Morriss’s account as told to his Valued Friend (The 1885 Pamphlet Page 5-7):
1. Jan 1820, Thomas Beale arrives with two friends. They are gentlemen, well born, and well educated, with refined and courteous manners and attractive. BTW, Beale means “Attractive Man”.
2. Beale was about six feet in height, with jet black eyes and hair of the same color. His form was symmetrical, and gave evidence of unusual strength and activity; but his distinguishing feature was a dark and swarthy complexion. His social disposition and friendly demeanor rendered him extremely popular with every one, particularly the ladies.
3. He registered simply from Virginia, but I am of the impression he was from some western portion of the State.
4. He remained until Mar 1820 and left with the same two friends
5. Jan 1822, Thomas Beale returns with a darker complexion.
6. Before leaving in Mar 22, he gave Morris a box with important, valuable papers.
7. Morriss never saw Beale again. He did not open the box in 1832 but waited until 1845.
I then started by researching #3: “He registered simply from Virginia, but I am of the impression he was from some western portion of the State”.
I searched US Censuses. According to Robert Morriss’s account, Thomas Beale left for Santa Fe in March of 1820. The 1820 US Census didn’t start until August 1820 so he would have been in Santa Fe and would not appear in the 1820 census. I then searched the 1810 census and there were no Thomas’s. That doesn’t mean he didn’t exist because the 1810 census only identifies the head of household which meant Thomas may have still be living in his father’s house. So I looked in the 1810 Census for Beales living west of Lynchburg, VA. I found four in Botetourt County: Madison Beale, Charles Beale, Rhoda Beale and James Beale.
I then focused on #1. “They are gentlemen, well born, and well educated, with refined and courteous manners and attractive”.
Thomas Beale was well educated which indicated he came from a wealthy household. This also meant his father would have left a Will which could be found at the Botetourt county seat in Fincastle, VA. That’s where I found the will for Tavenor Beale who died 5 Jun 1810. All four of the Beales listed in the 1810 census were descendants of Tavenor Beale. The 1810 Census was started after Tavenor’s death on 6 Aug 1810 and why Tavenor was not listed.
At the bottom of Tavenor Beale’s will is listed Thomas Beale: “I give to my son Thomas Beale 5 Shillings only”. This was a snub to Thomas because he killed James Beverly Risque in a duel in 1806 and fled to New Orleans. This is also why Thomas didn’t show up with his siblings in the 1810 census for Botetourt County. Since Thomas was living in New Orleans in 1819 (age 46) he most likely was not the Thomas Beale who stayed with Robert Morriss. However, he did have a son out of wedlock with Cloe Delancy. His name was Thomas Beale Jr. and born in 1792 and he would have been about 27 years old when he arrived in Lynchburg in 1819. This is the ONLY Thomas Beale who meets the description described in the 1885 pamphlet.
I found the probate record for Thomas Beale Sr. who died in Sep 1820: Louisiana Supreme Court case “Delancy vs Beale”
Using the 1885 pamphlet and the Court case “Delancy vs Beale” I developed a timeline for Thomas Beale Jr’s life. For each timeline entry I have identified my source in parenthesis.
Thomas Beale Jr Timeline
1. Birth of Thomas Beale Jr: 1792 in Botetourt County, VA. Father: Thomas Beale Sr. Mother: Cloe Delancy (Delancy vs Beale).
2. Apr 1817 - St. Louis preparing for trip to Santa Fe (1885 Pamphlet).
3. Dec 1817 - Arrived in Santa Fe (1885 Pamphlet).
4. Mar 1818 to Nov 1819– Some of the party find gold when hunting buffalo and mine the gold through Nov 1819 (1885 Pamphlet).
5. 27 Apr 1819 – Thomas Beale Sr. transferred his property in New Orleans to Thomas Beale Jr in exchange for $120,000 in [promissory] notes (Delancy vs Beale).
6. Nov 1819 – Four miles from Buford's Tavern. Thomas Beale deposits treasure in vault four miles from Buford’s (1885 Pamphlet).
7. Jan 1820 – Thomas Beale arrives at Washington Hotel, Lynchburg, VA (1885 Pamphlet).
8. Mar 1820 to Nov 1821– Thomas Beale leaves for second trip and returns Nov 1821 (1885 Pamphlet).
“On my return [summer 1820] I found the work still progressing favorably, and, by making large accessions to our force of laborers, I was ready to return last Fall [Fall 1821] with an increased supply of metal, which came through safely and was deposited with the other.”
9. Death of Thomas Beale Sr.: Sep 1820 –Thomas Jr., is by his side (Delancy vs Beale).
“Beale Jr. resided with his father until his death, and afterwards possessed and controlled the property until he died in 1823”.
10. Dec 1821 – Four miles from Buford's Tavern. Thomas Beale deposits 2nd treasure in vault (1885 Pamphlet).
11. Jan 1822 – Thomas Beale arrives at Washington Hotel, Lynchburg, VA (1885 Pamphlet).
12. Mar 1822 – Thomas Beale leaves a locked box before he leaves for third trip to the mine (1885 Pamphlet).
13. 9 May 1822 – Thomas Beale writes a letter to Robert Morriss in St. Louis (1885 Pamphlet).
14. Death of Thomas Beale Jr: 22 Oct 1823 – Thomas Beale Jr dies in New Orleans (Delancy vs Beale).
Timeline conflicts between the 1885 pamphlet and Delancy vs Beale
1. 27 Apr 1819 - Thomas Beale Sr. transferred his property to Thomas Beale Jr. while Thomas Jr was in Santa Fe.
In the court case Jun 1830, Delancy vs Beale, the property transfer was deemed improper.
The first conflict looks suspicious but is not a show stopper. Maybe the note was improper because Thomas Jr. wasn’t present or never fulfilled the promissory note.
2. Sep 1820 – Thomas Beale Sr. dies in New Orleans and Thomas Jr is by his side YET the pamphlet indicates he is at the mine not to return until the Fall of 1821. This conflict is a show stopper since it places Thomas Jr in New Orleans and out west at the same time.
The court record (Delancy vs Beale) indicating he was in New Orleans takes precedence over the pamphlet making the story in the pamphlet is NOT TRUE!
You could also resolve this conflict by saying the Thomas Beale Jr I identified is not the correct Thomas Beale; however, since there are no other Thomas Beales who lived west of Lynchburg at the time means if he is not the correct Thomas Beale then he DOES NOT exist. This conclusion would also prove the story is NOT TRUE!
Take your pick!
