Beers, Joseph Ensign

From: An Island Refuge- Loyalists and Disbanded Troops on The Island of Saint John, The Abegweit Branch of UELAC, 1983

  • JOSEPH BEERS, a resident of Sussex County, New Jersey, enlisted as an ensign in the First Battalion of New Jersey Volunteers on December 16, 1776. His name also appears on the Fifth Battalion Muster Roll, November 19, 1777, January 8, 1778 and March 8, 1778. Circa 1779 he transferred to the King’s Rangers; this regiment was formed in May 1779 and later was stationed at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Joseph’s battalion, the First, was sent in 1782 to guard the Island of Saint John.
  • The New York Gazette has an article in the edition of March 5, 1783 signed by Joseph Beers and his fellow officers of the King’s Rangers recommending the Island of Saint John for Loyalist settlement.
  • Ensign Beers was said to have been in charge of a small garrison at Charlottetown Harbour but whether it was during the time of his enlistment, or later when he re-enlisted as Lieutenant with the Fencibles in 1793 is uncertain. He served with the Fencibles until the Peace of Amiens and rose to the rank of Major.
  • On October 1, 1788 Ensign Beers received a grant of five hundred acres of land on Lot 50 “in consideration of losses sustained and loyalty, and attachment to present Majesty”. At that time he surrendered and yielded up one grant or fee farm lease dated May 30, 1786.
  • Joseph Beers was High Sheriff of Queens County, and in 1809 he was appointed ranger of Lot 50.