The BEER Family of Yarcombe, Stockland and Membury, Devon

This is the story of the BEER family of Devon. I began to research the family through our connection to Jane BEER, who, on 29 March 1892, departed from London on the ship JELUNGA bound for Bowen in Queensland Australia. She is listed as a Domestic Servant, aged 25 and single. Jane arrived in Bowen on 20 May 1892 and a year later married Samuel BROWN on 17 June 1893. Jame and Sam had two children (William and Selina) before Sam disappeared, never to be heard from again. (Sam's story is here.) Soon after, Jane joined up with Charles TAYLOR and they had eight children. (Jane's story is told here.)

The family story begins with Henry BEERE

Using the parish records I have traced Jane's family back to Henry BEERE (1643-1704) of Yarcombe in Devon. Only two children can be identified in the records for Henry and his wife Sarah PARRIS, Ruth (1684-1703) and Henry (1689-1760).

Henry (1689-1760) married Grace BRUNSEN (this appears to be the most consistent spelling) on 31 July 1712 at Yarcombe. They had eight children, so the early part of the family tree looks like this. To make navigation easier, I have broken the tree up into the families of each of these eight siblings. You can follow the link on each name and return to this tree if you need to. Following each tree, I have recorded the details and a copy of the parish records, census returns etc that provide the evidence for the relationships shown.

                                    |

			                                Henry BEERE

			                                 ?-1653

			                                    |                        |

			                               Henry BEER=======v=======Sarah PARRIS

			                                1643-1704     m:1684     1657-1725

			                                           (Chardstock)

			                                                |

			                                 |--------------|

			                                Ruth          Henry

			                             1684-1703      1689-1760

			                                                |

			                                          m:1712(Yarcombe)

			                                           Grace BRUNSEN

			                                            1688-1758

			                                                |

			  |------------|------------|-------------------|------------|---------|--------|---------------|
Henry       Charles      Benjamin             James       Abraham    Isaac    Jacob           Robert

			1712-       1714-       1716-1778           1719-1793    1722-1797   1724-  1727-1783        1730-1798

			  |            |            |                   |            |                  |                |

			m:1755       m:1736       m:1746              m:1746       m:1746            m2:1762           m:1788
Anna HAYMAN Mary MUCK    Ann STAMP         Dorothy PAVEY Sarah SPILLER   Elizabeth BURROUGH  Mary CALVERWELL

			               |             |                  |             |                 |                |

			                            

			

Henry BEER 1643-1704

Henry was baptised in the village church at Membury in 1643, the register does not record the exact date.

He married Sarah PARRIS on 24 June 1684 at Chardstock, but there is only a transcript of this record available. Note that 24 June would have been Midsummer Day and it was not unusual to marry at this time.

He died in March 1704, aged 61 and was buried on 18th March 1704 at Yarcombe.

Baptism for Henry BEER at Membury, 1643

Burial record for Henry BEER at Yarcombe, 1704

Sarah his widow died in 1725 and her burial was recorded in the Yarcome parish register as 26 March 1725. The register notes that the burial information was provided by affidavit, indicating that Sarah was not buried in the churchyard or by the local minister.

Burial record for Sarah BEER at Yarcome, 26 March 1725

The children of Henry and Sarah

The parish records show only two children for Henry and Sarah. There was likely to have been more, but they may be recorded in other parishes.

There is a record for the burial of a Ruth BEER in Yarcombe in 1703/4 and this is probably the daughter of Henry and Sarah, aged 18. 1703 was the year that the old style Julian calendar was adjusted, with 11 days lost and the new year starting on 1 January.

Burial record for Ruth BEER at Yarcome, 3rd Feb 1703/4

Henry BEER (1689-1760) and Grace BRUNSEN (1688-1758)

Henry, son of Henry, was baptised at Yarcombe on 2 May 1689. He married Grace BRUNSEN at Yarcombe on 31 July 1712. Grace had been baptised at Yarcombe on 6 May 1688:

Baptism for Henry BEER at Yarcombe, 2 May 1689

Baptism for Grace BRUNSEN at Yarcombe, 6 May 1688

Marriage for Henry BEER and Grace BRUNSEN at Yarcombe,31 July 1712

The parish records show eight children for Henry and Grace. There is more information about some of them if you follow the links:

Henry died in either 1760 or 1761 as there are two burials for a Henry BEER in the registers. One is most likely to be Henry senior (born 1689) and the other his son Henry (born 1712). I have assumed the elder Henry died before his son, but there is no evidence either way.Here are the two records for Henry, and for Grace his wife who died 1758 and was buried on 26 Feb 1758 also at Yarcombe.

Burial for Henry BEER at Yarcombe, 11 Feb 1760

Burial for Henry BEER at Yarcombe, 26 July 1761

Burial for Grace BEER (BRUNSEN) at Yarcombe,26 Feb 1758

Return to the Jane Beer Index Page

Return to the Benton Family Index Page

Last updated: 20 July 2026