“James Benjamin Beazley son of the above [Richard Beazley and Polly his Wife] was born the 24th of January 1835” [Armstrong family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 27094]

1840 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Beazley, Polly
2 males 5-10 [one of these could be James B. Beazley]
1 male 10-15
1 male 20-30
1 female 10-15
1 female 15-20
1 female 30-40
1 female 50-60 [this would be Polly]

A case file identifies this family. In Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Box No. 54, 1849-50, item 54-F-27, Jones C. Clopton, late sheriff of Essex County and admistrator of Ellis Armstrong deceased, the following family is listed:
Polly Beazley
Ellis A. Beazley, infant son
Richard E. Beazley, infant son
James B. Beazley, infant son
John T. Walsh and Eliza, a daughter of Polly
Warner A. Dyke and Mary, a daughter of Polly
The case is dated 29 October 1844; a decree was entered 16 May 1849.

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 87A
Dwelling 268, Family 268
Beazley, Mary, 54, female, $1,000 real estate, born in Virginia
Beazley, Richard, 18, male, laborer, born in Virginia
Beazley, James, 16, male, born in Virginia

James B. Beazley married Elizth. C. Boughan on 2 Feb 1859 in Essex County, Virginia. He was 24; she was 22. Both were born in Essex County; both resided there. The parents were Richard Beazley and Polly Armstrong, and John Boughan and Frances Howerton. James was a farmer. Howard W. Montague performed the ceremony. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 9, line 3.]

1860 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Dwelling 841, Family 816
Beasley, James B., 24, male, laborer, $2600 personal estate
Beasley, Elizabeth C., 23, female
Beasley, Lydia H., 9/12, female
Boughan, Cary C., 21

Beazley, James B.: Farmer, aged 28 in 7/64. Enl. 3/8/62 in Co. A. Sick in hospital, 4-5/62. Fell out, sick, 6/26/62. Returned 7/62. In hospital at Winchester 8/14/62-8/18/62. Present then on all rolls until he dislocated his humerus, 7/15/64. Returned to duty in the latter third of ’64. Present as at 12/31/64, final roll. [Richard O’Sullivan, 55th Virginia Infantry (Lynchburg, Virginia: H. E. Howard, Inc., 1989), 104.]

On 15 December 1869 James B. Beazley transacts. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 52, page 240.]

1870 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Dwelling 651, Family 651
Beasley, James B., 40, male, farmer $300 real estate, $250 personal estate
Beasley, Cathrine, 39, female, keeping house
Beasley, Lilia, 13, female, attending school
Beasley, Virginia, 8, female, at home
Beasley, Warner, 3, male, at home

James Irving Brooks wrote the following note: “Soon after her [Elizabeth Catharine Boughan Beazley] death [1878] the house was burned in a winter’s night. The family barely escaped in their night clothes. Nothing was saved except one desk with some valuable papers. Due to a technicality no insurance was collected. A dwelling was built the following spring. In the interim the family lived in an “outhouse”. During this time the father was ill and both Vestilla (Vessie) and Boughan had diptheria and were seriously ill.”

1880 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia:
Beasley, James, 45, farmer, widowed
Beasley, Catharine, 10, daughter, in school
Beasley, Warner L., 12, son, in school
Beasley, Lilly H., 19, daughter, at home
Beasley, Bessy, 7 daughter, at home
Beasley, Boughan, 4, son, at home

James B. Beazley married Harriette S. Anderson on 11 January 1882 in Essex County, Virginia. He was 46; she was 44. Both were widowed, born in Essex County, and living in Essex County. He was a farmer. The parents were Richard Beazley and Polly Armstrong, and Warner Louis and Isabella Shore. [Essex County Marriage Register Book 1, page 63.]

James Irving Brooks wrote: “January 20, 1882 [James Beazley] married Henretta Lewis Anderson of the Lewis Levels Farm. She had five sons. The two families are said to have gotten on together very well for about five years. Then her husband’[s] health began to fail[. H]is wife, Mrs. Henretta Beazley began to urge him to will her life interest in his entire estate. This he did not want to do and it led to their separation.”

On 10 November 1888, Harriet S. Beazley sued James B. Beazley for divorce and won her case. [Essex County, Virginia, Order Book Chancery 4, page 447.]

Death data from William Irving Brooks, letter of 29 March 1993 to Thomas Moore.

On 4 July 1892, an inventory of the estate of James B. Beazley was made by G. T. Brooks, Oscar Longest and R. H. Sisson. Total valuation $420.49. Recorded 21 August 1893. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 30, pages 792–794.]

On 4 July 1892, a sale of the estate of James B. Beazley was held. Total sales $563.64. Recorded 21 August 1893. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 30, pages 795–797.]