William Jackson Beazley was mentioned in the 21 June 1833 will of his father, Ephraim Beazley, proved 15 July 1833. “10thly, I give to my son Wm. Jackson Beazley all that part of my plantation lying on the south side of the main run below the land left John Beazley & seperated from the land left Elizabeth B. Lathom by the main run, and the following slaves Horace Edmund Sarah, Matilda & Eliza and their future increase, but should he die before he come of age and leave no child for it to return to my estate again and the negroes to be divided amongst all my children and the land to go to my grand daughter Elizabeth B Lathom — It is further my desire whatever should be found due my estate after paying my debts in bonus money &c one half of it should go to my son Wm Jackson Beazley” [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, pages 113–115.]

On 1 May 1834, a bill was filed in the case of Beazley et al vs Warner Lewis et al. Complainants Ephraim Beazley, John Beazley, Jane Beazley and Nancy Fox who was Nancy Beazley children of Ephraim Beazley deceased. That on __ June 1833 their Father departed this life having made a last will and testament. Administration with the will annexed was granted to Warner Lewis. Ephraim left a widow Polly and children besides your complainants Cornelius, Richard and William Jackson Beazley, together with a grand daughter Elizabeth Lathom the wife of Jonathan Lathom. That the last will and testament had been rewritten by Edmund Noel, changing its meaning and intent. That Ephraim Beazley was not aware of the legal effects of the alternations. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 45, item 45-K-26.]

In the late 1840s or early 1850s, John Henry Barton complained to the Chancery Court. That Polly Sale recently died intestate leaving five children to wit: your complainant, & Mary Elizabeth (wife of William Fidler) offspring of the first marriage of the said Polly to Henry Barton decd — William Jackson Beazley the offspring of the second marriage with Ephraim Beazley decd, & James Harvey Sale & Sarah Catharine Sale, offspring of the third and last marriage with Arthur [here the words “T. Sale” are crossed out and “Henry T.” is interlined above] decd, the last three infants under 21. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 41, item 41-G-23.]

Marriage information for William I. [sic] Beazley and Judith Frances Armstrong is taken from Wilkerson, with reference to Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register 1, page 262.

A Lee Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 27949, contains this marriage data. It lists the couple as Frances Armstrong and Jackson Beasley of Essex County.

On 20 December 1850, William J. Beazley purchased a pair of harness and chains at the estate sale of William Beazley for $.30 [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 27, pages 68–69.]

In a petition to the Chancery Court, oratrix Judith F. Beazley complained that her husband William J. Beazley died in 1855 leaving an infant Laura[?] J. Beazley. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 42, item 42-B-18.]