Capt. William R. (Billy) Bean  Jr

Robert Beene Bean gravestone 1764

Capt. William R., known as Billy, was born on December 9th, 1721 in St. Stephens Parish, King and Queen County, Province of Virginia.  Billy's father was William Beene and his mother is Elizabeth (Hatton) Beene. He had a brother named Lt. John.  He died at the age of 60 in January 1782 in German Creek, Washington County, North Carolina, United States.

• Death Notes

  Now its (Grainger County, Tennessee))

• General Notes

  He was the first recorded permanent white settler in what later became the state of Tennessee. While settled in Pittsylvania (Danville) County, Virginia he traveled to Holston country on hunting expeditions with Daniel Boone. In 1768 he cleared some land and built a cabin on Boone's Creek of the Watauga River in an area where he understood the hunting was good. The next year he brought his family to the lower Watauga. He was soon joined by his brothers-in-law, George and John Russell, and by other relatives and friends from southern Virginia. His son Russell was the first recorded white born in Tennessee. William is said to have been "a man of parts", having been a substantial landowner in Pittsylvania County and a Captain in the Virginia militia. Members of the Bean family were prominent in civil and military affairs in the Watauga Valley for many years. The colony was outside of any governmental control so they founded the Watuaga Association. In the fall of 1775 the Wautuga residents held a conference and decided to side with the American cause. A committee was formed that included William and they declared themselves the "Washington District." In 1776 an ordinance was appended to the North Carolina Constitution appointed William and 20 other individuals as Justices of the Peach for the Washington District. He served in the Revolutionary War from 1776 to1780 as a Captain in the Watauga Riflemen. At the Battle of Kings Mountain, Captain Bean and his man scattered a band of Tories and hanged 9 of them. His last will and testament was signed in 6 January 1782, four months prior to his death. CAPTAIN WILLIAM BEAN died in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
  The Bean Family are one of the first recorded families living in the area that eventually became Tennessee.
  (Captain)William Bean settled at one time in Danville County, Virginia;moving on to Boone's Creek of the Watauga River because of the abundance of game.
  The political history of Tennessee begins with a convention of the settlers on the Watauga River, 1772, which organized the Watauga Association, and appointed a court consisting of five members, which was entrusted with the entire administration of its laws. There were 13 members on the committee; one of the names was WILLIAM BEEN(BEAN)
  When the County was organized on February 23, 1778 William Been(Bean) was one of the Magistrate's listed in attendance.
  William Bean served in the Revolutionary War from 1776 to 1780 as a Captain in the Watauga Riflemen. They participated in the BATTLE OF KINGS MOUNTAIN.
  CAPTAIN WILLIAM BEAN Married (1) Lydia Russell

Details of Billy's family with Lydia (Rusell) Beene