There is no verified ancestry for William BALE/BEALE b 1664.. Many have tried for many many years without luck. I am one that has tried for nearly 15 years. I will try to put something together for you as to many theories! Barbadoes being one. Although I never heard the booze running theory. He operated the TRAFTON Ferry at York & his birth is only known because he made a deposition regarding his stay with the John HOLE. I am presently in correspondence with quite a few people on this very subject. Among them are Heather Waddingham, Ross W. Westover, Ann Logan, Charles L. Beal and Marnel from whom I received this message a little while ago. It summarizes a recent new theory. She wrote: I have been in correspondence with Heather Waddingham concerning the father of a William Beal that was born about 1664 and married Jane Trafton. Their children included Zacheus, Richard, Obadiah, William, Joanna, Mary, Samuel, Simeon, Comfort, and Benjamin. He has a sister, Abisha or Abashag, who married 1st Henry Barnes (who was killed by the Indians) and 2nd Francis Carman. >From what can be found, both William and Abisha were raised by a man named John Hole. Therefore, it is felt that their parents must have passed away while they were very young. Some of the research has traced back to a father by the name of Arthur, however, this has not been verified, and in coresponding with Heather, the possibility has been presented that his (William's) father may be Edmund who is the son of an Arthur Beal and his first wife (second wife being Elizabeth Watts). The thing that makes me think this may be a possibility is that, as I said, it is felt that William's parents probably died. I see that Edmund died in 1664 which ties in. Do you have any information on this line. And if I can be of any assistance to you on this line let me know. Sincerely Marnell Charles L.Beal, a long time correspondent & friend wrote a summation of the descent from William to himself. He gave copies of this to the York, ME Historical & Genealogy Society .This has been put on the internet (at least in part by a cousin of his, Jeramie Douglas Hammond at his Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site) TRY THIS LINK: <A HREF="http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/h/a/m/Jeramie- D-Hammond/tree1.html#instructions">Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Jeramie D...</A> also go to this for given & surname search: <A HREF="http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/b/e/a/index.html"> </A> <A HREF="http://www.familytreemaker.com/ifftop.html">Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Internet ... </A>Ross W.Westover provided this: I have searched Barbados records and found a William Beal, born 1670 at St. Michaels, but no parents are listed, nor mention of the birth of a sister Abashag. There is a reference to a William Beale being executor in a will. Also of the will of a William Beale, a merchant, date 18 June 1681, which refers to a daughter Elizabeth Beale. Another reference to a daughter of Wm. Beale, named Amy. I also found one reference to John Hole as a witness. My personal belief is that references of Our William Beal coming from Barbados, is related to his having been raised by John Hole. You are probably aware that John Hole's wife Elizabeth is the daughter of Richard Leader, who was associated with Col. William Beal in the Great Works Saw mill in Kittery. One reference I read said that Arthur Beal(Sr.) son of Col. William Beal had several wives, assuming they died, could explain why Our William and his sister Abashag were raised by John and Elizabeth Hole. The idea that Arthur (Sr.) had several wives, could explain why Arthur (Jr.) was born in 1638 and William 26 years later in 1664. Some of the references say that Arthur (Sr) was married to Elizabeth Watts in Plympton, Devonshire, England. However, I question that, as I have searched microfilm records and found the Arthur and Elizabeth in Plympton are still having children in the early 1660's and Elizabeth's death is recorded in the 1680' as a widow. One of the references says that Arthur (Sr.) son of Col. William Beal was born in 1620 in London. I have been searching the London parish records, but that is a long process. You are also probably aware of a property transaction involving Col. William Beale and Thomas Alderne in Organswich, Kent Co. England. I have a personal feeling that our William Beale is the son of Arthur Beal (Sr) and a brother to Arthur (Jr). I have also found that the William Beal, son of William Beal of Marblehead died in Marblehead, so that probably eliminates him. It is an interesting puzzle and I have enjoyed learning more about the people of those early days and these people. It would be nice to someday meet them. Ross W. Westover I responded with this message: The alleged parentage of William BEAL, 1664 has been the subject of much discussion! Probably the best known is John Beal's " Who is the Real Father of Arthur Beal of York Maine" Myself I went for years with the oft-repeated Joseph BEAL as the father. Various sources: Everett S. Stackpole (History Of Durham Maine) states that Joseph Beale was the father of Arthur and Arthur had a son named William. Charles Banks (History of Maine, 2 Vols) states that William is not related to the other Beale families of York. It was unfortunate that he died before he could write Vol 3 which was to finish the story of the Beale families. We have been through his notes that have been left without finding any any parent information for William & his sister Abishag. Mower in his "History of the Towne of Greene, Andrscoggin County Maine" claims that Joseph Beal was the father of Arthur, William & Abishag. Little in his "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, Vol 1, said that Col. William Beale had a son named Arthur, who had 2 sons named Arthur & William. S. Noyes, T. Libby & W.G. Davis in "The Genealogical Dictionary of Maine And New Hampshire" said that William is believed to be the brother to Abishag and is related to Arthur. The Beals of Durham, Maine believed that Joseph was the father of William Sr. and that he arrived when Capt. John Mason came to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1631. No proof seems to exist in original York, Maine records, because the town was burned by the French & Indians during their raids in that area. Deeds in the York area show that Arthur, William and Edward owned property close to each other, but never showed the relationship with William. William did reference his sister Abishag in York Deeds. Arthur's will referred to his only son Edward. To further confuse the problem of William's parentage: There was a William Beale that arrived on the ship, Fortune in November 1621. There was a William Beale of Marblehead, documented in the NEHGS Register, who married Martha Bradstreet and by her had a son named William, about the same time as William Beale, Sr. of York. John Hole & his wife, Elizabeth brought up William, Abishag & a Joanna Crocker, having no children of their own. Records of court testimony by William established his approximate birth in 1664 when he testified for John Hole. It also established that William & Abishag started to live with the Holes in the early 1670's. Also the names of John Hole, Col William Beale, Richard Leader, Samuel Clarke, Capt. John Mason, The John Beex & Company of London, The Iron Works of Lynn, MA, Great Works saw mill of Kittery Maine, William Beale of Marblehead & his 3rd wife Mary Hart, Thomas Alderne, Richard Hutchinson, Barbadoes are all interwoven in a confusing tale of that period of ownerships & relationships too lengthy to mention here. It is possible that William & his sister Abishag were illegitmate children or were abandoned children from a Beale marriage. I now prefer the records that I uncovered from the Old Gaol, York Maine repository & verified as more than likely the best record as transcribed by Nathaniel G. Marshall, Town Clerk of York Maine, 1875-1879, which showed William's relationship to Arthur Beale as brother. (I can send you a copy of the handwritten vital record itself if you want with a letter testifying to the genuine nature from the York Office) In my Book "The Beal Ohana" I intend to show 2 possible fathers of William Beale, Sr. as Arthur or Joseph Chuck, CEBeal@aol.com Ross Westover also furnished THis : My reference that Arthur Beale, son of Col. William Beale, having had several wives is from "genealogy of Beal Family, 1399-1956" by Francis Beal Smith Hodges. Page 421. This record also refers to a son of Arthur(Sr.) Beale, named Nicholas beal, Bapt. 1645 at Plymouth, Devon., England. >From LDS British Mircrofilm 916928, which are extracts from the Register of St. Maurice, Plympton, Devon., England. (There are some gaps in these records) burials: Oct. 17, 1656 Duna d. of Arthur Beall Jan. 2, 1655 Elizabeth d of Arthur Beall Jan 21, 1664 Edmund s of Arthur Beall (Beele) 19 June 1662 Hope d of Arthur Bele film # 933430 of St. Maurice, Plympton, Devon., England Beyle chr. 10 Jan 1640 Sarah d Arthur Beyle & Elizabeth Beall brn 28 May 1655 Dina d Arthur Beyle & Elizabeth Beall chr. 15 Mar 1660 Hope s Arthur Beyle & Elizabeth Beele chr. 4 Oct 1663 Edmund s Arthur Beele Another St. Maurice film says Elizabeth Beall died 1681 a widow. I have heard from a couple of sources that the work of both Stackpole and Little are not too trustworthy. I hope this will be of help. Ross W. Westover This covers some of the discussions and should give you all something to chew on for a little while! May also eliminate some research for you that has been done! All of us involved in this mystery regarding William of York would love to have someone else research & solve this for us! Sorry this is all I have time for at this time. There is no doubt more I have missed. GOOD HUNTING! Chuck, CEBeal@aol.com -- - --