I’ve written several times about my 5th great-grandmother, Theodosia Beck Beazley, wife of John McMullan. (See “Bad Grandma” and “The Legend of John McMullan – Gathering Leaves.“)

Recently, new information about Theodosia has come to light from Gayle, a distant cousin who descends from one of John and Theodosia’s daughters, Catherine Schifflet.

In response to “Bad Grandma,” Gayle wrote:

“You probably share DNA with a Dula descendant because Theodosia Beasley Dula (1757-1844) is your great aunt. You descend from her cousin, Theodosia Beasley McMullan (1744/50-1779). She did not have two husbands. She married John McMullan, gave birth to 5 children, and died (probably in 1779). John remarried in 1786.”

“John McMullan (generation 1), the progenitor of our family in this country, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1740. In 1760 he emigrated to America and settled in the Colony of Virginia, making his home in that part of Orange County which subsequently was included in Greene County. In 1769 he married Theodosia Beasley, daughter of James Beasley of Orange County. AFTER HER DEATH, he married Elizabeth Stowers.” Descendants of John McMullan in NC

“John McMullan married the first time Theodosia Beasley in Orange County, Virginia about 1766 or 1767; they had five children by this union and SHE DIED AND WAS BURIED IN VIRGINIA. John McMullan later married Elizabeth Stowers in Orange County, Virginia 1786. She was born in Orange County, Virginia John McMullan (b. 1740, Dublin, Ireland) emigrated to America in 1760, settling in Orange County, Virginia (later Greene County). He married Theodosia Beasley, daughter of James Beasley of Orange County, in 1769. They had five children. Theodosia died and was buried in Virginia.

After Theodosia’s death, John married Elizabeth Stowers in Orange County, Virginia, in 1786. Elizabeth (b. 1763, Orange County, Virginia) was the daughter of Revolutionary War soldier Mark Stowers. She died in Clayton County, Georgia, in 1848.

1763 and died in Clayton County, Georgia in 1848. She was the daughter of Mark Stowers, a revolutionary war soldier.” History of McMullan and allied families

Research by Gayle, a descendant of Catherine Shiflet, clarifies the lineage of Theodosia. Our 5X great-grandmother, Theodosia McMullan, did not abandon her family for William Dula of North Carolina. Instead, William Dula married her cousin, who was also named Theodosia. Our 5X great-grandmother, Theodosia McMullan, died in 1779 (according to SAR records) or before 1786, when John McMullan remarried. Her cousin, Theodosia Dula, died in 1844.

Both Theodosias had fathers named James. One James, who moved from Virginia to North Carolina, was the son of William Beasley. The other James, who remained in Virginia, was the son of Henry Beasley; his father was William.

According to “Descendants of John McMullan in NC,” John McMullan, born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1740, emigrated to America in 1760 and settled in Orange County, Virginia. In 1769, he married Theodosia Beasley, daughter of James Beasley of Orange County. After her death, he married Elizabeth Stowers.

“History of McMullan and allied families” states that John McMullan first married Theodosia Beasley in Orange County, Virginia, around 1766 or 1767. They had five children, and she died and was buried in Virginia. John McMullan later married Elizabeth Stowers in Orange County, Virginia, in 1786. Elizabeth was born in Orange County, Virginia, in 1763 and died in Clayton County, Georgia, in 1848. She was the daughter of Mark Stowers, a Revolutionary War soldier.

As a point of reference, on Ancestry.com I share DNA with 48 others claiming to be descendents of Theodosia. Twenty-eight of those 48 matches claim descent from Theodosia’s daughter, Catherine Schiflet