I'm searching for any information whatever about Phebe BEGUN. She was the first wife of David SMITH. She was born about 1783 in New York State. They probably married around 1803 - 1805. The family moved to Ohio in July of 1809. They had three children, of whom only one -- Phebe SMITH born about 1809 in Beersheba, Ohio -- was still living in 1852 when the remnants of David SMITH's estate were dealt with. The others were one son, possibly named Taylor, and one daughter named Sophroner (married BRACE). Phebe BEGUN died on the 31st March, 1810 in Beersheba, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and is buried there, exact place unknown. I now have seen a record that states that she was a Methodist, though her funeral was conducted by the Moravian pastor at Beersheba, the day after her daughter Phebe SMITH was baptized by the same. The record of her death in the Beersheba Moravian congregation book says that "she came hither with her parents" as well as her husband and their eldest two children. But I find no BEGUNS at that early date in that part of Ohio, even checking adjoining counties. Her birth date of 1783 would have been in the very early Spring of that year, or the last 3/4ths of 1782. Note that the name BEGUN is often misspelled and she may be related to people known as BEGAN, BEGUM or even BEGIN.

I'd be very grateful for any leads, including to BEGUN families in New York state -- possibly in Dutchess County or maybe Columbia County -- in the 1790s.