Daniel Beaton and Mary Griffith were married April
6, 1744, at the First Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia. He resided in
Charlestown Township, and was perhaps the father of John Beaton, one of the active
Whigs of Revolutionary days. John was one of those who learned the art
of making saltpetre, and gave instructions to others in order that a
sufficiency might be obtained for making gunpowder. In April 1780, he
was appointed commissioner of purchases of clothing for the county of Chester
in place of Persifor Frazer, declined. In August of the same year he was
appointed paymaster of the militia of Chester County, and in June of 1785 was
appointed a justice of the Court of Common Pleas, and of the Orphans' Court of
the County of Chester.