Timothy Lincoln Beckwith
Encyclopedia
Timothy Lincoln Beckwith (born October 14, 1968) is the son of Annamarie Hoffman and once was thought to be the son of her husband Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
.
Timothy Beckwith was born on October 14, 1968, in Williamsburg, Virginia
, to Mrs. Annemarie Hoffman Beckwith and supposedly to Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
. His mother grew up in Hanover, Germany, moved to America and became a student at the College of William and Mary
. She married Beckwith in 1967. Six months after the marriage, Beckwith received a letter indicating that his wife was pregnant. However, Robert had had a vasectomy
six years before he and Annemarie were wed. He visited his doctor and concluded that he was ‘completely sterile’.
Just before the baby was born, Robert urged his wife to list the baby’s father as unknown on the birth certificate and gave her $7,500 plus the hospital cost. However, when Timothy was born, she listed Robert as the father and gave the child the name Timothy Lincoln Beckwith, after his claimed father. Annemarie then returned to Europe with her son.
Robert filed divorce proceedings, but they were delayed by a countersuit held by Annemarie. In 1976, the District of Columbia Superior Court ordered Annemarie to return with her son, so that Timothy could take blood tests to determine if he was Beckwith's son. Annemarie refused to return to the United States and the Superior Court accordingly ruled her son was the product of an 'adulterous relationship'. However, since Timothy had not actually been proven to not be Beckwith's son, the Court said that the boy retained the right to present a future claim of being a Lincoln descendant, thereby inheriting the Lincoln estate.
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith died in 1985 and Annemarie moved to West Berlin
. By 1994, she was said to have remarried and was living somewhere in the United States. Timothy Lincoln Beckwith currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida
, where he is an attorney with the Florida State Attorney's Office. According to an article appearing in The New Yorker
, upon the death of Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the beneficiaries of the Lincoln family trust—the American Red Cross
, Iowa Wesleyan College
, and The First Church of Christ, Scientist—agreed that a considerable sum of money would go to Timothy so that their legacy would be free and clear. He apparently never has had his DNA tested to confirm his paternity.
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith was the great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln. In 1975, he became the last undisputed descendant of Lincoln when his sister, "Peggy" Beckwith, died without children.-Biography:...
.
Timothy Beckwith was born on October 14, 1968, in Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, to Mrs. Annemarie Hoffman Beckwith and supposedly to Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith was the great-grandson of Abraham Lincoln. In 1975, he became the last undisputed descendant of Lincoln when his sister, "Peggy" Beckwith, died without children.-Biography:...
. His mother grew up in Hanover, Germany, moved to America and became a student at the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
. She married Beckwith in 1967. Six months after the marriage, Beckwith received a letter indicating that his wife was pregnant. However, Robert had had a vasectomy
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
six years before he and Annemarie were wed. He visited his doctor and concluded that he was ‘completely sterile’.
Just before the baby was born, Robert urged his wife to list the baby’s father as unknown on the birth certificate and gave her $7,500 plus the hospital cost. However, when Timothy was born, she listed Robert as the father and gave the child the name Timothy Lincoln Beckwith, after his claimed father. Annemarie then returned to Europe with her son.
Robert filed divorce proceedings, but they were delayed by a countersuit held by Annemarie. In 1976, the District of Columbia Superior Court ordered Annemarie to return with her son, so that Timothy could take blood tests to determine if he was Beckwith's son. Annemarie refused to return to the United States and the Superior Court accordingly ruled her son was the product of an 'adulterous relationship'. However, since Timothy had not actually been proven to not be Beckwith's son, the Court said that the boy retained the right to present a future claim of being a Lincoln descendant, thereby inheriting the Lincoln estate.
Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith died in 1985 and Annemarie moved to West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. By 1994, she was said to have remarried and was living somewhere in the United States. Timothy Lincoln Beckwith currently lives in West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
, where he is an attorney with the Florida State Attorney's Office. According to an article appearing in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, upon the death of Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, the beneficiaries of the Lincoln family trust—the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College
Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River...
, and The First Church of Christ, Scientist—agreed that a considerable sum of money would go to Timothy so that their legacy would be free and clear. He apparently never has had his DNA tested to confirm his paternity.