The first Beckwith landed in America from England in the year 1626, at a place Hyams (Hyannis ?), on Cape Cod, MA. The name of the vessel was "the Sparrow-Hawk. She was beached on the shoals of that place, and was partially burned by the Indians, and as the years passed by, was gradually hidden from sight by the deposits of sand. For 240 years the old vessel was as if it had never been. But a few years since it was dug out, and what is left of it is now at Plymouth, - a great relic.

The following history is from a paper written by Jay Beckwith, from stories his father, Frank Beckwith had told him.

"The Beckwith tribe originated in England, and legend says, that they can be traced back to the time of William, the Conqueror. The first Beckwith and the one we trace back to, came to the America in 1637, and landed at New London, CT. The Sparrow-Hawk was wrecked in landing, but no passengers were lost. The boat drifted ashore, and lay on the beach for many years, finally
being buried in the sands.