The Beckett family first landed in America in the 1700s. Edward Beckett, the second son of a prominent pureblood Maine family that has since died out, was the first to bring a branch of the family to Vermont where his wife Christina's family lived. The patriarch of the family is his son, Steven Beckett I. Steven I married Peony Cutler and they had two children, Steven II, who is the family's most notorious member, and Bliss, who is not quite right in the head.

Steven II married Alexandra Harper and they had two children as well, Cora and Steven III. When she refused to marry a man of her father's choice, Cora was disowned outright. Later, she had an affair with Andrew Culhane. Andrew was engaged at the time and left Cora to marry his fiancée. He never knew Cora was pregnant with his daughter, whom she named Harmony Christina Beckett. Later Cora married Clayton Anders, a muggle who was old enough to be her father, and they had two daughters, Patience Theresa Anders and Strawberry Emma Anders.. Cora now lives in Maine with Harmony, Clayton, Patience, Strawberry, Clayton's orphaned grandson, Ben, and her aunt Bliss.

Steven III married Alberta Hollister, of the New York Hollisters, and had two children, Steven IV and Amanda Beckett.

Bliss Beckett never got married or had children. She did, however, attempt to transfigure a tiger into a pickle, which is her lasting legacy at Salem, given that the creature lurks on the paths to this very day.