Here's what I think you will eventually workout......the whole "Beale/Beall" issue is very misleading and confusing as far as who was actually who. I noticed this first in New Orleans.
At this point I think Franklin is correct when he claims that a Beale party went west, however, I think that party's source was much different then what he thinks it to be. A Captain Thomas Beall, said to be of Harper's Fairy, can even be placed on one of the vessels transporting the French refugees. So, if we use the timeline that ECS posted earlier and we add a few more points of interest to it then it might look something like this:
1816- Laffite occupies Galveston Island.
1817- APRIL,Beale expedition travels west and finds gold and some silver and works mine for 18 months until Oct 1818.Beale Sr-53,Beale Jr 17,during 1817.
1817- Vine & Olive Land Grant is approved.
1817- A Captain Thomas Beale/Beall is aboard a vessel transporting French refugees.
1817- French Refugees from New Orleans begin to arrive at Galveston Island
1818- Adam’s Onis Treaty is signed. Graham visits Texas. Lallemand leaves with Graham and fails to carry out his promise to return.
1819-According to Beale cipher,Beale makes first deposit in Virginia.
1820-Sept-Beale Sr dies in New Orleans,age 56.
1821- Beale (Jr?) spends winter at Washington Hotel and gives Morriss iron box with ciphers.
1821- Adam’s Onis Treaty is ratified.
1821- Laffite leaves Galveston.
1821-According to Beale cipher,Beale makes 2nd deposit in Virginia.
1822-Beale(Jr?) returns to Washinton Hotel and spends the winter.
1823- Monroe Doctrine introduced on December 2.
1823-Oct-Beale Jr dies in New Orleans,age 24.
1829/30 – The Laffites & Joseph Boneparte are in Richmond for nearly a year. While there Joseph Boneparte writes President Monroe a letter inquiring about payments received for services rendered, Monroe replies “utterly” denying the claim. (The Monroe letter still survives while Boneparte’s letter seems to have disappeared for the time being?)
But there is also a lot more to all of this.