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Descendants of Philip Welch

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN² WELCH (PHILIP¹) was born November 27, 1670 in Topsfield, Essex County, Massachusetts, and died May 06, 1728 in Norwich, Connecticut. He married SARAH Unknown. She was born Unknown, and died Aft. March 1730/31 in Norwich, Conn..

Notes for JOHN WELCH:
TAKEN FROM "PHILIP WELCH OF IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS 1654 AND HIS
DESCDENDENTS," COMPILED BY ALEXANDER MCMILLAN WELCH, PUBLISHED IN 1954 BY
"THE WILLIAM BYRD PRESS, INC." OF RICHMOND VIRGINIA.
John Welch, son of Philip and Hannah (Haggett) Welch, born Nov. 27, 1670, at Topsfield, Essex County,
Mass; died May 6, 1728, in Norwich, Conn (east side of the river); married Sarah (______) who died
after March 1731, in Norwich, Conn.

The early part of his married life John Welch continued to live in or near his native town. The birth of
John, his son, is recorded in Ipswich, Massachusetts, September 6, 1693; Topsfield, where he himself
was born, was formerly a part of Ipswich. On the 17th of the 9th month, 1695, "John Welsh & Sarah his
wife" were admitted to the Lord"s Supper in the First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts. There his son
John was baptized December 29, 1695, also Ebenezer, born May 19, 1696.

Before November 1698, however, he had removed to Preston, Connecticut, as "a church was embodied
in Preston, Novr. 16th A.D. 1698," and "they who offered themselves as matter for a church, having been
members of other ch'hs, in full communion were brought into order by giving their consent ot articles of
faith & renewal of Covenant." There were twelve persons listed, amoung whom was John Welch.

At a County Court for New London County, Connecticut, held April 13, 1699, John Welch of Preston,
Plantiff, appealed from the judgment of Capt. Benjamin Brewster, J.P., in a suit against Lieut. Daniel
Mason of Stonington, defendant, respecting title to land improved by said Welch and claimed by Mason.
The Court found for the plaintifd. But under date of September 19, 1699, at the New London Court, Lieut.
Daniel Mason of Stonington brought suit against John Welch of Preston for having entered on land
northwest of the house which John Welch then lived in near Pachaug in Preston.

From a paper on file among the New London County Court records, in Bundle for 1701, is taken the
following:

Unto William Billings of Preston and to John Wellch who with Lt. Daniel Mason of
Stonington gave bonds for forty pounds in the case of lands in Preston, indifferent
men decided that the land belonged to Mason and surrender should be made by
Billings and Welch, and therefore summoned them to appear at a Court to be held in
New London on the third Tuesday of this present September, signed by Samuel
Mason, Assistant. The above warrand wa served on John Welch ye tenth of
September 1700 and read at the house of William Billings by me.
Thomas Rose

The Court advised Mr. Billings and John Welch to choose one surveyor from Stonington and one from
Preston.

From this it is learned that John Welch first lived at Pachaug, originally a part of Preston but later called
the North Society; in October 1815, it was made a separate town and called Griswold. Pachaug may be
located on any new London County Map.

Before June 1702, John Welch had built him a house "near the mountain," in Preston, for on June 1, 1702,
John Stanton sold to John Welch, both of Preston, New London County, Connecticut, one hundred acres
of land in the township of Preston, "neere the mountain," beginning at Joseph Stanton's northeast corner,
running 108 rods northeast, near John Giles, and allowing four rods at every corner for waste land. The
same day, John Welch, "yeoman," for L40, silver money, sold to Samuel Herrick, Junr., of Beverly (no
County or Colony stated, but of course Massachusetts) this one hundred acres of land in the Township of
Preston,"neere the mountain where the said John Welch now dwelleth."

The montain here mentioned was probably Rixtown Mountain, in the southern part of the present town of
Griswold, and the fact that just over the border, in the town of Stonington (now part of North Stonington)
lived the Billings family, who were associated with him at Pachaug, makes this the more likely. From the
various deeds it would seem that John Welch bought land, built houses and barns, then sold at an
advance, and started again. The Herricks were related, as John Welch called Dr. John Herrick,
"brother-in-law."

In reading the next extracts from the land records, it must be remembered that the town of Norwich,
Connecticut, originally included a strip two miles wide east of the rivers Quinebaug, Shetucket, and
Preston, from the Plainfield line to Poquetannock Cove, so that while John Welch is said to be from
Norwich, he actually lived in the present towns of Griswold and Preston. John Welch was admitted a
Freeman of Norwich in 1705, Moses Haggett, cousin to John Welch, also came to Norwich before 1712.

On January 28, 1705, John Welch of Norwich, bought of Thomas Leffingwell, for L23, four score and
seventeen acres of land lying on the east side of Quinebaug River, beginning at a white oak tree standing
below the mouth of the first brook above Pachaug River, and abutting southerly on the land of Samuel
Smith. This was in the present town of Griswold and may be closely located as it butted west on the
Quinebaug River. Ten years later, after building a house, barn, etc., he sold the land to Ambrose Blunt,
another Essex County, Massachusetts, man.

September 13, 1715, John Welch of Norwich, husbandman, for l202.10s, sold to

Ambrose, of Andover, County Essex, Province of Massachusetts bay, husbandman ...
all that my four score and seventeen acres of upland, meadow and swamp, which I
purchased of Mr. Thomas Leffingwell; lying on the east side of Quinebaug River in
Norwich, beginning at a tree standing below the mouth of the first brook above
Pachaug River - abutting southerly on land of Samuel Smith, easterly on Thomas
Clarke, westerly on Quinebaug River - with the dwelling house, ordhard, fruit trees
and all y buildings upon said granted premises, highwass excepted, with a Forth
acre grant given me by the Town of Norwich.

He had previously selected his new place of residence, for on September 16, 1715, three days after the
sale of his house and land, he purchased of Capt. John Parke of Preston, Connecticut, "land near
Pockatannuck in the township of Norwich," in three parcels, "containing 59 acres, forty acres of which is
upland at Mr. Brewster's asp meadow; also 14 acres, and four acres more or less ... with the buildings,
orchards, fences, and all privileges and appurtenances."

The inhabitants on the east side of the river commenced as early as 1699 to petition for a minister
service. John Welch was one of those who signed such a petition October 11, 1716, also John Welch,
Junr.

On October 15, 1716, John Welch bought sixty-four acres of land from Jonathan Downing, lying on the
east of the river; Downing had purchased it from Matthew Coy.

June 25, 1718, John Welch and Jonathan Brewster agreed concerning the bounds of their lands "round
about ye meadow of Mr. Brewster, called ye Asp meadow." April 25, 1723, John Welch and Joseph Lee
(another Essex County man) agreed to leave an open highway between their lands which they dwelt upon
near Poquetannock in said Norwich to the Country Road.

June 30, 1724, John Welch, for 95 pounds, sold to William Whitney of Palinfield, Windham County,
Connecticut, twenty-three acres of land, part of a greater quantity lying on the east side of Shetwucket
River, "ye whole tract being 64 acres laid out in three parcels, all which are abutted and bounded as
described in Matthew Coyes record," with a dwelling house, orchard, fruit trees, etc. The parties agreed
upon an exhange of about one hundred rods, Whitney to let Welch have one hundred rods at the southeast
corner of the land he hought of said Welch, and Welch to let Whitney have one hundred rods, "between
ye corner and je Country Road."

Other neighbors were John Allyn, John Elderkin and John Lover, with the Brewsters.

October 20, 1724, John Welch deeded to "Beloved son Joseph Welch," both of Norwich,

My two lotts of land in Norwich - the first lot is my fourteen acre lot which I bought
of Mr. John Park - bounded northerly by Widow Lee's easterly by land now John
Williams', southerly by Joseph Brewster's, westerly by Jonathan Brewster's. And the
other lot is a fifteen acre lot, bounded on the Country Road westerly, northerly by
Joseph Lee's, easterly by Joseph Lee's, and adjoining my four acre lot, to possess
and enjoy after my decease and my now wife's decease and my Brother Doctor John
Herrick's decease. And now commencing from October 20, 1724, I do allow and
consent that my Brother Doctor John Herrick and my son Joseph Welch joyntly and
severally shall have the privilege to plant as they see fit, four acres of the fourteen
acre lot and to have what Grass will suffice for the pasture of two cows and two
horses on and in the Fifteen acre lot, with the privilege of firewood, timber and
fencing as they shall have occasion from time to time and so to Remain until my
Brother John Herricks Natural Life Remaineth with what buildings they Covenant to
build on the land, ... and John Welch agrees to help them with the building and
fencing all he can, ... and all this I do allow to my Brother-in-law Doctor John
Herrick in consideration of what care and trouble he hath taken in "Learning my son
the Art of Phisick and Surgerry.

The deed was dated October 20, 1724; it was acknowledged by John Welch on June 16, 1727, and
received for record the same day. The witnesses were John Dean and Silvanus Wentworth.

John Welch was a witness to the Will of his neighbor, Mrs. Sarah Lee, on September 7, 1726.

The Bi-Centennial Celebration of the First Congregational Church of Preston, Connecticut, 1698 - 1898,
Published in 1900, has an account of "The Orginal Members," and on pp. 86 and 87 has the following
concerning John Welch:

John Welch resided in Preston at the time of the organization of the church there in
1698, but was admitted a freeman of Norwich in 1705, which appears subsequently
to have been his place of residence. His ancestry and earlier home are unknown,
although the family name is not an unfamiliar one in the New England records.
Moses Coit Welch was a distinguished doctor of divintity, residing at Mansfield in
Windham County, a century ago.
Mr. Welch's early land holdings were near the Quinebaug River in Preston, while
land purchased by him later was situated near Poquetanuck in Norwich. Mr Welch
died May 6, 1728. His wife's Christian name was Sarah, but her family is unknown.
Their children were Sarah, b. Nov. 15, 1698; Ebenezer, b. April 29, 1703; Joseph,
b. May 13, 1706, probably married Lydia Rudd and died Dec. 1, 1734; Experience,
b. April 14, 1708; Mary, b. April 14, 1711; Abigail, b. Oct. 25, 1712; and John.

When John Welch moved to a new home near Poquetannock (name is variously spelled) he was included
in Norwich parish; Poquetannock is about four miles from the city of Norwich, Connecticut, but the old
part of Norwich is at the Green, where was located the First Church, making six miles or more for the
Poquetannock people to go to church. Thus they had to follow a footpath up to the fordway of the
Shetucket River, near where now is located the electric light plant, and then continue a rough and rocky
path to Norwich Town Green.

Not until 1726 was permission granted by the General Assembly of Connecticut for a Church Society on
the east side of the river. The Society was called Long Society, and still bears that name; a church
edifice still stands there, and around it are graves of many old settlers, though the oldest ones have
disappeared and no trace of them has been discovered. To this long Society, Fifth or East Norwich,
Church, John Welch and his family must have belonged.

WILL OF JOHN WELCH OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT
Norwich ffebruary ye 13 th day 1727/8

I John Welch of Norwich in the County of New London and Colony of Connecticut
being in perfect mind and memory Do make and ordain this my Laft Will and
Testament (that is to say) principally and first of all. I recomend to the Earth to be
buryed in decent Buriall at the Discretion of my Executor, and as touching such
worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life. I Give, Devise
and dispose in the following manner and form, after all my just debts and funerall
charges are Discharged.

Impr, I give and Bequeath to Sarah my Dearly Beloved wife all my household
Goods to be hers forever, and also I give unto her one horse and one cow to be hers
forever, with the use of my Dwelling house So long as she shall remaine my widow,
and it is to be understood and my Will is so that the above said horse and cow shall
be kept by my Executor for the use of my wife so long as she shall remain my
widow, and do order my two sons John Welch and Ebenezer Welch to provide a
suitable and Comfortable maintannance for their Mother at all times when she shall
stand in need so long as she shall remain my Widow.

Item, I give and Bequeath to my son John Welch who I likewise make Constitute and
Ordain my sole Executor of this my last will and testament all the Eastermost part of
my farm on which I now live, bounding on the Country Road and extending
Westwardly as to the following Line, which line begins at a Rock in the Northerly
Line of westerly corner of Land belonging unto Lieut. Simon Lothrup from thence the
Line runs Southerly nearest to a stone by a Spring Leaving the Spring about six foot
to the Westward of the said Line then the Line turns and runs southerly by the Run of
water about two Rods to a stone, then running down by the run of water about four
Rods to a stone, then a straight Line to the Easterly side of a Ledge of Rocks to a
heap of stones from thence a straight Line to a black oak stump by a pond hole in the
field at the foot of a hill said stump Stands at the Southerly side of pond, from thence
a straight Line southeasterly nearest, up the hill, then straight across a small piece of
plow land to the Extent of my Land at Joseph Brewsters Line.

I also give unto my said son John my Dwelling house and Barn with all my orchards
& all my stock of Cattle and Sheep, Excepting one Cow, which I have given to my
wife, all to be to him and to his heirs and asyns forever Excepting to my wife the use
of my house so long as she shall remain my widow.

Item. I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Ebenezer Welch all the Westerly part of my
farm that is to say all the land which I have westerly of the line before described to
be the Westerly bound of that part of my farm I have given to my Son John to be unto
him and his heirs and assigns forever my will is that my two sons *(viz) my son John
Welch and Ebenezer Welch shall provide for my Wife at all times when she shall
stand in need So long as she shal remain my widow and to pay out such Legacies as
I shal herein after bequeth to (and Order them to pay) unto my Daughter.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Welch the two Lott of land which are
described in my Deed of Gift unto him.

Item. I give unto my Daughter Sarah Coye Twenty Pound as Money, to be ade up
with what she has already Received which I order as a Legacy to be paid unto her
after my decease by my son John.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Hunter Twenty Pound as money
to be made up with what she hath already received which I order as a Legacy to be
paid unto her after my Decease by my son John.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Experience Welch Twenty Pounds as
money to be paid unto her after my decease which I order as a legacy to be paid by
my son John.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Welch Twenty Pounds as money to
be paid unto her after my decease which I order as a Legacy to be paid unto her by
my son Ebenezer Welch. and I do hereby utterly disallow Revoke and Disannul all
and every other former testament Wills Legacies and bequests and Executors by me
in any way before named, willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and
no other to be my last will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal the day and year above
written.
(signed) John Welch (seal)
Signed sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said John Welch as his
Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the Subscribers
Isaac Huntington
Daniel Tracy, Junior.
Rebekh Huntington.

Norwich May 24, 1728. Mr. Isaac Huntington, Mr. Daniel Tracy Jun. and Mrs
Rebekah Huntington perfonally appeared and made Oath that they saw John Welch
sign seal and Declare the above written Instrument as his Last Will and Testament
and that they judged him to be in his right understanding at the same time, before me:
Joseph Backus
Justice of peace.
August 6, 1728.

At a Court of Probate held in New London, June 11, 1728, the will was approved and ordered recorded,
saying that the youngest daughter, Abigail, who had been left out of the will and "Supposed to be
forgotten," was to have an equal share with the other sisters. On June 2, 1729, she apeared and chose her
brother, Ebenezer Welch, as guardian.

More About JOHN WELCH:
Religion: September 17, 1695, Joined the First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts
Relocation: Bet. 1696 - 1698, From Ipswich, Massachusetts to Preston, Connecticut
Residence: Bef. 1696, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts
Will: February 13, 1727/28, Norwich, Connecticut

Children of JOHN WELCH and SARAH are:

JOHN³ WELCH, b. September 06, 1693, Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts; d. April 12, 1743, Hampton, Connecticut; m. SUSANNA EMMONS, March 11, 1717/18; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

More About JOHN WELCH:
Baptism: December 29, 1695, First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts

	ii.		ABIGAIL WELCH, b. June 13, 1695; d. Unknown.
	iii.		EBENEZER WELCH, b. May 19, 1696; d. Unknown.

More About EBENEZER WELCH:
Baptism: March 30, 1696, First Church of Beverly, Massachusetts

	iv.		HANNAH WELCH, b. Bet. 1696 - 1698; d. Unknown; m. HUNTER; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.
	v.		SARAH WELCH, b. November 15, 1698; d. Unknown; m. MATTHEW COY, 1715; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

More About SARAH WELCH:
Baptism: January 01, 1698/99

3.	vi.		EBENEZER WELCH, b. April 29, 1703, Norwich, Connecticut; d. Unknown.
	vii.		JOSEPH WELCH, b. May 13, 1706, Norwich, Connecticut; d. Abt. 1776, Richmond, Massachusetts; m. LYDIA RUDD, December 01, 1734, Norwich, Connecticut; b. April 12, 1715, Norwich, Connecticut; d. Unknown.

More About JOSEPH WELCH:
Baptism: June 16, 1706, First Church of Preston, Connecticut

viii.

EXPERIENCE WELCH, b. April 14, 1708; d. Unknown.

Notes for EXPERIENCE WELCH:
TAKEN FROM "PHILIP WELCH OF IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS 1654 AND HIS DESCDENDENTS," COMPILED BY ALEXANDER MCMILLAN WELCH, PUBLISHED IN 1954 BY "THE WILLIAM BYRD PRESS, INC." OF RICHMOND VIRGINIA.
Experience Welch of Norwich, single woman, had a bastard child "born 14 of February last" and accused Mark Williams of Preston as the father. John Welch of Norwich was her surety.

More About EXPERIENCE WELCH:
Baptism: July 11, 1708

ix.

MARY WELCH, b. April 14, 1711; d. Unknown; m. JOSHUA WEDGE, September 02, 1729; b. Unknown; d. Unknown.

More About MARY WELCH:
Baptism: August 19, 1711

ABIGAIL WELCH, b. October 25, 1712; d. Unknown.

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