Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of John Belcher

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Descendants of John Belcher

Generation No. 1

1. JOHN¹ BELCHER¹ was born 1791 in VA ^2,³, and died January 24, 1864 in Meshack Creek, Tompkinsville, Monroe Co, KY³. He married PERMELIA BIGGERS³ September 1, 1813 in Franklin Co, VA - listed in Patrick Co, VA records., daughter of JAMES BIGERS. She was born 1796 in VA³, and died 1875 in Meshack Creek, Tompkinsville, Monroe Co, KY³.

Notes for JOHN BELCHER:
Source: supplied by Melissa Beyl Barry of Louisville, KY 12/13/97

War of 1812: Virginia
Bounty Land and Pension Applications
by Patrick G. Wardell

Proof of age from Bounty Land Claim filed on 15 Jan 1855 in Monroe County Court. In his sworn affidavit, John Belcher claimed to be 64 years of age, which would make his birth year 1791.

BOUNTY LAND CLAIM
Form of a Declaration
To be made where the party has had a warrant and desires another.

State of Kentucky
County of Monroe
On this 5th day of April, A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty five, personally appeared before me, the presiding Judge of the Monroe County Court, duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid, John Belcher, age 64 years a resident of Monroe County, in the State of Kentucky, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical John Belcher who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain William Jones - he does not know the Regiment - Virginia Militia commanded by General Saml Harston - in the war of 1812-----
that he was drafted ------at Rocky Mount Court house on or about the 1st of March A. D. 1813 ---- for the term of three months ----and continued in said war for fourteen days, and was honorably discharged at Norfolk, VA ---on the 1st July of A. D. 1814 ---
that he has heretofore made application for bounty land under the act of 28 September 1850 ---and received a land warrant, No. not known, for 40 acres, which he has since legally disposed of, and cannot now return.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved the 3rd day of March 1855. He also declares, that he has never applied for nor received, under this or any other act of Congress, any bounty-land warrant except the one above mentioned.

John [his mark] Belcher

We James B. Evans and John M. Belcher [John Matthew was the son of above John Belcher]
residents of Monroe County, in the State of Kentucky, upon our oath, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by John Belcher, in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents himself to be and that we have no interest in this claim.

J. B. Evans
John M [his mark] Belcher

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.

Wm. S. Jobson, P. J. M. C . C. [Presiding Judge Monroe County Court]

==============================================================

"JOHN BELCHER (BLW), DIED 24 JAN 1864, MONROE CO, KY.
MD. 3 SEP 1812 PERMELIA BIGGERS (P), FRANKLIN CO, VA.
HER LNR [Last known Residence] P.O. TOMPKINSVILLE, MONROE CO, KY, 1872."

============================================

John Belcher, private - Captain Jones - 5th VA Militia Mar 1812
Discharged near Norfolk - Cantonment Peach Orchard, June 22nd, 1814 -
Pursuant to General orders of the Executive of Virginia bearing date the 17th of February, 1814, John Belcher a Private in Captain William Jones's Company of Virginia Militia, from the County of Franklin, who reported at this Post the 29th March, 1814, and was attached to the 5th Regiment, in service of the U.S. having faithfully performed his tour of duty, is hereby honorably discharged. [June 22, 1814]
Geo. Hairstone, Cdt [Commander] Batl [battalion]

[Also serving in the 5th VA Militia were: Burrell Belcher, Isham Belcher, Robert Belcher and William Belcher. It is not known if these Belchers were related to John Belcher, but it is possible.] ========================================
Testimony of witnesses:

...we further state that in the fall of 1816 we in company with John Belcher and his wife Permelia Belcher moved from Franklin County in the State of Virginia to Kentucky and settled in the same neighborhood in the County of Monroe and remained as neighbors from that fall of 1816 until the death of John Belcher which took place about six years ago. We further state that we were present at his Burial and assisted in the same and can safely say that the said John and Permelia Belcher lived together as man and wife for the last sixty odd years with out any question to the contrary. We make these statements in justice to Permelia Belcher and nothing further having no interest in so doing whatever.
Mary Brack [Branch] & Henry Hambleton [Hamilton]
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Given under my hand and seal this 26th of May 1876. H. S. Evens, Dept Clerk, Monroe County Court, State of Kentucky

[1850 Monroe County, KY Census:
HH# 864 903 Branch...... Mary......... 50 F ..............$200. VA 000
Branch...... James........ 23 M Farmer............. VA 001
Branch...... Lurane....... 16 F ................... KY 000 ]

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Why Kentucky?
In 1815, Kentucky passed an act that offered for sale all vacant lands within the state. This act consolidated the Old Kentucky Land, South of Green River and Tellico land into one land warrant system. Original price: $20 per 100 acre. According to the affidavits in the Pension file, John and Permelia Belcher left Virgina in 1816.

================================================================

Quit Claim Deed [1864]
To John Belcher heirs

Several Years ago we sold and conveyed to John Belcher a tract of land in Monroe County on Mashes [Meshack] Creek, part of a large tract purchased by us of J. W. Nunn bounded as follows: Beginning on a beech on the bank of the creek said to be corner to then Ben Turner and sd. Belcher. Thence S 53 W 16 poles to a beech on the point of a hill. Thence S 33 E 46 poles to a poplar on top of a hill. Thence S 52 E 46 poles to a Small white oak. Thence S 19 W 36 poles to a beech and Elm on the big road. Thence with the road S 75 W 20 poles Thence N 71 W 20 poles. S 57 W 50 poles. W 58 poles to a dogwood & ash cut down near the road. N 14 W 76 poles to two red oaks corner to Wm Grider. Thence with her line N 60 E 10 poles to a Stake in Belcher line and with it to beginning the conveyance is Said to have been destroyed.
Now we acknowledge full payment of the consideration to us and said Belcher having died intestate leaving Hopkins Belcher, Preston Belcher, John M. Belcher, George F. Belcher, Polly Record [Richard], Harriett Grider, Elizabeth Grider and Synthy Hagan his only children and heirs at law we hereby convey said land to them. To have and to hold the same forever and we covenent to warrant and defend the title thereof from ourselves and all persons claiming under us or said Nunn Grant unto them the said Belcher heirs their assigns forever. In witness whereof we here subscribe our names
March 28, 1864 [Signed] P. H. Leslie John H McMillian.

State of Kentucky County of Monroe SCt:
I, J. C. Conkin, Clerk of Monroe County Court certify this deed from P. H. Leslie and John H. McMillian to Hopkins Belcher, Preston Belcher, John M. Belcher, George F. Belcher, Polly [Mary] Richard, Harriett Grider, Elizabeth Grider & Synthy Hagan all heirs of John Belcher decd was on the 5th day of April 1864 acknowldeged by said granters to be their act and deed whereupon I have recorded the same together with this certificate in my office.
May 8th, 1864 J. C. Conkin, Clerk, Monroe County

===========================================
MONROE CO 1830 CENSUS
The following categories were used - same for male and female:

Under 5; 5-10; 10-15; 15-20;20-30; 30-40; 40-50; 50-60; 60-70; 70-80;
80-90; 90-100. So if there is a 3 in the second column under males, it
would mean he had 3 males between 5-10.

Males: Females
BELCHER, John      120001000000 310001000000

=============================================================

John Belcher, living on Meshack Creek, is listed in 1850 and 1860 Monroe Co, KY census. Both census lists a different age and year of birth. The age of John Belcher has been determined from the application he made when he applied for his Bounty Land Warrant in Monroe County Court in 1855. At that time he claimed to be 64 years of age, making his birth year 1791. [See above reference.]

1850 Census
#406-429
John Belcher 62 [59]      M      Farmer      VA [birth year would be 1788]
Parmelia Belcher      65 [55]      F            VA [birth year would be 1785]
Elizabeth Belcher      22      F            KY [marr Tobias Grider]
Cynthia Belcher      21      F            KY [marr. Wm. J. Strode, Fendal P. Hagen]
John Belcher      20      M            KY [John Matthew - known as Mat]
George Belcher      16      M            KY [George Franklin]

1860 Census
HH#1238-1255
John Belcher      77 [69]      M      VA [ birth year would be 1783]
Pamelia Belcher      73 [65]      F      VA [birth year would be 1787]

==============================================================

            MONROE COUNTY TAX LISTS - 1834, 1835, 1836
1834 -
BIGGERS: Owen, Jesse, Thomas, George W., Caty, Robert.
note: Thomas Biggers is listed consistently on Meshack Creek. The other Biggers had land scattered hither and yon...but Thomas is listed on 'Maschack'.

BELCHER, John - land amount 50 in Monroe County.
Watercourse: M [Meshack]
In whose name entered: M. Bailey.
Surveyed by: Same, Name Patented: Bailey. [ John apparently got the original land from a man named Bailey]

1835 -
BELCHER, John - Land: 100 - County: Monroe -
Watercourse: Maschack -
In whose name surveyed : McColgan. (from chain gang) -
Whites over 21: 1 - Owns 5 horses - Total value: $600

1836 -
BELCHER, John -same as 1835, except lists 4 horses and 40 cattle as property

========================================================
Info from Melissa Barry,
Louisville, KY
2-25-2000

1820 Cumberland Co, KY Census:
HH # 170 Charles Ballard
HH # 169 Joel Pearson
HH # 168 John Belcher*
HH # 167 John Moody
HH # 166 Dorcus Page

Cumberland Co, KY Surveys: May 15, 1818
Deed Book A, page 479
Ezekiel Huffman, Ass of James McColgan 9 acres, Moody Branch, May 9, 1818.
Adjoining property owners: John Moody, Jules Hufman and WILLIAM BELCHER.
Chain carriers: William Belcher and Jules Hufman

In 1818 adjoining property owners were John Moody and William Belcher.
The 1820 Cumberland Co, KY Census lists adjoining property owners as
John Moody (HH # 167) and JOHN BELCHER (HH # 168)

Early KY Land Grants
South of Green River Grant # 6005
Book 12 Page 402

Isaac Shelby, Esq. Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, know ye to all whom these presents shall come greeting: Know ye that by virtue and in consideration of a Certificate No. 1, (the State price paid with a deduction of Interest) granted by the County Court of Green in April 1801 agreeably to an act of ****** for settling and improving the vacant lands of this Commonwealth there is granted by the said Commonwealth unto John Lewis as. of James Skaggs, who was as. of John Autry who was assignee of John Belcher, a certain tract or parcel of land containing one hundred and forty six acres by survey bearing the day of March 1806 lying and being in the County of Green on the west side of little Barren River and bounded as follows: (description)
Year of our Lord. 26th day of March 1813.
1801 then 1806 survey, then paid off, improved and given to Lewis.
In June of 1813 or 1819 it is written in the margin that Lewis then transferred to Moses Cook.

Kentucky Land Office Warrant No. 231
The language in this document states that this is the Principal Surveyor for Barron (sic) County official. Warrant to prepare a survey for Richard Belcher the "quantity of two hundred acres of land in consideration of the sum of 42 dollars and 33 cents paid by Rich'd Belcher into the Treasury of this Commonwealth (agreeable to an act of assembly passed the 20th day of December 1800) lying and being in the County of Barren on the southwest side of David Arbuckle's on the waters of white oak , a branch of the East fork of Big Barren beginning.....".etc
Tellico #231. Warrant and Land Warrant
That was the Land Warrant.
Warrant reads: Barren County Towit July County Court 1801 Richard Belcher is entitled to 200 acres of vacant land in Barren County on the Southwest side of David Arbuckle......etc. then...."part of two squares to include the quantity and improvements ordered that it be Certified that Satisfactory proof was addressed to the Court respecting the said claim.
On the outside cover of this folded document is : fee: 25 cents
Then in December 26, 1803
There is a handwritten survey of land with poles and chain description.
MOSES BELCHER named as chain carrier along with Edmund Wade.
Moses Belcher Directions is written under the chain carrying naming.

Auditor's Office: November 11, 1803 Received of Richard Belcher, the Treasurer's receipt for forty two dollars and thirty three cents and ____ mills, it being in Full of the State price on Certificate No. 154 for 200 acres of 2nd rate Land, lying in Barren County granted to him by virtue of an act of assembly for settling and improving the vacant lands of this Commonwealth. George Madison, Auditor
(note: No, 154 and No. 231.) All listed under Survey 231. The back of one of these reads that Richard got "duplicate" 200 acres calling it 154. [Perhaps he lost the first one?] Then March 28, 1806 we have a deed.

Now the Governor of Commonwealth is Christopher Greenup.
On the side of deed written in margin is:
Richd. Belcher 200 acres
40 of 200
to
Reubin Simpson
17th January 1807

[All of this is Tellico #231]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Possible Kinship Line: Paternity
1) In 1780 Bartlett Belcher joined Vol. Militia at Patrick Co. VA. His age: 16 ( b.8 June 1764) Chesterfield Co., VA; In 1791, when John Belcher was born, Barlett would have been 27 years old.
In 1810 Bartlett would be 46 years old.

Barlett Belcher may also have been the father of Benjamin Belcher, b. 1797, who was a resident of Patrick County.

OR;
2) William Belcher, son of Isham of Franklin Co, VA. There was a Willliam Belcher (along with John Belcher) in Cumberland (later Monroe) County, KY as early as 1806 carrying chains to mark boundry lines for neighbors on Meshack Creek. He appears in the 1810 Cumberland County Census. Then in Cumberland Co, KY Surveys: May 15, 1818 - Deed Book A, page 479
William Belcher is listed as an adjoining property owner along with John Moody, and Jules Hufman. Also, as Chain carriers: William Belcher and Jules Hufman.

In 1818 adjoining property owners were John Moody and William Belcher.
The 1820 Cumberland Co, KY Census lists adjoining property owners as
John Moody (HH # 167) and JOHN BELCHER (HH # 168)
Did John Belcher BUY the land from William Belcher, or did William Belcher give the claim to John after helping him prove it up?

Notes for PERMELIA BIGGERS:
1870 Monroe Co Census

Belcher, Permelia......wf......74.....Keeping House........b. VA
Hettie [or Bettie].............wf.......15.....................................b. KY [no last name given]
Huff(?) James F.........wm.....27....Farm Labor...............b. TN
.

Hetty Richards/daughter of Mary/Polly Belcher Riherd/Richards was born in 1854. The Hettie listed here may be this granddaughter of Permelia Biggers Belcher.

>>>>><<<<<At a Special term of the Monroe County Court began and held in the Court house at Tompkinsville on the 22 day Sept 1875. Present Hon. W. T. Flippen J M C C

On the 22 day of Sept 1875 on motion of George F. Belcher who made oath and executed an approved covenant to the Commonwealth of Kentucky With W. S. Maxey his surety. Letters of Administration on the estate of Permelia Belcher deceased intestate are hereby granted unto Said George F. Belcher.<<

=========================================================
246 384 Beggans Thomas 10010001 113101
246 383 Belcher John 11002001 0112001

1840 Monroe County Census
Thomas Biggers and John Belcher live right next to each other.

==============================================================Listed in Patrick Co, VA in a Ministers old return book. It is possible that the returns in this book were filed at a much later date than the actual bond and marriage, as Permelia said she was married in Franklin Co, VA.
The surety for the marriage of John Belcher and Permelia Biggers [Bigers] was posted by a James Vandever.
The minister for the marriage was Henry Jones.
Source: Permelia's application for " Widows Pension" for John Belchers service in War of 1812, filed 15 Jan 1872 in Monroe Co. Circuit Court.

>>>>><<<<<At a Special term of the Monroe County Court began and held in the Court house at Tompkinsville on the 22 day Sept 1875. Present Hon. W. T. Flippen J M C C

On the 22 day of Sept 1875 on motion of George F. Belcher who made oath and executed an approved covenant to the Commonwealth of Kentucky With W. S. Maxey his surety. Letters of Administration on the estate of Permelia Belcher deceased intestate are hereby granted unto Said George F. Belcher.<<

Children of JOHN BELCHER and PERMELIA BIGGERS are:

2.	i.	HOPKINS² BELCHER, b. 1814, Franklin Co, VA; d. October 9, 1881, Monroe Co, KY.
3.	ii.	PRESTON H BELCHER, b. April 4, 1816, Franklin Co, VA; d. September 26, 1892, Monroe Co, KY.
4.	iii.	MARY (POLLY) BELCHER, b. February 9, 1821, Monroe Co, KY; d. June 9, 1907, Monroe Co, Ky.
5.	iv.	HARRIET BELCHER, b. June 13, 1824, Monroe Co, KY; d. November 22, 1906, Monroe Co, Ky Bur: Skaggs Creek Cem.
6.	v.	ELIZABETH [BETSY] BELCHER, b. 1827, Meshack Creek, Tompkinsville, Monroe Co, KY; d. Abt. 1877, Monroe Co, Kentucky.
7.	vi.	CINTHEANNA (SYNTHIA) A BELCHER, b. 1829, Monroe Co, KY; d. July 1, 1875, Milan, Sullivan Co, MO.
8.	vii.	JOHN "MAT" MATTHEW BELCHER, b. March 2, 1830, Monroe Co, KY; d. June 30, 1881, Monroe Co, KY.
9.	viii.	GEORGE FRANKLIN BELCHER, b. April 25, 1834, Monroe Co, KY; d. March 7, 1895, Monroe Co, KY.

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