| Katherine (Alcock) Belcher migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
Katherine Allcock, daughter of John, was bpt 12 Jun 1600 at Mancetter, Warwickshire, England.[1]
She married there 11 Dec 1627 Gregorie Belcher. They settled in Braintree, Massachusetts, had at least seven children.[2]
The basic framework of Gregory Belcher was published in the New England Genealogical & Historical Register in 1906, 60:128-29, et seq., by Joseph G. Bartlett. He notes that Gregory was in New England as early as 1637 (without proof), but certainly by 30 December 1639 when he was granted land. He deposed in June 1665 aged about 60 years. We know his wife's name was Katherine.
Another Gregory Belcher of Barkswell, Warwickshire left a will dated 20 March 1620 which mentions his wife Joane and son Thomas [Putnam's Historical Magazine, Vol. 4, p. 183]. This Thomas is supposedly the same man who lived at Wardend, Aston, Warwickshire and who had a son named Gregory baptized there on 20 March 1606. A Gregory Belcher married a Katherine Alcock at nearby Mancetter, Warwickshire on 11 December 1627. So this all hangs together. A man with the same name, with a wife of the same name, of the correct age, and who disappears from English records appears in Braintree. I certainly think this is a strong case. However, to really nail it down, we need the will or probate of Thomas Belcher the father.
As I noted in this post, last year the English origins of Gregory's wife, Katherine, and her siblings who also emigrated to New England were published. Gregory had seven children among which was Mary, the wife of Alexander Marsh, with whom Gregory had several land transactions. Katherine (Alcock) Belcher survived Gregory and left a will naming her daughter as Mary Marsh. Notes
1. GREGORY(1) BELCHER, b. c.30 Mar 1606, Aston, co. Warwick, England, d. 25 Nov 1674 @ age 68; m. 11 Dec 1627, Mancetter, Warwick, CATHERINE ALCOCK, b. c.1610, England, d. 20 Jul 1680, Braintree @ age abt. 70.[9] He was in New England as early as 1637; and on 30 Dec 1639, was granted a lot of 52 acres at Mount Wollaston (Braintree), for 13 heads, paying 3 shillings per acre for the same (Boston Town Records). Here he settled, was admitted a freeman on 13 May 1640; and was made a Selectman in 1646. He deposed in Jun 1665 aged about 60 years (Essex Co. Records). By occupation he was a farmer. On 14 Jul 1664,he purchased of John Smith, 9 acres of land in Milton, which he gave to his son, Joseph Belcher, for a marriage portion. On 6 Jan 1657/58 he obtained a lease of the Salter farm in Braintree, from the estate of William Tyng of Boston; and on 15 Jan 1666/67, Gregory Belcher and others bought the Salter farm for L900; Belcher's interest being one eigth.[10] On 26 Mar 1670, Gregory Belcher and his son-in-law, Alexander Marsh, purchased the Iron Works, with 200 acres of land in Braintree; and on 18 May 1671, the same parties bought 40 acres in Braintree Plain of Henry Crane,[11]
He died 25 Nov 1674 @ age 68. The inventory of his estate, showing a total of 629 pounds 5 shillings, was represented by his widow, 29 Jan 1674/75, proved 20 Jul 1680; gives to son, Josiah, a cow ' if he molest not my son Moses in his present dwelling and posessions"; to son, John, a cow and a horse; to daughters, Elizabeth Gilbert & Mary Marsh, and granddaughter, Mary Marsh, some household effects; "to son Moses (who hath all his life carried himself so dutifully to myself and gis father) the great Bible and the whole house and land he now possesses which I declare his father gave him." Sons, Moses Belcher & Alexander Marsh, executors. On 9 Jul 1680, Josiah Belcher, of Boston entered a caveat against the probate of any Will said to be made by his late mother, Catherine Belcher, of Braintree, wid. deceased, until he be present. (Suffolk Co. Probate)[12
When she and Gregory came to New England they had 4 or 5 children already. They settled in a part of Boston about 1639 which later became Braintree. She was 27 when she married and a little older than her husband. Her last child was born when she was about 42. She died at about age 80; she outlived several children, and most of her children died either before her or within a few years of her.
She survived her husband Gregory. Her will mentioned sons Josiah, John and Moses; daughters Elizabeth Gilbert, Mary, wife of Alexander Marsh, and granddaughter Mary Marsh. Samuel and Joseph were not mentioned and had previously passed away. Josiah had moved back to Boston, Samuel and Joseph died previously, and it appears that it was son Moses who cared for his parents in their old age, was named executor of his mother's will, and inherited the old homestead in Braintree.
Her brother John Alcock and his wife Elizabeth Wrightman also came to New England, but they settled in York, Maine.
Katherine's oldest son Josiah had a son named John Belcher who lived and worked in Kittery, York County, Maine, most of his adult life, in the shipbuilding trade.
Her sister, Anne, married 29 May 1622 in Mancetter to Nicholas Needome, appears to have also come to New England and ended up in Exeter, New Hampshire.
Copies of the original parish register from St. Peter's Church in Mancetter are attached under the Memories tab, but are very difficult to read.
Her christening information was published in the article by Eysenbach, Mary Locke. "The Alcocks of Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire: John Alcock and His Wife Elizabeth Wrightman, Anne Alcock and Her Husband Nicholas Needham, and Katherine Alcock and Her Husband Gregory Belcher," New Hampshire Genealogical Record (April-July 2009) 49-56). While the article is mostly about her brother John, I have attached the relevant pages under the Memories Tab.
Son Samuel died just before Katharine, but he was still able to have a good-sized family before his death. They likely died within a year of each other.
So to recap we believe Katherine's children were: 1. Josiah 2. Elizabeth 3. John 4. Moses 5. Samuel 6. Mary 7. Joseph
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Katherine is 22 degrees from Herbert Adair, 20 degrees from Richard Adams, 17 degrees from Mel Blanc, 22 degrees from Dick Bruna, 19 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 29 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 18 degrees from Sam Edwards, 16 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 21 degrees from Marty Krofft, 14 degrees from Junius Matthews, 13 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 19 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
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