George Belcher (abt. 1758 - aft. 1820)

Born about 1758 in Amelia County, Virginia Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sarah Sally (Powell) Belcher — married 14 Aug 1782 (to 1788) in Amelia, Virginia, USA

Husband of Mary Ann (Fugate) Belcher — married 1791 in Chesapeake, Elizabeth, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died after 1820 after about age 62 in Floyd County, Kentucky, USA

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Biography

George Belcher was born about 1760 in Amelia County, in the Colony of Virginia. He was the son of Isham Belcher and Elizabeth Clay-Belcher. George's date and place of death is in dispute.

George married Sally Powell, daughter of George Powell, on 14 August 1782, in Amelia County, Virginia. The only child born of this union was John Belcher. John was probably born in Washington County (now Russell County), Virginia. There is a George Belcher (Belsher) living in Amelia County in 1782. (1790-1870 Virginia Early Census Index. Ancestry.Com).

George Belcher, along with John Fugate, acquired 380 acres of land on a Commissioners Certificate on both sides of the upper north fork on the Clinch River, in what is now Russell County, Virginia. This John Fugate may have been a brother of George Belcher’s second wife Mary Fugate. George married Mary shortly after the death of his first wife Sally.

The children of George and Mary were: George, Jr., Mary Ann, Margaret, Bartley, John William, James, Ali, and Sally. Most of their children were probably born in Russell County.

Military

George served in the military between 20 Jan 1777 to 29 February 1780, in Virginia. He served a period of three years in Captain James Fosters' company in the 15th Virginia regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. James Innes.

Marriage

George married Sally Powell on 14 August 1782 in Amelia County, Virginia.^[1][2]

George married Mary Fugate about 1785 in Virginia; the exact place is not known.^[3][4][5]

Death & Legacy

The death date and place for George is in dispute. It appears that he died in Floyd County, Kentucky (became Pike County, Kentucky in 1822) after 1820, since he was administrator for the estate of his son, George W Belcher, in September 1814 and was listed on the 1820 census in that location.^[6]

The death date of June 1814 is not for George, it is for his son George, Jr. George was appointed administrator for his son's estate at the 1814 September Court, Floyd County, Kentucky.^[7]

(Are we certain of this? I have also seen Indiana listed as his place of death. I wonder which is correct? Lloyd-2622 16:54, 27 May 2015 (EDT)).

JUN 1814. Floyd, Kentucky, USA. ^[8] JUN 1814. North Bend, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA. ^[9]

Buried in North Bend, Hamilton, Ohio, USA. ^[10]

Residence

Virginia, USA. ^[11]

1810 - Floyd, Floyd, Kentucky, USA. ^[12][13]USA^[14] USA^[15]

1820 United States Federal Census Record of Floyd County, Kentucky, the Household of George BELCHER^[6]

The Household of George BELCHER was located in Floyd County, Kentucky in 1820 and contained individuals enumerated in the following age brackets:

1 Free White Male Aged Under 10 Years

1 Free White Male Aged 10 to 16 Years

3 Free White Males Aged 16 to 26 Years

1 Free White Males Aged 26 to 45 Years

1 Free White Male Aged Over 45 Years

1 Free White Female Aged Under 10 Years

1 Free White Female Aged 10 to 16 Years

1 Free White Female Aged 26 to 45 Years

1 Free White Female Aged Over 45 Years

6 people engaged in Agriculture

Notes

Note N55Notes concerning George Belcher (unverified): George BELCHER was born about 1760 in Amelia County, Virginia.3,4 He was the administrator for the estate of George Belsher, Jr., deceased in Jun 1814 in Floyd County, Kentucky.10 George Belsher, Sr. appointed administrator of the estate of George Belsher, Jr., deceased. Bartteth Adkins, Martin Thornsbury, Richard Johnson and John Sanders to appraise the estate. page 97 in Annals of Floyd County states: September Court, 1814, Inventory of the estate of George Belcher, decd. is received. [not sure if this is George the father or another George.] He served in the military between 20 Jan 1777 to 29 Feb 1780 in Virginia.1 George served for a period of three years and served in Captain James Fosters' company in the 15th Virginia regiment commanded by Lt. Col. James Innes. Following is a list of dates, location of camps, and roll call for George Belcher: Aug 1, 1777 Morrisstown, sick; Oct. 14, 1777 Reading, sick; Nov. 4, 1777 Valley Forge, in hospital; Dec. 22, 1777 Valley Forge, sick-absent; April 6, 1778 Valley Forge, on command; May 1, 1778 Valley Forge, sick-absent; Sept. 7, 1778 White Plains, present; Oct. 28, 1778 Neward, on guard; Dec. 1, 1778 Pompton, on command; May 5, 1779 Middle Brook, on command; Aug. 3, 1779 Ramapaugh, on guard; Sept. 5, 1779 Smith's Cove, on guard; Oct. 1779 Ramapaugh, on guard; Dec. 9, 1779 Morristown, on guard; Feb. 29, 1780 expiration of service, on guard. He owned land next to Josiah Fugate's in Russell County, Virginia.1.

• Fact: Christening Amelia, Virginia, USA
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Compiled information on George Belcher & posterity by Marie Pinson Erickson. PLEASE SEE ALL THE OTHER INFORMATION MARIE COLLECTED OVER 40 YEARS AGO IN MEMORIES - her research included Belcher/Pinson families that had family records- Shared by Judy Foster - August 2017 Would love to hear from Belcher cousins and get your input:)

George Belcher was born about 1760 in Amelia County, Virginia. The son of Isham Belcher and Elisabeth Clay. Not much is known about his life outside of public and military records. He was said to have been a great tracker of man or game. George Belcher was one of the first Justice-of-the-Peace in Floyd County, Kentucky. It is believed that he may have been a man of small stature, as his son Bartley was a little man. Also, several of his grandchildren bear that characteristic. He was a veteran of the American Revolution. On 20 January 1777, George enlisted in Captain James Foster’s Company of the 15th Virginia Regiment (Continental Line), commanded by Lt. Colonel James Innes. Other regiments he served in were the 5th and 11th Regiments (Continental Line); and the 2nd Virginia Brigade. Places of note where his company was located include: Reading, Valley Forge, White Plains, Newark, Pompton, Middlebrook, Ramapaugh, Smith’s Cove and Morristown. George Belcher spent the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. It was at these winter quarters that 11,000 men under General George Washington suffered through a bitter cold winter. It was here that the future of the United States never look more bleak. These poorly clothed and starving men, with little shelter from the elements, symbolized the indomitable and determined spirit of the fledgling American army at that time. As many as 2,500 men died during that brutal winter. George Belcher was even listed sick during roll call, while there. The military today is well equipt and fed. Not so in the latter part of the 1700's. Funding for the American army was hard to come buy, as were food and other necessities. Where roads very poor and transportation slow .  It is believed by this writer that George Belcher participated in the battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, on 17 January 1781, even though his enlistment ended on 27 February 1780. He supposedly suffered a broken arm. It was at Cowpens that Brig. General Daniel Morgan and a force of 1,100 men, most of whom were backwoodsmen, met a British force of about 1,100 men under Colonel Banastre Tarleton. Using cunning tactics and the deadly fire of his riflemen, Morgan routed the British army. George Belcher also appears to have been present at the Battle of Guilford’s Courthouse shortly thereafter. Another interesting note is that Major Alexander Stuart, also fought at Guilford’s Courthouse. He was the grandfather of Confederate Major-General Jeb Stewart.  After the end of the American Revolution, George married Sally Powell, daughter of George Powell, on 14 August 1782, in Amelia County, Virginia. The only child born of this union was John Belcher. John was probably born in Washington County (now Russell County), Virginia. There is a George Belcher (Belsher) living in Amelia County in 1782. (1790-1870 Virginia Early Census Index. Ancestry.Com). George Belcher, along with John Fugate, acquired 380 acres of land on a Commissioners Certificate on both sides of the upper north fork on the Clinch River, in what is now Russell County, Virginia. This John Fugate may have been a brother of George Belcher’s second wife Mary Fugate. George married Mary shortly after the death of his first wife Sally. The children of George and Mary were: George, Jr., Mary Ann, Margaret, Bartley, John William, James, Ali, and Sally. Most of their children were probably born in Russell County. George Belcher is listed on the Petition to form Russell County from Washington County, in December 1785. According to the 1787 Russell County Personal Property Tax List, George owned 2 horses and 6 heads of cattle. George bought 70 acres more on the Clinch river in February 1795, and acquired 100 acres more on the south side of the Clinch River on 7 December 1800 (Russell County Land Grants No. 46, page 527. Rootsweb.com). Other Belchers living in Russell County were Jesse, John, and Robert Belcher. Jesse and John were probably brothers of George, and Robert may have been a brother, also. Sometime later, George Belcher moved his family across into Floyd County, Kentucky. George Shows up in the 1820 Floyd County Census with 12 in the household. Pike County was made from Floyd in 1822 and he doesn't show up in the 1830 Census, but his oldersons do. By this, we Assume George Died after 1820.

TIMELINE FOR GEORGE BELCHER (REPEATS FROM ABOVE BUT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER) 1777, January 20 George enlisted in the Revolutionary War in Capt. James Foster's Company, Fifteenth Virginia Regiment. His enlistment ended Feb 29, 1780. His Revolutionary War Service Records from the National Archives states: He enlisted Jan 20, 1777 for 3 years. He was at Valley Forge. 1782, August 14 Amelia County, Va - Marriage found in the bonds of Amelia co., Va. Only one son is found...did Sally die from childbirth? 1791 - about this time or before, George married a Mary Fugate. No record of marriage is found, but deeds as early as 1795 list Mary as his wife. 1791 Russell County, Va., Law Order Books Book 1 page 250 George Belsher recommended for Lieutenant 1795 Russell County, Va. 6 July 1795 100 acres part of land office Treasury warrant dated 3 Aug 1782 in Russell County on the south side of Clinch River for three years service in Revolutionary War on Virginia line. 1795 - 1805 Russell County finds deeds buying and selling for George Belcher and Mary on Clinch River, Cove Creek, Weavers Creek, neighbors or those involved in land transactions: Price, Daniels, Thompson, Kendrick, Massey, Birch, Fuller. 1805 - March & April Russell Co., Deeds selling land. 1814 - Russell County deed - George Belcher selling land on Clinch River to Abraham Fuller. GEORGE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE NOW LOCATED IN FLOYD COUNTY, KENTUCKY, which is why the last few deeds for him involved selling land he had purchased earlier. He also served on the first grand jury after Pike Co., Ky., was organized. Family correspondence by Marie Erickson states that Mrs. Murray a great granddaughter of Margaret Belcher says her uncle, Dr. Marion Pinson, told her about George Belcher going to Ohio also that he was a corporal under Washington's command. Migrating to the then Floyd co., Ky., now Pike county, about 1805, he served as Floyd County Justice of the Peace.

History of Allen Pinson (son of Thomas and Mary (Polly) Denny Pinson Written by Henry P. Scalf Found in Vol. VI of “The East Kentuckian/June 1970 Part III There is a tradition that George Belcher went to Ohio in search of land and died there and was buried at North Bend, near Cincinnati.

A digitized book recently found online on the Belcher Family compiled by a Jack Coler, 518 N. 35th, Rogers, Arkansas 72756 dated February 19, 1988 SL #929.273 B4lcj also refers to a book called "Pioneer Recollections of Southwest Virginia" authored by Elihu Jasper Sutherland, contains interviews of older citizens of Southwest Virginia who related their recollections of the Belcher Family and their exploits. FSL 975.5745 D3

(The name Belcher is composed of the English/French words "bel" and "cher", which means "good cheer".) The name Belcher dates back to a member of William the Conqueror's army who was listed on "The Roll of the Battle Abbey" and who was the ancestor of a soldier who became historic to the Belcher, Kentucky region: a soldier in the American Revolution named George Belcher, who came from Virginia and was the original Belcher settler in this area of Kentucky. George Belcher (born in 1760 in Virginia) enlisted on January 20, 1777 in Captain James Foster's Company of the 15th Virginia Regiment (Continental Line), commanded by Lt. Col. James Innes. During George's term of enlistment in the American army he served in the following regiments: 15th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line; 5th and 11th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line; 2nd Virginia Brigade; 11th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line; and Col. Daniel Morgan's 11th and 15th Virginia Regiment, Continental Line (Company No. 11). In 1778 George held the rank of Private. By the end of his years of service he held the rank of Sergeant. Places where his companies were located from 1777-1779 included Morristown, Reading, Valley Forge, White Plains, and Newark. Therefore, George endured the bitter hardships of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. His three-year term of enlistment in the American army ended in 1780. He soon enlisted in the Virginia militia and fought in the Battle of Cowpens (one of a series of battles in the Carolinas now made famous by the movie The Patriot [2000]). The Cowpens was the site of the battle fought on January 17, 1781, between American forces, led by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan, and the British forces led by Colonel Banastre Tarleton. There, the Americans defeated and nearly decimated the British. George survived the battle, and not long thereafter, sometime during the 1790's, he came to this region of Kentucky. Patriot George Belcher is among the first settlers and founders of this Kentucky region. Now, the town of Belcher, Kentucky bears his name and the name of all the members of his family (including his relative Governor Jonathan Belcher and George's descendants John Belcher, George W. Belcher, and William Kerry Belcher.) George Belcher is listed in the "Ancestor Roll" published by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Sources

1. ↑ Dodd, Jordan. Virginia, Marriages, 1660-1800 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.
2. ↑ Virginia Marriage Records
3. ↑ Source: #S-2020826064 Page: Birth year: 1770; Birth city: Shenandoah Co; Birth state: VA. Note: http://trees.ancestry.com/rd?f=sse&db=genepool&h=4099899&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: 1770Birth place: Shenandoah Co, VAMarriage date: 1785Marriage place: Russell Co, VA APID: 1,4725::4099899
4. ↑ Source: #S124 Source number: 568.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: BB1
5. ↑ Source: #S124 Source number: 568.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: BB1
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLN-YWR : Wed Oct 04 14:45:12 UTC 2023), Entry for George Belcher, Floyd, Kentucky, United States; citing p. 38, line 12, NARA microfilm publication M33, roll 22; FHL microfilm 0186,182.
7. ↑ Wells, Charles C. Annals of Floyd County, Kentucky, 1800-1826. Baltimore: Gateway Press; Paintsville, Kentucky; p 97. As cited on George W Belcher Jr or view book on familysearch
8. ↑ Source: #S72 Birth date: Birth place: Virginia Death date: Death place: Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=397264&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
9. ↑ Source: #S320
10. ↑ Source: #S320
11. ↑ Source: #S210
12. ↑ Source: #S99 Year: 1810; Census Place: Floyd, Floyd, Kentucky; Roll: 6; Page: 99; Family History Number: 0181351; Image: 00113. Residence date: 1810 Residence place: Floyd, Floyd, Kentucky, United States Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1810usfedcenancestry&h=558693&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2H-YPQ : accessed 19 April 2016), George Belsher, 1810.
14. ↑ Source: #S72 Birth date: Birth place: Virginia Death date: Death place: Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=397264&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt
15. ↑ Source: #S72 Birth date: Birth place: Virginia Death date: Death place: Virginia Residence date: Residence place: United States Link: http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=sarmemberapps&h=397264&ti=0&indiv=try&gss=pt

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 29 August 2017, 16:13), entry for George Belcher(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LVFS-NHZ); contributed by various users.
• Source: S-2050775427 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;;; Note: Ancestry Family Trees (Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;), Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), _APID: 1030::0 CONT This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. CONT

• Source: S-2050775427 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Name: Name: Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;;; Note: Ancestry Family Trees (Name: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.;;), Ancestry Family Trees (Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members.), _APID: 1030::0 CONT This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. CONT .
• Source: S-2020826064 Repository: #R-2048482756 Title: Family Data Collection - Individual Records Author: Edmund West, comp. Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Note: APID: 1,4725::0

• Source: S-2047878594 Repository: #R-2048482756 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Note: Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=21096863&pid=4428

• Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.

• Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Individual Records [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

• Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Source number: 568.000; Source type: Electronic Database; Number of Pages: 1; Submitter Code: BB1

• Ancestry.com. Virginia, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1607-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999. Original data: Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. Virginia Census, 1607-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

• Source: S124 U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 Publication: Name: Yates Publishing. U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.; Repository: #R2
• Repository: R2 Ancestry.com
• Source: S210 U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 Publication: Name: Ancestry.com. U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.; Repository: #R2
• Source: S211 Kentucky Land Grants Publication: Name: Ancestry.com. Kentucky Land Grants [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1997.; Repository: #R2
• Source: S320 Ancestry.com U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current Publication: Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012; Repository: #R2
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• Source: S72 Ancestry.com U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.Original data - Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls; Repository: #R2
• Source: S95 Ancestry.com 1820 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Fourth Census of the United States, 1820. (NARA microfilm publication M33, 142 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record G; Repository: #R2
• Source: S99 Ancestry.com 1810 United States Federal Census Publication: Name: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.Original data - Third Census of the United States, 1810. (NARA microfilm publication M252, 71 rolls). Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. Nationa; Repository: #R2
• Coler, Jack; "Our Belcher family of Southwestern Virginia"; Rogers, Arkansas; 1988

See also:

• Sergeant George Belcher
• http://www.belcherkentucky.com/founder.htm
• http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/b/o/o/Charisma-Boomer-MI/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0061.html
• George Belcher (± 1760-????) » Genealogie Arink (Groenlo-Eibergen-Kampen) » Genealogie Online. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2015, from https://www.genealogieonline.nl/en/genealogie-arink/I9362.php

• BELCHER,RAMEY,WELLS, MAY AND CHANEY. (n.d.). Retrieved May 27, 2015, from http://angelfire.com/la2/gen/index.html

• http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/74641369/person/48420222942