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WINCHESTERS OF NORTH CAROLINA

Privacy Level: Public (Green)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: North Carolinamap
Surname/tag: Winchester, North Carolina
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For Collaboration of the Winchester families of the Mecklenburg county area North Carolina.

1907 Union Co., NC Map showing Winchesters

Contents

Beginnings

Our Winchesters are said to have come from England, migrated into Virginia and then North Carolina. John Winchester is given as an immigrant from England to Boston, Mass. on 26th Apr 1635. Clement Bates and Family came over on the same ship. When the Indians were driven back, a number of white settlers came to North Carolina. It is further said that Douglas Winchester and his brother Daniel came from Virginia to what is now Union County. [1]

Biography

John Winchester came over from England to Boston, Mass., on the 26th of April, 1635. Clement Bates and family came over on the same ship.

When the Indians were driven back, a number of white settlers came to North Carolina. It is said that Douglas Winchester and his brother, Daniel, came from Virginia to Union County. Daniel stayed for a number of years and then moved to Tennessee. His sons, William Daniel and Joe Winchester, had married and did not go., Douglas married Sarah Matthews and Daniel married Rosie Matthews (supposedly sisters). Douglas’ children were: (1) Tommie or Thomas Winchester, born Jan 10, 1774, died April 22, 1864, age 90; first married to Rachael Finney, who was mother of all his children; second to Janie Osbourn, daughter of Alexander third to Elizabeth Stephenson, a sister of Jake Penegar. (2) Billie or William Winchester, born about 1776, married Rachel Matthews. (3) Layer Winchester, born about 1778, married Obydo Doster, son of Jimmie Doster; this marriage produced eight children. (4) Pollie Winchester, born about 1780, married to Joel Doster, a son of Jimmie. (5) Sallie Winchester, born about 1782, married Andy Secrest, son of Jake and Barbia who came over from Germany; this marriage produced nine children. (6) Peggy Winchester, born about 1784, married Billy Mulder from Tennessee. (7) Betsie Winchester, born about 1786, married Bob Fowler.

It is said that Douglas Winchester was a captain in the Revolutionary War and was probably buried in the Wolfe family graveyard near the Frank Krauss homeplace.

Thomas’ children were: (1) William Winchester, born April 7, 1801, died Dec. 30, 1882, married Polly Wolfe; this marriage produced nine children. (2) John Winchester, born July 29, 1802, died when a young man. (3) Pollie Winchester, born Feb. 23, 1804, died Feb. 7, 1850; married Billie Daniel Winchester, a son of Daniel; this marriage produced six children. (4) Thomas Ditamus Winchester, born Sept. 10, 1807, died May 3, 1888; married Nancy Houston, daughter of John Houston. (5) George Allison Winchester, born Sept 2, 1809, died March 7, 1894; married Margaret L. Walker daughter of John Walker his second marriage was to Ann Elizah Sikes.

G. Allison Winchester was one of the pioneers of the Mineral Springs community, where most of the Winchesters of Union County can trace their ancestry, He was said to have owned 132 slaves, the value of which was from one thousand dollars to seventeen hundred dollars. His father, Thomas, owned twenty-five slaves. Another interesting tidbit about him is that he was assigned the task of putting the hip roof on the arbor at Pleasant Grove Camp Ground. He did this to help John Rape who was to build the arbor for $125.00, an amount he soon learned was not enough, so his neighbors came to his rescue and helped him complete it. The concept of a hip roof was new at that time and few carpenters knew how to build one.

G. Allison Winchester’s father, Tommie, borrowed five dollars about the time he got married, but it is not known what he did with it. He built his first home half a mile north of Mineral Springs. It was a one-room log house with the crack closed with mud and the earth for a floor. It is not known how he made the door, but probably he split a tree and hewed out boards, fitting them together with wooden pegs. It is said he and his wife carried their bedding to their new house in a pocket handkerchief. An axe and a sprouting hoe were the extent of their tools. He probably had a mortar to crush corn by hand to make bread, Thomas and his son Allison usually took Christmas day to butcher twenty-five hogs. The meat was used for the family and their slaves. Thomas was a very poor man when he married, but it is said he was one of the wealthiest men o the county at his death. Because his estate was settled in Confederate money during the time of the Civil War, all was lost except his land. He and his mother rented a place said to have been owned by Andrew Jackson, Senior, the father of the Andrew Jackson, afterwards General of the United States Army and President of the United States (taken from testimony given by Thomas Winchester, Senior).

G. Allison Winchester had several children but the one who was known to stay in the Mineral Springs area was Robert Winchester whose home still stands on Roscoe Howey Road near Mineral Springs. Robert married Nancy Howey and they produced eight children: George, Murray, John, Mae, Lexie, Mag, Ellie, and Oscar. Most of the children remained in the Union County area except Mag who moved to Florida after she married.

Some of the grandchildren of Robert and Nancy are still living, and several still remain in the Union County area. There are many descendants of the Winchester family who gather each year at the Pleasant Grove Camp Ground in August to keep in touch with the heritage (the Winchester family was prominent in the restoration of Pleasant Grove Camp Ground in the early 1900’s) The east and north sides of the Camp Ground have many cabins (tents) that belong to descendants of the Winchester family.

Much of the information is taken from writings of George T. Winchester, son of Robert and Nancy Winchester (an article published but The Monroe Journal. February 15, 1957, and Union County and the History of Pleasant Grove Camp Ground, published July 1937)[2]

Samuel Winchester Research

  • Sam WInchester is the coordinator of the FTDNA Winchester Surname Project.[6]

BELOW THIS SUMMARY IS A COLLECTION OF ALL RECORDS DISCOVERED OF Thomas, William, Douglas, and Daniel Winchester WHO SETTLED IN MECKLENBURG AND CABARRUS COUNTIES DATING FROM 1766 THROUGH EARLY 1800S.

Please contact Sam Winchester for corrections of these or others that are discovered: samsylvia57@gmail.com

Summary of Observations from these records

1. William Winchester of Mecklenburg is listed in 1766 Militia roster. This places his likely birth year at 1745 or earlier. He had a son Thomas Winchester II (1774-1864) and we have DNA data through one descendant of Thomas' son George Allison Winchester (1809-1894).

2. Thomas Winchester I is also listed in the 1766 Militia roster.

3. Daniel Winchester of Mecklenburg documented in his Revolutionary War Veteran Pension Petition filed from Hardin County, TN that he was born 1752 in Virginia making him 24 years old in 1776 militia service.

3. Douglas Winchester could also be a younger brother assuming he was at least 21 years old in signing the 1778 Petition , thus born 1757 or before.

4. All four Winchesters made NC Land Grant entries along the Rocky River basin within a one mile radius with Douglas Winchester land at the center on both sides of Rocky River; and William & Thomas I less than one mile Southwest on waters of Anderson and Lick Creeks, and Daniel Winchester less than one mile Northeast on Meadow Branch.

5. Daniel, Douglas, & Thomas Winchester I made their Land Grant Entries in 1779 while Daniel Winchester made his Entry in 1785. Daniel reached a settlement (?) in 1784 regarding his service in Continental Army (?)

6. Well-known early settlers of Mecklenburg County are listed adjoining the land grants of the four Winchesters, for example: John Ashly; John Bost; Isaac Breadon; David & Jacob Cagle; Charles Dorton; John Finney; James Flagler; John Hagler; Leonard Hartsell; Joseph Howell; Andrew Matthews; Henry Price; William Ross; Henry Sides; George Tucker. Daniel Winchester marries Rosannah Ashly and Douglas Winchester marries Rachel Matthews who could be daughters of neighbor Ashly and Matthews.

Male Y-DNA data show that the descendants of (1) Rowan (Guilford) County's John Winchester; (2) Mecklenburg County's William Winchester; and of (3) Burke County’s Francis Winchester show a very close ancestry relationship, with a Most Recent Common Ancestor at about 1700 or earlier. [Our data is rather lean: we currently have data from descendants of three sons of John Winchester; one descendant of William Winchester, and one descendant of Francis Winchester. 1. John Winchester is listed on the 1768 Rowan County (later Guilford) Haw River settlement. Census records indicate that his oldest known son, Coleman Winchester, was born about between 1750 and 1760. This would make John Winchester born earlier than 1735 - he is typically shown born about 1720-1728. This are not unreasonably early since John died in 1809. We have DNA data from three of John Winchesters grandsons. Thomas I and William Winchester may be the oldest, assuming they were at least 21 when joining militia in 1766 and thus were born before 1745. This is consistent with William Winchester's son Thomas Winchester II whose recorded 1858 statement and gravestone indicate he was born 1774.

3. Francis Winchester of Burke, NC and Wayne, KY birth of 1765 is established by his 1850 Wayne County, KY census where he is shown at 85 years old. Thus he is likely to be son of one of the two older Mecklenburg Winchesters, e.g. William Winchester . We have DNA data from four descendants of Francis Winchester via three of his grandsons.

A BANK SHOT! If we take John Winchester of Haw River settlement to be born at 1720 or earlier, then he could be father of all the Male Y-DNA related Winchesters from Guilford and Mecklenburg counties with the Burke County Winchesters descended from the oldest Mecklenburg Winchesters.

THEORY Our John Winchester (~1720-1809), or his father, originated in one of the Scottish Counties along the Moray Firth and Shetland Islands and fled Scotland following the disastrous1747 Battle of Culloden, taking his family of sons and daughters. They arrived at a mid Atlantic port by 1750 or so, found the Pennsylvania lands west of Philadelphia blocked by the French & Indian War, and joined in the migration down the Great Wagon Road. John Winchester settled with several sons on the Haw River just east of the Great Wagon Road. At least four sons: Daniel, Douglas, Thomas and William Winchester continued another hundred miles south and settled in Mecklenburg County along Rocky River. Francis Winchester then traveled west as far as Burke County, had six sons, and then migrated about 1825 to Wayne County, KY.

1. The 1841 United Kingdom Census does not report Winchester surnames at all. However there are clusters of Winchester families in two concentration areas: The largest group in lower England counties from Oxfordshire/Berkshire to Essex/Kent with about 400 people in 60 families; and the smaller group in Invernessshire/Morayshire/Banffshire/Shetland Isle with about 250 people in 40 families.

2. Today about 40% of all men in Central England have the R1-M269 Haplogroup typical of the ‘Celtic’ peoples, while about 35% all men in coastal Scotland area have the I1-M253 Haplogroup typical of the Norwegian ‘Viking’ peoples. The I1-M253 Haplogroup is especially strong in Scottish counties facing Norway.

3. Descendants of all three of the North Carolina Winchester Groups - Guilford, Mecklenburg, Burke - all have I1-M253 Haplogroup and match closely in Genetic Distant.

DNA

Science can tell us much of our ancestral connection but it is only "paper trail" that can show us who is connected to which son of an Immigrant ancestor. Even these can be confusing depending on interpretation of primary records. Children of "Old Thomas" might require "Uncertain" and explanation within each possible, probable or uncertain child's profile. Barbara Roesch

Census Timeline

1790 Mecklenburg County shows William Winchester 2-2-4 and Dugles Winchester 2-3-3. One neighbor was Newell, seen in the 1766 record, and the other is William Ross, who plays a large role in the estate of William. [3]

Price, J. N., "Winchester Family" TEXT

Paper by Mr. J. N. Price, Read at the Celebration at Esq. J. H. Winchester’s Last Week – An Ancient Name and a Long Lived People.
(By Hon. J. N. Price) [James Newton Price]
(Published 05 Aug. 1913)
[Subject of Article: John H. Winchester]
The name Winchester is an old one and has been a prominent name for centuries, both applying to the name of persons as well as to great cities. The origin of the name or when it came in to existence I am not able to say. But I do know that the name is nearly as old as Christ for we get it from history that there was a town or city by the name of Winchester that existed in the year of our Lord 169, that this town or city was located in the country of England and the chief town of Hampshire, or became so, is or was situated in the middle of the county and about sixty miles in a direct line from London. This city of Winchester is a famous and historical city, for we read of its peculiar streets, of its cathedral, the Castle Hill or Royal palace built in the thirteenth century by Henry the Third, of its great hospital known as Cross founded in 1136 by a bishop of Winchester, of its great colleges, one known as St. Mary's, founded in 1387. A church was built in this city in the year 169, destroyed in the year 269 and restored in the year 293 and converted into a temple in the year 495. In the year 633 this church or temple was pulled down, for history says it was polluted, and a new one commenced. I give this brief piece of history to show that the name is old and it is reasonable to suppose that a family and a very prominent one existed at that time in our mother country England and that the Winchesters of our day and generation is the offspring of those Winchesters, for it is a settled fact that all the Winchesters of this country came from England.
There was a noted divine by the name of Elhanan Winchester who was born in Massachusetts in 1751 and died in 1797, who went to England from this country but returned and died here. During his ministry he established or joined what is known as the open communion Baptists, and became a preacher of universal restoration. He published five letters on the Divinity of Christ, Beauties of the Millennium, the face of Moses Unveiled, ten letters to Tom Paine and wrote hymns on the restoration. I mention this last piece of history not only to support our claim that the Winchesters came from England, and one of the first people, but that they were a religious people and that they were leaders centuries ago. It is not every one that can refer back and trace his ancestral honors to old England. America, as you know, today is composed of every nationality, but the proudest of all is those who can say that while "I am an American and that America is the greatest country in the world, yet I am proud of the fact that I am a descendant of glorious old England," known as the mother country of the United States.
So, as I have said before, the record shows that the Winchester family came from England, and that our Winchester family, that is that Esq. John H. Winchester whose eighty-second birthday we are celebrating today is a descendant of England, of that grand and noble people known as the English Bloods.
They are a most noble people and the Winchester family has proven this through their entire generation. The first of whom we have any direct record connecting up and with Esq. John H. Winchester is of William or Douglass Winchester, who had a brother by the name of Daniel, they being the only two that we can trace any direct connection.
In this instance we are going to trace the descendants of William or Douglass Winchester leading up to the present time. We have no record as to when William or Douglass was born or died, but we do know that his wife was Sara Matthews and they had seven children and one of those seven children was Thomas Winchester [“Great slave holder”], who was born Jan. 10th, 1774, and died April 22nd, 1864, living to be 90 years, 3 months and 12 days old. He was buried at Pleasant Grove camp-ground. His wife, who was, before marriage, Rachael Finney, was buried in an old field north of the late Geo. D. Wolfe old home place about half way between the house and creek. He was a low stout man with black hair and red complexion and had that prominent high Roman or Winchester nose. You can see this feature of the man in the Winchesters of the present day. He started in life a poor man, but before his death accumulated a lot of wealth, owning from 20 to 25 slaves. He was once the largest tax payer in the county. As is the history of all the Winchester family he was a great church man and church worker. He did not swear nor smoke. I am sorry to say that some of his offspring, even down to the third and fourth generation, has not been as zealous in not smoking as he for I have known a few who would smoke occasionally. Thomas Winchester was the father of six children, which we are going to trace further. He was the father of William, John, Polly. Loyer [sic-Leah], Thomas Ditymas, and G. Allison.
Thomas Ditymas Winchester, one of the above named, was the father of Esq. John H. Winchester, of whom we are celebrating his eighty-second birth day. Thomas Ditymas Winchester was born on the l0th day of September, 1807, over a century ago, and married Nancy Houston, a daughter of (as we all called him Uncle Johnie [sic] Houston, of sacred memory. Of this union there were born the following children:
  1. John H. Winchester, born February 9, 1832.
  2. Elizabeth J. Winchester, born November 17, 1834.
  3. George Pinkney Winchester, born January 8, 1838.
  4. Thos. McCombs Winchester, born December 28, 1841.
  5. Nancy Catherine Winchester, born December 28, 1841.
  6. James McKee Winchester, born February 28, 1843.
  7. Mary M. Winchester, born April 8, 1845.
  8. Susan E. Winchester, born November 20, 1847.
All of these are living in this county to-day [sic] except George Pinkney, who died Oct. 30, 1871, and Elizabeth J., who died June 14, 1866, and James McKee, who was killed in the defense of his country, in the battle of Sharpsburg in Maryland, Sept. 17, 1862, and whose body today is still lying buried in the battlefield on which he died.
The subject of this sketch of which I have already mentioned, via, John H. Winchester, was born on Feb. 9. 1832, and only likes six months from the 9th of this month of being 82 years, or four score and two years old. He was first married to Margarette E. Phifer, daughter of the late Matthew Phifer, on Aug. 29, 1854, who died on Aug. 4, 1856, they only being permitted to live together for about two years. She was a sister of the well known Mr. W. H. Phifer of Monroe. Of this union there was one child born, Dora E. Winchester, who married Mr. S.S. Wolfe. She and her husband are still living.
On March 25, 1858, Mr. Winchester was married the second time to Addie K. Timmons, a daughter of the late Col. King Timmons. She died October 6, 1889. Of this union there were born the following children:
  1. Margarett[sic] L. Winchester, horn. Feb. 3. 1859.
  2. Benjamin T. Winchester, born Jan. 15, 1861.
  3. James C. Winchester, born June 24. I866.
  4. Ed. J. Winchester, born July 10, 1868.
  5. Hugh H. Winchester, born May 6. 1872.
  6. Chas. T. Winchester, born Sept 13. 1874.
  7. Henry L. Winchester, born Oct. 10. 1876
All of these children are living except Ben. T. Winchester, who died Oct. 25, 1889, and E. J. Winchester, who died July 1, 1902.
On March 16, 1891, J. H. Winchester was married the third time to M. E. Crowell, daughter of Mr. Frank Crowell, and to this union the following children were born:
  1. Amanda R. Winchester, born December 31, 1891.
  2. Addie May Winchester, born May 8, 1894.
  3. Rose Winchester, born March 30 1896.
  4. Samuel, born August 1. 1901.
All of these children are living. Out of a family of eleven children all are living except two, which is certainly a good health record of such a large family and sustains the history of the Winchester family that they are a long lived people.
Mr. Winchester has 21 grand-children and 5 great grand-children. All of his living children either reside in this county or this State except one son, Hugh H. Winchester who has honored the Blue Grass state of Kentucky by establishing his citizenship there, but we hope he will soon return to North Carolina, his native State, for North-Carolina has too few such sons to spare.
The humble writer had the honor of marrying a niece [Nancy Catherine Winchester] of Mr. J. H. [John Houston] Winchester and is proud of the fact that this entitles him to call him uncle. Uncle John, you ought to be a happy man. We all know you are a good man. God has dealt justly with you, has proved you with many years and I pray that He will spare you to yet live to be an hundred years old. You have served your day and generation well. Your State, your county, your neighbors and your community have been richly blessed by having you us a citizen and above all your church, of which you have been and are now the main pillar and the one upon whom we all rely upon has been exceedingly blessed. You have reared a noble family who will hand down the rich heritage that you have left them to other generations yet unborn and centuries from now the Winchester family will be traced back just as we have done today and your name will loom up as one of the grandest of the long line of Winchesters that has ever or ever will live. You ought to be happy in the fact that you possess that which so few do and that is a good name. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." No doubt God has spared you and is sparing you for some great purpose. These people here are glad to be with you on this occasion, glad to see you so hale and hearty and glad that you promise to live many years to come.[4]

Price, J.N. "Winchester Family" ANALYSIS

  • ANALYSIS of Winchester article written by J.N. Price by T. Winchester. Regarding the paper by the Honorable James Newton Price entitled "The Winchester Family" : Paper by Mr. J. N. Price, Read at the Celebration at Esq. J. H. Winchester’s Last Week – An Ancient Name and a Long Lived People. Published 05 Aug. 1913, Subject of Article: John H. Winchester]
This is a non-cited, 2nd generation work, published in 1913 by James Newton Price (1866-1932), husband of Nancy Catherine Winchester (1872-1928). Nancy, at the time of this writing, is 41 years old. The author, J. N. Price, is 47 years old. John H. Winchester, the subject of this article, is alive, and celebrating his 82nd birthday.
Mentioned in this article is Thomas Didymus Winchester, who is the grandfather of J. N.’s wife, Nancy Catherine.
John H. Winchester is Nancy’s uncle, brother of her father, Thomas McCombs Winchester. Thomas McCombs is also alive at the time of publishing.
Thomas Winchester (the great slave owner), born Jan. 10th, 1774, is the Great Grandfather of the author’s wife; he died in 1864.
There is no indication in this article of the ancestors of William or Douglas Winchester, who J. N. describes as “William or Douglas”, indicating that the author isn’t certain of the given name; it is either William or Douglas; he doesn't seem to be portraying two separate individuals.
The significance of this latter comment is that my research suggests that there were, in fact, two individuals named William and Douglas, that they, along with a Daniel, were brothers, and that their father was one Thomas Winchester.
There are no citations of authorities, or publications consulted, so this is a secondary source. Evidence will need to be weighed between two other papers written by former researchers.
The search continues for more evidence. ~Terry Winchester

Winchester Family~Price, J. N..docx

  • Also listed in the North Carolina Militia, in 1766, were Dunning and Sandifer Keziah, which some researchers believe hold strong indications supporting Winchester and Casiah/Keziah relationships. Barbara Roesch says "a very likely connection would be the family of William Keziah born 1780 and has associations with common local surnames."
  • There are secondary articles written by descendants of our subject, whom we might tentatively refer to as Old Thomas Winchester or Thomas, I, only to indicate the first probable NC generation. The conflicts arise in the second and third generations written by Geo. T. Winchester who wrote of the Winchester Family, and Ney McNeely, who wrote of the Winchester-Helms Family, both descendants with differing reports. [1]

McNeely, Ney, "Early History of the Winchesters"

  • Written by Ney McNeely in 1911 for the Waxhaw Enterprise

[Research Note: We believe that Mr. McNeely was mistaken about the female children of William and Sarah (Keziah) Winchester. We believe, instead, that they are the children of Douglas and Sarah Matthews Winchester.]

The first Winchesters of which we have any account in this part of our country were Thomas, William, and Dugal [Douglas?], who lived in what is now Cabarrus Co., but at that time a part of Mecklenburg, prior to the Revolutionary War. It is most probable that Thomas Winchester was the father of William and Dugal. William came to what is now Union County as early as 1792 and settled on the very same place at which the father of Andrew Jackson died, near Pleasant Grove Camp Ground in Sandy Ridge Township. He married Miss Sarah Keziah, and to this union were born

  1. Thomas Winchester,
  2. William Winchester;
  3. Mrs. Joel Doster[5]; and
  4. Mrs. Obediah Doster[5]

Thomas, the son of William, was the great slave owner. He married a Miss [Rachel] Finney, and to this union were born

  1. Thomas (Didymus) Winchester;
  2. William Winchester;
  3. G. Allison Winchester,
  4. Mrs. William Daniel Winchester [Mary], and
  5. Mrs. William H. McNeely [Isabelle Caroline].

William [William Douglas], the son of the original William, married a Miss Matthews, and to this union were born

  1. Thomas Winchester, who went to Illinois;
  2. John Winchester;
  3. Jehu Winchester;
  4. J. Russell Winchester;
  5. Noah Winchester;
  6. Sarah Winchester, who married Allen Helms, father of E.A. Helms;
  7. Charlotte Ainer Haywood;
  8. Zilphia, the mother of William L Simpson, Jr.; and
  9. Jane Winchester; who married a Stegall.

Dugal Winchester never came to this county, but Joseph and Daniel, who were most likely his sons, did come to this county some years after the coming of the original William. Daniel was the father of the late Thomas D. Winchester of Monroe and grandfather of E.C. Winchester. Joseph was the father of Bill, Joe Winchester-late of Mineral Springs, Alexander Winchester and Daniel Winchester – father of Jim Henry Winchester and Mrs. Boyle.

The Winchesters have always been an intelligent, industrious and patriotic people, and have been the equal of any people anywhere.

George Helms Sr. (1720-1800?) married Mary Margaret Fortenbury (1720-after 1800), and their son Isaac Helms (1767-1838) married Nancy Laney, daughter of George Laney. One of Isaac’s sons was Allen Helms (1806-1850) who married Sarah Winchester, daughter of William Winchester. Their son Evan A. C. Helms (1846-1924) was married three times: (1) to Amanda Irby; (2) to Sarah Reeder, daughter of Benjamin S. and Rosanna Lee Reeder; and (3) to Mary Jane Sistare. The ten children were:

  1. Ida, b. 1869, only child of Amanda;
  2. Laura, b. 1873, md. Josiah Helms, son of Jacob W, and Unicy Adaline Helms;
  3. Josie Ella (1875-1941), md. James Franklin Helms, son of D.F. and Nelly Helms;
  4. Frances “Fannie”, b. 1876, md. James Robert “Bob” Simpson;
  5. Jeanette “Net”, b. 1878, md. Wriston Reeder, and
  6. Raymond, b. 1881, md. Naomi McCain, b. 1896, Dau, of H.M. & Jane McCain,
  7. Carrie Helms b. 1887, md. Maxwell Harkey;
  8. Malon, b. 1887, md. Ella Jane McCain, b. 1892, dau. of R.T. & Mary McCain;
  9. Cora, b. 1889, md. Raymond Helms, b. 1887, son of D.F. & Nelly Helms, and
  10. Della, b. 1892, md. Claude McCain, b. 1892, son of H.M. & Jane McCain.

Josie Ella Helms (1875-1941) md. James Franklin Helms (1876-1951), had seven children: (1) James Marvin (1899-1977) md. Almetta Moss; (2) Warren Dwight Helms (1901-1919); (3)Nellie Lavinia Helms (1903-1979) md. Ebenezer E. “Eb” Hallman; (4) Raymond Earl Helms (1905-1973) md. Mary Lee Starnes (1897-1978), daughter of Reese Massey Starnes(1858-1937); (5) Olin Evan Helms (1907-1992)md. Frances Pledger; (6) Minnie Virginia, b. 1909, md. William David Huey, b. 1907; (7) Eva Mae Helms, born April 5, 1913, died Aug. 8, 1913. [6]

Winchester, George T., "Winchester Family"

Mineral Springs, N.C.
I have received a small booklet of The Media Research Bureau, Washington, D.C., which gives a short history of the Winchesters as far back as 1273. The card shows around 1500 different families they have made books of and about 50 of them live in Union county. If you are interested write and see if they have your family the books sells for $2.00.
The name of Winchester is said to have been derived from the residents of its first bearer in the city of Winchester, County Hants, England.
It is found on ancient records to have been spelled in seven different ways in the old country.
Families bearing this name were found at early dates in the England countries of Hants, York, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hartford, Surrey, Middlesex and London, and were for the most part of the landed gentry and yeomanry of Great Britain.
Among the earliest records of the name in England were those of Ralph de Winchestre [sic] of Norfolk County in 1273, Nicholas Winchestre [sic] of Suffolk County at the same time John de Wynchester [sic] of Yorkshire in the time of King Edward the Second, Robert Wynchester [sic] of Yorkshire in 1379 and various others of later dates.
One of the first members of the family to emigrate [sic] to America was John Winchester who came from London to Boston, Mass. in 1635 and removed to Hingham in the colony. He also resided at still later dates at Brooklyn, Rosbury and Scituate, Mass. By his wife Hannah Sealis, whom he married in 1638, was the father of Mary, John, Jonathan, and Josiah.
The writer said of the southern branch of the family little is known, but among the first of the emigrants of the family to Virginia were John of Henrico County in 1636. Jonathan of James City County in 1637 and Andrew, who came over with his wife and their children, John and Theodoer [sic], in 1639.
Among those of the Winchesters who fought as officers on the War of Revolution were Ensign George of Maryland, Lieutenant William of Mass., Lieutenant George of Virginia, and Brigadier General James of Maryland.
I have a book of Geo. R. Pressen, giving his line of Winchesters and also one of H.W. Cunningham, Boston, Mass., but sorry to say there is still a missing link between my line and theirs.
I find in the clerk’s office of Union County. N.C., a book which contains the census of N.C. for the year 1790; it shows the following names of Winchester in the state at that time: in Rockingham County I find two families, John Winchester, Sen., and wife and two males over 16 years, John Winchester, Jr., and wife, and Coleman Winchester.
In Mecklenburg County, now Union, I find Douglas Winchester with 2 males over 16, and three females, William Winchester, 2 males over 16 and 2 under, and 4 females. My records show the name of Daniel in place of William.
Douglas and his brother Daniel Winchester came to Union County while young men but where from I have not learned.
It has been handed down to the older men that they were from Winchester, Va.
Douglas Winchester married about 1772 to Sarah Matthews and settled near Mineral Springs, N.C. His children were
  1. Thomas Winchester, born Jan. 10, 1774, first married Rachel Finney; second to Jane Osburn, a sister to Alexander; third Mrs. Elizabeth Stephenson, a sister of Jacob Peninger.
  2. William Winchester Married Rachel Matthews, a daughter of Andy.
  3. Layer [Leah] Winchester married to Obydoe Doster, a son of James.
  4. Pollie Winchester married to Joel Doster, a brother of Obydoe, (her weight about 200 lbs.)
  5. Sallie Winchester married to Andrew Secrest, a son of Jake and Barbie.
  6. Peggie Winchester married to Wm. Mulder, a son of Wm. (Weight of Peggie about 230 lbs), and moved to Tenn.
  7. Betsie Winchester married to Robert Fowler, a son of Robt.
Thomas Winchester, a son of Douglas was born 1774. He was of medium size, clean shaven face, and a big roman nose. When a young man he had but little, but he was successful in business and was one of the largest tax payers of the county at the time of his death. His estate was settled in 1864 in Confederate money and was all lost. He owned around 20 Negro slaves. He furnished the money to build the first boarding house and store house in Monroe. His grandson, Thomas D. Winchester, claims the honor of selling the first yard of calico at Monroe. He owned around 1200 acres of land. His children by his first wife were:
  1. William Winchester, born 1801 and married to Mary Wolfe, a daughter [top of page cut off at 2nd col.].
  2. Pollie [Mary] Winchester married to William D. Winchester, a son of Daniel.
  3. Thos. Ditamus Winchester married Nancy Houston, a daughter of John.
  4. Geo. Allison Winchester first married to Margaret L. Walker, a daughter of John; second to A. Elizah [sic] Sikes, a daughter of Enoc.
William Winchester, a son of Douglas, was a medium size man with black hair, a high roman nose, and always kept clean shaved. His occupation was farming. He owned about 575 acres of land 7 miles North of Monroe. He was a class leader of the M. E. church of Monroe for 15 years; He married to Rachel Matthews the year of 1805. Children:
  1. Thomas Winchester married to Sallie Crowell. Their children moved to Pecan, Jackson Co. Tenn.
  2. Wm. Winchester married to [BLANK] He then moved to Carbondale, Ill., in 1836.
  3. Archie Winchester married to T. Presley and moved to Jackson Co., Tenn.
  4. Joe Winchester married to Huldy Presley. First moved to Tenn., and afterwards on to Carbondale, Ill.
  5. Noah Winchester married to Margaret Helms. Afterwards, moved to Ky.
  6. John Winchester married Elizabeth Long. First moved to Tenn., and afterwards on to Ill.
  7. J. Russ B. Winchester, born July 4, 1835, and married to Mary E. Medlin, a daughter of John and Mary. Moved to Carbondale, Ill., in 1856. [1866?] He and two of his brothers were Methodist preachers.
  8. Sarah Winchester married Allen Helms.
  9. Annie Winchester, married to [BLANK] Hargett. Moved to Ala.
  10. Lottie Winchester married to Geo. Helms, a son of Isaac.
  11. Zilphie Winchester married to Evan A. Simpson, a son of Isaac.
  12. Jane Winchester [married to] Stegall. [Illegible; Xeroxed page slanted off].
  13. Becky Winchester married to Dave McGuirt.
Sallie Winchester a daughter of Douglas, was born about 1788 and married Andy Secrest, a son of Jacob and Barba, who came from Germany. They first met on the ship they came over on and were married before the ship landed. Children:
  1. Rebecca Secrest married to John Q. Lemmons, a son of Robin and Matilda.
  2. Nancy Secrest married to Ed Ritch, a son of David and Susan. Died in Pike County, Ala.
  3. Abrom J. Secrest married to Millie Pyrant, a daughter of Wm. and Sallie.
  4. Epham Secrest married Eliza Helms, a daughter of Isaac and Nancy.
  5. Jacob Secrest married to Tirzah Helms, a sister to above Elizah.Samuel Secrest married to Jane Medlin, a daughter of John and Sabra.
  6. Tabith Secrest first married Thom. Rogers, a son of Thos. and Minner. Second to Reuben Tomberlin, a son of James and Charity. Tabitha Secrest married Monroe Howell, as son of Joe and Silvester. Died in Caberis Co.
  7. Leah Secrest married Iven Laney, a son of David. Lived in Ala.
Family of Leah Winchester, a daughter of Douglas, and married to Obidoe Doster, a son of James, who was the founder of the Doster family of Union County. (He was born in 1735.) Children were:
  1. Elizabeth Doster, married to John Elliotte, children all moved West.
  2. Rebecca Doster, born 1811, and first married to Elija Laney. Second to John Hunter.
  3. Sarah Doster married to William Hough.
  4. James Doster married Nancy Hargett.
  5. Jane Doster married Allison Belk, a son of Darling.
  6. Green M. Doster married Rena Secrest. Children all moved west.
  7. Elmirah Doster first married Briton Parker; second, to John Hutchinson.
  8. Ellison Doster was killed in the Civil War.
  9. Teresa Doster first married to La1fate [sic] Belk, son of Darling; second to Fisher Helms.
  10. John R. Doster died in hospital in 1861.
Daniel Winchester, a brother of Douglas, was born about 1754. His weight about 225 pounds with a clean shaved face, dark hair and fair complexion. He married to Rosa Matthews. His children were:
  1. William D. Winchester, married Pollie Winchester, a daughter of Thomas.
  2. Rachel Winchester married David Brombaloe.
  3. Joe Winchester married Sallie Adams, a daughter of Samuel. Joe’s weight about 180 lbs., with red hair, clean shaved face, and was a very hard worker.
Daniel moved to Tenn. after his sons William D. and Joe had married and settled and he left them here. His sons Frank and Daniel, who were single, went to Tenn. with their father around 1825.[7]

Daniel Winchester Research

1780. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina[8]

1800 U.S. Census. Salisbury, Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Daniel Winchester
1810 Census. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
Daniel Winchester
1820. US Census, Maury County, TN, p 14 of 36:
Daniel Winchester over 45; female over 45; male 16-25; female 16-25; male 16-18; 2 males 10-15; female 10-15; male under 10; female under 10.
1830. US Census, Hardin County, TN, Western Dist, p 417
Dan'l Winchester, 70-79; female 60-69; 2 males 20-29; 2 females 20-29; female 15-19; male 10-14; male under 5; female under 5.
Following is what I have found in the Hardin Co, TN records and a few additional records on Winchester [David Cagle, Hardin County Researcher]:
1790 Census, North Carolina
William Winchester 2-2-4 Mecklenburg Co.
John Cagle 2-3-6 (this is not my direct line, This John Cagle settled in Robertson Co. TN. David)
Dugles Winchester 2-3-3
Coleman Winchester 1-0-0 Rockingham Co.
John Winchester 1-0-1
John Winchester, Sr. 2-0-1
1800 Census Index, North Carolina
Daniel Winchester, Mecklenburg Co.
Thomas Winchester
Douglas Winchester, Cabarrus Co.
Francis Winchester, Burke Co.
Coleman Winchester, Rockingham Co.
John Winchester
1810 Census Index, North Carolina
Daniel Winchester, Mecklenburg Co.
Thomas Winchester
Thomas Winchester
William Winchester
David Winchester, Burke Co.
David Winchester
Douglas Winchester
Francis Winchester
Coleman Winchester, Rockingham Co.
David Winchester
John Winchester
William Winchester, Guilford
1820 Census, Hardin Co. TN
Douglas Winchester 20001-1101
Thomas Winchester 20001-0101
1820 Census, TENNESSEE
Daniel Winchester, Maury Co.
Joseph Winchester, Maury Co.
Joseph Winchester, Maury Co.
James Winchester, Sumner Co.
Sarah Winchester, Sumner Co.
TN 1833 Tax List, Hardin Co., TN
Daniel Winchester 440
Daniel Winchester 441
Thomas Winchester 427
Robertson Winchester 428
1840 Census, New Madrid Co., MO
John Winchester 00001-0001, Pemiscot Tshp.
Thomas Winchester 00001-10001
Isaac Winchester 10011-00001, 3 slaves, Big Prairie Tshp.
B. Winchester 120003-02022, Town of New Madrid
Daniel Winchester 000001-020001, New Madrid Tshp.
Douglas Winchester 001110001-110011
Peter L. Winchester 000001-
1840 Census, Hardin Co. TN
William Winchester 21001-10001 2nd C. D.
Robertson Winchester 00001-31001
Thomas Winchester 30001001-01211
Russell Winchester 10011-020001 3rd C. D.
George Winchester 11001-000010001 11th C. D.
1850 Census, Hardin Co., TN
8-8 William Winchester 37 NC, 2nd C. D.
Malinda 37 NC
Jasper 15 TN
Emaline 14 TN
Newton 11 TN
Marion 9 TN
George M. 7 TN
Mary 6 TN
Elvira 4 TN
Sarah 2 TN
64-64 Robert Winchester 39 TN, 2nd C. D.
Judith 35 TN
Margaret P. 14 TN
Matilda P. 13 TN
Mary S. 11 TN
Hezekiah Bryant 23 TN Boatman
91-91 Ruth Winchester 60 NC, 2nd C. D.
Ben 21 TN
Keziah 15 TN
53-53 Russell Winchester SC, 3rd C. D. (no age)
Sarah A. NC
Elizb. M. 15 TN
Narcissa 13 TN
Sarah J. 9 TN
Rasamus E. 7 TN
Margaret 5 TN
Williaqm N. 3 TN
Ruth T. 1/12 TN
1860 Census, Hardin Co., TN
Sarah Winchester 50
Sarah J. 18
Rosana E. 17
Margarett M. 14
William N. 11
Rutha T. 8
Julia A. 6
1870 Census, Hardin Co., TN
James M. Winchester 22 TN, 2nd C. D.
Mary J. 20 NC
John Z. 5/12 TN
1880 Census, Hardin Co., TN
Charles Winchester 22 TN TN TN, living in the household of William Spencer 64 TN NC TN
EARLY DEEDS
Thomas Winchester and Robert Russell, 96.25 acres on Indian Creek, 11 Dec. 1823, book 2, page 25.
Daniel Winchester, 200 acres on Indian Creek, 26 Aug 1836, book 2 page 191.
Thomas Winchester and Robert Russell, 121.5 acres east of Tennessee River, 27 Jan. 1837, book 2, page 111.
Thomas Winchester, 50 acres east of Tennessee River, 27 Feb. 1837, book 2 page 112.
Thomas Winchester To Thomas White, book I, page 105.
Russell Winchester to Moses S. Glenn, book , page 150.
INSOLVENCIES AND REMOVALS (from Tax records), Hardin Co., TN for the years 1841-1859 (some mentioned for several years)
Benjamin Winchester
Daniel
James
John
John, Jr.
Maden
Robertson
Russell
Thomas
William
William, Jr.
Will of Robert Russell probated and contested by Robert R. Russell and Robertson Winchester, 1 July 1850.
Commissioners appointed to lay off a year's support for the widow and children of R. R. Winchester, and a Dower's interest to Sarah Winchester, widow, 4 Oct. 1858. John A. Smith appointed administrator of the estate of Russell Winchester, 5 Mar. 1860.
Lebanon Cemetery: Hardin County, Tennessee
Frank Winchester 1875-1960
Ora Winchester 1880-1971
'Morris Chapel Cemetery: Hardin County, Tennessee
John T. Winchester 07/19/1896-02/03/1917
'Shady Grove Cemetery: Hardin County, Tennessee
Ella Anderson Winchester 1893-1967
George L. Winchester 1885-1929
Jess Winchester o6/20/1880, --------
Ollie Winchester 06/26/1888-04/08/1963
'MARRIAGE RECORDS HARDIN CO., TN
Geroge Thompson m. Ellen Winchester, 11 Jan. 1866.
J. T. Hamilton m. Sarah Winchester, 17 Apr. 1867.
James M. Winchester m. Mary J. West, 13 May 1868.
William Winchester m. Susannah Spencer, 14 July 1880.
'MARRIAGE RECORDS, MECKLENBURG CO., NC
Samuel Abbet m. Catherine Winchester, 11 Ded. 1802.
William Bradshaw m. Ann Winchester, 8 Aug. 1800, Thomas Winchester, Bondsman.
Jason Winchester, bondsman, Washington Fowler m. Sarah Ray, 2 July 1833.
William Hudson m. Permelia A. Winchester, 25 Jan. 1842.
David Meguirt m. Rebedda Winchester, 12 Nov. 1833.
John R. Winchester m. Julia Wolfe, 8 Nov. 1856.
Thomas Winchester m. Rachel Finny, 8 Aug. 1800, John Finney, bondsman.
Thomas D. Winchester m. Nancy Houston, 1830, William D. Winchester, Bondsman.
Thomas D. Winchester m. Elizabeth J. Stitt, 4 Nov. 1846.
William Winchester m. Polly Winchester, 2 Mar. 1820.
William Winchester m. Marey Woolf, 5 Feb. 1821.

From "Hardin Co. History 1818 to 1930" by Tony Hays:

Daniel Winchester served as a private in the North Carolina Line. The Winchester family, there were eight in Daniel's household, had come to Hardin Co. prior to 1830. He bought a good deal of land, but about 1843, he and his family disappeared from Hardin County.
Later information (Cagle):
WINCHESTER, Daniel and Rosanna were in Hardin Co.about 1830 with children Leah, Daniel, Frank and Geo. W. I have been told Rosanna's maiden name was Ashley, or Matthews. Would like to hear from any of Daniel's other descendents.
Daniel was b Va 25 Dec 1752 came to Mecklenburg/Union Co. NC area with brother Douglas cir 1760's. Leah m Isaac Dennison O'Neal. ANY additional information on these "kinfolk of mine" would be greatly appreciated.
Daniel Winchester lived in Hardin County, a few miles from White Creek and died in Decatur County (according to widow pension application). I guess he died at a childs home, possibly Leah and Isaac D Oneal, or Geo. W. Winchesters home.
'SOURCE: David Cagle, Contributor, "TNHARDIN-L Archives (<http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/TNHARDIN/2003-01/1043008419> : accessed 2003 Jun, accessed 2016 Aug 12)

1776. North Carolina Muster Rolls for Mecklenburg County to Capt Charles Polk and his officers Lt William Ramsey, Ensign John Lemonds, Sergt, McGinty, Do. Wlm Galbreath, Drummer Hugh Linsey and Clerk William Lemonds. Daniel Wynchester is listed present July 1776 and for 25 days services at 2-6 received 3#, 2S and 6d; Daniel Winchester is listed in action to Cross Creek 15 Jan 1779.

22 Mar 1778. Mecklenburg County, NC. Petition by the residents to the North Carolina General Assembly over their concern that large quantities of land were being given to individual and pledged as bounth to the Officers and Soldiers of the Continental Army. They were concerned that "Among Other Evils it is very Probably it May draw Upon Us the Displeasure of the Indians" . . . Among those signing the petition were all in a row: Francis Newel, John Keser, Daniel Winchester . . and down the list a few names . . William Winchester, Daniel Winchester

1780. Daniel Winchester is listed as a member of the Continental Line from Hillsboro District, NC. He applies for a pension in 1832 and approved 1833. Rosannah had to continue for years to supply documents in support of maintaining the pension.

1780. Mecklenburg, NC records show Daniel Winchester was a resident.

1 Sep 1784 to 1 Feb 1785. Records of settlements for Service: #3255 Daniel Winchester petition received by Phillip Fishburn.

1786. North Carolina Marriage Records. Daniel Winchester, born 1752, to Roseanna Ashley.

1800. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC, p73/86: Daniel Winchester, over 45; female 26-44; male 10-15; female 10-15; 2 males under 10; 2 females under 10. Listed close to Phillip Woolfe, John Finney, and William Houston. Also listed in neighborhood are several Pressley on pp 66-69/86.

1810. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC, Capt Ozburns District: Daniel Winchester, over 45; female 26-44; 2 males 10-15; 1 female 10-15; 2 males under 10; 4 females under 10. Listed next to Phillip Wolf, George Wolf, Henry Wolf, Jno. Penninger, and Thos. Winchester.

1815. Daniel and Rosanna Winchester move to Maury County, TN. Is this Rosanna Ashley or Rosanna Matthews?

1820. US Census, Maury County, TN, p 14 of 36: Daniel Winchester over 45; female over 45; male 16-25; female 16-25; male 16-18; 2 males 10-15; female 10-15; male under 10; female under 10.

1820. US Census, Maury County, TN, p 6 of 36. Joseph Winchester 26-44; female 16-25; male 16-25; male 16-18; 3 males under 10; female under 10. WHO IS THIS?

1820. US Census, Hardin County, TN. Douglas Winchester 26-44; female 26-44; female 10-15; 2 males under 10; female under 10. WHO IS THIS?

1830. US Census, Hardin County, TN, Western Dist, p 417: Dan'l Winchester, 70-79; female 60-69; 2 males 20-29; 2 females 20-29; female 15-19; male 10-14; male under 5; female under 5.

WINCHESTER, DANIEL (1820 U.S. Census) TENNESSEE , MAURY, NO TWP LISTED Series: M33 Roll: 124 Page: 45 to 10, 10-16, 16-18, 16-26, 26-45, 45 and up 121011 11010 (b. 1775-1794)

TN Pension Roll of 1835, COPIED AND INDEXED BY: WILLIAM R. NAVEY P. O. BOX 251 HOLLY RIDGE, NC 28445 [7]

'DANIEL WINCHESTER
'HARDIN COUNTY
'PRIVATE
'NORTH CAROLINA LINE
'$30.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
'$75.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED
'SEPTEMBER 10, 1833 PENSION STARTED
'AGE 81

Zelma O' Neal's story about her father and three other Revolutionary War Soldiers became a booklet in 1981 put together by the Daughters of the American Revolution entitled, "Three Forefathers: Their Records in the Revolutionary War." Daniel Winchester as he told a story of one portion of the Battle of Brier Creek, in part, to Zelma O' Neal:

"When I first volunteered, we marched to the North of Charlotte near the Virginia line, and marched from there to Charlotte and to Salisbury and from Charlotte to Guilford Courthouse." "I was marched thence (from Charlotte, NC) to Purysburg in South Carolina...and remained there for several weeks I suppose five or six, until the South Militia joined the army in which I was. At Purysburg I joined the rifle company under the command of Col. Lytle...From Purysburg the riflemen, of which I was one, and the light infantry marched to the Two Sisters and remained there some days. How long I do not recollect...From the Two Sisters we marched to Augusta in Georgia. Our army encamped on the opposite side of the Savannah River from Augusta, the British then being in Augusta. We remained at the encampment opposite to Augusta until Gen. Lincoln, at which place I suppose that Gen. Lincoln took command of the army. We had no battle at Augusta and while we were encamped on the opposite side of the river from Augusta the British troops left Augusta. Shortly after the British troops evacuated Augusta, our army under the command of General Lincoln marched through Augusta in pursuit of the British until we came to Brier Creek in Georgia. The bridge over said Brier Creek was torn up so that our army encamped near that creek. The riflemen and the light infantry under the immediate command of Col. Lytle camped at the bridge which had been built across Brier Creek. The balance of the army under General Lincoln encamped about a mile in our rear and remained there some weeks. The British having as we understood, crossed Brier Creek above our camp got in our rear and attacked the main army under Lincoln. A battle was there fought. As soon as the detachment of riflemen and light infantry under Col. Lytle heard of the engagement we marched to the assistance of the army and just as we arrived our army was broken and was retreating..."

According to the remainder of his account, Daniel Winchester was one of the soldiers who did not retreat and continued on to Stono and participated in the attack of the British fort there. Daniel went on to participate in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse which was his last act of service before returning to Charlotte.

[The Battle of Guilford Court House was a battle fought on March 15, 1781 - from WikiPedia (<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Guilford_Court_House> - terry winchester, 11/2016]

[Part of the story, alledged to have been told to Zelma O'Neil, was the exact same, verbatim, as told in his pension statement, as transcribed by Will Graves, above. - terry winchester, November 2016]

PART II - DANIEL WINCHESTER Daniel Winchester was one of the early settlers of Anson County, North Carolina, and neighbor and friend, to the Presley/Preslar and Helms families. Daniel was a good friend of Charles Presley, aside from being in-laws, they having served together, and later both moved to Tennessee.

Daniel, and brother, Douglas, both served in the American Revolution, along with their father, Thomas. At that time, the family name was spelled "Wynchester," the English spelling of the name. Daniel was 80 years old when his daughter, Zelma Margaret Winchester O' Neal, thought to interview her father so that a detailed record might be kept of his military service. Daniel at the time had quite a memory, though some had faded. He recollected having been born in Virginia around 1752, and that an early ancestor was John Winchester who came from England in 1635 and settled in Massachusetts. A descendant of John, Thomas, went to Scotland before coming to America, and it is this Winchester who arrived in Virginia, in the Norfolk area, and fathered two sons, William Douglas and Daniel.

An interesting remembrance of the Winchesters is that a son of Douglas, Thomas Winchester, was the largest taxpayer in Union County, formed from Mecklenburg County, NC. Thomas, an attorney, was responsible with one other for founding the town of Monroe, NC. This Thomas also made notarized statements concerning the home of Andrew Jackson, Sr., who lived one and one half miles of the Winchester farm on Twelve Mile Creek. Jackson's son, General Andrew Jackson, and General James Winchester, a cousin to Daniel and Douglas, were two of three men who founded the town of Memphis, Tennessee.

From "Hardin County, TN History 1818-1930". Daniel Winchester served as a private in the North Carolina Line. The Winchester family, there were eight in Daniel's household, had come to Hardin Co. prior to 1830. He bought a good deal of land, but about 1843, he and his family disappeared from Hardin County.

Daniels pension application states he had 13 children 1 Daniel Winchester b. Dec 25 1752 d. April 17 1839 m. 1792 c Rosanna Matthews b. 1767 d. 1859 after 2 Joseph Winchester b 1785 m Sarah "Sally" Adams 3 William G. Winchester b. Nov 18 1821 d. March 11 1890 m. Feb 21 1850 Nancy Cornshaw b. 1832 4 William R. Winchester b. March 22 1859 d. August 22 1932 m. Feb 12 1885 Minerva Richardson 2 William " Billie" Daniel Winchester b. March 15 1794 d. Dec 7 1847 m. March 2 1820 Mary "Polly" Winchester b. Feb 23 1804 d. Feb 7 1856 2 George W. Winchester b. 1816 2 Leah Winchester b. 1810 married ONeal src: Pat Deese [8]

From "Hardin Co. History 1818 to 1930" by Tony Hays: Daniel Winchester served as a private in the North Carolina Line. The Winchester family, there were eight in Daniel's household, had come to Hardin Co. prior to 1830. He bought a good deal of land, but about 1843, he and his family disappeared from Hardin County.

Military On 15 January 1779, Daniel is listed in action to Cross Creek, while in the service of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, with Captain Charles Polk commanding. [9]

1780. Daniel Winchester is listed as a member of the Continental Line from Hillsboro District, North Carolina.

1 Sep 1784 to 1 Feb 1785. Daniel Winchester made petition to Phillip Fishburn for settlement of service.

1820. US Census, Hardin County, TN, p11/11
Thomas Winchester, 26-44; female 26-44; female 10-15; 3 males under 10.
11 Dec 1823. Hardin County, TN DB2:25. Thomas Winchester and Robert Russell granted 96.25 acres on Indian Creek. [Indian Creek rises in Wayne County, runs through northeast Hardin into the Tennessee River.]
1830. US Census, Hardin County, TN, Western Dist, p 416 : Thomas Winchester 40-49; female 30-39; male 20-29; 2 males 15-19; female 5-9; male under 5; female under 5. [Also listed nearby are John Wolfe, Jacob Wolfe, and George W Wolfe.]
1833. Hardin County, TN Tax List, #427: Thomas Winchester.
27 Jan 1837. Hardin County, TN. DB 2:111. Thomas Winchester and Robert Russell granted 121.5 acres east of Tennessee River. [The Tennessee River splits Hardin County in half from north-south. Robert Russell was born in Guilford County, NC and migrated to Hardin County, TN prior to 1820.]
27 Feb 1837. Hardin County TN DB2:112. Thomas Winchester granted 50 acres east of Tennessee River.
1836. Hardin County, TN Tax List, District #2: Thomas Winchester, 78 acres.
1837. Hardin County, TN Tax List, District #2: Thomas Winchester, 78 acres, 1 white poll.
1840. US Census, Hardin County, TN, District #2, p237
Thomas Winchester 50-59; female 20-29; male 20-29; female 15-19; 2 female 10-14; female 5-9; 3 males under 5.
25 Jun 1850. US Census, Hardin County, TN, District #2, family #91
Ruth Winchester 60, born NC;
Ben Winchester 21, laborer born TN; Keziah Winchester 15, born TN.[10]
  • Winchesters buried at Pleasant Grove: Union County, North Carolina [11]
Aileene Moser Winchester
10 Dec 1916 – 7 Aug 1992
Annie Mae Winchester Howey
15 May 1889 – 14 Sep 1971
Edith Winchester
10 Jun 1887 – 29 Jul 1887
Florence Winchester
29 Sep 1880 – 9 Apr 1904
George Allison Winchester
2 Sep 1809 – 7 Mar 1894
George Robert Winchester
14 Sep 1849 – 25 Sep 1938
George Thomas Winchester
15 Oct 1870 – 7 Jul 1963
Guthrie Winchester
1886 – 1902
Henry Clifford Winchester
26 Jun 1885 – 21 Aug 1885
Jane Osborne Winchester
26 May 1769 – 2 Jan 1850
Jane Isabella Winchester
unknown – 3 Mar 1851
Jean Carolyn Winchester Carter
18 Oct 1937 – 2 Feb 2011
Jesse Winchester
30 Jun 1890 – 12 Dec 1890
Larry Dean Winchester
16 Dec 1943 – 16 Dec 1943
Margaret L Walker Winchester
unknown – 20 Jan 1855
Mary Wolfe Winchester
13 Feb 1804 – 7 Feb 1856
Minerva Ann Richardson Winchester
Feb 1866 – 29 Dec 1904
Nancy S Howey Winchester
24 Sep 1846 – 14 May 1933
Pemelia Winchester Hudson
12 Apr 1826 – 19 May 1949
Plato Allison Winchester
21 May 1914 – 19 Mar 2003
R A Winchester
11 Sep 1834 – 23 Sep 1842
Richard Winchester
10 Jan 1857 – 14 May 1859
Rilla Hinson Winchester
24 Oct 1880 – 6 Jun 1962
Sarah Elizabeth Winchester Howie
14 May 1838 – 5 May 1898
Sarah Frances “Dena” Winchester Wolfe
25 Sep 1859 – 28 Dec 1943
Sarah L Winchester
May 1843 – 23 Jul 1843
Selma Annie Winchester
24 May 1914 – 28 Jun 1914
Susan Emily “Sudie” Winchester Howey
1847 – 1937
Thomas Winchester
10 Jan 1774 – 22 Apr 1864
Thomas G Winchester
Birth and death dates unknown.
Thomas Lee Winchester
31 Aug 1871 – 24 Jul 1888
William D Winchester
5 Mar 1794 – 7 Dec 1847
William G Winchester
18 Nov 1821 – 11 Mar 1890
William Hinson Winchester
19 Oct 1916 – 22 Jun 1918
William Richard Winchester
22 Mar 1859 – 22 A

Pension Statements & Rosters

Pension application of Daniel Winchester W1117 Rosanna fn80NC Transcribed by Will Graves 1/20/11

Southern Campaign American Revolution

[Methodology: Spelling, punctuation and/or grammar have been corrected in some instances for ease of reading and to facilitate searches of the database. Also, the handwriting of the original scribes often lends itself to varying interpretations. Users of this database are urged to view the original and to make their own decision as to how to decipher what the original scribe actually wrote. Blanks appearing in the transcripts reflect blanks in the original. Folks are free to make non-commercial use this transcript in any manner they may see fit, but please extend the courtesy of acknowledging the transcriber—besides, if it turns out the transcript contains mistakes, the resulting embarrassment will fall on the transcriber. I use speech recognition software to make all my transcriptions. Such software misinterprets my southern accent with unfortunate regularity and my poor proofreading fails to catch all misinterpretations. I welcome and encourage folks to call those and any other errors to my attention.]

State of Tennessee Hardin County
On this the 19th day of September A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, (being a court of Record possessing the Powers of fine and imprisonment) of the County of Hardin State of Tennessee now sitting Daniel Winchester a resident in the County of Hardin State of Tennessee aged about eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under Captain Jack and Colonel Lytle some time as he supposes sometime in the year 1776 (that he was at the time he entered the service a resident of McLinburgh [sic, Mecklenburg] County in the State of North Carolina & that he volunteered for the term of nine months & that the soldiers were required to meet at Charlotte in said Mecklenburg County North Carolina & were marched from thence to Purrysburg in South Carolina & remained there several weeks, I suppose 5 or 6 until the South militia joined the Army in which I was, at Purrysburg I joined the rifle company under the command of Colonel Lytle, from Purrysburg the riflemen of which I was one & the light Infantry marched to the two Sisters [sic, Two Sisters Ferry] & remained there some days, how long I do not recollect & from the two Sisters marched to Augusta in Georgia we our Army encamping on the opposite side of the Savannah River from Augusta, the British then being in Augusta & remained at the encampment opposite to Augusta until General Lincoln arrived at which place I suppose that General Lincoln took command of the Army, we had no battle at Augusta, & whilst we were encamped on the opposite side of the River from Augusta the British troops left Augusta, & shortly after the British evacuated Augusta, our Army under the command of General Lincoln, marched through Augusta in pursuit of the British until we came to Brier Creek in
BLWt92108-160-55
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The veteran is mistaken in stating that General Benjamin Lincoln was at the Battle of Brier Creek. The troops engaged there were under the command of General John Ashe of North Carolina. General Lincoln remained on the opposite side of the Savannah River in South Carolina with the majority of the American forces in the area at the time of the battle at Brier Creek.
Georgia & the bridge over said brier Creek was torn up, so that our Army encamped near that Creek, the riflemen & the light Infantry under the immediate command of Colonel Lytle camped at the bridge which had been built across brier Creek & the balance of the Army under General Lincoln encamped about a mile in our rear, & remained there some few weeks & the British having as we understood crossed Brier Creek above our camp & got in our rear attacked the main Army under General Lincoln & a battle was there fought & as soon as the detachment of riflemen & light Infantry under Colonel Lytle heard of the engagement we marched to the balance of the Army & just as we arrived there our Army was broken & was retreating; when the men under the command of Colonel Lytle were told by him to escape the best way we could & the next day after the battle at Brier Creek our Army met on the opposite side of Savannah River from where the Battle was fought, in South Carolina & after the Army all got together which was in a day or two we marched towards Charleston as we supposed the British were driving for that place & before we got as far as Charleston I suppose at a distance of about twenty-five miles from Charleston we came to the British Fort at Stono in South Carolina at which place a battle was fought at which battle Colonel Roberts Colonel of the Artillery was shot through the thigh, his thigh was nearly all shot off & died before he could be carried to our camp at which battle we were ordered to retreat & we did retreat a short distance & the British followed us, & we rallied & drove them back to their Fort & they did not follow us again. Sometime after the battle at Stono River I received a Furlough to go home & I was required to meet at Charlotte in Mecklenburg County North Carolina to get a discharge but I do not recollect whether I attended to get my discharge, but believe that I was called out against the Tories, if I ever had a discharge I do not recollect it & if I did it is lost long since. Shortly after the Battle at Brier Creek Colonel Malmedy took the command of the riflemen & light Infantry previous to that time commanded by Colonel Lytle, & Colonel Malmedy had the command of us at the Battle at Stono. I think the term for which I volunteered had expired before the battle at Stono. That I the said Daniel Winchester have no documentary evidence of my services & know of no person now living by whom I can prove my services except what Henry Cagle can testify who was a militia man in Colonel Butler's Regiment of North Carolina militia, & was at the Battle at Stono in which battle I also was engaged when I first volunteered as above stated we marched to the North of Charlotte near the Virginia line & marched from Charlotte to Salisbury & from Salisbury to Guilford Court house & remained 2 or 3 weeks & marched from thence to Moon's Creek not far from the Virginia line & remained at Moons Creek between 1 and 2 or 2 months. We were joined by the mountain troops at Guilford Courthouse we were dismissed at Moons Creek our services not being then required, to serve again when required. I the said David [sic] Winchester hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
The said David [sic] Winchester declares that there is no clergyman in my vicinity. I was born somewhere in Virginia I do not know in what County. I do not know in what year I was born nor have I any record of my age but from all accounts I can get of my age I should be eighty years of age on the 25th of December next. I was living in Mecklenburg County State of North Carolina when called into service & left there about 17 or 18 years ago & lived about one year in BlountCounty Tennessee about 2 years in Bedford County Tennessee & 2 years in Maury County Tennessee & from there I removed to Lawrence County Tennessee & then came to Hardin County Tennessee & have been living in Hardin & Perry Counties Tennessee ever since & having been living in my present neighborhood in Hardin County Tennessee about 4 years.
I do not recollect the names of any of the officers except those in above declaration mentioned & one Captain Gooden or Captain Goodman I don't recollect which who was my Captain in the rifle company, & he took the command at Purrysburg where the rifle company was formed after which time I was no more under the command of Captain Jack. I am acquainted with Charles T Polk, John Polk, Lewis H Broyles, James Turner, Alexander & Robert Russell, Richard T Patton, Henry Cagle, Jesse Jones, Thomas Rhodes, Joshua McConnell in present neighborhood & several others.
In addition to the above declaration would state that I do not know whether my name was on the list of riflemen under Colonel Lytle until after the battle of Brier Creek, but I know I served as a riflemen under him from the formation of the Company & that I was taken in place of John Jones whose name was on the list & after the Battle at Brier Creek my name was put on the list or roll. I am positively certain I served nine months the time for which I volunteered.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 19th day of September A.D. 1832
S/ John Houston, Clerk
S/ Daniel Winchester, X his mark
I Henry Cagle do make oath that I am personally acquainted with Daniel Winchester who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, & was acquainted with him in Mecklenburg County North Carolina during the Revolutionary war & doth know that the said Daniel Winchester did go into the Army of North Carolina and did see him in service in the Army some short time after the Battle at Stono in South Carolina and do know that the said Daniel Winchester did return home to his Brother's in Mecklenburg County North Carolina from the Army. I do believe from the length of time I have been acquainted with him that he is about 80 years of age. And that the said Daniel Winchester is generally reputed to have engaged on the side of the Americans against the British in the Revolutionary war & that he is generally in the neighborhood where he now lives reputed to have been a revolutionary soldier in which neighborhood I now reside.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this 19th day of September 1832

S/ Henry Cagle, X his mark

[John H Garner & Thomas Winchester gave the standard supporting affidavit.]

[fn p. 209]

The additional statement of Daniel Winchester for a pension.
State of Tennessee Hardin County: SS
On this the [indecipherable number] day of June 1833 personally appeared in open court being a Court of Record now sitting Daniel Winchester who made the foregoing declaration a resident in the County of Hardin aforesaid aged about 80 years who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following additional statement in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832.That there is no clergyman residing in his immediate vicinity, but there is one Russell R Covey who resides about 5 or 6 [miles] from this declarant & that said Russell R Covey is the nearest resident clergyman to this declarant and that he is acquainted with the said Russell R Covey a clergyman as aforesaid. He deemed it unnecessary to get his statement as his services were proved by the testimony of a witness, & as the said Covey nor any other clergyman resided in the immediate vicinity of this declarant. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to & subscribed in open Court the 17th [could be 19th] day of June 1833 S/ John Houston, Clerk S/ Daniel Winchester, X his mark

[Russell R Covey, a clergyman, gave the standard supporting affidavit.] [fn p.309:

On December 4, 1852 in Henderson County Tennessee, Rosanna Winchester, 85, filed for a widow's pension under the 1848 act stating that she is the widow of Daniel Winchester, a revolutionary war pensioner; that she married him in the state of North Carolina; that they were married by one squire Alexander, a justice of the peace but she cannot recall the County but thinks it was 20 or 30 miles from Salisbury in Rowan County; she thinks it was at least 60 years ago judging from the ages of her children; that her husband died April 17 but she cannot remember the year but thinks it was about 13 years ago.]
[fn p. 322: On the same day as her mother applied for her pension [December 4, 1852] as a widow, Leah O'Neal, aged about 42 or 3 gave testimony in support of her mother's application; that her parents had 8 children older than herself and she is satisfied that the oldest child is now living would be at least 60 years old.]
[fn p. 338: likewise on December 4, 1852 in Henderson County Tennessee, George W Winchester, 36 or 37 gave testimony that he is the son of Daniel and Rosanna Winchester; that

his parents had 12 children older than himself.]

[fn p. 945: certificate from the Cabarrus County clerk of court stating that he searched the

records in his office and found no record of the marriage of Daniel Winchester to Rosanna Ashler.]

[Veteran was pensioned at the rate of $30 per annum commencing March 4th, 1831, for 9 months

service as a private in the North Carolina service. Veteran's widow was pensioned commencing March 4th, 1848 in the same amount.]

Source: Graves, Will (Transcriber), "Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters", (http://www.revwarapps.org/w1117.pdf : accessed 28 September 2016)

John Osborn Notes

[12]Copy of Diary written by a Mr. JOHN OSBURN January 1800 through September 1802.

John Osborn kept an extensive diary of his daily activities, noting the weather daily, maintaining his still, plowing his fields, visiting his neighbours, flirting with the neighbour's daughters, especially Miss Pheby Cousar, who apparently was not shrinking violet. He remarks; [She gave] "her free Consent for to mary with me which causes me ofter for to laugh in my sleave."

Apparently he was toying with Miss Pheby's affections for he reported,"[She] seemed so much taken with me that I thought that she wanted for to have some conversation with me so I stept into the _______ with her and as Mr McMullen says, [I] give her some cheek wind but very Little truth." In the end he married the daughter of Jesse Stansill, though in the surviving diaries he never mentions her by name. Perhaps Miss Pheby dodged a bullet!

John Osborn mentioned Daniel, Thomas and William Winchester often in his diaries. It is possible to surmise that Daniel ran a blacksmith shop, and that a man named Hamman/Hamond/Hayman worked with or for him. The Winchesters also seemed to have a close association with the Wolf/Wolfe family, and reports in February of 1821 Thomas Winchester and Polly Wolf were married.

JOHN OSBORN DIARY January 1, 1800 - October 2, 1802

Numbers indicate that there were originally six journals or diaries, but all the 1st and sixth are lost. The entries below are from Book Numbers Two (1800-1802) and Six (1819-1821).

APRILE 1800 M'lenburgburgh County
tus 8 warm
I went to DANIEL WINCHESTERS for to get a plough share Sharpt- In the afternoon I was furing of corn ground

NOVEMBER 1800 Book N. Carolina
tus 18 moderate
Early I went from uncles up to JAS SHANNONS with the summons for WARDEN I made but Little tarry but home again In the afternoon I sot off from uncles & went by DANIEL WINCHESTERS with an ax for JNO HAMMENS...

APRIL 1801
thir 23 cool
I sot my stills aruning & Left the Negro Boy to mind he Doubled made 11-1/2 gallons & I went to DANIEL WINCHESTERS for to get my horse shod by JNO HAMMANS but he was Not at home so I followed him to PHILLIP WOLFS & he came home to WINCHESTERS & shod my horse than I went home.

JUNE 1801
sat 13 cool morning
...I went by DANIEL WINCHESTERS [to?] ANDWR MATHEWS & back to HUGH McCRORYS from that to JAS BECKETS from that to JNO AIKENS & staid till morning [note: ANDWR is his abbreviation of Andrew]

SEPT 1801
wen 23 warm
Early I went from JNO AIKENS to my fathers from there to JAS BECKETS & from that to DANIEL WINCHESTERS shop for to get some smith worke done

fri 25 cool morning
I went to DANIEL WINCHESTERS shop & got a Matock stelld & Bought one from PETER PRESLEY give him 2 Doll & 25 Cents than went home to my fathers.

OCTOBER 1801
wen 21 frost
I wrought in my clearing till noon & FREDERICK FISHER came to my fathers & Desired me for to Ride apeace with him to WM THOMPSONS so I did but no Body being at home we returnd back to Dadys & Both the Mattock being brok I sot off for DANIEL WINCHESTERS shop...

thir 22 frosty
... I Left that & went to DANIEL WINCHESTERS shop again got my Mattocks from that to ANDWR MATHEWS took a Drop of Rum again from there to JOSEPH McCAMMONS to a corn Husking when we got done I went home to my fathers & staid till Morning

NOV 1801
tus 3 frost
I was working in my Clearing till noon than I went to DANIL WINCHESTERS shop for to get my Ax up sot & WINCHESTER had a Quentity of Whisky & some of us that was met there turnd in & took a grog

JOHN OSBORN DIARY March 7, 1819 - September 19, 1821

Numbers indicate that there were originally six journals or diaries, but all the 1st and sixth are lost. The entries below are from Book Number Six.

Page 8
MAY 1819
Mecklenburg County
Tus 18 cool cool
but one plow agoing. I still continue hunting of my Mare that is a missing, was at Jas Bicket, Peter Rapes, Thos Winchester Jacob Wolfs in Jno Penigars Peter Wolfs & so on home but no account of her.

MARCH 1820
Fri 3 Frost
I was at Tho Winchesters helping for to Raise a Barn. This night 2 men from Montgomery with tobacco for sale staid with us.

JANUARY 1821
State of North Carolina
Tus 9 Clear Frosty
I was at Thos Winchesters & at Mr Johnson School house setten with for last year schooling 8 Dollars No Cents one scholar The snow (undecipherable).

FEBRUARY 1821
State North Carolina
Sun 11 pleasant
I am informd that Wm. Winchester was Married to Polly Wolf on last thirsday

MAY 1821
Wen 23 Rain
as yeasterday in the corn field till it raind than I went to Henery Wolfs & Thos Winchester Jas Bickets & so on home


Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 Kendrick, Virginia A. S. "The Heritage of Union County, North Carolina 1842-1992", pp. 464-465, et al, (Carolinas Genealogical Society & Walsworth Pub. Co.) Library Of Congress No. 93-71499
  2. "Winchester Family", submitted by Sarah Winchester Lowe, Union County North Carolina Sesquicentennial "Heritage of North Carolina 1842-1992 : p.p. 464-465
  3. "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch ([1] : 14 May 2015), North Carolina > Mecklenburg > Not Stated > image 13 of 19; citing NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.)
  4. Price, J. N., Hon. "The Winchester Family" : Paper by Mr. J. N. Price, Read at the Celebration at Esq. J. H. Winchester’s Last Week – An Ancient Name and a Long Lived People. (The Monroe journal, Monroe, N.C., 05 Aug. 1913) Chronicling American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. [2]: accessed August 2018).
  5. 5.0 5.1 Other writers list parents as Douglas and Sarah Matthews Winchester
  6. McNeely, Ney, "Early History of the Winchesters" (The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.), 08 Aug. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. [3])
  7. email, Miles~Helms, Julie, email received 11 June 2018, citing Winchester, George T. “The Winchester Family” (Mineral Springs, N.C., no date of publication given).
  8. U.S., Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820; Document: Series: General Assembly; Box: Apr - May 1778 [North Carolina State Archives]; Call Number: Folder: Petitions JP; Page Number: 2; Family Number: 38; Name on a petition, 22 Mar 1778 to the General Assembly from inhabitants of Mecklenburg Co. concerned about an act that allows individuals to obtain large quantities of land.
  9. North Carolina Muster Rolls for Mecklenburg County
  10. Winchester, Sam (Contributor) "Notes - Winchester, Thomas (1785-1845)" [[4]]
  11. Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery Memorials ([5])
  12. Copy of Diary written by a Mr. JOHN OSBURN January 1800 through September 1802. The original of the diary is owned by Mr. WILLIE T. Osborn, Rt 2, Mooresville, N.C. Copied from original by Miss CLARA LANEY, 607 Deese Street, Monroe, N.C. and Mrs. CATHERINE MORROW, 500 S. Hayne Street, Monroe, N.C. who have copies. (undated)
  • Miles~Helms, Julie <hmarshville@aol.com>, email received 11 June 2018, digital images citing Winchester, George T. “The Winchester Family” (Mineral Springs, N.C., no date of publication given).
  • Graves, Will (Transcriber), "Southern Campaign American Revolution Pension Statements & Rosters", (http://www.revwarapps.org/w1117.pdf : accessed 28 September 2016)




Memories: 1
Enter a personal reminiscence or story.
The Winchester Family

[A] Paper by Mr. J. N. Price, Read at the Celebration at Esq. J. H. Winchester’s Last Week – An Ancient Name and a Long Lived People.

(By Hon. J. N. Price)

(Published 05 Aug. 1913)

[Subject of Article: John H. Winchester]

The name Winchester is an old one and has been a prominent name for centuries, both applying to the name of persons as well as to great cities. The origin of the name or when it came in to existence I am not able to say. But I do know that the name is nearly as old as Christ for we get it from history that there was a town or city by the name of Winchester that existed in the year of our Lord 169, that this town or city was located in the country of England and the chief town of Hampshire, or became so, is or was situated in the middle of the county and about sixty miles in a direct line from London. This city of Winchester is a famous and historical city, for we read of its peculiar streets, of its cathedral, the Castle Hill or Royal palace built in the thirteenth century by Henry the Third, of its great hospital known as Cross founded in 1136 by a bishop of Winchester, of its great colleges, one known as St. Mary's, founded in 1387. A church was built in this city in the year 169, destroyed in the year 269 and restored in the year 293 and converted into a temple in the year 495. In the year 633 this church or temple was pulled down, for history says it was polluted, and a new one commenced. I give this brief piece of history to show that the name is old and it is reasonable to suppose that a family and a very prominent one existed at that time in our mother country England and that the Winchesters of our day and generation is the offspring of those Winchesters, for it is a settled fact that all the Winchesters of this country came from England.

There was a noted divine by the name of Elhanan Winchester who was born in Massachusetts in 1751 and died in 1797, who went to England from this country but returned and died here. During his ministry he established or joined what is known as the open communion Baptists, and became a preacher of universal restoration. He published five letters on the Divinity of Christ, Beauties of the Millennium, the face of Moses Unveiled, ten letters to Tom Paine and wrote hymns on the restoration. I mention this last piece of history not only to support our claim that the Winchesters came from England, and one of the first people, but that they were a religious people and that they were leaders centuries ago. It is not every one that can refer back and trace his ancestral honors to old England. America, as you know, today is composed of every nationality, but the proudest of all is those who can say that while "I am an American and that America is the greatest country in the world, yet I am proud of the fact that I am a descendant of glorious old England," known as the mother country of the United States.

So, as I have said before, the record shows that the Winchester family came from England, and that our Winchester family, that is that Esq. John H. Winchester whose eighty-second birthday we are celebrating today is a descendant of England, of that grand and noble people known as the English Bloods.

They are a most noble people and the Winchester family has proven this through their entire generation. The first of whom we have any direct record connecting up and with Esq. John H. Winchester is of William or Douglass Winchester, who had a brother by the name of Daniel, they being the only two that we can trace any direct connection. In this instance we are going to trace the descendants of William or Douglass Winchester leading up to the present time.

We have no record as to when William or Douglass was born or died, but we do know that his wife was Sara Matthews and they had seven children and one of those seven children was Thomas Winchester, who was born Jan. 10th, 1774, and died April 22nd, 1864, living to be 90 years, 3 months and 12 days old. He was buried at Pleasant Grove camp-ground. His wife, who was before marriage Rachael Finney, was buried in an old field north of the late Geo. D. Wolfe old home place about half way between the house and creek. He was a low stout man with black hair and red complexion and had that prominent high Roman or Winchester nose. You can see this feature of the man in the Winchesters of the present day. He started in life a poor man, but before his death accumulated a lot of wealth, owning from 20 to 25 slaves. He was once the largest tax payer in the county. As is the history of all the Winchester family he was a great church man and church worker. He did not swear nor smoke. I am sorry to say that some of his offspring, even down to the third and fourth generation, has not been as zealous in not smoking as he for I have known a few who would smoke occasionally. Thomas Winchester was the father of six children, which we are going to trace further. He was the father of William, John, Polly. Loyer[sic-Leah], Thomas Ditymas, and G. Allison. Thomas Ditymas Winchester, one of the above named, was the father of Esq. John H. Winchester, of whom we are celebrating his eighty-second birth day. Thomas Ditymas Winchester was born on the l0th day of September, 1807, over a century ago, and married Nancy Houston, a daughter of (as we all called him Uncle Johnie [sic] Houston, of sacred memory. Of this union there were born the following children: 1. John H. Winchester, born February 9, 1832. 2. Elizabeth J. Winchester, born November 17, 1834. 3. George Pinkney Winchester, born January 8, 1838. 4. Thos. McCombs Winchester, born December 28, 1841. 5. Nancy Catherine Winchester, born December 28, 1841. 6. James McKee Winchester, born February 28, 1843. 7. Mary M. Winchester, born April 8, 1845. 8. Susan E. Winchester, born November 20, 1847.

All of these are living in this county to-day [sic] except George Pinkney, who died Oct. 30, 1871, and Elizabeth J., who died June 14, 1866, and James McKee, who was killed in the defense of his country, in the battle of Sharpsburg in Maryland, Sept. 17, 1862, and whose body today is still lying buried in the battlefield on which he died. The subject of this sketch of which I have already mentioned, via, John H. Winchester, was born on Feb. 9. 1832, and only likes six months from the 9th of this month of being 82 years, or four score and two years old. He was first married to Margarette E. Phifer, daughter of the late Matthew Phifer, on Aug. 29, 1854, who died on Aug. 4, 1856, they only being permitted to live together for about two years. She was a sister of the well known Mr. W. H. Phifer of Monroe. Of this union there was one child born, Dora E. Winchester, who married Mr. S.S. Wolfe. She and her husband are still living. On March 25, 1858, Mr. Winchester was married the second time to Addie K. Timmons, a daughter of the late Col. King Timmons. She died October 6, 1889. Of this union there were born the following children: 1. Margarett[sic] L. Winchester, horn. Feb. 3. 1859. 2. Benjamin T. Winchester, born Jan. 15, 1861. 3. James C. Winchester, born June 24. I866. 4. Ed. J. Winchester, born July 10, 1868. 5. Hugh H. Winchester, born May 6. 1872. 6. Chas. T. Winchester, born Sept 13. 1874. 7. Henry L. Winchester, born Oct. 10. 1876

All of these children are living except Ben. T. Winchester, who died Oct. 25, 1889, and E. J. Winchester, who died July 1, 1902.

On March 16, 1891, J. H. Winchester was married the third time to M. E. Crowell, daughter of Mr. Frank Crowell, and to this union the following children were born:

1. Amanda R. Winchester, born December 31, 1891. 2. Addie May Winchester, born May 8, 1894. 3. Rose Winchester, born March 30 1896. 4. Samuel, born August 1. 1901.

All of these children are living. Out of a family of eleven children all are living except two, which is certainly a good health record of such a large family and sustains the history of the Winchester family that they are a long lived people. Mr. Winchester has 21 grand-children and 5 great grand-children. All of his living children either reside in this county or this State except one son, Hugh H. Winchester who has honored the Blue Grass state of Kentucky by establishing his citizenship there, but we hope he will soon return to North Carolina, his native State, for North-Carolina has too few such sons to spare. The humble writer had the honor of marrying a niece of Mr. J. H. Winchester and is proud of the fact that this entitles him to call him uncle. Uncle John, you ought to be a happy man. We all know you are a good man. God has dealt justly with you, has proved you with many years and I pray that He will spare you to yet live to be an hundred years old. You have served your day and generation well. Your State, your county, your neighbors and your community have been richly blessed by having you us a citizen and above all your church, of which you have been and are now the main pillar and the one upon whom we all rely upon has been exceedingly blessed. You have reared a noble family who will hand down the rich heritage that you have left them to other generations yet unborn and centuries from now the Winchester family will be traced back just as we have done today and your name will loom up as one of the grandest of the long line of Winchesters that has ever or ever will live. You ought to be happy in the fact that you possess that which so few do and that is a good name. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." No doubt God has spared you and is sparing you for some great purpose. These people here are glad to be with you on this occasion, glad to see you so hale and hearty and glad that you promise to live many years to come.

  • The Monroe journal (Monroe, N.C. : 05 Aug. 1913) Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. ([1])

This is a non-cited, 2nd generation work, from James Newton Price (1866-1932), husband of Nancy Catherine Winchester (1872-1928) who is the subject’s (John H. Winchester) niece. Nancy, at the time of this writing, is 41 years old. The author, J.N. Price, is 47 years old. The subject, John H. Winchester, is alive, and celebrating his 82nd birthday. There are no citations of authorities, or publications consulted, so this is a secondary source. I believe, however, that this is a credible history of the Winchester family up to the time of publication. Mentioned in this article is Thomas Didymus Winchester, who is the grandfather of J.N.’s wife, Nancy Catherine Winchester). The subject of the article, John H. Winchester is Nancy’s uncle, brother of her father, Thomas McCombs Winchester. Thomas McCombs is also alive at the time of publishing. Thomas Winchester (the great slave owner), born Jan. 10th, 1774, is the author’s wife’s Great Grandfather; he died in 1864. There is no indication in this article of the ancestors of William or Douglas Winchester, who J.N. describes as “William or Douglas”. This indicates that J.N. Price isn’t certain of the given name; it is either William or Douglas, but he isn’t portraying 2 separate individuals. The significance of this latter comment is that my research suggests that there were, in fact, two separate individuals named William and Douglas, that they, along with a Daniel, were brothers, and that their father was one Thomas Winchester. We’re still searching for proof among the various evidence we’ve obtained.

posted 29 Aug 2018 by Terry Winchester   [thank Terry]
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Hi Terry, I'd like to point out that in the following section where you quoted an author and then "explained". Your explanation reflects your... um... bias? Referring to William Winchester;

"He married Miss Sarah Keziah, and to this union were born; Thomas Winchester [ii], William Winchester[ii]; Mrs. Joel Doster [Mary, dau. of Douglas and Sarah Matthews.]; and Mrs. Obediah Doster.[ Leah?, dau. of Douglas and Sarah Matthews.]"

Perhaps the author didn't know Mary and Leah's names, or reflecting his time, didn't think they were particularly important, <Gah!> Most readers wouldn't probably have the girl's names and inserting them is very helpful, but I think it's probably best to leave it at that, and not ascribe their parentage to a different mother. :)

A relative and I, a professional genealogical researcher who has published several books, have been doing some in-depth research into the Keziah family. It's been interesting and eye-opening. It's also reinforced the lesson that families are far more complex than they appear. Ho-ho-kum... Happy Rooting Deb Cavel [Cavel-3]

posted by Deb Cavel