Walter Welch (abt. 1740 - abt. 1798)

Born about 1740 in Ireland

Descendants

Died about 1798 at about age 58 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Sources and tradition say that he and brothers Henry, Luke and Michael came to Chatham County just before it became a county around 1770, that they probably came from Ireland, possibly indentured, to Chester PA around 1756, or with father Walter Welch.

There is a marriage record from 29 Aug 1763 in Delaware for Walter Welch and Mary Rely which is attributed to this Walter Welch.

His name appears on lists of colonists involved with Capt. Benjamin Merrell and The Regulators of North Carolina before the Revolution: http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/mckstmerindivid.htm

He was a member of Joab Brooks' Company during the Revolutionary War

Feb 1790 Chatham County Deed Book D/623 and 625 show his nephew John granting land to Joseph Kirk and Peter Perkins, the land being "part of a track of land formerly granted to Enoch Lewis by and from the Earl of Granville dated February the sixteenth one thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight and also by deed of conveyance from Enoch Lewis unto William Wiley bearing date the eleventh of December one thousand seven hundred and fifty-nine also by deed of conveyance from William Wiley to Walter Welch the twelfth day of March one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three and from Walter Welch and Mary his wife and their heirs to Luke Welch and from Luke Welch to John Welch his son by a claim in his last will and testament and from John Welch to Joseph Kirk"

1790 Census in Chatham Co. shows him with 3 males >16, 2 males <16 , 5 females

Will of Walter Welch - Made 12 Sept., 1797 - Proved Aug., 1798 Chatham Co., N.C. Record of Estates, Vol. 2, pg. 133 NC State Archives film # C.022.50001 - 1782-1799

In the Name of God, Amen, Whereas I Walter Welch of North Carolina Chatham County tho weak in my body yet sound in my memory and understanding & being sensible of the inconveniences that may ensue in case, I do now set my house in Order, before I am Call'd by the Lord from this Earthly Tabernacle. Do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner an form following (to wit)

My desire is that my beloved Wife Mary should have and enjoy during her natural Life an Widowhood one third part of all (household furniture-marked out) my Land where she may choose one horse, one cow, one feather bed & furniture & on third part of the household furniture & plantation working Tooles.

Item - I give unto my son Mathew one fourth of the land or the value thereof, after one third is taken out above, one horse, one cow & calf, one feather bed & furniture & one fourth part of the plantation tools & household furniture to him & his heirs forever-

Item I give to my son Walter one fourth part of the land as above one horse one cow & calf, one feather Bed & furniture tolls & household furniture to him & his Heirs forever-

Item I give to my son James one fourth part of the land as above, one horse, one cow & calf one feather bed & furniture, tools & household furniture to him & his heirs for Ever -

Item I give to my son Isaac one fourth part of the land as above, one Horse, one Cow & Calf, one father Bed & furniture tools & household furniture to him & his Heirs for ever -

Item I give to my Daughter Mary one Horse & saddle one cow & calf, one feather bed & furniture to her & her Heirs forever-

Item I give to my Daughter Alice one Horse & saddle one Cow & Calf one feather bed & furniture to her & her Heirs forever.

Item I give to my Daughter Catharine one Horse & saddle one Cow & calf, one feather bed & furniture to her & her heirs forever.

My desire is that my waggon be sold & the money arising therefrom be equally divided between my Daughters Mary, Alice & Catharine and at the decease or marriage of my beloved wife Mary the Land I lend her be equally divided between my sons Mathew, Walter, James, & Isaac. I hereby constitute & appoint my beloved Wife Mary, & Lem'l Smith, my whole & sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix'd my seal this 12th day of Sept'r in the year of our Lord Christ 1797. Sign'd Walter (his X mark) Welch Sign'd & Seal'd in precence of Lemuel Smith (X) Bethania Smith

Duly proved by oath of Lem'l Smith a subscribing Witness thereto- Aug't Term, 1798

Research Notes

There does seem to be evidence that Michael was a son of these parents, though he doesn't appear in the will (?).

Sources

• "Delaware Marriages and Marriage Licenses, 1683-1894", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F7RM-R4B : Wed Dec 06 23:21:37 UTC 2023), Entry for Walter Welsh and Mary Rely, 29 Aug 1763.
• Roster Of Capt. Joab Brook's Company, Chatham County, North Carolina Militia 1772 (Chatham County 1771- 1791, by Hadley, Horton, and Strowd (pp. 449-450). Original source materials located at the Archives and History Library, Raleigh, North Carolina) https://homepages.rootsweb.com/~dansgen/joabmil.htm
• Chatham Co., NC Land Records http://www.chathamncrod.org/Opening.asp
• Chatham County, NC GenWeb Archives Chatham Co., N.C. Record of Estates, Vol. 2, pg. 133 http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/chatham/wills/welch02.txt
• "Delaware Vital Record Index Cards, 1680-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:W5QX-Z2W2 : 16 November 2020), Walter Welsh, 1763.
• "United States Census, 1790", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKB-YHQ : Wed Oct 04 18:16:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Walter Welch, 1790.
• "United States Census, 1800", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHR7-LZ9 : Fri Oct 06 15:30:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Walter Welch, 1800.
• Bray Cemetery https://cemeterycensus.com/nc/chat/cem191.htm
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58842260/walter-welch: accessed February 28, 2024), memorial page for Walter Welch (1741–1798), Find a Grave Memorial ID 58842260, citing Bray Cemetery, Bear Creek, Chatham County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Coco15 (contributor 48679220).