William Welch (1788 - 1871)

Born 29 Aug 1788 in Green Co., Tennessee, United States

Husband of Mary Ann (Kimbrough) Welch — married 27 Apr 1820 in Surry Co., NC

Descendants

Died 27 Jun 1871 at age 82 in Murphy, Cherokee Co., North Carolina, United States

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Biography

William was born 29 August 1788 in Green County, Tennessee to Thomas and Elizabeth Russell Welch. Because family letters and documents were tenderly cared for and handed down from William and Polly, we have a very good history of their life together. We are grateful to our ancestors who did not look upon these treasures as "junk" and throw them out. Letters and legal papers confirm two sons, William born 1788 in Tennessee and Thomas, Jr. born 1801, location unknown. The family moved to North Carolina early on, but so far a date cannot be determined. In the 1820's a family land transaction in Haywood County, NC with Asaph Enloe, Joseph Welch and *Abrim Enloe was witnessed by William and Andrew Welch - this may be another son. In a letter dated 1836 Thomas J. Welch, Jr. writes to William from Alabama and asks about brother Russell, and Sister Rachel and Jane. *Note: Abrim Enloe was possibly the real father of Abraham Lincoln.

Not much is know about Thomas Welch, Sr. In 1836 he writes, "...as I am old & infirm & cannot do any thing like labour & misfortune has brought me low as to property...". He continues, "...myself and my wife must be dependant for our support from the proceeds of the land..." Nothing more is found about Thomas and his wife after 1836.

William met Mary "Polly" Kimbrough of Surry County, NC and their courtship went on while he served in the army during the War of 1812. He was well educated as evidenced by his letters and especially a love letter written to Polly with an eloquent poem dated 24 February 1815. She was 15 at the time.

Four items confirm William's army service in the War of 1812: (1) William Welch's Commission to 2nd Lieutenant signed by Pres. James Madison, (2) Roster of clothing in Capt. Lowe's regiment, (3) letter written by William to Polly Kimbrough while stationed in "Mobeel City," Alabama. And (4) the written acceptance of William's resignation from the army, 25 May 1815.

In 1820 William Welch, aged 31, married Polly Kimbrough, aged 18. Her parents were George and Catharine Young Kimbrough. The following is believed to be written by William: "Wm Welch & Polly his wife, was married on the 27th of April 1820 & left her father's George Kimbrough's in the county of Surry on the 4th of June following. The 30th of Oct, bought land at the stuoach old fields -- 300 acres at $2300 and on the 1st of March 1821 they landed at their home on Tuckesge River."

In addition to his farm work, William also did surveying and map drawing. A document dated 23 December 1818 from the NC Senate suggests that in some way he had political connections. His possession of a clothing roster from Capt. Lowe's regiment also suggests that he attained some degree of command during the war.

William and Polly's first child was born 22 November 1824 and named Thomas Kimbrough Welch; Thomas for his grandfather Welch, and Kimbrough for his other grandfather. Thomas first married Margaret Amanda Coleman on 15 December 1858 and their first child was born 26 November 1859. As fate would have it, Margaret Amanda died a few weeks later and then the baby died the following June. On 5 January 1862 he married Mary Caroline Hyatt and they produced 2 daughters and one son. Thomas Kimbrough Welch was the first recorded doctor in Jackson County, NC.

William and Polly's second son was John Russell Welch born 26 September 1826. At the age of three, John swallowed a peach seed and it lodged in this throat. William took John to a doctor in Asheville, NC, accompanied by their local doctor. William wrote to Polly that there was a council of 6 great physicians trying to decide what to do. They finally decided on a procedure to extract the seed by cutting the windpipe and inserting an instrument to force the seed out. William's letter stated John cried very little and let the doctor cut almost without a struggle during the procedure. Keep in mind that there were no pain relieving drugs or anesthesia at the time. John Russell Welch married Sarah Ann Morgan Abernathy (widow of Jacob M. Abernathy) 24 September 1857 and they had 4 children to add to her 5 Abernathy children.

William and Polly's third child was their daughter Elizabeth Ann Catharine Welch, born 3 February 1828. At the age of 18 she married Col. Joshua Harshaw who turned 51 on their wedding day. They had a son, Abram Taylor Harshaw. On 23 March 1863, Abram sent a small hand scribbled note to his grandfather William that said, Dear Grandfather Sir, you will come over and see the remains of my mother's body. She died this morning. She was only 35 years of age. The son could never get over his mother's death; on 4 April 1866 at the age of 16, he hanged himself. The family is buried at Harshaw Chapel located on a hill top overlooking the city of Murphy, NC.

Even though their addresses on their letters read Marion County, Haywood County and finally Cherokee County, NC, it is believed they lived in the same general area all this time, as the counties kept changing and finally wound up as being Cherokee County. Polly died 31 March 1855 and William died 27 June 1871. Their graves have not been located but are believed to be unmarked graves at Harshaw Chapel with most of their family. .^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Family letters and papers.

• Marriage: "North Carolina, U.S., Marriage Records, 1741-2011"
  Original data: North Carolina County Registers of Deeds. Microfilm. Record Group 048. North Carolina State Archives, Raleigh, NC
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 60548 #5769814
  William Welch marriage to Polly Kimbrough.
• 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
  The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Cherokee, North Carolina; Roll: 625; Page: 68b; Line Number: 10
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #12640563
  William Welch (62), Farmer, in Cherokee, North Carolina, USA. Born in Tennessee.
• 1860 Census: "1860 United States Federal Census"
  The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Murphy, Cherokee, North Carolina; Roll: M653_892; Page: 2; Family History Library Film: 803892
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7667 #41175074
  Wm Welch (72), Farmer, in Murphy, Cherokee, North Carolina. Born in Tennessee.
• 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1870; Census Place: Valley, Cherokee, North Carolina; Roll: M593_1130; Page: 355B
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #35093649
  William Welch (81), No Occupation, in Valley, Cherokee, North Carolina. Born in Tennessee.

• family letters and papers / NC 1850,1860, 1870 Census Cherokee Co./ NC 1860, 1870, 1880 Census Jackson Co. NC