William D. Winchester (1774 - 1851)

Born 10 Jan 1774 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina

Ancestors

Husband of Rachael Rose Matthews — married 1805 in Union County, NC

Descendants

Died 6 Sep 1851 at age 77 in Union, North Carolina, USA

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Terry Winchester [send private message] and Danielle Ellis [send private message]

• ALERT: The date of death in the probate is inconsistent with the Death Notice in the newspaper, which states 6 September 1851, and published 17 September 1851.

Biography

William Winchester was born 10 Jan 1774 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, the son of Douglas and Sarah (Matthews) Winchester. He was a medium sized man with black hair, a high Roman nose, and always kept clean shaved. In 1805, he married Rachel Rose Matthews in Union County, NC.^[1]

He was a farmer and had 575 acres, 7 miles north of Monroe, Union County, TN. He was class leader of Methodist Church of Monroe for 15 years. ^[2]

He died at the age of 65 on 6 Sep 1851 in Union County, North Carolina. ^[3][4]

Research Notes

No evidence has yet been obtained that suggests William's middle name was Douglas.

Notes - Winchester, William Douglas (1785-1852) By Samuel Winchester

1810. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC, Capt Leggetts District. William Winchester 26-44; female 16-25; 3 males under 10; 3 females under 10. [Listed near John Matthews; Andrew and Jacob Secrest; Ansel Finney; Samuel, Thomas, Joel and Samuel Doster; Abraham, Jacob, Joel, David, Tilghman, John, George, William, and Boswell Helms; Mary, Danling, and Danbury Belk; Robert, William and James Legett; Harvey, James and Casper Hargett.]

7 Aug 1820. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC, Joseph M McCounaghy Division: William Winchester 26- 44; female over 45; male 16-25; male 16-18; male 10-15; female 10-15; 3 males under 10; 5 females under 10.

1830. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC: William Winchester, 40 thru 49; female 40-49; 2 males 15-19; 2 females 15-19; male 10-14; 2 females 10-14; 2 male 5-9; 2 females under 5. [Listed near John and William Kesiah and among several Crowell families.]

1840. US Census, Mecklenburg County, NC: William Winchester 50-59; female 50-59 ; female 20-29; 2 males 15-19; female 15-19; female 10-14.

May 1843. Union County, NC (formed 1842 from Mecklenburg County) The "society" that became Central Church was probably formed in May of 1843, when the Rev. W.A. McSwain preached to a handful of believers at Winchester's store. The County of Union had just formed the previous December; the very next month the county commissioners bought seventy-five acres for the county seat. The first plat of the town square shows the location of the church on the southeast corner of Church and Windsor Streets; it was simply marked "church" because it was the only church there until the 1880's. The first official record of the Methodist Church in Monroe was a payment of $3.05 for ministerial support, dated on August 9, 1844. Thus it is that we celebrate 1844 as the founding year for our church. Church members built a log house of worship on Windsor Street (see top left of drawing), which they used for thirty years before selling it to the new Presbyterian Church and moving west to a new building on the northwest corner of Windsor and Hayne Streets (see top middle drawing). The devastating results of the War Between the States and Reconstruction were replaced by an explosion of growth in the local population and economy. In 1865 the Monroe Church became a paying ministerial appointment after being on a circuit for over twenty years. It was named the Monroe Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the two branches of Methodism having split before the war.

20 Oct 1850. US Census, Union County, NC, family #1058: Wm. Winchester, 65, farmer, $580; Rachel Winchester, 65; Elizabeth Winchester, 27; David Griffin, 20; Cyrus Brown, 8. Slave schedule: 1 bm, 18.

Jul 1852. Union County, NC Will and Probate Records. Rachel Winchester vs James R Winchester, John Stegall and Jane, Evan Simpson and Zilpha, George W Helms and Lottie, Sarah Helms, Elizabeth Winchester, William Winchester, Joseph Winchester, Jason Winchester, Noah Winchester, John Winchester, Holden Hargett and wife Annah, Davis McQuist and daughter Jane. Then the heirs of Andrew Winchester to wit Hosea James, Leah R, William V, Joseph A, Ruffus P, John Potter, Eliza C, Perlipha, Nancy Ann. And the heirs of Thomas Winchester, to wit, D. Bronson, Nancy, William, John, Allen, Permelia, Jane Isabella, Rachael, Harvey Fisher and wife Rebecca, humbly complaining herewith to your Worships that William Winchester of this county aforesaid did depart this life on 5th of September 1852, that the said William Winchester did hold and possess the following tracts of land in the county . . . . . adjoining Stewarts Fork and James R Winchester, A. J. Secrits, Jasper Hardy, containing upwards of 300 acres . . . . also lying on Stump Lick adjoining Thomas Keziah, Henderson Helms, containing 133 acres. . . . . That all named heirs of William Winchester, decd, are of full age except the following the heirs of Andrew Winchester, to wit, William, Joseph A, Rufus P, John Potter, Liza C, Permelia, Nancy Ann, . . . and the heirs of Thomas Winchester who are minors, to wit, William, John, Allen, Perelia, Jane Isabella, Rachel. And all the defendants above never lived in this state except Wm Winchester, Joseph Winchester, Jason Winchester, Noah Winchester, John Winchester, and the heirs of Andrew Winchester and heirs of Thomas Winchester who never resided within the limits of this State. [Note that the heirs of Andrew Winchester were living on Caney Fork River, Smith County, TN. and the heirs of Thomas Winchester were living in Jackson County,TN. Several of Thomas Winchester then moved by 1860 to Jackson County, IL. Several of the children of Thomas Winchester subsequently migrated to Jackson County IL. many of these named outside Union County, NC lived in DeKalb and Smith Counties, TN. Joseph Winchester is the only 'Joseph' descendant of First Settlers William Winchester, Thomas Winchester, Douglas Winchester, Daniel Winchester of the 'correct' age to be father of John Fletcher Winchester who settled on Caney Fork River of Buffalo Valley in Smith/Putnam/DeKalb County, TN. ]

30 Aug 1852. Union County, NC Will and Probate Records. Writ of Dower to October Term 1852. signed ….? …..?, … Austin. To Sheriff of Union County you are hereby commanded to summon twelve freeholders, connected with the petitioner hereby . . . consequentially or affinity and ……. lay off by metes and bounds to Rachel Winchester, widow and relict of William Winchester one third part of all the lands, tenements and ……. in said County. That is to lay off tracts lying on Stewarts Fork adjoining land of James A Winchester, A J Secrest, Peoples Harvey . . . . and at Stump Lick . . . . Rachel Winchester vs James R Winchester, athing (?), Witnessed I M Stewart, Clerk Court at Office in Monroe.

1857. State of North Carolina Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Union County, July Term 1857 Will and Probate Records. Petition for Settlement. James R Winchester Admin of Rachel Winchester vs. Hosea James Winchester, D. Bronson Winchester, Harvey Fisher & wife Rebecca, Sarah Helms, John Winchester & others Heirs at law & next of kin of Rachel Winchester. S. H. Walkup, attor.

"To the Worshipful Justices of said county. The petition of James R. Winchester, administrator of estate of Rachel Winchester decd departed this life intestate about ________ A.D. 1855, leaving the various persons below enumerated as her only distributive next of kin against whom this petition is filed for a settlement of said estate & whom your Petitioner prays may be made parties defendant to this petition. They are as follows, viz Sarah Helms, Lotty Helms wife of George W Helms, Ziplha E. wife of Evan A. Simpson, Elizabeth Winchester, Jane McQuist, all living in North Carolina. And the heirs of Andrew Winchester decd who live beyond the limits of this State, viz Hosea James Winchester, Leah R Winchester, William G Winchester, Joseph A Winchester, Rufus P Winchester, John Potter Winchester & Nancy Ann Winchester. ---- Also the children & heirs at law of Thomas Winchester decd who live beyond the limits of this State viz D. Bronson Winchester, Nancy Winchester, William Winchester, John Winchester, Allen Winchester, Perusha Winchester, Jane Isabella Winchester, Rachel H. Winchester & Rebecca, wife of Harvey Fisher. Also Jane Stegall, (wife of?) John Stagall, Anna, wife of Holden Hargett, John Winchester, Joseph Winchester, Jason Winchester, William Winchester, Noah Winchester, all of who live beyond limits of North Carolina & whom your Petitioner prays that publication may be made in some newspaper for six weeks by order of you Worshipful Court that they may be & appear at next Term of the Court to _______ answer or denounce on that Judgment pro confessa will be taken against them & the case will be heard ex parte; and as to those living in the State your petition prays that copies of this petition may be served before them & Subpoenas issued to them concerning to appear & answer etc.

Your Petition further shows unto your Worships that at ________ Term AD 1855 of this Court your Petitioner took out letters of administration on the estate of said Rachel Winchester that took into possession of all her personal estate & has settled the debts & charges against said estate & collected the assets due the same & is now ready for Settlement of said estate & ready to pay over to each one his or her respective distributive share of said estate by law required. To the end therefore that this estate may be legally settled your Petitioner would pray your Worships to cause notices to be given by publication of as above requests in some newspaper for six weeks for the absent heirs & distributes & actual notice be given to those living in the State of North Carolina commanding them to be & appear or that judgment will be taken pro confessa & the case heard exparte as to them & that your Worships will appoint some fit and proper person or persons to take an account of the debts & funeral expenses of this intestate estate & all the assets that have come into the possession of her administrator & how the same has been administered & that he or they, the said committee will correct & settle the said estate in the hands of your Petitioner & ascertain what clear residues shall be found in his hands for distribution & report the same to this Worshipful court for inspection and confirmation or exception & that your Worships will grant such other & further relief in the services as may be necessary & proper. And as duty bound your Petitioner ever prays, etc. Samuel H Walkup, atto. for Petitioner."

• NOTE: The date of death in the probate is inconsistent with the Death Notice in the newspaper, which states 6 September 1851, and published 17 September 1851.

1860. US Census, Union County, NC: William Winchester, 75; Slave Schedule: black female 23; black male 9. [Neighbors listed are McClannan; Johnston, Hormie, Schlacton.]^[5] [NOTE: No William Winchester, aged 75 found in 1860 Union County, NC]

William Winchester was a farmer and owned about 575 acres about 7 miles north of Monroe, NC. He was described as a medium sized man, with black hair and a high Roman nose and generally kept clean-shave, somewhat rare in those days. William Winchester was class leader in Methodist Episcopal Church of Monroe.^[6]

Buried Asheville, Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States of America.

Published Works

The Heritage of Union County North Carolina, 1842-1992^[7]

• Children
  • Thomas Winchester, who went to Illinois
  • John Winchester
  • Jehu Winchester
  • J. Russell Winchester
  • Noah Winchester
  • Sarah Winchester, who married Allen Helms, father of E.A. Helms
  • Charlotte Winchester, the mother of Frank, Hosea, & Ainer Haywood
  • Zilphia, the mother of William L. Simpson, Jr.
  • Jane Winchester, who married a Stegall

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Katherine (Alvis) Patterson for creating and contributing to this profile.

Sources

1. ↑ "The Winchester Family" email received 11 June 2018 from Miles~Helms, Julie, digital images citing Winchester, George T. “The Winchester Family” (Mineral Springs, N.C., no date of publication given).
2. ↑ Winchester, George T.
3. ↑ Death Notice. Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.), 17 Sept. 1851, Bottom column 4. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. [1]
4. ↑ William Winchester Estate. "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch ([2]: 21 May 2014 : accessed 1 September 2018), Winchester, William (1852), image 3 of 9; State Archives, Raleigh. NOTE: The widow was mistaken on the date of death of William.
5. ↑ "United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860," database with images, FamilySearch ([3] : 16 October 2019), North Carolina > Union County > Other > image 15 of 32; citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ The research of Mr. Samuel Winchester, "Notes - Winchester, William Douglas (1785-1852)", Updated 2017-11-8 by Sam Winchester
7. ↑ Tyson, Margie H. (Submitter), "Winchester-Helms" citing the Winchester history written by Ney McNeely, The Heritage of Union County, North Carolina 1842-1992", p. 465, et al, (Carolinas Genealogical Society & Walsworth Pub. Co.) Library Of Congress No. 93-71499

• "United States Census, 1790" William Winchester, "United States Census.
• "United States Census, 1810", Douglas Winchester.
• "United States Census, 1840", W D Winchester.
• "United States Census, 1850", Wm Winchester.
• "United States Census, 1850 (Slave Schedule)", Wm Winchester.
• "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979" William Winchester.
• "North Carolina Deaths, 1906-1930", William Winchester in entry for Mary Elizabeth Gordan.
• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979" ([[4]] : 21 May 2014), Mecklenburg County > W > Winchester, William (1795)