War Soldier Introduction

Robert Belcher, Sr., (b. 1758; d. 1845) is my GGGG Grandfather. My line is through his son Josiah or Joseph to George, to Willis, to Jesse Roland, to Wallace Andrew.

In the book, "Colonial and Revolutionary History of Upper South Carolina," by John B. O. Landrum, published in 1900, states that Belchers were among the early settlers of Spartanburg County. Landrum had used the 1790 Census to develop his data and Robert Belsher (Belcher) was listed.

My research and data exchange with Lorene Fisher leads me to believe that most Spartanburg County and Greenville County Belchers go back to Robert Belcher, Sr., as a common ancestor.

This paper will deal with two aspects of Robert's place in history. It will discuss his role as a primary factor in the spread of the Belchers in Upcountry SC. Secondly it will discuss what is known of his service in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. I will discuss only the earliest days of Belchers in SC and will not present a descendant tree to the current generations. That is another paper.

Regarding the Revolution, Robert's service and a few other Belchers will be discussed to help put him into perspective and maybe narrow down who his parents were and other relatives in the war.

Short Summary of Robert Belcher, Sr.'s, Life

What I know or think I know about Robert. Robert's parents are unknown and where he was born is in dispute. Several records indicate that he was born in SC, but nowhere, that I have found, is there concrete evidence to support this.

All the evidence that I have seen leads me to believe that he was born and raised in VA. Later I will discuss why I believe this is the case.

Where he is buried is unknown and where he died is in dispute. Some records state that he died in GA, namely Twiggs County. Again, most of the facts of his life tend to support the belief that he died in Spartanburg County and is buried in the county. What happened to him between birth and death is known to a certain extent.

The following is a short summary of the chronology of what I think I know of Robert's life. It is fairly certain that he had two wives, raised a rather large family that proved to be prolific and left many descendants in SC and other states. Her was probably born and raised in VA, served for three-years in the Continental Army (15th VA Inf. Regiment of the Old Line) in the years from 1776 to 1779. After this he served for some time in the Militia (not sure which state, but believe it to be VA). Married Nancy Hawkins in VA in the early 1780s. Their first child (Rhoda) was born in VA. Sometime during the 1780s, Robert and his family moved to the Spartanburg area of SC. Do not know why he came or who moved with him. I do not believe it was for Bounty Land related to his service in the war. There were other Belchers in the state when he came that could have been the reason. It is also possible that one of these could have been his parent, but I doubt it.

Robert and Nancy Hawkins had at least five children and their fourth (Josiah/Joseph) became my GGG Grandfather. Nancy Hawkins died about 1796 and Robert married Nancy Hopkins. Robert and the second Nancy had at least two children.

Note: Joshua Hawkins was on the 1820 pension rolls from Spartanburg County. I have listed him because he may eventually prove to be the brother or father of Nancy Hawkins who married Robert Belcher, Sr. The 1813 Pension list showed him as a Private, age 36. The 36 age is obviously wrong because he would have been born in 1776. Robert filed for and received a Pension for his Rev. War service. He lived in the county as a farmer until his second wife died in 1837. He moved and for a short time lived in Madison City, TN with his son Jacob. Unable to get along with Jacob, Robert moved back to SC and lived with his son Cyrus in Spartanburg County. I believe he remained in the state until his death in April 1845. His was a long, fruitful and patriotic life, and he died at the ripe old age of 88. It seems a shame that more is not know about him and where he is buried is Unknown. I believe his daughter Nancy was the original source of this confusion because when she applied for membership in the Daughters American Revolution (DAR) she stated on the application that he was born in SC and died in GA.. There is much evidence to suggest that he was born and lived in VA until the late 1780s. His birth date does not seem to be disputed, just where he was born. Place of birth is critical because that means his parents were in VA in the 1750s. The remainder of this paper will provide details on how I have come to these conclusions about Robert.

SC Belchers In 1790

The 1790 census shows Robert Belsher ,Old 96 District, Spartanburgh. Census records do not refer to him as Sr. His entry is ( 1 0 3 0 0): 1 free white male over age 16 (Robert) 0 free white males under 16 3 free white females ( wife and 2 daughters) 0 free blacks 0 slaves Neighbors were James Ross and Job Sosberry .No other Belcher or Belsher lived in the Spartanburg area in 1790. The only other Belcher family in Upper SC in 1790 was :

William Belsher, the old 96 District, Greenville. Entry showed (2 3 3 0 13): 2 free white males over age 16 ( William and a son) 3 free white males under 16 3 free white females ( wife and two daughters) 0 free blacks 13 slaves William's family was larger and older than Robert's. With 13 slaves, he was obviously pretty well off and may have been in the area for several years. Robert and William were probably related, but I have no known connection. I have been unable to determine the parents of either Robert or William. A common thread between both of them is that they were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. Their service may help determine who their parents were and I will go into more discussion of this later. Two other Belsher or Belcher families were in the state in 1790. Susannah Belcher was in Edgefield

(Susannah Winn, Widow of Robert Belcher)

Family listing: 1 2 5 0 6 1 free white male over 16 2 free white males under 16 5 free white females, (Susannah and 4 daughters) 0 free blacks 6 slaves Susannah was a widow with a sizable family of 7 kids (one son over 16) and 6 slaves. A Robert Belcher was quite prominent in the Edgefield area in the 1800s. The Sullivan Family History, Section Titled, "The Belcher family," page 36, indicating research by Maggie Garlington, says that Robert Belcher and Susannah Winn Belcher (a widow with at least one son) and family moved to S. C. 1784-1789 and settled at Liberty Hill (now Cleora) in Edgefield County, SC. Robert's will is in Edgefield, proven 12 October, 1789. Children ; Virginia, Sarah, Heneritta, Washington, Edmond. Even though Robert is not mentioned as her son, I believe, this would be the Robert E. Belcher that became quite prominent in the area around Edgefield. I have found no connection to Robert, Sr., of Spartanburg. This Robert also served for a short time in the Rev. War, but not in the same regiment with Robert of Spartanburg. It is fairly certain that his father is Edmond Belcher of the Isham Belcher line in VA. This eliminates Edmond as a father of Robert of Spartanburg. Very unlikely that he would have two living sons with the same given name.

was in Charleston with a family of (2 3 5 9 16): 2 free white males over 16, (Christian and 1 son) 3 free white males under 16, (3 sons) 5 free white females,( wife and 4 daughters) 9 free blacks 16 slaves Christian had a sizable family of four boys, a wife and four daughters, as well as 25 Negroes. This number of slaves and free blacks does not necessarily make a large plantation owner. It is, however, a significant number which would indicate that he was well established and had been in the area for some time. I have found no connection to any of the other Belchers. One or all of the above families could very well be related to Robert. I have no idea when William or Christian came to S. C. or where they came from. The records tend to show that it was in the 1780s. A review of 4,354 records of the Colony of South Carolina showed no Belchers in the entire state area. These records covered a collection of records for the period 1716 to 1783. I have also checked the following: 1779 census of Old 96 District = 0 Belcher or Belsher 1770 census of Tryon County (Spartanburg was part of) =0 Belcher 1781 Unknown County = 0 Belcher I have checked the Immigrant List for the ships embarking at Charleston during the 1700s and found no Belcher listed. Apparently the first Belchers in the state did not come directly from England, rather they migrated into the area from other colonies. They may have moved down the Great Wagon Road from Virginia or several other places. There is even a possibility that some of these Belchers may have come from the Island of Barbados. Many of the first settlers in the low country were from the Island.

Robert's Family in 1800

The 1800 census for Spartanburg County shows no Belchers, but it does show ROBERT BELSHER. He was listed as a military pensioner with a family of 23010 00101 00: 2 males 0-9 (1791-1799) 3 males 10-15 (1790-1785) 1 male 26-44 (1774-1756) (Robert) 1 female 10-15 (1784-1775) 1 female 45+ (before 1755) (Nancy Hawkins) 0 free blacks 0 slaves A wife over 45 and five sons and one daughter. The count seems right with the total children I have been able to identify, but the dates of birth are off considerably for all the children. Lorene Fisher sent me a handwritten copy of the 1800 census for Robert Belcher that has a different breakout: 1 male under 10 1 male 26-45 (Robert) 2 females under 10 1 female 16-26 (Wife, but much younger than the other census reading). This family is considerably younger with the children being two less and the wife much younger. I have no explanation for the wide variance in these two families and tend to believe they are entirely different families. I need to look at actual census microfilm to verify Robert's family in 1800. There are discrepancies between the 1790 and 1800 censuses. In 1800, he has three boys age 10-15 and one daughter that is not shown. These children should have shown in 1790, but did not. I have no evidence to explain these differences. A speculation could be, if we believe that William is a relative, that the children were enumerated with William's family in 1790.

Greenville County Belchers after 1790

The Belchers in Greenville District from 1790 through 1850 is interesting. Census indexes on the Gen. Web Page for Greenville County show: 1790:

William Belcher. mentioned above 1800: No Belchers 1810: No Belchers 1820: The A-F portion of record is missing. 1830: No Belcher 1840:

Susannah Belcher Note: Is this the same Susannah Winn Belcher, widow of Robert Belcher of Edgefield ? It is possible, but she would have been quite old. 1850: No Belcher Note: In 1850 there were 6 families of Belchers No Belchers are shown in Union County in 1800-1850, 1870, 1880- or 1920 censuses that I have seen.

Belchers in SC in 1810 By 1810 there were five families of Belchers in the Spartanburg District. These were:

Robert Belcher (Robert, Sr., and the spelling is now Belcher) 3 males 16-26 1 male over 45 1 female over 45 (Wife Nancy ?, should be Hopkins) If this is true then the "younger family" for 1800 is not correct. If both Nancys were about the same age then the census numbers for her at over 45 are OK.

Jacob Belcher (Robert's son) 1 male 26-45 (Jacob) 1 female 10-16 (may not be a wife) The 10 to 16 year old female living with him seems to be his wife rather than a sister, because in 1820 the female is shown as 26 and the mother of three girls under age 10. Jacob and his family moved to Monroe City TN sometime after 1820. Three new families, not known to be related to Robert

John Belcher (Do not know who he is) 1 male under 10 1 male 26-45 (John) 1 female under 10 1 female 16-26 (probably wife)

Thomas Belcher (Do not know who he is) 1 male over 45 (Thomas) 1 female 16-26 (may be wife or daughter) 1 female over 45 (wife or mother)

Robert and the Revolutionary War: Sources of His Rev. War service

One of the several sources to substantiate his service in the Revolutionary War is: Robby Gilmer Ross', " Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution" (975.703, R913m) states: Robert Belcher b 1758 in S. C. d 1848 m Nancy Hawkins Enlisted in 1776, served under Captain James Foster (Faster) and was in the battles at Brandywine and Monmonth. He served in the Virginia line (moved to Georgia) McCall, III, 25. This may have been around Edgefield or Augusta and was Georgia. He was in Spartanburg for many years and the census mention his war status which helps insure not confusing him with other Robert Belchers. The following is taken from The Belcher Family, (Research into old records by Miss Maggie Garlington). I am not sure of source records. It says he was enlisted on 14 Dec.. 1776 in the 15th Virginia Regiment of Captain James Faster. He was not in a South Carolina unit, rather a unit from the Virginia Continental army. This information is consistent with what I believe about Robert. I have a copy of the "Application For Membership to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution" submitted by Nancy A. Messick of Kentopia, Alabama. Approved on February 6, 1901, with a National Number of 34553. The application is for Robert Belcher of South Carolina. He was born in South Carolina in 1758. He died in Twiggs County Georgia in 1845. Messick claims to be the daughter of Robert Belcher and Nancy Hopkins and was born in Spartanburg County. The application also states that Robert was living in Spartanburg County in 1840. The DAR membership was sent to me by Lorene Fisher. Some of this information is consistent with what I believe about Robert and adds the name of a daughter (Nancy). It is interesting that he went to Georgia between 1840 and 1845. Ross also mentions that he went to Georgia. Since he was quite old and living with Cyrus in 1840, he probably would have moved with one of his sons or Nancy Messick. He went to TN (Monroe City, Madison County) and lived with his son Jacob in Apr.. 1838. He stayed with Jacob less than six-months and moved back to Spartanburg to live with Cyrus. He was reported by his daughter to have died in Georgia in 1845. I have no knowledge of his burial site. This DAR application is the first evidence that Robert had a second wife named Nancy Hopkins. The following entry from South Carolinians in the Revolution by Sara Sullivan Ervin provides additional details about his pension: rank: private. Annual allowance: $96.00 or $8.00/month. Sum received since placed on the rolls Dec.. 28, 1821 was $1,279.69. Pension effective Nov.. 6, 1820. He was one of 21 men from Spartanburg to be placed on pension resulting from an act of Congress passed on 18 March 1818. The above entry infers that he was born in South Carolina. The birth and death dates reconfirm other data. He served for three years from Dec.., 1776 to 1780. The Brandywine battle took place in 1777 and Monmonth was in 1778. What other campaigns did he participate in during this period? Was he injured? Was he taken prisoner? Did he desert his unit at any time during his enlistment that led to Courts Marshal? Why did he leave service in 1780 rather than serve until the end of the war? Prior to 1840 he was reported to be living with a relative in Twiggs County, Georgia. This relative may have been his son Jacob. Robert went to TN, in 1838, to live with his son Jacob. The pension package for Robert was ordered from The GRA Record Lookup Services. After two month, they responded saying they were unable to identify Robert using the data I gave them. They sent me a page (p.218) from the Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files. One of the entries shows the following: Robert Belcher, S39186, VA Line, appl. 6 Nov. 1820 Spartanburg Dist. SC aged upwards of 60, sol's wife d in May 1837 (not named), after wife's death sol. moved to Monroe City TN & in Apr. 1838 lived there with a son Jacob Belcher, in Oct.. 1838 sol returned to Spartanburg SC to live with other children, so died 26 Apr. 1845. From the above I learned when the second wife, Nancy, died. He went to Tennessee instead of Georgia. Did not know that he came back to Spartanburg. He lived in Tenn., with Jacob and the other data indicated he lived for a time in Georgia, and died there. There is new and conflicting information in that short paragraph, but I feel confident that it is the same Robert I have been chasing. He may have gone to Georgia to live with daughter Nancy Messick. She was in Alabama in 1901. The NAR pension file for Robert which consisted of 37 pages. A lot of pages but little new genealogy information. It does add some information about his military units as well as confirms and provides a source for much of what I know. Summary of the pension records follows: Enlisted on 14 Sept. 1776 for three years in Captain James Foster's and Gray's Company. Served from S. C. in 15th Old Virginia Regiment of the Line under command of Col.. Ellason, and Col.. Ennis. Col.. Mason commanded at some time.

Prior to discharge

he was reduced to 11th Regiment.

(Note: Not sure what reduced to a lower number regiment means. Was he transferred?) Discharged on 1 Jan 1780 by Major Hill in Philadelphia Pa. as a Private. Served in battles of Brandywine and Monmonth. No mention of any other action or campaign. After discharge in 1780, served subsequent three months in General Parker's unit. No details of service provided. Robert couldn't write so signed with an "X". On transfer of pension from SC to TN and back to SC, Robert's property was valued at less than $100.00. It consisted of: 20 barrels of corn = $00 1 mare, 2 colts = $10.00 2 sows, 4 shoats = $10.00 5 sheep = $5.00 plates/pots 26 = $10.00 The pension file did not contain an Application for Pension nor did it state the location of his death. I suspect the application was filed long before 1820 and the file was destroyed when Washington was burned during the War of 1812. If he actually went to Georgia and died there the pension file was never transferred from South Carolina. The primary source for Robert's service is his Pension Record which he filed for in March 18, 1820. His pension was $8.00 per month and his estate was less than $100.00. The 1820 Revolutionary War Pension Act was the first service pension act, which provided that every resident of the US who had served in the Revolutionary war until its close or for the term of 9 months or longer, at any period of the war, on the Continental establishment or navy, and who by reason of his reduced circumstances in need of assistance, should receive a pension; if an officer, twenty dollars a month, if a private eight dollars. Claimants were required to give up invalid and all other pensions. So many frauds were perpetrated under this act that in 1820 Congress required of all pensioners under the act, sworn schedules or their property and income, and under of this ruling thousands of names were stricken from the rolls. Robert's pension is interesting for what is not included. What is not well documented is the details of the hardships of fighting for three years in the war. Other than that he was assigned to a regiment that fought at Brandy Wine and Monmonth, nothing else is known. I have been unable to find any regimental histories of Rev. War units that would help fill in some of the details of army life. I have summarized his pension file on a page-by-page basis to illustrate what can be learned and what is not available in the file.

Taken from Wright's Continental Army, p. 291. Authorized 9/16/1776 in Continental Army as the 15th Virginia Regiment Assigned 12/27/1776 to the Main Army, Col.. David Mason, Commander Organized 2/12/1777 to consist of 9 companies from Chesterfield, Brunswick, Southampton, King William, Nansemond, Princess Anne, Isle of Wight, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, Northumberland, and Richmond Counties and the Borough of Norfolk. Assigned 5/11/1777 to 3rd VA Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized 11/1/1777 to consist of 8 companies. Relieved 7/22/1778 from the 3rd VA Brigade and assigned to the 2nd VA Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized and redesignated 5/12/1779 as the 11th VA Regiment, to consist of 9 companies. Relieved 12/4/1779 from the 2nd VA Brigade and assigned to the Southern Department. Captured 5/12/1780 by the British Army at Charleston, SC. Disbanded 1/1/1781. Engagements: Northern NJ: 11/20/1776 to 6/26/1777; Staten Island NY and Northern NJ; Engagements from capture of Fort Lee to British withdrawal to start the invasion of PA. Defense of Philadelphia: 8/25 to 12/19/1777; Eastern PA, MD, and DE; Engagements from British landing at Head of Elk to Washington's encampment at Valley Forge. Philadelphia - Monmonth; 12/20/1777 to 7/10/1778; PA. DE and NJ; Operations relating to British occupation of Philadelphia and withdrawal to Sandy Hook. Charleston, 1780. Note: A look at the lineage of the 11th VA Regiment for the time after the 15th VA Regiment was integrated with it shows no engagement until they were captured at Charleston in May 1780. Robert and the others were discharged before going South. Wonder what the 15th/11th VA Regiment did in the more than one year until the Belchers were discharged. A look at the Muster Rolls for George (later in this paper) gives some excellent clues to the 1779 service of the 15th.

Rev. War Bounty Lands

I have found no evidence that he received any bounty land as payment for his service time. The pension files indicate only money. I have not found when he first acquired property in the county. He did own property and sold some or all of this property in 1838 after his wife died and he moved to Monroe City TN and lived with his son Jacob for a very short time.

There is strong evidence that he did not move to SC until late in the 1780s. The first time that he is found in SC is the 1790 census which shows Robert Belsher as a Revolutionary War soldier. His Rev. War Pension (applied 11/6/1820 and approved under 4 39186, Spartanburg District SC, age upward of 60) shows he served in the 15th Regiment, Captain James Foster's Company, Virginia Line of the Continental Army under Colonel Ellason. He enlisted as a Private on 9/14/1776 and served for three years. He saw service in the battles at Brandywine Creek and Monmonth. Prior to his discharge on I January 1780 at Philadelphia, PA, he was transferred to the 11th Regiment. He later served in General Parker's militia unit. His service is documented in the DAR through his daughter, Nancy Messick, who was living in AL when she submitted the application to the DAR. I have a copy of the "Application For Membership to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution" submitted by Nancy A. Messick of Kentopia, Alabama. Approved on February 6, 1901, with a National Number of 34553. The application is for Robert Belcher of South Carolina. He was born in South Carolina in 1758. He died in Twiggs County Georgia in 1845. Messick claims to be the daughter of Robert Belcher and Nancy Hopkins and was born in Spartanburg County. The application also states that Robert was living in Spartanburg County in 1840. The DAR membership was sent to me by Lorene Fisher. Some of this information is consistent with what I believe about Robert and adds the name of a daughter (Nancy). It is interesting that he went to Georgia between 1840 and 1845. It seems that the DAR Application may be the source for the dispute of where Robert died. The place, not the date, seems to be the disputed condition. From this I believe others, such as Robby Gilmer Ross, have repeated in their books the died in GA story. Since be was quite old and living with Cyrus in 1840, he probably would have moved with one of his sons or Nancy Messick. Check Twiggs County Georgia for 1850 and see what Belchers were there. He went to TN (Monroe City, Madison County) and lived with his son Jacob in Apr... 1838. He stayed with Jacob less than six-months and moved back to Spartanburg to live with Cyrus. He was reported by Nancy to have died in Georgia in 1845. 1 have no knowledge of his burial site. This DAR application is the evidence that Robert had a second wife named Nancy Hopkins. You would like to think that a daughter would know where her father died. You would also like to believe that the DAR would require some documentation (death certificate etc.) to support membership. The mystery remains. I received the NAR pension file for Robert which consisted of 37 pages. A lot of pages but little new genealogy information. It does add some information about his military units as well as confirms and provides a source for much of what I know. Since much of the information is handwritten and very difficult to read, the following is a page by page summary of what it said:

P.2: (Hand written, some words confused, overlapping entries from several pages). Moved to East TN, 4 March 1837 to 17 May 1838. (?)Leave state 22 Oct.. 1838, transfer pension files. Served from Spartanburgh District, SC., as a Private in Regiment of Colonel Ennis of VA Line for 3 years. On pension roll of SC, at rate ? dollars per month to commence 6 Nov.. 1820, Certificate issued 28 Dec. 182 1, Sent to Hon. J. Gist, N. Republic, US. Arrears of Sept. 1821 = $77.73. Semi annual allowance ending 4 @ 1822 = $40.00, total $127.73.

P. 3: Application for transfer (from TN to SC) posted 8 Dec. 1838. Served in the companies of James Foster and ? Gray. Regiment of Col.. James Ennis or Innis. Was on pension rolls of east TN. Went to TN to live with his son (Jacob). Moved back to SC because son's treatment was so ? (cannot make out word) that he was compelled to return to other children in SC, Signed with "X"

p. 4: Continuation of p. 3, Certification by the Court.

P. 5: Note from Commissioner of Pensions, Madisonville, Monroe Co., TN.

P. 6: Application to transfer from SC to TN, 14 April 1838. Served with Capt. Gray, and Col.. Ennis. Placed on pension roll in SC. Wife died last May (May 1837) and left him "uncomfortably situated and badly ? (unreadable) and had a son living in E. TN." Statement from Jacob Belcher that Robert was his father.

P. 7: "Robert never in TN before and he was in distr-ped (?) condition." Justice of the Peace validated Jacob's statement. said he had been acquainted with him for "well nigh 10 years." Note: This would indicate that Jacob moved to TN in about 1828. James Broyles approved the statements.

P. 8: Duplicate of page 5.

P. 9: Page looks like cover sheet for Application to SC. Most of material xed out.

P. 10: Initial application for pension to SC (Oct. 1820 court date). Enlistment for 3 years on 14 Sept. 1776 under Capt. James Foster in VA. Left service on 1 Jan 1780. regularly discharged by Maj. Hill in Philadelphia, PA. In battles of Brandywine and Monmonth. Afterward served on a monthly basis under General Parker. In reduced condition and stands in need of assistance and support. Robert's property consisted of- 20 barrels of corn = $00 1 mare, 2 colts = $10.00 · sows, 4 shoats = $10.00 · sheep = $5.00 plates/pots 26 = $10.00 Certificate by JP that total property was not over $ 1 00. 00

P. 11: Nov.. 182 1, Robert swears in court that he is upward of 60 years old. At enlistment was attached to the 15th Old Virginia Regiment of the Line, under command of Col.. Ellason and afterwards commanded by Col.. Ennis. Continued in the same regiment until he was reduced to the 1lth Regiment where he continued until his discharge.

P. 13: Hand written and xed out. Seems to be draft of

p. 12. Says 15th VA regiment under command of Col. Mason and later Col. Ennis. P. 14: Typed response to Americana Society. summarizes what they found in Robert's records, dated 23 Sept. 1930. The body of the letter states: We are turning to you for aid in obtaining information concerning a Revolutionary soldier Robert Belcher who enlisted in 1776 in Capt. James Foster's co., and was in the battles of Brandywine and Monmonth. He was born, we believe, in South Carolina, but the D.A-R. records say a "pension was allowed to him for three years actual service as a Private, Virginia Continental Line", and that he died in Georgia. Do your records show where he really lived or anything further than this about him or his family? We will be most grateful for whatever you can tell us about him.

P. 15: No value. P. 16: Certificate of transfer to TN.

P. 17: Nothing of value, just his name.

P. 18: Validation that Robert drew pension from office in Charleston, SC for several years P. 19: Mail cover sheet for page 20.

P. 20: Nov. 12, 1838. Transfer letter request from TN to transfer from SC to TN agency at Knoxville. Pension $8.00/mo. James Coffin wrote the letter and he said, "An old man approached me who said he was Robert Belcher. "The old man does not write his name."

P. 21: Mail cover sheet, from Charleston to Washington

P. 22: Letteff for p.2 1, states Robert paid pension of $8.00 for Sept. 1837.

P. 23: Mail cover sheet

P. 24: Note for page 23, Transfer back to SC, 2 Oct. 1838

P. 25: 5 Dec. 1838, Oath of James V. Miller and William Walker that they knew Robert.

P. 26: Cont.. of p. 25

P. 27: Cont.. of p. 26

P. 28: Statement that Sipe? Cleveland and William Walker knew Robert

P. 29: Mail cover sheet

P. 30: Statement for P. 29 that transfer cannot be made until original certificate is forwarded.

P. 31: Cont.. of P. 30

P. 32: Note that Robert had been paid by the agency in Knoxville.

P. 33: Treasury Dept. Certificate that Robert had been paid

P. 34: Mail cover sheet

P. 35: Note March 1839, Robert's pension was not being paid after move back to SC. "The old man is really suffering for his pension money and it would be friendship to him for you to act on his application as early as practical. "

P. 36: Cont. of page p. 35, but nothing new.

P. 37: National Americana Society Letter to NAR that said they thought he died in GA, referring to DAR files. This was response p. 14. Last entry.

The pension provided some new information on his military service and quite a bit about his relationship with his sons and his desperate situation as an "old man" in need of the money from his pension . So far, I have not been able to identify and find out anything more about the people mentioned in the 15th VA Regiment, such as Captains James Foster's and Gray's, or Col.. Ellason, and Col.. Ennis. Col.. Mason commanded at some time. Haven't found out what unit General Parker commanded. Was it a VA militia unit? He served in battles of Brandywine and Monmonth, no mention of any other action or campaign. A copy of his Service Record may provide some new information about the details of his three years service. The muster rolls for Robert may give similar information to that noted for George Belcher of VA who was in the same organizations during the same time period.. The battle descriptions and campaign histories I have found do not go into the details I need to get a feeling for what he may have experienced On transfer of pension from SC to TN and back to SC, The pension file did not state the location of his death. If he actually went to Georgia and died there the pension file was never transferred from South Carolina. I need to check the S. C. Archives to see if they have any data on Robert's military service. It is interesting that he did not file until 1820 and pension was $8.00 per month and his estate was less than $100.00. On March 18, 1820, was passed the first service pension act, which provided that every resident of the U. S. who had served in the Revolutionary war until its close or for the term of 9 months or longer, at any period of the war, on the Continental establishment or navy, and who by reason of his reduced circumstances in need of assistance, should receive a pension; if an officer, twenty dollars a month, if a private eight dollars. Claimants were required to give up invalid and all other pensions. So many frauds were perpetrated under this act that in 1820 Congress required of all pensioners under the act, sworn schedules or their property and income, and under requirements of this ruling thousands of names were stricken from the rolls. The following record of George Belcher’s Rev. War record is taken from "Belcher Blues" newsletter. I have used it here because I believe it parallels Robert’s record.

GEORGE BELCHER REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS: THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE NATION ARCHIVES AND COPIED FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS: GEORGE BELCHER SON OF ISHAM BELCHER: 1777 JANUARY 20: ENLISTED IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ON : IN CAPTAIN JAMES FOSTER'S CALVARY COMPANY: FIFTEENTH VIRGINIA REGIMENT: COMMANDED BY LIEUTENANT COL... JAMES INNES: ENLISTED FOR 3 YEARS: DATES:........................... LOCATION OF CAMP........... RANK.................... ROLL CALL 1777 AUG. 1: ..................................MORRISTOWN..........................PRIVATE...................SICK 1777 OCT. 14:..................................READING....................................PRIVATE...................SICK 1777 NOV. 4:................................ .VALLEY FORGE....................... PRIVATE................ .IN HOSPITAL 1777 DEC 22:................................ VALLEY FORGE....................... PRIVATE................. ON COMMAND 1778 FEB. 3 IN CAPTAIN JAMES FOSTERS COMPANY OF THE 15TH REGIMENT OF FOOT: COMMANDED BY MAJOR GUSTAVUS B WALLACE: 1778 APRIL 6 ................................VALLEY FORGE ........................PRIVATE ....................ON COMMAND

He is not on the Valley Forge roster and neither is Robert

1778 MAY 1 :..................................VALLEY FORGE ........................PRIVATE ....................SICK 1778 13 JULY: IN CAPTAIN JAMES GRAYS COMPANY, 15TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT OF FOOT: COMMANDED BU LIEUTENANT COL.. JOHN CROPPER: 1778 SEPT.. 7: ..................................WHITE PLAINS .......................PRIVATE..... ................ABSENT 1778 SEPT. IN CAPTAIN JAMES GRAYS COMPANY, 15TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT OF FOOT: COMMANDED BY DANIEL MORGAN ESQ.: 1778 OCT. 28....................................NEWARK.................................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1778 NOV. 6:....................................POMPTON................................PRIVATE......................ON COMMAND 1778 DEC 1:.....................................POMPTON................................PRIVATE......................ON COMMAND 1778 DEC IN CAPTAIN JAMES GRAYS CO IN THE 11TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT OF FOOT: COMMANDED BY ABRAHAM BUFORD ESQ.: 1779 JAN 13:..................................MIDDLEBROOK.......................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 FEB. 3:.....................................MIDDLEBROOK.......................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 MAR 4:..................................MIDDLEBROOK.......................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 APR 3:....................................MIDDLEBROOK.......................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 MAY 5...................................MIDDLEBROOK.......................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 JUNE 11: IN MAJOR STEPHENSON'S COMPANY OF THE 5TH AND 11TH VIRGINIA REGIMENT: OF FOOT: COMMANDED BY COL... WILLIAM RUSSELL: No William Russell in either the 11th or 5th regiments 1779 JUN. 11:.. ..............................SMITHS COVE.................. ........PRIVATE..... .................ON GUARD: 1779 JUL. 1:........................ ...........SMITHS COVE....... ...................PRIVATE.......... ............ON GUARD: 1779 AUG. 3..................................RAMAPAUGH..........................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 SEPT. 6................... ..............SMITHS COVE.................. .........PRIVATE.............. ........ON GUARD: 1779 OCT. 1..................................RAMAPAUGH...........................PRIVATE......................ON GUARD: 1779 OCT. 8..................................MORRISTOWN.........................PRIVATE.......................ON GUARD: 1779 DEC 1 IN CAPTAIN JOHN STEEDS CO IN A DETACHMENT OF THE 2ND VIRGINIA BRIGADE COMMANDED BY COL.. FEBIGER: 1779 DEC 9..................................MORRISTOWN..........................PRIVATE.....................ON GUARD FEB. 29 1780 EXPIRATION OF SERVICE: 2ND SERGEANT: 1780-1783 GEORGE WAS IN THE HENRY COUNTY MILITIA: 1781, JAN 17: WAS AT THE BATTLE OF COWPENS NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ORDER FOR MAJOR GEORGE WALLER, HENRY COUNTY VA: YOU ARE FORTHWITH REQUIRED TO MARCH THE MILITIA UNDER YOUR COMMAND: FROM THIS COUNTY TO HILLSBOROUGH NORTH CAROLINA OR TO ANY POST WHERE GENERAL STEVENS MAY BE WITH HIS MEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. OBSERVING TO AVOID A SURPRISE BY THE ENEMY, BY THE BEST ROUTE TO BE FOUND: GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS 11TH DAY OF MARCH 1781: ABRAM PENN, COL. ..H.C. GEORGE BELCHER, 2ND SERGEANT WAS LISTED AMONG THE MEN: 1781 MARCH 15: 2ND SERGEANT GEORGE BELCHER WAS IN THE HENRY COUNTY VIRGINIA: MILITIA AND ORDERED TO THE ASSISTANCE OF GENERAL GREENE IN NORTH CAROLINA: AT THE GUILFORD COURT HOUSE, :

The descriptions of the 15th VA, 11th VA and 5th VA Regiment are take from the U. S. Army Military History Institute page on the Internet.

15TH VIRGINIA, DIVISION: THIRD, BRIGADE: 3RD VA HISTORY: ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 1777 FROM CHESTERFIELD, BRUNSWICK, SOUTHAMPTON, KING WILLIAM, NANSEMOUND, PRINCESS ANNE, ISLE OF WRIGHT, SURRY, SUSSEX, WESTMORELAND, NORTHUMBERLAND, RICHMOND COUNTIES AND BORO OF NORFOLK. ENTERED VALLEY FORGE WITH 307 ASSIGNED 68 FIT FOR DUTY, LEFT VALLEY FORGE WITH 337 ASSIGNED 146 FIT FOR DUTY. PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS: NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, DEFENSE OF PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA- MONMONTH Staff Officers Colonel DAVID MASON Lt. Colonel JAMES JONES Major GUSTAVIUS WALLACE Company Officers Captain JOHN GREGORY Captain JAMES MASON Captain JAMES GRAY Captain WILLIAM JOHNSTON Captain THOMAS WILLS Captain JAMES HARRIS Captain EDWIN HULL Captain THOMAS EDMUNDS Staff Officers Chaplain FITZHUGH MCKAY Quartermaster RICE BULLOCK Adjutant ALBRIDGETON JONES Paymaster LITTLEBURY MASON Surgeon JOSEPH DAVIS JOHN M GALT Surgeon Mate MACE CLEMENTS Quartermaster Sergeant CHARLES ERSKIN Sergeant Major JOHN CRUTE Drum Major Fife Major This is a different source for the 5th which adds some information.

Taken from Wright's Continental Army, p. 291 Authorized 9/16/1776 in Continental Army as the 15th Virginia Regiment Assigned 12/27/1776 to the Main Amy, Col.. David Mason, Commander Organized 2/12/1777 to consist of 9 companies from Chesterfield, Brunswick, Southampton, King William, Nansemond, Princess Aime, Isle of Wight, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, Northumberland, and Richmond Counties and the Borough of Norfolk. Assigned 5/11/1777 to 3rd VA Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized 11/l/1777 to consist of 8 companies. Relieved 7/22/1778 from the 3rd VA Brigade and assigned to the 2nd VA Brigade, an element of the Main Army. Reorganized and redesignated 5/12/1779 as the 11th VA Regiment, to consist of 9 companies. Relieved 12/4/1779 from the 2nd VA Brigade and assigned to the Southern Department. Captured 5/12/1780 by the British Army at Charleston, SC. Disbanded 1/l/1781. Engagements: Northern NJ: 11/20/1776 to 6/26/1777; Staten Island NY and Northern NJ; Engagements from capture of Fort Lee to British withdrawal to start the invasion of PA.

8/25 to 12/19/1777; Eastern PA, MD, and DE; Engagements from British landing at Head of Elk to Washington's encampment at Valley Forge. Philadelphia -Monmonth; 12/20/1777 to 7/10/1778; PA. DE and NJ; Operations relating to British occupation of Philadelphia and withdrawal to Sandy Hook. Charleston, 1780.

11TH VIRGINIA, DIVISION: THIRD, BRIGADE: 3RD VA HISTORY: ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 1777 FROM LOUDOUN, FREDERICK, PRINCE WILLIAM, AND AMELIA COUNTIES. ENTERED VALLEY FORGE WITH 326 MEN ASSIGNED, BUT ONLY 81 FIT FOR DUTY, LEFT VALLEY FORGE WITH 254 ASSIGNED AND 152 FIT FOR DUTY. PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS: SIEGE OF BOSTON, INVASION OF CANADA, NEW YORK CITY, TRENTON-PRINCETON, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, DEFENSE OF PHILADELPHIA, PHILADELPHIA- MONMONTH. 11TH VA also known as MORGAN'S RIFLES Staff Officers Colonel DANIEL MORGAN Lt. Colonel JOHN CROPPER Major THOMAS SNEAD Major THOMAS MASSIE Company Officers Captain WILLIAM BLACKWELL Captain PETER B. BRUIN Captain CHARLES GALLCHUE Captain GABRIEL LONG Captain CHARLES PORTERFIELD Captain WILLIAM SMITH Captain GEORGE RICE Captain PORTER FIELDS Captain WILLIAM BRADY NOTE: Neither Burford or Gray show as staff officers? Staff Officers CHAPLAIN QUARTERMASTER ATHANAS TARBER ADJUTANT CHARLES MAGILL PAYMASTER WILLIAM CARSON SURGEON BASIL CRAMPTON SURGEON MATE JOHN ROBINSON / THOMAS LOLLER QUARTERMASTER SERGEANT SERGEANT MAJOR WILLIAM BROUGHTON DRUM MAJOR ROBERT MITCHELL FIFE MAJOR

5TH VIRGINIA, DIVISION: FIFTH, BRIGADE: 1ST VA HISTORY: ORGANIZED FEB. 1776 AT RICHMOND COUNTY COURT HOUSE FROM LANCASTER, RICHMOND, NORTHUMBERLAND, SPOTSYLVANIA, WESTMORELAND, CHESTERFIELD, HENRICO, HANOVER, BEDFORD AND LOUDOUN COUNTIES. ENTERED VALLEY FORGE WITH 357 ASSIGNED , 98 FIT FOR DUTY, LEFT WITH THE 1ST VA. PREVIOUS ENGAGEMENTS : CHESAPEAKE BAY, NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, TRENTON-PRINCETON, DEFENSE OF PHILADELPHIA, PHILA. -MONMONTH. Staff Officers Colonel JOSIAH PARKER Lt. Colonel ABRAHAM BUFORD NOTE: Probably the Buford that was supposed to be in the 11 VA Major THOMAS GASKINS Major DAVID STEPHENSON Company Officers Captain HENRY FAUNTLEROY Captain WILLIAM FOWLER Captain WILLIAM MOSBY Captain ANDREW RUSSELL No William Russell Captain SAMUEL COLSTON Captain GROSS SCRUGGS Captain RALPH FALKNER Captain JOHN ANDERSON Staff Officers Chaplain Quartermaster WILLIAM PRIDE Adjutant JOHN RONEY /NATHANIEL ANDERSON Paymaster LIBSCOMB NORRALLE /WILLIAM FOWLER Surgeon EDWARD DUFF / BARBELL MIDDLETON Surgeon Mate Quartermaster Sergeant RICHARD POOKE / WILLIAM GORDON Sergeant Major CHARLES WRIGHT Drum Major ANDERSON FREEMAN Fife Major RICHARD W THOMPSON Note: A look at the 11th VA Regiment for the time after the 15th VA Regiment was integrated with it shows no engagement until they were captured at Charleston in May 1780. Robert and the others were discharged before going South. Wonder what the 15th/11th VA Regiment did in the more than one year until the Belchers were discharged. A look at the Muster Rolls for George gives some excellent clues to the 1779 service of the 15th. In 1850 there were no Belchers shown in York, Chester or Anderson Counties Some of the foregoing may seem irrelevant to determining who were Robert's parents, but if not relevant, it is interesting and explains some matters, as well as raise some new ones. I believe his Rev. War service may prove to be a significant factor in discovering who his father was as will be discussed later. There were several other Carolina and Virginia Belchers who served in the Revolutionary War. This also shows how confusing data can get and leaves one wondering if the real truth will ever be known.

Other Belchers of VA Rev. War Data

I have wondered if more than one Robert Belcher of VA was in the Rev. War. I have wondered if Robert Belcher, Sr., received any kind of bounty for his service. There were several Belchers (Belsher) in the Rev. War from Virginia. In Rev. War Records of Va... Vol.. I (FHS 975.503. R893b), seven people are mentioned who served in the Continental Line: Burwell Belcher, Have considerable data on him and he may prove to be listed under two or more names

Edward Belch, No dates on him Thomas Belcher, No data

William Belsher, In 1840, showed a pension for Ruth Fuller, age 88, living with William Belcher in Columbia County PA. Could this be the widow of William of Greenville? George Belcher, Sergeant, Enlisted 1/20/1777 for a period of three years, until 2/29/1780, in Captain James Foster's Company, 15th VA Regiment commanded by Lt. Col.. James Innes. Plenty of discussion of him in this paper

Joel Belcher, no data Robert Belcher, private, soldier of infantry. On pension records as S39186. VA line. The Spartanburg Robert. The following data is taken from the University of Virginia, electronic library card file on the Internet.

VA Land Office Military Certificates Approved

Robert Belcher (card II) PVT CL, LOI 857 George Belcher, (Card 10) Pvt CL, L02606

VA Revolutionary War Pensions

John Belcher, (Pen 25) Soldier, Col.. Heath's Regiment, Chesterfield & Amelia Cos., widow Mary, 6 pieces, 1786-1790. George Belcher, (card I 1),, Private Army, Certificate by Lt. Robert Craddock, voucher 1783, Rev. War Bounty Warrant. Robert Belcher, (card I 1), Private Army, Certificate by Lt. Robert Craddock, Voucher 1783.

VA Rev. War Public service Claims (for goods and services rendered during the war)

Robert Belcher, Charlotte Co., Court Booklet 21

Jacob Belcher, (John Tabb and Mark Goode assignees) Public Claims, Amelia Co., Court Booklet I, p.59, 63:; 11, p. II ; List ,l, p. 4,8,9; 11, p. 1,3,4. Commissioner's Book, 1, P. 90; 11, P.353.

George Belcher, Amelia Co., Court Booklet, 1, p. 7.; List, 11, p. 4.

Edward Belcher, (John Tabb assignee) Amelia Co.; Court Booklet, 11, p. I I.; Lists, 1, p. 4; 11, p. 1; Commissioner's Book, 1, p. 90. I believe the Robert and George are the same people as served in the 15th VA regiment. The private army entry for both of them may be the reference that was in Robert's Federal pension file regarding service in a Militia group- Edmund Belcher served in Capt. James Gray's Co.. 15th Reg., enlisted 27 Feb. 1777. Same regiment, but different company than Robert. I have read that Edmund might be Robert's Father, but I have no concrete evidence to support this and tend to believe he is the father of Robert of Edgefield SC. I have found no S. C. records for a Edmund in the Revolutionary War. There was an Edmund (b. 1725), son of John, Jr., and Mary Gooding, who was born in VA and later went to AL. This Edmund was the father of Beverly (Male) who became the father of much of the AL line of Belchers. I don't think he ever lived in SC, but his son did.

William Belcher (b. ab. 1740), served in the 15th VA Regiment as a Captain, was living in Greenville District, SC per the 1790 census. I do not know exactly when he came to Greenville or why he came. Robert, in Spartanburg, and William, in Greenville, were the only Belcher or Belsher living in the SC Upcountry in 1790. Robert was probably not the first Belcher in the state .and not the only Belcher in the upcountry. Know little about him since the 1790 census is the only one I can definitely pin him down. Did he die, leave the state or what. To date, I have no direct connection to Robert. Not sure when he came to Carolina, but it seems to be before Robert established his home in Spartanburg. The 1740 birth date puts him in the span of years to be Robert's father and they both were in the same regiment, not sure of company. He has a sizable family still with him and seems to be rather well off with 13 slaves. What happened to him before 1800? He may have died or could have traveled west. It seems that he came to Carolina in the 1780s and within close to the same time span as Robert. A clue might be to see if I can determine which Belchers were in VA prior to 1790. The following extracts from VA Personal Property Tax List are interesting:

1787 Russell County Personal Property Tax List

White White Black Black Horses Cattle 21+ Male 16-21 Male 16+ -16

Robert Belcher I 18 16 William Belcher I 2 5 James Belcher I 1 2

Thomas Belsher 1 2 3

George Belcher 1 2 6 Note: I believe this may be Robert of Edgefield, but there is no Edmund, which is interesting. The remainder of the families could be quite young or quite old because there is no is no males over age 16 and no slaves. Other Russell County data: 1788, George Belcher is the only Belcher listed and it shows he paid on 380 Acres. In 1790, George, Robert and Thomas show on the Tax list. This Robert must be different from the two Roberts in SC. By 1810, Jesse is the only name listed. In Dec.. 1785, George and Thomas Belcher signed a petition to form Russell County 1786 Franklin County, VA Personal Property Tax List shows: David Belcher I 0 0 0 1 1 0 James Belcher 2 1 0 0 3 1 0 Belchers were in other VA Counties in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

1802 Tazewell County, VA PPT List

W.. Male + 16 B. Male 12-16 B. NWe 16+ Horses/Cows John Bclsher 1 4 Joseph Belsher 1 4 Samuel Belsher 1 2 Mary Belsher 2 2 9 William Belcher 1 3 Jessy Belcher 1 2

1795, Lee Co., VA PPT List Moses Belcher 1 5 (Horses only counted Zachariah Belcher 1 1 1782 Henry Co., VA PPT List Thomas Belcher I 3 (Horses) 5 (cattle)

1782, Washington Co., VA, PPT List (Col. Aaron Lewis 'Precinct)

Belcher (list tom unreadable) Richard Belcher 1 4 1 1 John Belcher 1 2 2

1793 Wythe Co.,, VA, PPT List John Belshy

1762 Chesterfield Co. Tithable List

William and Burwell Belcher 2 Thomas Belcher 1 John Belcher, William Belcher, Dick, and Maul 4 Note: William and Burwell may be father and son. Burwell supposedly served in the war for his father. A William was in Greenville in 1790. The last entry has a different William, a Dick which may be a Richard and Maul that maybe a Morris (I have seen a Morris listed in Chesterfield Co. in 1782 and he was supposedly born before 1762).

The first Belchers in Virginia

I tend to believe that the first Belchers in Virginia came directly from Europe, rather than migrating south from the New England states. Thomas Belcher came to Virginia in 1637, Isle of Wight County. John Stewart was the patentee.

Walt Belcher in 1645, Warwick County, his patentee was Thomas Davis.

Another Walt in 1651, but he may be the same person who returned to England. William Belcher in 1655, Gloucester County and his patentee was Peter Ford Thomas and William Belcher came to Virginia in 1663. Source for the above is Early Va.. Immigrants, 1623-1666, by George Cabell Greer (FHC 975-502, E793y). Note: I have no idea if any of these are connected to the five that went into New England. This second Thomas and William may be the same people and they may also be different. I am not sure who any of these people are and my genealogy data has a couple of possible for Thomas, but it seems that they are related to the MA Belchers of the same time frame.

Belchers came to Maryland in the 1700s:

George Belcher in 1725, Annapolis

Martyr Belcher in 1753

Sarah Belcher in 1769 The interesting thing about this group is that they were English convicts who were sent to the New World. I have read that George and Susanna Belcher came to Maryland in 1725, not as convicts, but in bondage as indentured servants. Note: This seems to be the George that came to Annapolis in 1725, but adds the wife.

Other Possible Virginia connections

Looking at a list of VA Land Grants prior to 1800 might provide a clue. George Belcher, 200 ac., 9/20/1745, Prince George Co., South side of Sappony Creek.

George Belcher, 100 ac., 12/7/1800, Russell Co.

George Belcher and John Fugate, 380 ac, 4/l/1785, Washington Co. John Belcher, 229 ac., 3/15/1735, Henrico Co.

Richard Belcher, 130 ac., 12/3/1792, Washington Co., on Holstein River. William Belcher, 124 ac., 1/2/1737, Amelia Co. William Belcher, 336 ac., 11/25/1743,

Henrico, Co. Richard Belshar, 370 Ac., 6/l/1750,

Henrico Co.

Robert Belshee, 89 & 100 ac., 5/11/1793, Russell Co.

William Belshee, 8/25/1796, Wythe Co. Edmund Belsher, 7/7/1763, Lunenburg, Co. Robert Beisher, 10/11/1787,

Russell Co. Robert Belshey, 5/16/1793 & 6/6/1793, Washington Co. William Belshey, 7/17/1793, Montgomery Co. Several of the possible players are in the list, and they are found in seven different counties.